San Diego Magazine's Guide to Shopping

Lori should have written this; she's the best shopper in the world (hence the reason why she gives us her "fashion reaction" here on My San Diego...Your San Diego). Unfortunately neither of us have reached the heights of knowing all things shopping about San Diego. And San Diego has it all, you will never want for shopping in San Diego and with Fashion Valley ever expanding and new boutiques popping up it looks like shopping will remain a favorite pastime.

During this holiday shopping season take some time to enjoy the surprises San Diego has to offer. Some highlights from San Diego Magazine:

• Africa & Beyond in La Jolla (1250 Prospect Street, 800-422-3742) Sculptures, masks, weapons and textiles appeal to both the collector and the curious.
• Antiques on Kettner (2400 Kettner Boulevard, Suite 106, Little Italy, 619-234-3332) sells an array of art, glass, pottery, kitsch and other miscellaneous objects.
• San Diego’s incense-imbued Buddha for You (6360 El Cajon Boulevard, 619-582-1100) carries numerous iterations of the Buddha figure—from $5 figurines to $5,000 statues. Proprietor Alfred Baron, 80, claims to have the state’s largest inventory of Buddhas, which he imports from Tibet, Nepal, China, India and other Far East locales.
• Looking to satiate a serious sweet tooth? Treat yourself to a slice of 1950s Americana at Elizabethan Desserts in Encinitas (155 Quail Gardens Drive, 760-230-6780), where baker Elizabeth Harris serves up mouth-watering cakes, pies, cookies and cupcakes “just like Grandma’s,” but with her signature elegant flair.
• High fashion has found its San Diego home at Fashion Valley (7007 Friars Road, 619-688-9113) The outdoor shopping center houses 200 stores and six major department stores—Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, JC Penney and the long-awaited Bloomingdale’s.
• Ocean Beach People’s Organic Food Market (4765 Voltaire Street, 619-224-1387)—San Diego’s only member-owned grocery store—has a vast selection of organic produce, grocery, dairy and bulk foods and herbs, as well as vitamins and homeopathics, cruelty-free bodycare and aromatherapy products.
• Hear ye, hear ye: Coronado’s Ye Olde Flower Shop (1330 Orange Avenue, Suite 115, 800-323-0885) is a family-run business that boasts buckets of charm in addition to its large inventory of fresh flowers.

PS. Fashion Valley is getting an H&M, more on that later.