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I live on the West Side and do all of my gift buying and Christmas shopping at the WEST VALLEY ART MUSEUM STORE. The items are unique and many are relatively inexpensive … and there’s no sales tax. Most of my jewelry Listeners share a few of their comes from the store; I favorite places to buy and browse. especially like the amber
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ANTONIO BARTCZAK
Artful Shopping
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Wavelength
selection. I also enjoy the art at the museum, which changes frequently, and have lunch at the newly renovated café. This all makes for a nice day with friends. — Erna Nemeth
West Valley Art Museum, 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise; 623-972-0635; wvam.org My favorite? Easy—ARIZONA MUSEUM FOR YOUTH. You can buy art games and flash cards and books like Babar’s Museum of Art . You see grandmas and grandpas with the grandkids—it doesn’t require a lot of walking and there’s a place in the gift shop to sit and play. Mesa’s museum shops are great … the stores at MESA ARTS CENTER and ARIZONA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY—you know, where
they have the roaring dinosaurs. You can buy dinosaur toys, books, rocks and minerals. — Corrine Brooks
Arizona Museum for Youth, 35 N. Robson, Mesa; 480-644-2467; arizonamuseumforyouth.com Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa; 480-644-6515; mesaartscenter.com Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N. Macdonald, Mesa; 480-644-3283; azmnh.org If you’re looking for one-of-akind, artsy things, there’s a wonderfully outrageous shop called FLEURE-ISH. The owner paints and sells wood furniture—chairs, tables, chests. It’s almost kitschy, very upbeat. They also sell gift items. This isn’t your typical antique store, where everyone is reserved and walks around quietly. It’s fun and it’s