Wandering from business to business as I do in the course of these reviews, I generally don't expect much, and yet often enough run into something really cool that I otherwise would *never* have even noticed. This would be one of those times.
In the Gateway movie lobby, just past the sprawling toilet that is Hometown Buffet, there's a forgotten zone before the theater, just this side of the teetering dinosaur that is Sears. Simply look to the right on the way to the movies, and there's not much else to see but empty storefronts & military recruiters.
That's where Crafter's Alley "hides", with its many goodies & trinkets. An assortment of examples includes:
- An old NES (that's the ancient Nintendo machine from the 80's, for the whippersnappers)... and while massively overpriced at $80 (especially in light of the big re-release of the system happening currently), it does at least come with both Duck Hunt & the zapper
- A truly Oregon vibe, what with Ducks paraphenalia intermixed with "spiritual" odds & ends
- The political spectrum is also well-represented, with hippie propaganda (complete with "July is hacky sack month") right next to a fairly patriotic section
- And all of this next to a hologram poster featuring bulging tits... how's *that* for culture, right?
- Cabbage Patch Kids & zodiac mirrors
- A huge squirrel shirt & Audrey Hepburn pillows
- And, of course, VHS, DVDs & books... etc... etc
An awesome place and a hidden gem, run (apparently) by a nice lady. A win-win step up from Goodwill, especially for holidays. :) read more