Last-Minute Gift Guide

Toy & Comic Stores

By Amy Dalness with contributions by Heather Apodaca

Eric Williams ericwphoto.com

Tooooooys! You can’t go wrong with toys. For anyone of any age, they are foolproof gifts.

Noble Collectibles

8216 Montgomery NE • 858-0212

Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Noble Collectibles is a gamer’s paradise. You’ll find racks of manga, comic books, sports and other collectible games, but it’s the old-school video games that make this spot irresistible. From Atari, NES, SEGA, PS1—even some of the more “modern” systems—you’ll find boxes and boxes of games and consoles here. We want to go home and play “Super Mario Bros. 3” right now just thinking about it. Or “Dig Dug.” Oh, memories…

Out of the Blue

2502 Rio Grande NW • 242-4455

Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
outofthebluetoys.com

Our readers have voted Out of the Blue the best toy store in Albuquerque some gajillion times. And with good reason: This store’s got hundreds of toys for newborns, pre-teens and adults, too.

The Magic and Juggling Shop

3205 Central NE • 255-2303

Hours: Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.
magicandjuggling.com

The jolly magicians at The Magic and Juggling Shop take their craft very seriously, which means they have some seriously amazing tricks and trinkets in the shop. Card trick sets and DVDs of parlor magic make great gifts for the magic novice. Or try out a starter set with everything a blossoming trickster needs to perform, including a dozen tricks, a velvet table cloth and an insurance policy (’cause sometimes the willing volunteer just never reappears).

Lobo Anime & Comics

1016 Juan Tabo NE Suite D • 332-0499

Hours: Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
loboanime.com

Now this is a comic store. Whether you’re shopping for an avid collector or a casual superhero fan, Lobo Anime & Comics has something for every lover of graphic action. And they have a drool-worthy collection of action figures and toys—new and vintage—that are sure to please.