Best of Shopping

Best Shop for the Urban Gardener
Urbanweeds
(Fremont, 4302 Fremont Ave. N; 206.632.7680)
Apartment dwellers can still get some dirt under their nails and flex their green thumbs thanks to Fremont’s Urbanweeds. From self-watering flowerpots to “Garden in a Bag” herbs, this garden store has everything needed to make urban farming dreams a reality (you know you want to). Plus, most of the shop’s plants can thrive indoors, including a coffee plant that can live as long as 60 years.

Best Place to Wean Yourself Off of “Guitar Hero”
Emerald City Guitars
(Pioneer Square, 83 S Washington; 206.382.0231)
If you’ve been experiencing carpal tunnel symptoms from plastic guitar-playing overkill, step away from the Xbox and put your newfound finger-picking skills toward something productive, like learning to play the real deal. Emerald City Guitars, arguably one of the coolest guitar stores in the country, with exemplary customer service, can set you up with anything from a basic beginner guitar to the “holy grail,” a near-mint 1959 Gibson Les Paul ($395,000). Batteries not included.

Best Hybrid Museum/Shop
Kobo
(International District, 604 S Jackson St.; 206.381.3000)
The old sign reads “Higo Variety Store,” the newer sign reads “KOBO at Higo.” So which is it? KOBO. The unique shop, melding past with present, received a 2008 Mayor’s Small Business Award for creating a community space where arts are celebrated alongside Seattle’s Japantown history. Poetry readings, ikebana demonstrations and gallery talks are held within the walls that showcase memorabilia from the vintage five and dime and contemporary design.

Best New Flower Shop for Architectural Eurasian Arrangements
Willow & Bloom
(Fremont, 3415 Fremont Ave. N, Suite A; 206.913.8779)
Some see them as Asian, others say they’re contemporary. Whatever you call the indefinable arrangements of Fremont’s newest flower and gift shop, admiration is spreading, particularly among brides. Willow & Bloom’s designers keep it fresh with geometric containers and arrangements that marry typical European flowers like hydrangea and roses with tropical blooms such as orchids.

Best Reason to Keep Hand-Writing Your Thank-You Notes
Paper Delights
(Wallingford, 2205 N 45th St., Suite B; 206.547.1002)
This airy shop, opened last spring by mother-and-daughter owners Kathy Perkins and Alicia Olsen, boasts any stationery lover’s dream selection of lust-worthy paper stuffs, including the shop’s own initial note cards, delicate watercolor cards by local artist Walter Share, lush boxes of textile designer Amy Butler’s stationery, and lines by Orla Kiely and Kate Spade.

Best Pop-Up Shop
Pulp Lab
(Ballard, 1912 NW Dock Place; 206.706.7857)
Ballard’s new concept shop Pulp Lab (the store basically reinvents itself every few weeks) is now popping up all over Seattle. Through year’s end, temporary installations of its exclusive collection—from Project Runway’s Sweet P and visual artist Sage Vaughn—are being showcased in select boutiques and at SAM. The handmade, hand-painted dresses (up to $1,500) are worthy of checking out. Budget fashionistas will appreciate more affordable accessories: tees, $45; fingerless gloves, $90.

Best Shop for Hairy Hats
Foxmaid
(Capitol Hill, 411 E Pine St.; 206.267.7120)
In Foxmaid, the focus is on stuffed animals: not the cuddly, machine-washable kind—rather, the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed taxidermy type. Imported from Moscow, the controversial caps, costing upward of $125 and representing a variety of critters, are more Davey Crockett than David Beckham.

Best Shop for Square Dancing Skirts
Petticoat Junction
(Lynnwood, 14523 Highway 99, Suite 1; 425.743.9513)
With fullness back in fashion, perhaps you need a petticoat to wear under that skirt. Check out Petticoat Junction with closets and cubbies stuffed with plenty of flounce to the ounce. A Malco Modes petticoat with 60 yards of organdy for $53.50 is sure to add volume and more than a hint of color in hunter green, peacock and purple. Not enough fluff? They do custom orders, too.