Lexi Petronis: Shopping

Lexi is an Albuquerque, New Mexico native who loves shopping. She developed her passion as a teenager and has fine-tuned her shopping skills as an adult in New Mexico. After graduating from high school here in the Duke City, Lexi went to journalism school in New York, where she worked as a copywriter for J. Crew and wrote for magazines such as Glamour, Cosmo Girl, Fitness and Self. After moving back home to Albuquerque, Lexi took a job as the editor-in-chief of Albuquerque The Magazine, the city’s monthly lifestyle publication. Part of her job at the magazine involves keeping tabs on the city’s best locally-owned and independent stores. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of the on-sale artifacts and New Mexico gifts that will help you forever remember your trip to Albuquerque.

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Questions & Answers

Q: I am looking for a store here in ABQ that carries Laurel Burch handbags and other merchendise. Thanks: A: The Old Town Cat House carries Laurel Burch products. It's a great little shop!

Q: We are looking for Southwestern candlesticks, napkins, pillows etc to finish our desert home. We will have about six hours in ABQ...any suggestions?: A: I suggest trying La Parada. Great store!

Q: Are there any large outdoor flea markets there and if so what are there names so I can get more info to visit them. Thanks.: A: There is a great outdoor flea market held every weekend at Expo New Mexico in Uptown Albuquerque from 6 am - 7 pm. There are more than 1,300 vendors selling their wares on a 25-acre lot. For more information, visit: www.exponm.com/fleamarket

Q: Need to replace coffee mug, authentic Indian pottery with Navajo design, bought in Albuquerque's Old Town years ago, at the shop with the pink doors. Can you connect me up with a shop which sells similar items?: A: Hmmmmm pink doors don't ring a bell. I think your best bet is to start by contact the Old Town Merchants of Albuquerque. They will be able to help point you in the right direction. Best of luck!

Q: How do I tell whether jewelry is authentic? What should I be looking for?

Thanks for the great question! I actually don't know too much about this subject, so I enlisted the help of two local professionals: Jack Sturgeon, General Manager at Skip Maisel’s Downtown and Joe Dan Lowry, Owner of the Turquoise Museum in Old Town. Here is what they had to say:

"The answer to the question is to get the purchase in writing. The Federal Trade Commission Guidelines say to request a written receipt that includes all vital information about your purchase. These can include:

Name of artist and tribal affiliation
Identity of metal content whether .925 Sterling Silver or 14kt or 18kt gold.
How the jewelry was fabricated.

Authentic Indian Handmade refers to jewelry that is hand cut and hand tooled by a registered Indian artist with no machine made parts
Genuine or handcrafted generally refers to jewelry that includes machine made parts or imported craftsmanship.
Signature on the back of a piece of jewelry identifies the artist but does not specifically identify how the artist made the piece of jewelry

The key to shopping is buying what you like. If you want to know what you are buying, a reputable store or artist will specifically guarantee these words or explanations in writing." Joe Dan

"My advice is to first of all deal with a reputable dealer, someone who knows what they are selling. They should ask questions, if they are looking for silver ask if it is sterling, ask if the Turquoise is natural, stabilized or block. Block is not Turquoise. Natural and stabilized are both fine. As with most things use your head, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is." Jack Sturgeon

Q: I am a fiber enthusiast and am in town for 2 days only. What are the best yarn/fiber shops in the area? Is there any shop that specializes in local hand dyed, spun, woven fibers? Thanks!: A:
I definitely recommend checking out Fiber Chicks in Old Town. It's a great place to start and they should be able to help you tailor your fiber-focused visit.

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