Pulse: Style: Shopping Trip

When mall-phobia hits, head off the beaten path to these gift-rich destinations

Atlantic City

You can spend money in A.C. and always come out a ­winner — if you stick to the shops at the Tropicana’s Quarter.

FOR THE GUYS’ GUY
TinderBox/Vino 100
609-441-9500 
It’s bachelor bliss: cigars, under-$25 small-maker wines, poker suitcases, leather flasks and French lighters.  

FOR HOMEBODIES
Rittenhouse Gift & Home 
609-344-0033
The casino location of this store has everything you’ll remember from the original Locust Street shop, including sleek Blomus tea sets, red Vietri pottery bowls and Seda France candles.  

FOR ARTSY-CRAFTY TYPES
Zephyr Gallery 
609-340-0170 
This gift ­gallery carries the same ­popular ­Judaica as its Princeton ­location, plus American crafty art glass, jewelry and kaleidoscopes.

FOR SPA ADDICTS
Bluemercury 
This shop’s gift card will once again be the season’s best-seller, but the Trop’s Bluemercury also expects to answer serious demand for fun-to-play-with cosmetic palates by Laura Mercier and Trish McEvoy.  

Insider Info:  You’ll find the Quarter at 2831 Boardwalk. Want kitschy bling? Head to the Borgata at 1 Borgata Way (609-317-1000).

Lambertville

This shop-chocked Jersey town oozes unique gifts.

FOR THE VINTAGE LOVER
No. 63
63 Bridge Street; 609-397-2121 
Old-fashioned yo-yos and pickup sticks line the shelves of this vintage-meets-new gift and clothing store. Pick up a felt doggie ornament or a Pucci shift.

FOR THE COCKTAIL-PARTY PRINCESS
Area 
This home shop is filled with funky gifts like New Arcadia Studio’s amazing tumblers with orange and gold swirls.

FOR THE GLAM HIPPIE
Bucks County Dry Goods 
Like Lambertville’s own Anthropologie, this earthy houseware-and-wardrobe shop carries bird trivets, pillows and pullovers.  

FOR THE QUIRKY FRIEND
Monkey Hill 
This cozy home shop stocks recycled ornaments, Bodhi dog toys, vinyl wallets and colorful suede baseballs—perfect stocking stuffers.

Insider Info:  Fuel your shopping energy with sweet-potato biscuits or cranberry scones at Stockton’s Meil’s (corner of Bridge and Main streets, Stockton; 609-397-8033).

Wayne

Mom-and-pop shops give this town its Main Street charm.

FOR SANTA’S HELPERS
Oxford Circus 
More than 200 of the world’s best toy-makers are represented in this walk-in closet of a shop. Check out wooden pushcarts by HABA, handmade ballerina dress-up outfits by Pamela, and rocking horses by Mamas & Papas.

FOR (OLD-SCHOOL) MAIN LINE MOMS
French Lemon
There’s no better place to find preppy essentials like cashmere cable-knit sweaters, Lacoste polos and embroidered slippers.  

FOR (NEW-SCHOOL) MAIN LINE MOMS 
Genes
Like an urban loft, this brand-new baby-and-mommy boutique is perfect for the less-preppy Main Line set. Moms-to-be can shop for gear like low-slung maternity jeans, plus nursery furnishings by David Netto.  

FOR TREE-HUGGERS
P.J. Hollyhocks 
Each December, ornaments fill this home-and-gift store. Thousands of them. The best ones to give as gifts? Mercury balls, distressed and retro-esque mirrored ones in pink and aqua.

FOR HIPSTERS
Inside & Outside
Relocated a few miles from its original space in Ardmore, this seven-month-old shelter shop has a younger vibe than its neighbors and a great selection of cool-but-not-too-pricey gifts. Find psychedelic plastic plates, monogrammable oval doormats and glass candlesticks.  

Insider info: This December, Wayne merchants are, in one shop owner’s words, “casually committed” to being open on Sundays. 

Old City

You know about standbys like Foster’s Urban Homeware, Vagabond and Charlie’s Jeans, but something’s always new in Old City. 

FOR MUDSLINGERS
Liz Kinder Ceramics 
126 Market Street; 267-235-5820 
Housed in a former Metropolitan Bakery, this shop is lined with Kinder’s mugs, bowls and vases—as well as pendants and belt buckles made by her assistant, Harmony.

FOR THE GIRLIE-GIRL
Sugarcube
Elisa Burratto’s shop for vintage (and some new) fashions is the stop for the fashion-forward girls on your list. One must-buy: Steven Alan’s cashmere headscarf—super-soft, with a button closure at the back.  

FOR THE HOST WITH THE MOST
Fork, Etc. 
The gourmet-to-go prong of Fork has the best last-minute hostess gifts: signed cookbooks, Moroccan tea glasses, artisanal honey, silver-plated ice tongs, Szechuan-pepper chocolates, and, for the collector who has everything, hand-carved antique corkscrews.  

FOR THE CLOSET CLOTHESHORSE
Stitch 
229 Chestnut Street; 215-923-3910 
Treat him to striped button-downs by 7 Diamonds, dark boot-cut Kasil jeans, or classic blazers by
Modern Amusement.

Insider info: ME & Blue, Smak Parlour and Velvet have created a tank printed with a heart and “New Orleans” to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. At ME & Blue (311 Market Street; 215-629-2347).