EW ’s
gift guide 2007
ALL FROM INFINITY MERCANTILE
something old = something new
REWORKED, REUSED, RECYCLED GIFTS A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR STUMPED SHOPPERS By Adrienne van der Valk
W
hen it comes time to make a
holiday shopping list, three
distinct categories of people
are likely to emerge: Those untrusting of
the gift-giving process who tell you exact-
ly what they want, the pragmatic souls
who would like nothing better than to
receive a gift certificate and go shopping
themselves … and
the high pressure
“great
expecta-
tions” types, the
friends and loved
ones who are undy-
ingly smitten with
the whimsy of holi-
OAK ST. VINTAGE
day gift selection
(or are just using the
season to test you on how well you really
know them).
For these Yule-time hopefuls, no Gap,
Borders or Harry & David effort could
possibly yield the “perfect” thing, that
OAK ST. VINTAGE
item that is just so unique, so “them,” they
Another must-stop shopping experience for
can’t believe someone else picked it out.
those on the hunt for something unique, recycled
So how can you find the holy grail of
and affordable is Infinity Mercantile on 8th
gifts without devoting all your free time to
Avenue and Blair Boulevard. Owner Jane Ann
shopping for the quirky, stylish and utterly
Porter designed Infinity to provide not only qual-
deserving free spirits on your list? Luckily,
ity used duds but a locally owned boutique expe-
a handful of local Eugene shop owners
rience featuring art, accessories and original
have the answer.
clothing items shoppers won’t find anywhere
The bold lettering of Deluxe fashion
else. “Three generations of a family could come
in here and find things,” says Porter. “We have a
shop’s sign has graced Willamette Street for
large customer base. We’re very well rounded.”
a few years now, undergoing some changes
Designers Laura Lee Laroux and Manya
in both content and management along the
Mankiewicz (who also woman and manage the
way. Owners Mitra and Aaron Chester stock
shop, respectively) feature their handcrafted
not only funky and fabulous resale clothing
fashion belts, leg warmers, mittens,
for men and women, but also an assort-
dresses (some redesigned out of cro-
ment of gift-worthy accessories,
cheted afghans), clutches and hats,
some made by local artists as well as
among other items. The fabulous
many redesigns by Mitra herself.
INFINITY
jewelry selection comple-
Flowery earrings and
MERCANTILE
ments a variety of soaps
hair wear, collaged
and candles and artsy
belt buckles, leather-
screen printed tees and
work wristbands
ties by Trinity Cross.
and a variety of
Always part of the
bags and purses
Last Friday Artwalk,
are among the
Infinity also features a
irresistibly fun
different artist each
one-of-a-kind
month, adding to the
items waiting to
visual splendor of the
tempt you as you
shop’s kaleidoscope-like
approach the front
atmosphere.
check-out counter.
A very new addition to the world of
Eugene resale is Oak Street Vintage .
This is the store every kitsch lover in town
wishes s/he had opened. Sitting stoically at
14th and Oak, this house full of “mid century
artifacts” seems always to have been there,
resplendent in its devastatingly tempting
array of random, cool, old stuff. “When I was
14, my dad gave me my first record,” co-
owner Cora Frazer explains. “Ever since,
I’ve liked retro
things. But
E
VINTAG
.
T
S
K
your house
OA
fills up after
a while, so
you have to bring
the fun stuff to the peo-
ple.” In business just over a
month, Frazer and partner Carl
Ernst stock (and arrange beautifully)
kitchen and dining items, furniture, clothing
and accessories, lamps, clocks, phones,
records, magazines and tchochkes galore, all
harkening back to earlier times when orange
and green ruled the decorating world and
crinoline was everyday wear. If your hard-to-
shop-for people don’t think they have vintage
taste, they might just need a set of sapphire
blue highball glasses to bring them around to
the fabulousness of life flavored with a dash
of the past.
■
Hunky’s Ladies want you to get your
Hookah for Xmas early . . . they go fast!
40 different flavors
of Shisha
Beautiful Hookahs,
All Accessories
Hunky
Dory
Pipes, Tobacco, Gifts
2 7 1 W . 7 t h, Eu g en e • 5 41 - 34 5 -1 85 3 • M on -S a t 10 - 8 • S u n 1 2- 6
Eugene Weekly’s Gift Guide 2007
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