Let's shop in Ritzville this year

Do you treasure the shopping memories of Christmases past? Remember the parking place in the back 40, an icy trudge to the mall while winds blew stinging sleet into your face, the challenge of surviving the parking-place-seeking fiends who treated the parking lot like a demolition derby? Soon you transformed into a battered and bruised shopping martyr from all the jostling, rudeness and long lines, all to pay exorbitant prices for gifts you ‘settled’ for out of frustration and fatigue. You balanced arm loads of packages while attempting to locate your car keys in the bottom of your purse, trudged through even colder and more dangerous conditions to your ice-cold car and fought traffic to your longed-for cozy home an hour’s drive away. Those were good times.

I have a better idea. Let’s shop in Ritzville this year.

I’ve scouted the stores and am amazed at the quality and variety of gifts. I challenge you to at least check it out. Bet you can fill at least half of your list in our town, without having to spend $25 in gas and two hours’ minimum round-trip travel time to Spokane or the Tri-Cities not to mention all the fun of overcrowded stores, rude shoppers and aching feet.

The Wooden Nickel plans an extended display of vintage items and unique, hand-painted and handmade Christmas decorations of all sorts. The bistro will be decorated for Christmas and stocked with a much-extended inventory of gifts beginning the weekend before Thanksgiving. For those who find the perfect gifts but want to wait a week or two to pick them up, The Wooden Nickel offers layaway.

Father Christmas soft sculptures, locally made and which can be found throughout the USA and as far away as Japan, as well as the hand-painted ornaments and other one-of-a-kind Christmas items will be on display. Also distinctive jewelry pieces and sets, vintage and newly created, are always popular gifts. They are also affordable and lovely.

Live music will add to the festive ambiance with Garrett Bartley, a ’98 grad from Ritzville High School, playing on Dec. 2 and other evenings. He won the Spokane Has Talent contest. See ads in this paper for more information on his appearances.

Sunny Spot Floral and Gifts is another excellent source for a variety of gifts that will please. You can add to Willow Creek sculpture collections, find beautiful and useful ceramic serving pieces, picture frames, an array of candles, teapots, cups, hand painted glassware and various other quality items too numerous to list here. Sunny Spot offers live plants and floral arrangements, which are great hostess or holiday gifts.

Who wouldn’t like to receive a beautiful floral centerpiece for the holiday table, or a colorful, festive poinsettia? Either is a fine gift idea for those who have everything or no room to store more.

Ritzville Drug Company always carries a wide variety of good gift items. Along with hats, mufflers and the full array of Broncos apparel items, you can shop for Montana Silver jewelry, belt buckles and snuff can lids. Dozens of watches in various styles are available as well as a nice selection of sterling silver and other jewelry.

They carry a good supply of purses as well as various gift items with or without a Christmas theme. They are well stocked with a variety of calendars, card sets, books, CDs, DVDs and personal items.

You can take your photos in and create a personalized calendar or a photo book, or make a CD of photos easily and at very reasonable prices. The photo albums and calendars make wonderful, personal gifts that will be treasured for years.

Cow Creek Mercantile is a shopper’s dream with numerous snowmen-themed ceramic items that are perfect for entertaining or gift giving. You can find stocks of Melissa and Doug toys and creative gift ideas for children, and art supplies (buy two, get one free). You will also find an array of personal items such as purses and jewelry.

Cow Creek Mercantile is well stocked with gourmet food items, wines and Christmas decorations and ornaments such as Jim Shore and New Pavilion, as well as many other well-known brands. An open house is scheduled for the first weekend in December (look for ads in the newspaper), with discounts and food tasting. Check the Facebook page for updates and schedules.

All of these establishments offer gift certificates, as do most of the other businesses in our town. How about a certificate for a manicure and pedicure or groceries from one of our grocery stores, treat a special person to a session with a hair stylist or barber, or a meal at one of our fine food establishments? Wild Flowers Quilt Shop and Liquor Store offers wonderful fabrics, quilt and sewing supplies, and books for the project-oriented on your list. Gift-boxed liquors are in stock for holiday giving also.

How about a gift certificate for a family portrait or senior pictures? Larsen Photography at www.larsenphotos.com or Shelley Ruddell (John and Ann Anderson’s daughter) at www.shelleyannphotography.blogspot.com are good sources. Both offer competitive prices, excellent quality, and will work with you on sittings, settings and dates. Check out their work at the above sites. Brent Larsen will also help you with your computer needs at Ritzville Computer & Internet, from a new computer to a good-as-new rebuild.

Bob’s TV & Appliance is the place to go for electronics or appliances, and they have a well-established reputation for good service. TVs and radios are always popular gifts to find under the tree. A good gift idea for anyone with ties to Ritzville is a year’s subscription to The Ritzville Adams County Journal.

Everyone needs oil changes, tires and tune-ups. It sounds almost too practical for a Christmas gift, but sometimes practical is the best gift of all. Our town has several other establishments that will work with you to find the perfect items for those on your list.

On Dec. 2, Ritzville will have the tree lighting ceremony and also the stores will stay open late. Bring your Christmas list and enjoy an evening of stress-free shopping fun. Use your imagination and spend your dollars with businesses we want to ensure remain successful.