Historical December 1983 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
For about twenty years, our family has kept a “SILTH” list.
The idea came from a ladies’ magazine and stands for “Someday I’d Like To Have.” The rules are that anyone can add anything to his or her list but must understand that “Someday” may be years away or even never. Items added to the list might be specific — the FisherPrice castle shown on page 10 of this catalog, expensive — a new car with all the options, or even unattainable — having all of the house clean at once or having time to read all the books we have.
Some things are crossed off eventually because they have been received or attained and some because they are no longer desired.
The List is also a not-so-subtle way of helping someone choose the right gift and the right size.
Not everyone has a SILTH list so the following information is provided to help you write your own list and get ideas for Christmas gifts for those less adept at hinting.
Here is a survey of some Skinker-DeBaliviere businesses and other sources of gifts. Zoo Association Gift Shop near the Children’s Zoo entrance on Government Drive. 9:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. daily. Penguins, pandas, parrots, elephants — if it’s animalrelated you’ll find it here. Cards, mugs, kitchen ware, books, stuffed toys, puzzles, posters, jewelry, ceramics including a 5-inch thick rattlesnake ready to strike.
A special Christmas shop carries more toys and thousands of Christmas ornaments. Or, for the person who has everything, how about a monkey or a tiger?
A St. Louis Zoo Parent sponsors an animal, providing the cost of its food needs for one year, and receives a certificate of parenthood, an ironon decal, and an invitation to a special Parents Picnic. Inquire at the Administration Building Gift Shop or call the Zoo Friends Association at 647-5880 Monday through Friday. Or, Zoo Friends receive a subscription to Animal Kingdom magazine, invitations to special events, and a 10% discount in the Zoo Gift Shop, and additional benefits depending on the level of giving. Subscribing memberships begin at $25. Missouri Historical Society’s Museum Shop (Country Store) located in the Jefferson Memorial in Forest Park. (During current construction, enter from the south side.) Some of the Country Store appearance has been removed, but the shop still carries Veiled Prophet and Lindbergh memorabilia, toy soldiers, dolls, miniatures, and a fantastic range of doll house furniture.
It also has St. Louis related cards, stationery, World’s Fair photos and maps, as well as “antique” cards and wrapping paper. Memberships in the Missouri Historical Society begin at $35 a year and provide a subscription to Gateway Heritage, use of the library, a discount on Country Store purchases, and invitations to special events. Art Museum Shop located in the new wing of the Art Museum in Forest Park. Tuesday 12-8 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Closed Monday. Art books, jewelry, calendars, posters including neighbor Bill Kohn’s St. Louis poster ($5), World’s Fair posters. Help someone get started on New Year’s resolutions with a membership at CWE Nautilus, 5615 Pershing.
For information on rates, call 361-6660. New Harmony at 5585 Pershing puts a special emphasis on music with not only records and tapes, but musically inclined gift items as well, such as brassware, musical greeting cards, and figurines.
They also have antiques, small furniture items, antique jewelry, Mexican dresses, grapevine and honeysuckle wreaths and baskets, wood puzzles, Christmas creches and angels, tapestries, paintings, Beatrix Potter figures and books, and custom-framed art. Koch Drug, also in the Pershing Arcade at 5585 Pershing, carries various small gift items and stocking stuffers as well as a selection of wrapping paper, ribbon and cards. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8:30-4 Saturday. Doughboy’s Bakery, 5511 Pershing — not for the person who gets all of the shopping done two weeks before Christmas.
They • make special order cakes and will have Christmas cookies. You may also want to take a break from shopping and stop in for coffee and donuts. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. TuesdaySunday; closed Monday. Charlie’s Fruit and Produce at 309 Belt will have ‘Christmas plants, nuts for Christmas baking, and will make up fruit baskets to order. Phone 367-3110. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Kingsbury Square Hardware at 505 DeBaliviere has Black and Decker power tools and cases, other tools, space heaters, burglar alarm systems, kitchen items, Christmas tree lights, wrapping paper, color logs for the fireplace, and batteries for all those toys. Phone 361-7111. 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
The Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council has 1984 “Images of a City Neighborhood” calendars and the “We’re Close!” poster. 862-5122; 6008 Kingsbury.
The St. Roch’s Women’s Club cookbook “St. Roch’s Cooking Classics” is available from St. Roch’s for $5. Call Mary Gioia, 726-1056 or Gloria Broun, 727-7285. Tom Seghi Studio, 354 N. Skinker, restores old or damaged photographs, prints, and oil paintings, copies old photos, and takes new photographs.
They also do oil portraits from sittings or photographs. Phone 721-5788. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
When you have received your restored photos or accumulated assorted art, zoo, and SDCC posters, Pace Framing at 360 N. Skinker will frame them for you. Phone 721- 6253. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
In addition, consider doing your own gift certificates for a meal at one of the neighborhood restaurants, or buy tickets for a show at Washington University’s Edison Theater or Fox Theatre tickets at the Muny box office in Forest Park or a pass to the Tivoli on Delmar. Washington University students and staff also watch for the before Christmas sale at the campus bookstore. I hope this makes your Christmas shopping easier. Oh yes, Someday I’d Like To Have all of my shopping done by Dec. 15.
Originally published in The Paper, December 1983.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1983_12.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
