Looking for a gift or clothes while working/visiting downtown Tucson?

Someone asked me if there was anywhere to shop downtown and upon reflection, here’s a list of 20 plus businesses, based on some research from the Downtown Tucson Partnership website and my own personal knowledge (click on the blue links for further info):

Desert Bloom 27 N. Stone Ave., 792-9882. Monday-Friday 9:30 am–5:30pm, Saturday Noon–5pm. Fine jewelry, unique gifts, distinctive home and garden accessories.

Flanagan’s Celtic Corner 222 E. Congress St., 623-9922. Wednesday-Friday 11am-3pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-6pm. Celtic jewelry, pottery, t-shirts, Guinness items, more.

Friends of the Library Bookstore at the Joel D. Valdez Main library, 101 N. Stone Ave., 594-5500. Monday to Friday 11 to 2 p.m. Low cost books,CDs, DVDs.

Hotel Arizona gift shop, 181 W. Broadway, 624-8711. Greeting cards, Southwest gifts, more.

Hydra Leather and More 145 E. Congress St, 791-3711. Monday-Saturday 11am–7pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm. An eclectic mix of fashions, lingerie, shoes, and accessories for men and women.

Indian Village Trading Post 110 S. Church Ave. #4199 (La Pilita Village), 623-1162. Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 10 am-3 pm. Jewelry, clothes and shirts native to Tucson.

June’s Corner Store 10 E. Broadway, Suite 108, 622-8100. Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm. A large selection of greeting cards and gifts.

Mahlia Collection 410 N. Toole Ave. Suite 1, 791-2185, Monday to Friday 9 to 5 p.m. Jewelry, furniture, couture, accessories.

Maynard’s Market 400 N. Toole St., 545-0577, Sunday through Thursday: 7am – 8pm,
Friday and Saturday: 7am – 10pm. Gourmet foods, specialty gift items (candles, tshirts, Vy & Elle bags, greeting cards), more.

Old Town Artisans Shops 201 N. Court Ave., 623-6024. September–May: Monday–Saturday 9:30am–5:30pm, Sunday 11am–5pm, June–August: Monday–Saturday 10am–4pm, Sunday 11am–4pm. Located in the El Presidio Historic District is the little city block of Old Town Artisans. Five shops: Dawn Stewart (jewerly/fine art), La Zia (native arts & crafts), Old Town Pot Shop (pottery, artwork, & more), The Outpost (fine art & handicrafts),Tolteca Tlacuilo (world imports).

Perri Jewelers 13 N. Stone Ave., 624-4311. Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm. Diamonds, watches, jewelry, guaranteed jewelry and watch repair.

Re-Threads 66 E. Pennington St., 884-5553. Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, Saturday 10am-2pm. Recycled fashions.

Rockin’ Queen, Inc 45 S. 6th Ave, 461-1076. Monday to Friday, 10 am to 7 pm. Women’s high-quality clothing (100% bamboo, cotton & silk).

6th Ave. Stylez 41 S. 6th Ave., 409-7928, Monday to Friday, 11 am to 7 pm. Men’s and women’s casual clothing.

Studio 220/Got All Your Marbles 220 E. Congress, 628-1433. Thursday-Saturday 10:30am-2:30pm. Featuring our own interchangeable marble jewelry, as well as other fun, creative jewelry and art.

Tiendita Gift Shop at La Pilita Museum, 440 S. Main St., 882-7454. Tuesday to Saturday, 11 to 2 p.m. T-shirts, greeting cards, ceramic crafts by local artists, more.

drawing of La Pilita Museum by Nancy Lenches, 2004

Tucson Children’s Museum (Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s Gift Shop) 200 S. 6th Ave., 792-9985. Tuesday to Friday 9 to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm. Plush novelties, coloring books, toys for children.

The Museum Shop at the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block 140 N. Main, 624-2333. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Sunday noon-5pm. A splendid selection of works by Arizona’s most talented artists and craftspeople. One-of-a-kind handcrafted glass, pottery, textiles, jewelry, and multimedia artworks available in this lobby-level shop.

We keep waiting for Downtown redevelopment to occur, for Downtown Tucson to have another “hey day” for more shopping and gifts. But check out what’s there now, and let me know if I missed any favorite shops which you frequent.

Mini-facials, massages, other exciting pampering for women only in the courtyard at Old Town Artisans, 201 N. Court Ave. in downtown Tucson, on Sunday March 21, 3 to 6 p.m.
Entry is free, open to women (and their male friends of course) of all ages.

This is the fourth time this event has been offered at Old Town Artisans, and will consist of live music (jazz duo), flamenco dancing, a delicious Mexican buffet by La Cocina, a raffle of goodies, arts & crafts, even “mocktails” (no alcohol) for the children. This festive, community event promotes women artists, entrepreneurs, and causes. Mini-facials will cost $10, and massages are $1 for a minute.

Count me in. After all, March is Women’s Herstory Month, and what better way to tell your story than by looking and feeling good, and being pampered. And a portion of the proceeds and the money raised from the raffle from this Every Woman event goes to Tucson’s Primavera Foundation (www.primavera.org), an agency that assists the homeless.

courtyard at Old Town Artisans

And if you miss this Every Woman event on March 21, calendar the next one for Sunday May 30, same time, same place, same good fun. For more info contact organizer Marie Hancock at 520-822-6222, or at mariecloseness@yahoo.com.

Old Town Artisans is in an 150 year old adobe building in the El Presidio Historic District, and houses La Cocina Restaurant (Southwest fare), two art galleries (Dawn Stewart and The Outpost), and three shops (Tolteca Tlacuilo, Old Town Pot Shop, and La Zia). Something for everyone’s gift giving needs can be found here, plus you can relax and eat in their lovely, shaded Spanish style courtyard next to a charming fishpond (with live goldfish), pictured above.

For information on Old Town Artisans, call 520-623-6024, info@oldtownartisans.com, website: http://oldtownartisans.com/ .

Old Town Artisans is located one block north of Alameda, one block west of Church Avenue, between the Tucson Museum of Art (to the west) and the El Presidio de San Agustin (to the east). Experience the charm of downtown and that Old Town feeling of the “true historic Tucson experience.”