Holiday Spotlight: Culture Kitsch At Pop

From ray guns and The 'Emporium of Popular Culture'

Pop Emporium of Popular Culture, that treasure trove of mementos from our not-so-distant past, is the ultimate stop for those looking to pick up the leg lamp from A Christmas Story or that '50s ray gun or a vintage "trimline" dial telephone (in pale pink, no less).  Darren Hill has transformed his love for nostalgia and kitsch into a phantasmagoria of a shop, where everywhere you look, memories pop (!) into mind. That favorite tv show from childhood, the cover of the first album you ever owned, Elvis! The store is positively eye-popping (!!).  So, if you're looking for a gift that will surprise and delight on Christmas Day, head over to Pop at 142 Duke St. (just down from Main Street). It will make you smile. Hours: Thursdays 4 - 7, …

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Holiday Spotlight: Local Craft Brews, Wine 6-Pack From Savory Grape

The Savory Grape has lots of gift ideas, but their New England beer 4-pack is a special favorite.

The folks at The Savory Grape wine and liquor shop at 1000 Division Street are BUSY this time of year. That's because their shop is chockful of great gift ideas. But they've worked hard to take some of the guesswork out of the gift-giving process too, with these wine and beer offerings. In the beer category, they're offering the New England Lover Craft Pack. "We had a hard time creating this pack because we absolutely love so many New England breweries and their creations. Love, love, love these!" they write. The beers include Allagash Confluence (Portland, Maine), Cisco Brewer Moor Porter (Nantucket, Mass.), Greysail Stargazer Imperial Stout (Westerly, R.I.) and Smuttynose Old Brown Dog (Portsmouth, N.H.), for $44.99 in a box with bow.  …

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Holiday Spotlight: Custom Embroidered Anything At Inspirations

Totes, hoodies, hats, t-shirts, towels – you have one made, or dozen, or more.

Shhhh, please don't tell them, but I think I've found the gift for my son's many wonderful teachers this year: customized tote bags from Inspirations Embroidery on Main Street.  Lynn Murphy, owner of Inspirations, has a number of items on hand for you to pick from, but you can also bring items to her. If it's fabric, she can embroider it, which opens up a wealth of possibilities when it comes to holiday gifts.  The totes are the traditional rectangle shape (think L.L. Bean only softer and washable) or you could do the small duffle bags as totes. But then, what about your neices and nephews – personalized towels of course! Or hoodies with a favorite object (golf club, coffee cup, gardener's trowel, etc.) or name. The possibilities are …

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Holiday Spotlight: Negligee Nirvana At Staci's

And don't fret, guys, if you don't know what to buy – Staci keeps a wish list.

Ok, quick quiz: what does the woman in your life want for Christmas – a new kitchen gadget or a soft and sexy chemise?  Duh! There's just something so fun and special about luxurious chemises and nightwear. After all, most of us women feel like it's ok to spend money on something for the kitchen. When it comes to negligees, on the other hand, that's a treat.  Staci's Place on Main Street has just the thing – a variety of high-end (but not too high end!) European brands to delight and surprise. What's even better is you don't have to fly blind when shopping. Owner Staci Cormier keeps wish lists for customers, so if your special someone visits the shop, Cormier will note her preferences, including the size. The shop carries Cosabella from …

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Valentine's Day: Local Gift Ideas

From chocolates and roses to jewelry and orchids, finding something special for your someone special is easy in EG.

As Valentine’s Day draws near, we always seem to be constricted by that suffocating question of “What do I buy?” Luckily, local businesses around East Greenwich have alleviated the stress of Valentine’s Day to make it easy and enjoyable. Here is just a sample of some ideas for that special someone. Sweet Twist     With all the pretty confections at Sweet Twist, it can be hard to choose which one for Valentine’s Day? In preparation for one of the largest candy holidays of the year after Halloween (Americans will purchase approximately 58 million pounds of chocolate leading up to Valentine’s Day), Sweet Twist has an abundance of choices. Always a favorite is the heart-shaped box of chocolates for a classic approach. A more unique choice …

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5 Things You Need To Know Today

Two-Day Countdown, Library Signups & More

Five things you need to know about East Greenwich today, Dec 23.

Panic time: Sorry, I’d love to say you’ve got all the time in the world to get your Christmas on, but we’re down to hours now, so by all means panic if you haven’t done anything yet. If it’s gifts you need to buy, here are a couple of stories we’ve run this week that could make your life easier: Last-Minute Gifts: Main Street Edition, and Last-Minute Gifts: Beyond Main Street. If you need an appetizer for your sister’s Christmas Eve gathering, try blogger Kim Ragosta’s pinwheels recipe. Avenger Sports: The Boys Basketball team plays Warwick Vets at home tonight at 7 p.m. Junior varsity plays at 5:15. The Boys Hockey team takes on Rogers at Thayer Arena in Warwick at 9:30 p.m. Is your house Decked Out? Then consider entering Patch’s Deck …

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Last-Minute Gift Ideas: Beyond Main Street

If you haven't finished your shopping, EG Patch feels your pain - and wants to help.

In Part Two of our last-minute gift ideas, we take it beyond Main Street, to a few other spots in town. If you have other local ideas to share, add a comment or post a photo. For Part One, click here.

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Last Minute Gift Ideas, Main St. Edition

EG Patch is here to help those of you who still have a bit of shopping left. On Wednesday, we'll feature gifts from beyond Main Street.

Alex & Ani may be the Main Street hot-spot this season, but there are lots of other fun and fabulous gifts you'll find on Main Street this week. For those who are still shopping (including yours truly!), there's one more Holiday Main Street Stroll, this Thursday starting at 5 p.m. If you've found other Main Street treasures you want to add to this list, attach a photo or just leave a comment. If, however, your perfect EG gift is at a store in another part of town, please send me an email - we're covering those on Wednesday. And don't worry ... it will all somehow get done!

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