Same ‘ol, same ‘ol? Is that how your significant other feels opening the bottle of after shave, the slippery nightie, the handyman’s how-to guide? Break out of the shopping doldrums and visit these unique places to find something truly special for those on your list.

Clown around!
At Lakewood’s Clown Shop, buyers will find tons of amazing costumes and surprising ideas to delight everyone on their holiday list. Consider giving the youngsters an onsite makeup and clown class.  Buy those special balloons that are rapidly rendered into ducks, dogs and doodle bugs. Get a giant pair of clown shoes and tack on a bright red nose to put under the tree. They won’t be able to say, “gee, thanks, but I already own a dozen pair!”

[Lakewood Costumes Magic & Clown Shop, 5932 Lake Grove St., S.W., Lakewood, 253. 588.6062, www.clownshop.org]

Play ball?
There’s nothing more satisfying to a pool player than a new set of balls. At Tacoma’s GoldenWest Games, everything pertaining to this game is available: from recovering a table in a variety of colors to specialty balls, like Aramith, carom pool balls, and training pool balls. What about a new wall rack? The store has inexpensive two-piece cue wall racks as well as solid brass floor stands. Wrap up a new cue stick and put it under the tree to delight that someone special.

[GoldenWest Games, 5225 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma, 800.206.4263, www.goldenwestgames.com]

Put your game face on!
Got a game aficionado in the house? They couldn’t be more thrilled than to receive a gift certificate or game from Lakewood’s Game Matrix! Stocked with RPG’s, CCG’s, miniature gaming, board games and hobby game supplies, The Game Matrix also offers opportunities to meet other like-minded souls. Treat your loved one to Yu-gi-oh, Pokémon, 40K or DBA at the store. It’s a gift they’ll never forget!

[The Game Matrix, 8610 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood, 253.583.9708, www.thegamematrix.com]

Are you remotely interested?
Love your RC? Looking to add accessories, find tracks and competitors? At the Covington, Wash. RC Hobbies store, those in love with remote-controlled cars, planes and boats will delight in thousands of items to bring even more joy. Find such products as Ace/Raptor; Common Sense; Futaba; Hanger 9; Thunder Tiger and many more! The store can also help RC enthusiasts hook up with local clubs.

[Covington RC Hobbies, 16929 S.E. 270th Place, B-102, Covington 98042, 253.639.2060, covington.rc-hobbies.com]

A bracing cup of tea!
Ralph Waldo Emerson perhaps summed it up when he said,  “There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.” At Olympia’s Tea Lady, those who enjoy infusing or brewing their own pot will find herbal, green, black, white, oolong, and many exotic types of teas from far away lands. Accessories include charming pots, sterling infusers/strainers, yummy biscuits, and pretty jars of honey.

[Tea Lady, 2828 Capitol Blvd. S.E., Olympia, 877.330.7521, www.tea-lady.com]

I got the fever!
For gardeners, there’s nothing quite as wonderful as the gift of something green — and unusual. Tacoma provides the setting for such a shop. At Jungle Fever Exotics, located near the entrance to Point Defiance Park, a small, densely packed garden allows visitors to find scary carnivorous plants to the gentler, delicate ferns and mosses. Handmade accessories are also available, like walking stones, fairies and a plethora of unusual garden art. This is not the spot to pick up an ordinary mum or pansy.

[Jungle Fever Exotics, 5050 N. Pearl St., Ruston, 253.759.1669]

Blow her up, cool her down
At Tacoma’s Glassblowing Studio, a special gift for those enthralled with creating their own hand-blown globe or light fixture is a must-have. Give the gift of a glassblowing class, drop in and watch the demonstrations, or purchase something unique and unusual, like a bright orange pumpkin or pendant light. The glassblowing experience is a perfect present for people of all ages.

[Tacoma Glassblowing Studio, 114 S. 23rd St., Tacoma, 253.383.3499, www.tacomaglassblowing.com]

Food extravaganza, extraordinaire!
Rumor has it that this is the only place Martha Stewart visited when she came to Tacoma. And it’s understandable. This is no ordinary grocery store. Located in the ritzy Proctor District, the Metropolitan Market offers ready-to-eat gourmet cuisine, cooked on the spot by talented chefs. One can also buy the mundane bottle of milk and a six-pack of beer, but to really appreciate this independent grocery, try one of their specialty cheeses coupled with an amazing bottle of wine. Their seafood section is one of the best in the Northwest. NWSource People’s Picks gave the “Metro” their vote for “favorite places to go gourmet.”

[Metropolitan Market, 2420 N. Proctor St., Tacoma 98406, 253.761.3663, www.metropolitan-market.com]