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Christmas
Shopping Off the Beaten Track
By Linda Shenton
In the annual
quest for reasonably priced yet exclusive; unusual yet useful; “just
the thing they’ve always wanted” Christmas presents, I decided to
explore beyond the well-trodden sidewalks of Manda Hill and Arcades.
My first visit
took me to the cluster of businesses cloistered inside the complex
of No. 36 Tito Road, Rhodes Park. They should really come up with a
name for this place. Parking is easy and safe under shady trees,
the lawns are looking lovely and green and the mango tree has fruit
for snacks to go. Located on the bend in the road, just before the
cross-roads, opposite a nursery school and just before Kalemba Hall.
Kwacha Picture
Framers is there – having been on Lumumba road for 19 years, Ron
Found has moved to the more user-friendly Rhodes Park. KPF is still
offering the same quality framing services using imported mouldings,
relective and non-reflective glass, including the supply and framing
of mirrors. You can contact KPF on: 256-826 or 096 750-702.
My suggestions for
presents from Kwacha Picture Framers:
framed posters for kids, a carving framed in a box mount, get your
family photos enlarged and have them framed, or make up a collage of
your photos over the last 100 years and have that framed for
Granny/Grandpa/other relative who’s been around long enough to
recognise them. For my brilliant collage idea, you can buy a piece
of mounting board from KPF.
Ika Hindson’s
Senses @ Sensorium is next door to KPF. Also a long time resident
and well-known beauty expert, Senses offers a wide-range of
therapeutic, rejuvenating and maintenance programmes as well as
emergency fix-it products and not only for older wrinkled persons!
Ika will be offering a teenage make-up workshop on December 9th,
and she also provides teenage treatments for acne for both young men
and women. In the new year, Senses will introduce mesotherapy (injectables,
Botox, enzymes and vitamins). Currently on offer are spa
treatments, hydrodermie, aromasol, hot-stone as well as threading,
waxing, manicures and pedicures. Contact Senses on 257-330 , 097
798-282 or 095 768-432.
My suggestions for
presents from Senses:
custom made gift vouchers. I always thought gift vouchers
were rather boring – just a white envelope to open instead of a
lavishly wrapped large and mysterious box, but having received
several vouchers for my recent birthday, I must confess I’m quite a
convert. You could also conceal the small white envelope in the
large mysterious box too, for added excitement. For some of us,
beauty treatments are not something we routinely do, so to receive
one at Christmas might be the most perfect and thoughtful gift ever!
Nsolo is also in
the complex. Some may remember Nsolo jewelry from when they were
inside the Polo Grill premises. Still offering the custom designed,
hand made, unique jewelry, Nsolo were awarded 3rd prize
in the Zambian jewelry design competition at the Agriculture and
Commercial Show this past August. Most jewelry on display is made
using silver; gold is made to order. There are also bracelets,
necklaces and earrings made using semi-precious stones which are
extremely affordable. Aside from the jewelry and faceted stones
available, Nsolo is also selling Zimbabwean pottery (ornate pots),
and a big selection of candles and soaps packaged in pretty gift
packs. I spotted an unusual array of small stone creatures. One
needs to really look carefully around the shop, to make sure nothing
is missed. Contact Larissa on : 255-329 or 097 883-567.
My suggestions for
presents from Nsolo: there is something to suit all tastes and budgets. For
kids with pocket money, there is the semi-precious jewelry or the
“creatures” or the candles and soaps; for Dads with lots of money,
there are the precious stone pieces of jewelry or if you get really
organised, you can have something especially crafted for your
beloved by Larissa.
The last business
I discovered at 36 Tito Road, is Pro-Touch Physiotherapists.
Hopefully, I suppose, not really what one might need at Christmas,
but definitely handy to know about anyway. Musonda and Nalucha are
qualified physiotherapists and provide a variety of services such as
rehabilitation for stroke patients and cerebral palsy children,
muscle stimulation and physio treatment for injuries. They are open
Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 8
am to 1 pm. They also do home visits. Contact them on 250-712.
I then moved on to
the Blue Barn in the Showgrounds. Although they are advertising
now, they definitely need to put up some serious signage. For those
of us who have been here forever, we can find most places, but for
visitors or newly arrived residents, it would be extremely
difficult.
The Blue Barn is
located in the Showgrounds, inside the gardens of the Garden Club,
next to the Kennel Club. The area is lovely, good parking under
huge shady trees, a large fish pond with gardens and a small café.
Inside the Blue Barn, I was greeted enthusiastically by a staff
member and then left to wander alone. I love that, I can’t stand
being stalked by members of staff – hovering at my elbow, offering
what they think are helpful hints and tips at my every pause. So
that’s plus number one. They have on sale a huge variety of crafts,
including I noticed some caps printed with Zambia logos. Lots of
crafts from Zimbabwe including those metal animals that double as
candle holders and really nice pottery. Prices are reasonable, and
you will find many items that are also on sale monthly at various
fetes around Lusaka.
