A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"Get a Head Start on the Holidays" is from the November 2002 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.
I can't believe the holidays are nearly upon us, and I
have yet to cross even one item off my shopping list. Neck-deep in cookbooks
rummaging for the perfect fluffy stuffing recipe, all I can think to buy for
presents are neckties and nightgowns (like I did last year). What I desperately
need is some place special to spice up all of my holiday shopping.
This year I'm skipping the malls and going to the Knox-Henderson area in
Dallas. This region is named for the two streets that cross Central Expressway
north of downtown. Knox, on the west side of the freeway, boasts a slew of
well-known restaurants and furniture shops. Henderson Street, on the east, is
the more quirky one. It is filled from end to end with one-of-a-kind,
independently owned stores. Local Leslie Roden-Foreman says, "This part of town
is full of character and personality. It's where all the creative shops are.
Plus it's walkable, which makes it a great shopping area." Thus begins my
pilgrimage to Henderson, my favorite street, for some bargain hunting that will
have my friends and family giddy this holiday season.
Crossing the Border
I begin my spree at La Mariposa, the happiest shop
in town. Looking for a bride-and-groom piņata? How about an antique sombrero?
Well, this cultural haven has both. Owner Ray Grawunder makes four trips to
Mexico per year in search of maracas, serapes, paper flowers, pewter crosses,
and handmade jewelry. Looking as if a rainbow exploded, the back room of the
place is filled with so many piñatas you can't even walk
without smashing the brim of a hat or some other papier-mâché piece. The prices are reasonable, and you're saved
a trip across the border.
On a Whim
Next, I leave pseudo Mexico and head down the street to The
Whimsey Shoppe, Inc., for a flavor of France. Owners Wendell and Suzie Patterson
travel overseas more than 10 times a year in search of all things français. From antique soap dishes and wine pitchers to
restored armoires and tables, this 11,000-square-foot store is packed with true
collector's pieces.
