How to Holiday Shop Without Leaving Nyack

Finding mall shopping particularly abhorrent or cyber purchasing slightly impersonal, yet still need to secure exactly the perfect gift for that special someone? If so, simply take a trip downtown—downtown Nyack, that is.

It's the place where your entire gift-giving needs can be met. With myriad shops from which to choose, the recipients of your holiday generosity will appreciate presents ranging from local historical tomes to exotic hand-crafted gifts from around the globe. Here's just a sampling:

Know someone who needs a weekend away—not necessarily very far away—for relaxation, digestive delights and perhaps a little pampering? Try giving the gift of a weekend or overnight Hudson River view at Riverview Bed and Breakfast with innkeeper Carollo Dost; it's nestled between Nyack and Piermont and situated along the Hudson River. Perhaps a couple needing time away from rambunctious kids, or a friend in need of quiet solitude, would appreciate this healthy dose of rejuvenation.

Besides a night away and breakfast prepared with organic ingredients, this venture also takes advantage of Riverview's spa amenities, like massage, yoga, acupuncture facelifts and nutritional counseling. Although focusing on whole body wellness, the nutritional counseling offers the generous by-product of weight loss.

"Our offerings provide positive change by taking baby steps and generating lifestyle shifts," Carolla explained. "We have the tools to help people learn how to live better in the world we live in now."

So give the gift of living like a movie star by staying in this antique (circa 1835) Dutch colonial once inhabited by Rex Harrison of My Fair Lady fame.

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Hickory Dickory Dock at 43 South Broadway is both an enchanting and entertaining place to browse and buy. Don't be fooled by this boutique's moniker—Hickory Dickory Dock has significantly more to offer that traditional, artfully crafted German clocks. Beneficiaries—and that's what folks should consider themselves if lucky enough to receive a gift from this shop—can relish in the premier nutcracker woodcrafts from the Erzgebirge region of Germany, where a select group of families have been creating nutcrackers for centuries.

Feel like giving or living like royalty? Incredibly distinctive hand blown ornaments such as tree toppers, finials, dreidels, Santas and an abundance of other decorative pieces are imported from Coburg Germany, the historical stomping grounds of Queen Victoria and her consort, Prince Albert.

How about a little Halloween for the festively frightful friends on your list? Loreen Costa and Kevin Looney, proprietors, offer an entire room dedicated to devotees of Halloween with Department 56 offerings such as snowy Halloween village pieces (think Sleepy Hollow), spooky seasonal characters and numerous small village accessories.

The assortment of clocks available can accommodate anyone—or anyone's room—on your list. Ranging from clocks adorned with space ships or pirate ships for a child's room to the highly collectible, certified "Black Forest" clocks for the more sophisticated person on your list, you won't be left looking.

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The book worm on your list will feel fulfilled when presented with a gift from at 8 South Broadway. Bookseller John Dunnigan artfully houses an expansive and diverse collection of over 40,000 volumes for perusing and purchasing. Proffering both new and used books, there is a wide selection of cards and ample adult, young adult, children's and books. 

"Cook books are very popular this time of year," Dunnigan explained, adding that they are on sale for the holiday shopper. Christmas and Hanukkah (for the belated gift giver) books are bountiful, too.

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Along the same lines, the —which is completing the Carnegie Building renovation—has much to offer without breaking the bank. (And most of these items come artfully illustrated with the image of Nyack's 1879 original library.) Something as simple, and useful, as blank note cards can be yours for as little as $2.00, for five cards.

To help carry the gifts you've already purchased in Nyack, canvas tote bags—depicting the historic library—can be had for eight dollars, and t-shirts are available for $10. For the more curious, several history books—each at $10—include Old Nyack and Nyack in Black and White (a book on race relations by the recently deceased local historian Carl Nordstrom).  Spend a little more, $28.00, for Nyack in the 20th Century: A Centennial Journal and you will receive a book which was published in 2000 by Nyack's own Historical Society.

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For those with even more exotic tastes, head to Hacienda at 126 Main St., which has been in Nyack for 16 years.  

"This is the type of place Marco Polo would have had, if he were still alive," explained owner Karim Deen. Wares are imported from Mexico, Morocco, India and China, as well as West and Central Africa.

Truly one-of-a-kind items—many of which are skillfully created from recyclable metals and wood—await.  These exceptional items are hand-crafted, hand-carved, hand-blown and hand-painted. A pair of hand-blown glasses can be purchased for $20, and since these glasses are individually crafted, no two are alike. Also expect to discover unique decanters and festive wine, water and margarita glasses. Hand-crafted flowers made from dyed corn husks in brilliant colors for as little as $6 would brighten up any environment.

Imported from Mexic , and designed to honor and celebrate those that have passed away, are traditional Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) figures of, for example, Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson. Authentic Talavera pottery—bowls, plates, jars and even vessel sinks—create an array of brilliant colors line Hacienda's shelves.

While belated Hanukkah gift-givers might present loved ones with a unique tin and leather menorah, game players will treasure—and play with—beautiful marble and onyx hand carved chess and domino sets.

Boaters anywhere will especially appreciate highly detailed replicas of famous ships, such as the Mayflower as well as the infamous Vasa (the Swedish ship that capsized on her initial voyage). Imported from Southeast Asia, artisans dedicated roughly 600 hours recreating these ships in painstaking detail.

Any doctors in the family? Deen carries medical figures made from recycle pots depicting doctors in action—a psychiatrist seeing a patient, an obstetrician delivering a new born.

If listening is more your gifted's style, Deen also provides an assortment of cross cultural CDs, including Gregorian chants and tribal drums.

"[The music is a] mélange of music from all over the world and mirrors the sensibility of the store," Deen said.

Since these possibilities just represent the tip for the proverbial iceberg, perhaps it's time to head downtown and discover what more Nyack has to offer. Happy hunting!

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Check back tomorrow to learn how to do all your holiday shopping .