AIA Bookstore and Design Center

You may not think a gift shop run by the American Institute of Architects to be a go-to place for shopping. But in Philadelphia it is, and when we say it's stocked with gifts for everyone, we mean it's stocked with gifts for EVERYONE. Richly hued tabletop books about Moroccan design, Philadelphia-themed neck ties, newfangled vegetable peelers, all the Legos you could ever want, beautifully bound books for journaling, and even chimpanzee puppets (okay, we're not quite sure what that has to do with architecture, either). In all seriousness, what ties these items together is that they all celebrate or inspire creativity. If you're in town around the holidays, this can be a one-stop shop for everyone on your list, as it claims the city's largest and most unique collection of cards and ornaments.