Page 730 - Demo

Down Montague Street:A Bundle of Holiday Finds On a Few Short BlocksBY VALERIE LEVYA trip to a department store isone way to find a large selection tochoose from for that lengthy list ofholiday shopping needs. Butthere%u2019s another, maybe better,way right close to home %u2014 that%u2019s atrip to Montague Street inBrooklyn Heights, where adelightful range of small shops andstores offers a more uniqueselection of very special gifts thanjust about any place around.Often called a %u201cdepartmentstore on a street,%u201d the three-blocklong stretch of shops is one of themost pleasant places we know tospend a shopping afternoon, andit%u2019s hard to resist the temptation tosneak in a little something foryourself.In addition to the range ofshops on Montague Street, theburdens of holiday shopping areeased by the handy availability ofa good variety of restaurants andspecialty food shops. When thegoing gets tough, there%u2019s nothing topick up spirits like a generousdouble scoop of Rocky Road icecream at Baskin-Robbins (127Montague) or a healthy piece ofBoston Cream pie and cafe au laitat the Pastry Gallery (172Montague).Here are some of ourimpressions of a handful of thedozens of shops and storesavailable on the street which offerwhat-to-buy solutions to holidayshopping needs.Star-shaped cookie cutters,starting at just 40 cents each,double beautifully as Christmastree decorations as well as bakingaids. Cookie cutters of all sizes andshapes are there for the choosingalong with many other reasonablypriced gift ideas at Meuniers, 140Montague Street. The shop, just afew steps down, also offers a fineselection of clay milk and sugarbowls, pots for plants or display,and hanging flower pots, all glazedin classic earthy tones. Clay teasets, including a tea pot and foursmall cups, start at $15. The vastarray of kitchen utensils, fromwooden tasting spoons andspatulas to wisks and charmingtea kettles, if wrappedappealingly, can be great gifts forthe culinary artist in your life. Andstraw woven oval place mats($1.90 each) can set off any holidayspread.A couple of stores down, andjust a few steps up, the coffee, teaor spice lover can find everythinghe needs at Leaf %u2018n%u2019 Bean,136 Montague. Pure selections ofcoffee, including Haitian, JavaPlantation and Colombian coffees,start at $3.90 a pound. Thespecialty of your choice, packed ina colorfully decorated tin, startingat $1.90 each, completes a uniqueholiday package. Among individual containers of every teaimaginable, are combination setsfor the indecisive shopper, whichstart at $3.75.HOMEMADE HANDICRAFTSIf you have a yearning for thatold time Christmas withhomemade handicrafts, the nonprofit Women%u2019s Exchange ofBrooklyn, 76 Montague Street, isdefinitely your next stop.Handmade knitted and felt holidayornaments abound, priced mostlyunder $5. Delicate knit, patchworkand needlepoint stockings(startingat $10) add the season%u2019s spirit toany fireplace. One special itemfeatured is a handmade woodenbackgammon set for $50.And don%u2019t forget, with all thepresents that are piling up in yourarms... wrapping paper is aninevitable must. The Exchangeoffers a simple yet classicselection of tasteful papersstarting at $1.75. There is a $1charge for gift wrapping for thosewho choose to take the easy wayout here.If you walk into Scott%u2019s onMontague, 145 Montague, andventure to the back of the store, adelightful selection of doll housesand miniature furniture is apleasant suprise. Scott%u2019s featuresthese gifts for the young at heartstarting at $38 for crafted dollhouses with a full line of furniturefor prices under $5 a piece. Simplewooden magazine racks (startingat $13) make for great presentsand cleverly discreet hints for theless-than-neat person on your list.At 150 Montague, Zig Zagfeatures Halston felt hats (startingat $21) among a fine selection ofdesigner clothing. The Halstonsare a top idea now that coldweather is on us and come in allcolors. Matching hat and scarf setsstart at $17.50. And if you%u2019re notsure of that loved one%u2019s hat size,pick up one for yourself, after thislong day, you deserve it.Colorful red, orange, yellowand white space saver storageunits and wastepaper basket0 *range from $7 to $35 and areconveniently featured at TheWorkbench, just off Montague at60 Clinton St. %u201cAnother popularitem,%u201d says manager Bob Kaplan,%u201cis the solid oak rocking chair withclear laquer finish.%u201d this potentialheirloom costs $100. TheWorkbench also offers a classiccollection of wooden furniture,ranging from toy chests and stoolsto old kindergarten desk sets andmini-wall units. After all, thebigger the tree...A LITTLE OF YOURSELFAmidst fine paintings, postersand sculpture, the SummaGallery, 152 Montague, offerspleasing original and finereproduction art gifts for theshopper with any size wallet.Summa partner Don Pandina saysthat the best gift is one that %u201cgivesa little of yourself.