My suggestions for
presents from the Blue Barn: for teenage boys – those Zambia caps in particular.
But generally there really is something for everyone, and for all
budgets. You could team up with other family members to buy a
collection – pottery tea set, table cloth from Tribal Textiles in
the Luangwa Valley, and then some special tea or Zambian coffee from
a supermarket to finish the collection off.
My last visit was
to Ababa House, off Addis Ababa Drive, clearly signposted, the last
road before the Great East road junction traffic lights. Run by
Serena, Ababa House is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 9 am to 5.30
pm, although the sign painted outside the gate says Mondays to
Saturdays. Contact Serena on 255-987 or 097 415-391, email
ababahouse@zamnet.zm
The house is a
treasure trove of art and crafts, each room has been set out as if
it were a real house, so you’ll find the bedrooms have been kept as
bedrooms, with wrought iron beds, duvet covers, carpets and so on.
The shop is supplied by about fifty local crafters, with the
emphasis being on products that are hand made by individuals or
small groups. They have set high standards and any new crafters
wishing to join will have to meet these criteria.
About half of the
products come from Zimbabwe and the rest are locally made. It is
exciting to see what these talented local crafters are producing:
high quality works which can easily compete with other regional
crafts. It would be impossible to give you a full list of what is
at Ababa House, so a brief summary might include pottery, carpets,
silverware and jewelry, furniture, soft furnishings, paintings,
metal birds, clothes, cards and postcards. The list could go on and
on. I was particularly taken with a range of small ceramic tiles
from Zimbabwe.
Serena and her
team have grand plans for next year, which include creating a
children’s playground, opening the coffee shop (delayed because of
licencing officials), and eventually, to host specialist craft
workshops. In the near future, an art exhibition is planned from 29th
November to 10th December, featuring the works of local
artists, Carol Aslin, Mike Puffett, Peter Maibwe and Eddie Mumba.
On the 3rd and 4th December there will be an
Art and Craft Fair with about 30 craft stands in the garden. Music
will be playing for added ambiance and food will be on sale. An
entrance fee will be charged.
My suggestions for
presents from Ababa House: Again something for everyone, even men! Outside
there are unusual wooden log tables fashioned at each end into a
creature, one was a warthog, another a hippo. There are also
cheaper items for kids with pocket money and a fun item for young
women are the beaded bra straps. You’ll find them at the counter as
you enter the house. Make sure you have loads of time when you
visit, and also that you go into each room.
Time was not with
me, as I rushed through Jagoda Gems. Long established as one of the
leading jewelers of Zambia, Ross and Claire Walker’s Jagoda Gems are
now located at the corner of Luano and Bwinjimfumu Roads in Rhodes
Park. Aside from their beautiful hand made jewelry using both
silver and gold, they have also opened an exciting craft shop in a
separate building. Air-conditioning (joy of joys) is on full blast,
tempting the shopper to just camp there forever. You need time here
too; the craft shop is well stocked with an array of crafts
including wrought iron, pottery, and textiles. Again prices vary.
There are also lots of crafts on display outside the shop if you can
drag yourself away from the air-con unit, including a unique locally
made puppet show which really works! Inside the jewelry shop, there
are several beautiful gifts for men. Always making up the dreaded
section of the Christmas shopping list – the men and what to buy for
them! Jagoda has silver headed walking sticks for mobile men,
lovely silver ice buckets and tot measures for thirsty men, silver
playing card boxes for gambling men and silver business card holders
for executive men! Jagoda also have a wide range of beautifully cut
and faceted precious stones including the exquisite tanzanite, which
can be made into a design of your choice. Contact Jagoda on 223-131
or email jagoda@coppernet.zm
My suggestions for
presents from Jagoda: men’s stuff. I’m sure the friendly and knowledgeable
staff would also be available to note your choice of jewelry for
onward discreet transmission to your partner when you have persuaded
him to visit the shop (that’s my plan anyway). Cheaper items from
the craft shop for kids with lists also. Unusual pieces from the
craft shop for the relative who has most other things.
I should add here
that you’ll be lucky to do this circuit in a day – there is so much
to see, ponder and spend. My suggestion for the day would be: 1)
see husband or bank and extract large amount of cash; 2) make lists
and visit these shops; 3) meet friends for lunch – somewhere like Le
Bistro at Alliance Francaise (good value and can sit outside); 4) if
not finished go back to shops.
Much as we love
Manda Hill and Arcades, isn’t it great to spend a whole day out
buying quality items and patronizing quality cafes and never having
been near the Hill or Arcades all day! My friend from Mkushi did
this route recently and has now decided that Lusaka is the place to
be. However, her lonely and irate husband abandoned on the farm
waiting for the rains will be phoning me soon about this! Christmas
shopping has never been as exciting as it is in Lusaka this year!
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December
2005