Nestled in the Poco-a-Poco garden patio, Tinhorn Toys offers merchandise that couldn’t be more different from the touristy souvenirs that pervade Old Town. This old-fashioned, battery-free store specializes in reproduction tin toys from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s—there are tops, trains, tea sets and a wide variety of robots. Tinhorn also carries classic toys such as Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, marbles, jacks, tiddlywinks, pick-up sticks and blocks. Bobbie, Tinhorn’s exceptionally friendly co-owner, will help you find a gift, be it zombie action figures for an adult child or a sock monkey for a baby.
Gallery 8
Finding Native American jewelry and pottery in Old Town’s sea of galleries and gift shops is easy, but locating a trove of gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pieces in one place is trickier. Gallery 8, hidden in a little alleyway east of the main plaza, deals in only jewelry and pottery. Shoppers can find chunky amber rings, delicate turquoise bracelets, vases, serving vessels and other art objects made in the region. What’s more, everything is 50 percent off through Christmas.
Duran Central Pharmacy
The beautiful thing about this place is that it allows customers to kill two birds—and a partridge in a pear tree—with one stone. Aside from being a full-service pharmacy and a culinary institution in New Mexico, it’s an eclectic gift shop. The store has some of the best imported candy offerings in town, as well as kitchen gadgets, entertaining supplies, body products, local books and cards, and an assortment of funky and unusual items with great stocking potential.
The Gallery Store At The Albuquerque Museum Of Art And History
The Albuquerque museum’s Gallery Store isn’t an ordinary gift shop. The usual museum fare—wall art, books, jewelry (albeit some of it vintage Native American jewelry)—is available, but the shop also offers vases, trays, bowls, pet items, music, scarves and kid-oriented art supplies. Fun and silly gifts are also for sale—this year someone’s therapist mom is getting an ice cube tray based on Edvard Munch’s “The Scream.” Plus, when you shop at the store, you’re supporting the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.