%u201dHanging crystal ornamentsand recycled glass mobiles arepopular items at Summa, whichPandina says reflects theecologically-minded residents ofthe Heights area. Paper-macheflying angel mobiles and statuescan help retain a truely traditionalChristmas atmosphere around thetree. Simple brass hangings, at$1.25 to $5, are also perfectornaments.Japanese porcelein statuesand vases range from $7 to $1500 atSumma. And for the clockwatcher, the shop offers aselection that will make time go bya little faster, from tiny travelingclocks to majestic grandfatherversions.And if all seems hopeless andthe never-ending search for theperfect gift seems to get longerand longer, stop by one of the fineMontague Street restaurants likeOld Hungary, where stuffedcabbage or palacsinka may justlift your spirits. After all, there arestill 18 more shopping days untilChristmas.Presents ofShopping for the perfec.t gift doesn%u2019t have to stop at thelocal departm ent store or at your favorite specialty shop.If searching for som ething unique and personal has youbogged down and approaching a frenzied breakdown,don%u2019t despair.The Seated Indian G ift Shop, housed in the Long IslandH istorical Society building at Pierrepont and ClintonStreets, holds a delightful selection of unusual gifts w ithprices as varied as the choices.R em em ber that shoe box overflow ing w ith faded,w rinkled photographs that once captured your greatg ran d m o th er%u2019s joyous expression upon seeing yourgrandm other for the first tim e? Or the snapshot of thew hole fam ily together (at last!)? W ell, starting at $15, youcan have that photograph reproduced on 8 x 10, paperfully restored and accom panied by a negative for futurereproductions. Not only is it a one of a kind gift, but awarm surprise for any m em ber of the fam ily.A nother special feature at the Seated Indian are quiltedpictures m ade of a collage of fabrics. Each one depictsm em orable scenes from the cra ftsm an %u2019s life and it%u2019spossible to suggest your own personal sentim entalrem em brances for a custom -m ade quilted picture. Pricesrange from $50-$100 each.The G ift Shop also specializes in rare historical booksas w ell as new ones focusing on the history of Brooklynand its environs.D on%u2019t overlook the beautifully crafted quilted blanketsdating back to 1830. A lthough m ost are in a high pricerange (most are approxim ately $395), they are perfect forthe bitter cold w inter m onths sneaking in and areguaranteed to last and last.The Seated Indian G ift Shop is open M onday-Saturdayfrom 11 a.m . to 5 p.m. W hile you%u2019re there, take theopportunity to browse around the Long Island H istoricalS ociety and its vast collection of priceless inform ationand history.%u2014 V.L.SUMMA GALLERY%u2019S GALAZIES: Summa Gallery, 152 Montague St., features a vast arrayof posters and fine paintings, crystal and paper-mache mobiles, plus for this gift givingseason. (Michael Cuiccio Photo)G if t Y o u r s e l f U pFor one m ore w eekend only, you can stum ble upon ahuge assortm ent of %u25a0 islity crafts from silk screenedinfant wear to handprii ad greeting cards. The C hristm asand Chanukah C rafts Fair, sponsored by the Am ericanArts and C rafts A lliance, features not only som e of thefinest artisans from the N ortheast United States, butBrooklyn craftspeople, as well.A m idst fine silver and gold crafted rings, necklaces andbracelets, carefully designed scupture and wall hangings,a barrage of leather goods from belts and w allets to carryalls and key holders fill the halls at the Diocesan Churchof St. Ann and the Holy Trinity.Long sleeved silk screened cotton tops and m atchingbottom s for infants and young children are offered in anenorm ous selection o f colors, sizes and patterns for$8.50/set. D elicately inked %u201c U nicorn%u201d cards, at $2/set, areboth practical and unusual for the holiday season.Look for the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies asvou pass into the Parish Hall!The Crafts Fair is being held on Dec. 9 from 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and on Dec. 10 from 1-10 p.m. at the Church of St.Ann and the Holy Trinity, at the corner of M ontague andClinton Streets. Adm ission is free, for further inform ationcall 595-8357.%u2014 V.L.SOME MONTAGUE AREA SPECIALTY SHOPS The Workbench, 60 Clinton St.,open Mon.-Sat, 10-6 pm.Summa Gallery, 152 Montague St.,open Mon-Fri, 10-8:30 pm, Satuntil 5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm.Zlg Zag, 150 Montague St., openMon-Sun, 11-7 pm.Meuniers, 140 Montague, openMon-Fri 108 pm, Sat 10-5:45,Sun, 12-5 pmLeaf %u2018n%u2019 Bean, 136 Montague St.,open Mon-Fri 11-7 pm, Satand Sun 11 -6 pmScott%u2019s On M ontague, 145Montague, Mon-Fri, 11-7, Sat 12-7,Sun, 12-5.Women%u2019s Exchange of Brooklyn,76 Montague St., Mon-Sat 11-4:30Thurs until 7:30 pm.Seated Indian Gift Shop, 128Pierrepont St., Mon-Sat 11-5 pm.Coming UpNext Week in theDowntown Section:Christmas Shoppingon Seventh AvenueShopping for KidsPage 14. THE PHOENIX, December 7,1978