A souvenir doesn’t have to scream “Arizona!” or “Grand Canyon!” to remind the purchaser of a fond time spent in our neck of the desert. The subtler the better, sometimes, and the more useful back home in real life. Here, a starter list of places to buy presents for yourself while here on vacation:
1. If Etsy birthed a brick-and-mortar baby, it would be frances, where hand-built jewelry, letterpress birthday cards and frilly/fragrant gifts exist in real time—no PayPal password or shipping patience required. • 10 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix
2. Facing a pocket park and sharing a doorway with an indie coffee shop, Bunky Boutique feels relaxingly rustic and intelligently urban at the same time. Mantra-stamped copper pendants and bicycle-enthusiast tees are prevalent and popular. • 1437 N. 1st St., Phoenix
3. A store of midcentury-modern delights called For The People is tucked behind an espresso counter at the east end of Biltmore Fashion Park. Treat yourself to a latte, and then to a wooden, chrome or cast-cement objet d’art. • Inside UNION marketplace at Biltmore Fashion Park, 2502 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix
6. The quiet Design Lab sits just a few blocks from spectacular Mesa Arts Center. Find it and you’ll be in for ready-to-enjoy goods like striped throw pillows and decorative industrial letters, plus awesome raw materials for themed parties—paper straws, scalloped labels, glass beakers and bottles and such. • 166 W. Main St., Mesa
7. One Wing Boutique in historic downtown Chandler blends personalized sentiments and manufactured goods, all with an affirming, you-can-do-it tone. • 80 S. San Marcos Pl., Chandler