If it’s an odd knickknack, it’s at Doodlet’s (120 Don Gaspar St., 505/983-3771, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat.), a long-established corner shop filled to the brim with goodies: toy accordions, oven mitts emblazoned with Day of the Dead–esque Mexican skeletons, and every sort of novelty lights you can imagine. Endless browsing potential—and kids can practice the xylophone while you shop.
Traditional New Mexican folk art is the stock in trade at Móntez (125 E. Palace Ave., 505/982-1828, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Wed., 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 1:30–5 p.m. Sun.), where you can find not only elaborate painted-glass-and-tin saints’ portraits but also inexpensive colorful votive holders. (In wintertime, the shop opens an hour later.)
The owner of Seret & Sons (224 Galisteo St., 505/988-9151, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Mon.–Wed., 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun.) is a Santa Fe [1] icon who’s reputed to have invented Jimi Hendrix’s signature global-boho look when he brought groovy fabrics back from his travels through Turkey, Afghanistan, and Iran. Today he concentrates on dealing finely woven rugs, antique doors, and life-size wooden elephants from his cavernous warehouse just south of the plaza. Each room of the warren is dedicated to a particular item—chances are you haven’t seen so many rugs in one place outside of Istanbul.
For funky folk art that won’t break the bank, head for the equally gigantic Jackalope (2820 Cerrillos Rd., 505/471-8539, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sun.–Thurs., 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Fri. and Sat.), where seemingly acres are given over to mosaic-topped tables, wooden chickens, Mexican pottery vases, and inexpensive souvenirs. Sharing the space is a community of prairie dogs—good distraction for children while adults cruise the breakables.
For the perfect (if short-lived) Santa Fe [1] souvenir, visit Todos Santos (125 E. Palace Ave., 505/982-3855, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sun.), a chocolate shop in Sena Plaza that makes milagros, the traditional Mexican Catholic prayer charms shaped like body parts, here rendered in Valrhona chocolate and covered in a delicate layer of gold or silver leaf. The closet-size shop blends high and low in the world of confection: Mexican-wrestler Pez dispensers are on the shelves next to Leone pastilles imported from Italy.
If your preference is for nuts and chews, head to longtime candy vendor Señor Murphy’s (100 E. San Francisco St., 505/982-0461, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. daily) for some “caramales” (chewy balls of caramel and piñon nuts wrapped up in little corn husks) and other New Mexico–inspired sweet treats.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/santa-fe-taos-albuquerque/santa-fe