We almost hate to spill this one because now you’re all going to know how lazy we are (we liked it better when you thought we traveled the world for all of our amazing trinkets), but it’s easy to forget about the Henry B. Plant Museum shop as one of the best places around to pick up great gifts. If you’ve never been there, you HAVE to go. The store manager, Sue Gauthier, has a great eye for cool stuff, and she is SO not the sweet little-old- lady-type you picture when you think of a Victorian museum. She’s assembled one of the most eclectic collections of wonderful items that you’ll ever find. Some of the store’s things are museum reproductions, but others are just random giftie things, including the usual fail-safe foodstuffs (Key Lime Coolers, for instance) and soap/home fragrance lines (like Thames). There are also plenty of Tampa things, both contemporary and historical, including books, art, postcards, and stationery. 
We love to browse when we have the time, but the store’s also perfect for the last minute stuff—hostess gifts in particular. And we know more than a few insiders who swear by the collection of estate consignment jewelry. The prices are reasonable and, unlike the collections at Saks and Neiman’s, you won’t see the pieces on everyone else. (Is it just us or would the world be a better place if we never saw another David Yurman necklace again?). Not that you have to splurge on estate jewelry--there’s a huge selection of unique costume pieces as well, including lots of figural brooches. So if you have someone who has a theme going (you know the ones--they have a personal totem, like frogs, or ladybugs, or--God forbid--Gators), you’ll find a pin that’s perfect for them. More than once we’ve seen people rush in to buy a twinkly bracelet for their neice or a brooch for their sister, have it beautifully boxed in the store’s signature gold box with a teal ribbon, and then take it right down the hall to the university post office for mailing. How convenient is that?
The seasonal items are beyond fabulous, but you have to hurry to get the best stuff. There are still a few (very cute) Halloween items left, but most are sold out. (One Museum Society committee member, who shall remain nameless, snagged the best witch’s hat ever and refuses to share it.)
To get the jump on Christmas and Hanukkah, we’re going to the Holiday Shopping Day on November 6th, and we strongly suggest you do the same. All of the decorations and ornaments are 10% off, including the absolutely stunning limited edition Christopher Radko glass ornament. It’s a silver minaret that’s been specially commissioned for the museum, and it’s signed and dated on the bottom. Since we know this will sell out long before the Christmas Stroll begins, (scroll down for stroll info) we’re going to make sure we get ours right away. We admit that, at $50, it’s not inexpensive, but it comes with all the buzzwords of a good Spending Rationalization: Great Gift, Radko, Collector’s Limited Edition, and It’s For A Good Cause (all profits from the store go to the museum, which is truly a Tampa treasure.)
We’re also going to check out John Costin’s latest releases, which will be unveiled from noon to 2:00 PM, and then again from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. (We don’t know about the northern regions, but no respectable South Tampa home would be complete without at least one of his stunning etchings).
The Holiday Sale runs from 10AM to 8PM, with homemade delicacies served all day, and wine and cheese at dusk! (We don’t ever eat, of course, but we have been known to sip some wine occasionally.) You can even go on your lunch hour--Zudar’s will be serving on the Veranda for $9 per person, but, as with anything worthwhile, you have to have a reservation. Call (813) 258-7302 by next Wednesday to get one.
If you don’t get to the sale, you can stop in during regular museum hours--you don’t have to visit the museum to access the store, so there’s no excuse not to visit.
Not that we actually want you to--too many people know our secret already!