A Camden Christmas makes merry a sure thing

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To heck with home. From this shopper’s perspective, there’s no place like Camden for the holidays.

This time of year, the pretty little town dresses up in its Christmas finery, rolls out the red carpet, and offers cold, hungry consumers hot spiced cider and gingerbread cookies.

Oh, and did I mention the sales?

My recent foray to this retail-haven-by-the-sea left me all warm and cheery. OK, the warm part could’ve been a result of the hot sauce-doused enchiladas I ate for lunch at South by Southwest, but the cheer definitely came from the friendly salespeople, unique gifts and fabulous bargains I encountered.

Camden isn’t a purely seasonal town – many of the shops stay open year-round, and the ones that close only take a month or two off, after Christmas. In other words, savvy shoppers, go now while the getting is good. And leave yourself some time.

Let’s start with the specialty shops. Need an upholstery upgrade? Visit Fabrics de France, which sells an amazing selection of imported textiles, as well as whimsical antiques and luxurious French toiletries. I picked up a bar of gardeners’ soap for $8.25. Tres frais. If it’s Southwestern Indian crafts and blankets you’re after, check out Spirit and Art Gallery East, whose owner, Richard Ailes, moved to Camden after spending years working with tribes in New Mexico. I picked up a stamped tin ornament for $3. Passamaquoddy drums are among the locally made highlights.

Lily Lupine & Fern has long been a destination for gourmet goodies, divine wines and elegant, unusual flowers. And Maine Gathering is a one-stop shop for all things beautiful made in the Pine Tree State (I like the lavender bath salts, but I may just be on a cleaning binge).

Knitters will love UniqueOne, known for its Maine-made sweaters and lovely yarns, and Stitchery Square, with its equally tasteful selection of knitting and needlepoint supplies. At Theo B. Camisole, a lingerie shop filled with beautiful gifts, I wanted to pick up cashmere scarves ($26) for all my girlfriends.

If many of your friends are feathered, visit Wild Birds Unlimited, which offers feeders, food and baths of every shape and size. Pretty soon, your back yard will be the chirp of the town. Animal lovers and book lovers will adore ABCD Books, which boasts an enviable collection of rare books, as well as a sweet cat (live) and an imposing German shepherd (ceramic).

To all you trendy girls who keep asking where you can find real UGG boots around here, I’ve found the answer: Camden Shoe Co. They cost $145 there, but I didn’t see any of the pink ones. Fashionistas will appreciate Frugal Suzy’s, arguably the best consignment shop I’ve ever visited. It is, like most resale boutiques, hit or miss. On my first visit, all I wanted was a pair of pants from the Gap. This time, however, I drooled on a Coach bag, a Kate Spade bag, an unused pair of UGGs (which were a half-size too small), and a bevy of Stuart Weitzmann shoes. Very well-edited indeed.

The same can be said of Emporium, with its Mavi jeans and Juicy Couture warmups. Cute and fresh with a young vibe, this shop is one of my favorite Camden destinations. I also love Aria for elegant clothing, understated wedding dresses and posh slippers. Earth Bound has comfy clothes, trendy accessories and the occasional home and garden item (I got a clock on sale for $12). House of Logan has a cool preppy-chic thing going, with soft fur ponchos, Vera Bradley bags and Vineyard Vines belts and ties for the guys.

Nearby, check out The Right Stuff for humorous signs and women’s clothing, as well as The Leather Bench for fine leather goods and bags by Brighton and Dooney & Bourke. For fun, pretty home and garden items, visit Surroundings, a diminutive shop packed with options. Across the street, The Foreside Co. Outlet offers affordable, decorative mirrors, candle holders, ornaments and other accessories. And Maine Foothills is a bargain extravaganza.

I could spend all day, and all my money, in Planet, the ultimate stocking-stuffer destination. Appropriately enough, I picked up a shopping journal for $8, but I wanted everything else – the mini bonsai kit. The books. The toys. The long-stemmed martini glasses. The sushi plates (who the heck eats sushi at home?). The hilarious “How to Make Decisions” booklet. Well, maybe I don’t want that. No, I do. Wait, maybe I don’t.

I know one thing for sure. Camden is a great place to shop. And save. How merry is that?

Destination: Camden

ABCD Books: 23 Bay View St., (888) 236-3903, www.ABCDBooks.com

Aria: 22 Main St., 230-2482

Camden Shoe Co.: 20 Bay View St., 236-7131

Earth Bound: 5 Elm St., 236-4238

Emporium: 31 Main St., 230-2480

Fabrics de France: 28 Bay View St., 236-3515, www.fabricsdefrance.com

Foreside Co. Outlet: 6 Main St., 236-0998

Frugal Suzy’s: 44 Elm St., 236-6889

House of Logan: 32 Main St., 236-3943

The Leather Bench: 34 Main St., 236-4688

Lily Lupine and Fern: 43 Main St., (800) 793-6193, www.lilylupine.com

Maine Foothills: 10 Mechanic St., 236-6662

Maine Gathering: 21 Main St., 236-9004, www.mainegathering.com

Planet: 10 Main St., 236-4410

The Right Stuff: 38 Main St., 236-9595

Surroundings: 39 Main St., 236-8536

South by Southwest: 31 Elm St., 236-7025

Spirit & Art Gallery East: 5 Bay View Landing, 236-8346, www.spiritandartgallery.com

Stitchery Square: 11 Elm St., 236-9773, www.stitcherysquare.com

Theo B. Camisole: 24 Bay View St., 236-0072, www.theo-b-camisole.com

UniqueOne: 2 Bay View St., (888) 691-8358, www.uniqueone.com

Wild Birds Unlimited: 10 Bay View Landing, 236-4170, www.wbu.com

ShopNotes

Looking for interesting toys that won’t break your budget (or turn your child’s brain to mush)? Visit Too Much Fun! the new shop at Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor. Whether you need a spider puppet, a pink canopy for your little princess’ bed, or a bag full of polished rocks, you’ll find what you’re looking for – and a few things you never imagined – here. The shop is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. For information, call 262-7200.