Celebrate the season by shopping locally
This week's feature: Birch Bay

Bass Outlet
Birch Bay Square
Bass Outlet sells men and women’s clothing, and plenty of shoes at bargain prices. Also, be sure to check out their 40 to 60 percent off sale on knee-high leather boots. Bass Outlet is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 366-1428.

Beach Basket Yarns
7576 Terrill Drive
(behind The C Shop)
Beach Basket Yarns sells a variety of yarns, gifts, needles, books, baskets, puzzles and knitting lessons for those of us who could use them. Beach Basket Yarns is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and can be reached by calling 371-0332.

Birch Bay Coffee House
7608 Birch Bay Drive
If you stop by and visit David Harbaugh and Marta Flor of Birch Bay Coffee House in Birch Bay, you might get to see Brewy, the couple’s 10-year-old Dachshund standing on his hind legs in a Santa outfit. The two former owners of a multi-million dollar technical staffing firm have been instrumental in Birch Bay’s annual Dachshund parade, but you may be more interested in Harbaugh’s collection of baseball cards, sports memorabilia and other collectibles. They also carry Whatcom County’s largest collection of bobblehead toy figures. Browse through them all while sipping one of their eggnog lattes or a Scottish Nog tea.
Birch Bay Coffee House is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and can be reached by calling 371-2569.

Birch Bay Liquor Store
7832 Birch Bay Drive
The Birch Bay Liquor Store doesn’t just sell liquor. John Zuidmeer, owner and operator, sells a variety of gifts such as Martinitiles, ceramic tiles painted with a variety of drink recipes from a Bloody Mary to a Martini and “a pretty good selection of cigars.” But be sure to check out his world-class selection of tequilas, which, includes El Tesoro’s Paradiso anejo, a 100 percent agave tequila blended and aged under the supervision of Alain Royer, a master cognac blender of the French liquor company, Remy Martin ($109 for 750 milliliters) or the Chinaco, the oldest tequila to be imported to the United States ($55.25 for 750 milliliters). The Patron silver 100 percent agave tequila gift box is perhaps the best bargain, however, with a liter bottle and four shot glasses ($49.95). The Birch Bay Liquor Store is open from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They can be reached by calling 371-7018.

The Book Warehouse
Birch Bay Square
Books make great gifts and Book Warehouse sells a ton of contemporary books bought from overstocked or closed Barnes and Noble bookstores at discount prices. Also, check out their buy four-get one free sale. The Book Warehouse is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 366-5354.
Dirty Dog Wash
7868 Birch Bay Drive
Dirty Dog Wash offers services and gift certificates for dirty dogs. Chose from their self-service dog bathing tubs to their private bathing rooms and full service grooming. They also carry leashes and other dog accessories. Dirty Dog Wash is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. by appointment and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. They can be reached by calling 371-8874.

Fashion Ventures
Birch Bay Square
Fashion Ventures’ prices are so reasonable, one might wonder how they stay in business. One brown, genuine leather jacket, for example, sold for $63. Their slightly irregular rack is also a steal of a deal with items priced at $5.99 and up. This store also carries petite and plus sizes. Fashion Ventures is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 366-2213.

J & S Pots and Things
8870 Blaine Road
Joanne Shirra of J&S Pots and Things sells hand-made ceramics and a variety of accessories such as locally-made, hand-knitted hats and scarves. “Everything in here is made right here,” she said.
Customers can pick from a variety of pre-molded pottery and paint it any way they like or they can buy a piece formed, glazed and decorated by Joanne herself. If you’re lucky, you might run into officer Jon Landis of the Blaine police department who, on Tuesday, was painting a ceramic flower pot, in which to plant a Venus fly trap as a Christmas gift for his 10-year-old son. Other gift ideas include Jo’s hand-painted ceramic tiles or her signature beer chicken cooker, a high-tempered ceramic bowl with an eight-ounce cylinder that holds beer or other liquids ($20). Landis, however, said he uses cherry Dr. Pepper. J & S Pots and Things is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday nights. They can be reached by calling 332-4256.

L’eggs-Hanes-Bali
L’eggs-Hanes-Bali carries a selection of women’s underwear, bras and other accessories. But the real reason to go to this store is the incredibly affordable selection of women’s underwear (currently 3 for $10) and their sale on the popular Wonderbras ($19.99). L’eggs-Hanes-Bali is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 366-2202.

Lil’ Beach Angels
Birch Bay Square
Lil’ Beach Angels features locally-made children’s clothing such as Wee Step, a toddler shoe line made in Point Roberts, Bunnies By The Bay clothing from La Conner, and Patty Cakes Design clothing from Seattle and gifts for moms.
Patrice Greguski also said she donates 10 percent of profits from her own clothing line to children’s charities. Lil Beach Angels is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 366-2637.

