Everyday is a great day to celebrate your BFFs. But Leslie Knope has taught us to love our friends a little extra around Valentine's Day, or as the waffle-eating champion of Pawnee likes to call it, Galentine's Day.
No Galentine's or Valentine's Day is complete without gifts or things to do. So here are a few suggestions even Knope would approve.
Gifts for your gals
For the friend who has too many bath bombs
The Rustic Candle Company on Fourth Avenue is one of the best places in town to burn some wick without catching your wallet on fire.
There are plenty of pillars and scents to choose from (Desert Sage, anyone?), but we're a sucker for the heart-shaped seasonal candles that are too pretty to light. And at $6 a piece, all your gals can go home with one!
The shop has also started carrying Juniper Tree soaps, $7, that smell just as good as they look. Things like flowers, glitter and fruits are placed into the bar for a truly magical bathing experience.
Where: 324 N. Fourth Ave.
Store hours: Open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Contact: 520-623-2880, monica@rusticcandle.net
To the gal who can't get enough cactus stuff
The gift shop at Blue Willow has a giant collection of cactus products. Everything from saguaro mugs to dog toys and yolk separators can be found here. Prices rage from inexpensive to kind of expensive.
Blue Willow isn’t just a spot in town where you can load up on brunch during the weekend, it also has a gift shop. Here you can can nibble on a baked good while you peruse greeting cards and cute knickknacks.
But what we really want to talk about is their selection of cactus items—because it’s basically Gates Pass in a shop. They’ve got everything from saguaro mugs, $12.99-14.99, to lunch sacks, $19.99. We even spotted a cactus yolk separator, $8.99, jewelry stand, $14.99 and an adult coloring book, $6.99.
If you're looking to buy something for a friend, chances are Blue Willow has the cactus version of it.
Where: 2616 N. Campbell Ave.
Store hours: Open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Contact: 520-327-7577
For the BFF who keeps a photo of R.B.G by her bedside
Hold on to great woman of the past with these "Little Thinker" dolls ($17.95) from The Unemployed Philosophers Guild. While you're at it, pick up "Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History" ($16.99), it's an Antigone Books' staff pick.
Antigones Books has so many books and cute gifts for your gals. It's an independent book store right on Fourth Avenue that has been in business since 1973.
We were so happy to find these historic women "Little Thinker" dolls, $17.95, and book, "Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History," $16.99, by Sam Maggs.
If you want to go the extra mile, buy the whole store for your friend. The current owners are looking to hand the keys over to someone who is "the best match."
Where: 411 N. Fourth Ave.
Store hours: Open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: 520-792-3715, info@antigonebooks.com
For the friend who loves to hang stuff on the walls
This print of "Flying Heart" by Tucson artist, Valerie Galloway, was found at Pop Cycle for $28.
Pop Cycle's one-of-a-kind items make it hard not to fall in love with a reclaimed item here or a Tucson t-shirt there.
They also have a large wall decor selection that features quite the number of works from local artists. We're completely smitten with this print by Valerie Galloway you can get for $28.
Where: 422 N. Fourth Ave.
Store hours: Open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: 520-622-3297, popcycleshop@hotmail.com
To the person who is still watching Downton Abbey
What do you give the gal who LOVES tea? A heart-shaped tea steeper of course. $5.98 at Mabel's on 4th.
Mabel's on 4th is a new kitchen shop that opened last November in the former space of How Sweet It Was Vintage, now located at 424 East 6th St. near Tucson High School.
Mabel's has a fun assortment of new and vintage kitchen stuff. Try picking up one of their sassy tea towels, $9.98, or a corn zipper, $7.98, whatever that means.
We know this the fourth Fourth Avenue shop to make it on to the list, but we couldn't pass up a thing that makes tea AND is heart-shaped. These tea steepers, $5.98, are like putting a little bit of love in your cup while being fancy. Double Galentine's points.
Where: 419 N. Fourth Ave.
Store hours: Open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on Tuesday
Contact: 520-304-1029, hello@MabelsOn4th.com
Things to do with your gals
For the friends that forgets to treat themselves
Greentoes is offering three awesome — and affordable — Valentine's Day specials, and you don't want to miss out. The deals end on Valentine's Day.
Choose between the $60 facial, the $110 couples signature pedicure and the $130 couples slow beauty pedicures.
Where: 529 N. Sixth Ave.
Hours: Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Contact: Call 520-777-6281 or visit to make an appointment.
For the bookworm
Did you know Tucson has little libraries tucked away in neighborhoods throughout the city? They're like our own magical windows to another world. With your book-lover friend, try to find them all and find a book you want to read from one. There's even a new one at the Children's Memorial Park at 4875 North 15th Place.
Find everything about the Little Free Libraries here.
Joan Thomas and grandson Leo Valdivia get acquainted with the selection at the Little Free Library installed just three weeks ago near East Broadway and South Country Club Road.
For the person that just moved here
Murals and cocktails
New Tucsonans probably have no idea that we have wicked cool murals in the heart of the city. Does this mean happy hour and mural hunting? Totally! Enjoy cocktails during the happiest of hours and then use our helpful resource to find the murals.
A shot of Isaac Caruso's mural at 9 N. Scott Ave. No selfie opportunities there—Caruso's quail-orange scene is painted 50 feet in the air.
Visit a museum you've never been to
This is fun because exploring museums becomes part of getting to know the city. We recommend any of these museums:
• Tucson Museum of Art at 140 N. Main Ave.
• DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun at 6300 N. Swan Rd.
• Pima Air and Space Museum at 6000 E. Valencia Rd. because of the Boneyard. You know, the one in "Can't Buy Me Love".
For the movie night lover
You have a couple options here: rent a classic from Casa Video, sip and watch ones starring Ryan Gosling, or watch a romantic film on the big screen.
Casa Video and Casa Film Bar
Remember the Blockbuster days? Walking up and down aisles browsing for the best movie for a night in? Yeah, well, you can do that at Casa Video, which is way more fun than Netflix. Pick your movie and a bottle of wine for the perfect movie night.
Or just stay there. Casa Film Bar wants you to spend Valentine's Day with Ryan Gosling with $1-off glasses of wine.
What: Spend Valentine's Day with Gosling
When: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 6-11:59 p.m.
Where: Casa Video and Casa Film Bar, 2905 East Speedway Blvd.
Cost: Event is free to attend. Bring money for wine, snacks and food.
The Loft Cinema
Maybe watching movies on the big screen is more your thing. The Loft is playing the romantic "In The Mood For Love" at 7:30 p.m. There's going to be a raffle and a gelato food truck on site.
What: "In The Mood For Love" at The Loft
When: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.
Cost: Regular admission prices: $9.50 for adults, $7.75 for students/teachers/military, $6.50 for seniors (65+) and children (12 and under), and $5.75 for Loft members.
For the friend that likes music
Hotel Congress
Rock out to The Coathangers, Fred Thomas, Tyvek and Foxx Bodies because this might be the coolest thing happening on Valentine's Day.
What: Valentine's Day Party with The Coathangers
When: Tuesday, Feb. 14, doors open at 8 p.m.
Where: Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.
Cost: $10 on day of show.
Wooden Tooth Records
And Finally, if you know someone that has a record player — and most of us do, take them to buy vinyl at Wooden Tooth Records, located just off of 4th Avenue.
Where: 416 E. 7th St.
Store hours: Opened Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Contact: 520-207-1588, woodentoothrecords@gmail.com
Love is in the air!
