Shop Local Y’all
By Alaina Loughridge - Photo’s by Wen McNally - Headline photo by William Harrell
If y’all are anything like me, you wait until the last bitter, horrible
moment to commence your Christmas shopping. Then in your rush
to complete the shipping to Timbuktu and get all your horribly wrong
gifts wrapped and to the post office, you are super stressed out. Then
you have to deal with those gifts that you are handing over eyeball to
eyeball. Those are the people you really have to avoid eye contact with
because they know you half-assed it and waited until the last nth of a
second. If you are one of those that shop throughout the year, well, you
are an anomaly of a human being, and that having been said, I don’t
think you are human. Anyway, back to me: Every year I try to be better
than the year prior. That objective has yet to be obtained, but I am
always hopeful!
So, keeping that in mind this year, Shop Local! I have ideas for you
to make your Christmas, if not stress free (HA), then most certainly less
crazy. Most all of the local shops will ship for you (which is a ginormous
relief), but who in their right mind wouldn’t want a coffee and a cup
from the Tybean? I have four so I can vouch for their awesomeness.
Here are some excellent ideas to help the slack-asser in all of us have a
productive, happy holiday:
your most stubborn relative. There is nothing like getting a “Shuck
Me, Suck Me, Eat Me Raw” shirt or koozie from Bernie’s to say Merry
Christmas from Tybee! A-J’s Dockside has a veritable gift shop of
shirts, hoodies, koozies and other items that are colorful and cool, and
anyone on this planet is going to enjoy representing our best Back River
restaurant. Spanky’s is super fun with their ‘chicken finger’ apparel,
cups and koozies too. That could go either way for someone you really
like or just someone you want to give the finger to! Ha! If you go to
Sundae Café and get a gift certificate for a special someone, they
will literally roll over and purr for you. Same goes for 80 East Gastro
8 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | DEC 2017
Pub! Another Back River favorite is Bubba Gumbo’s, and you can find
a variety of shirts and koozies to make a terrific gift basket for Uncle
Andy in Yakima, Washington. If you are still waffling around, Fannie’s
on the Beach offers fun WTF apparel and gift certificates. MacElwee’s
Seafood also has gift certificates available. Sting Ray’s Seafood is
another must stop in and shop for various apparel items and a gift
certificate. If you want more bar items, Nickie’s 1971 is a must see!
Gift certificates are available for both food and apparel. While you are
thinking about that, don’t forget Tybee Time and Doc’s. They offer cool
hats and t-shirts that are perfect for those friends and relatives that
want to be on Tybee, but can’t get here. Same too for Wet Willie’s! If
you get a gift certificate here, you can use it at any of their locations in
the U.S. Then there’s the Wind Rose: A gift certificate from there is like
a kiss from Grandma (not the sloppy, weird one, but the slip money in
your pocket and pat on your butt one).
If food and our unique, funky restaurants aren’t quite what you are
looking for, do not panic. I know more:
The DeSoto and
Sandcastle Inn are two great places to stay and are literally on the
beach. Why not give a gift of a Parent’s Night Out? We all know those
people who work hard to support their families and just need a break.
Get a room for the night for these hardworking parents so they can
go out and shake their ass and then go to a classy hotel room and
just enjoy the peace and quiet. The babysitter is on you though. I have
nothing for that! While you are admiring the view from the DeSoto, you
also most definitely want to check out their gift shop. They have got
unique gift items. I go there every Christmas and never leave empty
handed. For those out-of-town relatives that are coming to your beach
house and you have no room? Get a condo at Tybrisa Resort or
Stay Tybee Vacation Rentals. Nothing says love like a condo. Not to
mention your visiting relatives will not be in your home. Yeah! That is a
win-win right there and I don’t care who you are, you do not want your
relatives in your house for an extended period of time. DeSoto also has
a lovely B & B that would be a perfect gift for anybody that enjoys not
doing anything at all, but being catered to. Le Sigh (as Betsey would
say). Same too with River’s End Campground. They have cabins
available for those non-tent and non-camper people. It is like a ‘guest
room by the sea.’ River’s End also has a terrific gift shop that offers
everything Tybee and funky. Definitely something to check out.
for you too! For your friend that is always wanting to hitch a ride
or always seems to be unable to find their way home, Tybee Turtle
Transit offers gift certificates to get one to and fro from wherever they
need to go. Breezy Riders also offers gift certificates, and with their
latest edition of a bus that includes a piano playing Joe Jarka, my
goodness, what could possibly go wrong? HaHa! If you are always the
DD or have thoughts for a three hour tour, Tybee Golf Carts is a must
go to. You can control your own Tybee destiny in your own golf cart! The
possibilities are endless!
The Tybean Art &
Coffee Bar is where you need to start. Get your shot of espresso and
browse their gift area. After several espressos, step out that door, clutch