2008.12.02
Some uniquely Salem gift ideas...
Whether it's that special person that has everything or the one person on your list that's just hard to shop for, here are some gift ideas, big and small and in-between, that are so uniquely Salem.
Original artwork created by a Roanoke College grad: Charlie Lightcap is displaying his wooden carvings (including whimsical but sturdy canes) and paintings at the Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea in Salem alongside studying students and folks grabbing a warm cup of caffeine. The artist is a regular at the coffee shop, and the tall Philadelphian former Maroon basketball player often answers questions about his art there. The carvings and paintings average around $150, and he's even been known to create original works.
Charlotte's Web Antiques: In the maze of the 50-plus vendor stalls, you can find everything from vintage and inexpensive Christmas decorations, to costume jewelry, to wartime figurines, to antique furniture, to wrought-iron skillets, to cheap wrapping paper. (Among the vintage dolls, there is even a troll or two!) Antique grandfather clocks, phones, chairs, posters ... the helpful staff includes RC grad Nancy Lough, who can help point you in the right direction if there's something you had in mind. Outside, there is sturdy antique furniture, most of which just waiting on a little elbow grease and a loving touch. Prices range from $.50 for a cookie cutter, to a few hundred for furniture. (Ladies, there is a 1960s Maroon fur coat there for a mere $65. Click here for more pictures from the smorgasbord of goodies and oldies. And if you'd rather shop online, you can find a cache of shippable treasures at http://stores.ebay.com/Charlottes-Web-Antique-Mall .
Do you have favorite gift items from Salem? Send your ideas to news@sosalem.com for possible inclusion in a future story.