Pacific Building Center
2677 Bell Road
This year, give your ecologically minded friend or sweetheart the gift of energy savings with a pack of compact fluorescent light bulbs from Pacific Building Center. The General Electric Softwhite 60-watt compact florescent bulb is estimated to use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times as long as a standard incandescent bulb, according to the Energy Star, an EPA-sponsored labeling program. Other great gift ideas include the aluminum alloy wind chimes that come in alto, tenor and soprano varieties and produce beautiful, enchanting sounds ($69.95 and up) or their Black & Decker 75-piece drill set($8.99). Pacific Building Center is open 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and can be reached by calling 332-5335.

Paper Factory
Birch Bay Square
Paper Factory sells almost everything you could possibly need that’s made of paper and all the accessories, including gift wrapping, boxes, bows, tape and ribbon. Paper Factory is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 366-3406.

Papillion Home and Garden
Birch Bay Square
Papillion Home and Garden has always sold a clever selection of garden accessories and home décor, such as wrought iron chairs, wire gazebos and giant hand-crafted bronze animals. Recently, though, the store has added a few clothing items and accessories that are very worthy of checking out, such as their angora or wool hats ($16), embroidered handbags ($9 and up), and beautiful Pashmina shawls, which are lightweight, warm and incredibly soft ($32). Papillion Home and Garden is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 366-7309.
Primrose Lane
7610 Birch Bay Drive
Primrose Lane gift shop sells a variety of wind chimes, candleholders, salt and pepper shakers, and other house wares. Primrose Lane is open only on weekends and can be reached by calling 371-7610.

Pro Beauty
Birch Bay Square
Pro Beauty supply sells high-end, salon brand beauty products at a discount rate. For gift ideas, check out their 1/8-ounce Opi nail polish bottles ($2.99), natural sea sponges (99 cents), tubes of brush-on body glitter, or their trial-sized bottles of Rusk hair care products ($2.70). Pro Beauty also carries the Tigi line of hair products, which are popular among stylish, young urbanites and make interesting stocking stuffers. Pro Beauty supply is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 366-9374.

Sea Breeze Gifts
4895 Birch Bay-Lynden Road
And 7620 Birch Bay Drive
Not to be confused with The T-Shirt Shop upstairs, Sea Breeze Gifts sells a variety of worldly gifts, such as hand-carved exotic wood furniture, marble vases and water buffalo horn carvings to name a few. Sea Breeze Gifts is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday through December 24 at both locations. They can be reached by calling 371-4122.

The T-Shirt Shop
4895 Birch Bay-Lynden Road
The T-Shirt Shop carries an entire line of clothing, sunglasses ,blankets and rugs as well as beautiful hand-painted Mexican terra cotta décor. The T-Shirt Shop is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their phone number is 371-2973.
Shoe Pavilion
Birch Bay Square
Be sure to check out Shoe Pavilion’s unbelievable sale on Dr. Marten’s boots and shoes ($4.99 a pair) as well as their many other great deals. Shoe Pavilion is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 366-7204.

The Bay Center Market
8050 Harborview Road
The Bay Center Market carries mostly food items, but they also sell a few gift ideas such as fleece and cotton hooded sweatshirts emblazoned with the words, “Birch Bay” ($19.50), a variety of glass and plastic wind chimes, coffee, wine, and a few barbeque accessories such as heavy-gauge chrome-plated hamburger and hotdog holders ($3.99 and $4.99). The Bay Center Market is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. They can be reached by calling 371-7233.

The C Shop
4825 Alderson Rd.
The C Shop is taking orders for its annual holiday candy sale, selling boxes of their specialty candy including almond butter toffee, homemade fudge, peanut brittle and their popular Peanut Butter Yummms. Individuals can also place their orders beginning December 13 or anytime online at www.thecshop.com. The C Shop is closed for the winter but can be reached by calling 371-2070.

Van Heusen
Birch Bay Square
Van Heusen sells a variety of men and women’s clothes but the ties and men’s shirts – which come in almost all colors of the rainbow – are, by far, the best bargain. Their wrinkle-free, stain-resistant varieties are currently on sale for $11.50 and up. Van Heusen is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 366-2611.

Vitamin World
Birch Bay Square
Vitamin World is the Birch Bay area’s main retailer for supplements, vitamins and 72-hour liver cleansing beverages. But they also have a great selection of natural beauty products such as Kiss My Face and Jason natural cosmetics. The 70 percent organic shea butter and vitamin E lip balm by Jason ($2.75) and the Kiss My Face trial-sized olive oil soaps, shower gels and moisturizers (all 99 cents) make great, all-natural stocking stuffers. Vitamin World is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 366-5083.