There are a few ways to alleviate the stress associated with holiday shopping.
The first is to disentangle oneself from feeling any duty to shop. Once the reputation for being eccentric has been created, you free yourself up to make more meaningful choices.
It’s not about setting the bar low so much as it is a exploding expectations altogether. Thoughtfulness, spontaneity, and authenticity have vanished from the equation when “generosity” and “good will” are mandated.
Another way to reduce pressure is to be more selective about where one’s money goes. Stepping foot in a major shopping center or strip mall does not need to happen during November, December, or any other time of year, and while Hartford does have a few national chains, those have the least interesting offerings.
The following are the Real Hartford picks for where to shop:
Hidden from Street-View Shops
From educational toys to jewelry to books, museum gift shops have a wide range of appeal. In Asylum Hill, at the Mark Twain House and Museum, you can find, of course, Twain’s books and items that are obviously directly related to him, but you can also get giant frogs and purses in the shape of cats, among other folksy items. They have an online store as well, but the selection is more limited.
Next door, at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, more gift options abound. People who lament that there is no place to buy books in Hartford are looking in the wrong place. Here, they stock Stowe’s works, of course, but also feminist texts. Also available here: scarves.
Up the road a few minutes, the Connecticut Historical Society, in the West End, has a small but nice shop. Right now they have City Bench-made items like bowls and trays.
And Downtown, the CT Science Center and Wadsworth Atheneum continue to have stores worth checking out.
As you’d expect, the Science Center shop is geared mainly toward children, but adults will find plenty to be amused by. Books, Rubik’s Cubes, Angry Birds, and sassy geek t-shirts (“Do these protons make my mass look big?”) are among the merchandise. Or better, here, and at other museums, you can get tickets and memberships, which gives the gift of an experience — far more memorable than any “thing.”
Right now, the Wadsworth Atheneum has Patti Smith books in stock, so despite what some utterly unpunkrock folks would say about her photo exhibit, that and the merchandise are worth the visit.
For more homegrown art, go to the source. The artists’ open studio weekend already happened, but if you missed that (or had no money then), you can always contact individual artists to see if they would be willing to show you a few pieces. If you’re serious about potentially spending money, and if you give the artist enough of a time frame in which to arrange the visit, folks who want their art to go out into the world are generally happy about this kind of thing.
Sadhna’s inside of 960 Main is a perpetual favorite out-of-street-view shop: bright colors, sparkles, frequent sales, and affordable smaller items like shoes and scarves. They are located near the escalator.
Always Looks Closed But Isn’t 
Vice Versa Boutique on the corner Main Street is cursed with the tinted windows it inherited from the previous owner. Now, they redirect customers to use the entrance on Capitol Avenue. The merchandise is sparse and ranges from Red Carpet attire to jeans and flannel. This is where you can find the blingiest Hartford Whalers t-shirt, possibly, ever. There is a consignment section. Another reason to love them? One of their photo shoots (see website) happened in the Stretch of Sketch (“Corridor of Hope”).
Edibles
The recent Harvest Market got much-deserved attention, but the Billings Forge Farmers’ Market continues every Thursday. Their hours are admittedly difficult for those who work traditional shifts, but when the trip can be squeezed in, one finds pies, soup mixes, and goat cheese, along with scarves and other locally-produced non-edibles.
La Paloma Sabanera has sweets! Among them, chocolates from Divine Treasures, which are hand crafted in Manchester, CT. The selection is more limited than what you would have to choose from in Manchester, but if you can not get out that way, this is the next best thing, and barring any nut allergies, there is not a bad flavor among them. Some that have been stocked at La Paloma: Turona and Caramel Cashew with Sea Salt.
Should Be Edible, But Isn’t
The House of Essence on Pratt Street has been open for less than a year, but they have made their presence known. They have lotions, oils, soaps, and more. “Tester” bottles are available so that you can leave the store smelling like ten different fragrances.
Safety
Not to absolve sloppy, careless motorists of responsibility for running down pedestrians and cyclists, but there are ways that those biking in low-light can be more visible.
I’m not talking about neon and spandex.
Hartford-based Daily Rider Bike has headlights and taillights for bicycles. Along the theme of safety, they also carry helmets.
Defunct
There used to be an excellent store at the Old State House. When I stopped by recently, I was informed that they were “reconfiguring” how they “use space in the building,” and that the store was currently closed. Nothing in the exchange indicated it would or would not reopen.
Last year’s selections can be seen here. Contact the vendors first for updated hours.
Are there any places that did not make the list but should have?