Ok, “Average White Guy” readers… I’m appealing to you today. I’ve been in such a funk since last Tuesday that I’m starting to feel like someone other than myself. I’m looking for a way to get my blog off the election for a while. suggestions? Anything you’d like to hear my take on? Let me know.

I tried to shake it off yesterday by heading up to my favorite store on earth, “Kraynak’s“. If you live anywhere in Western PA, you should definitely check out Kraynak’s before Christmas. Check the link for directions and store hours and whatnot. They have a walk-through Christmas Tree display which is just specatular. If the Smithsonian had a Christmas Tree museum, Kraynak’s would be it. It gets me in the mood every time.

Of course the tree display is not the only thing there; it’s an actual store. Now, I don’t know what they sell there from Dec 26th - Nov 1st each year, but when it comes time to selling the Christmas stuff, Kraynak’s has the monopoly on that too. I mean they have everything! Lights, garland, ornaments, trinkets and nicknacks, artificial trees (if you’re into that sort of thing), wreaths, pointsettia plants, lawn decorations, lighting accessories, tinsel, stuffed animals, stockings, and much more! Of course, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc… all carry this stuff, but think of it like this - Convenience stores carry food, so why go to the Supermarket? Yeah, it’s like that… A supermarket for Christmas accessories.

Wait, there’s more… Kraynaks has a ton of stuff you’ll never see anywhere else. They’ve got a huge selection of team sports items like “Your team here” coffee mugs, wall clocks, blankets, hats, gloves, shot glasses, etc… A huge selection of stuffed animals, other/non-Christmas nicknacks and candles, picture frames, candy, and easily more stuff that I’m not thinking about.

Oh, did I mention it’s a fully-functioning nursery? Yep, they raise and sell plants and shrubs and trees there too. All of what I’ve explained to you eludes to a building about the size of a Home Depot or Lowe’s Home Improvement Super Center or something, right? Not exactly. If you make the trek up there, you’ll pull into the parking lot questioning whether or not you’re in the right place or not. It looks tiny from the outside. It looks as if there is no chance you’d find anything I’m talking about in there. I think Kraynak’s is actually breaking the laws of spacetime.

Just down the road? Daffin’s Candies. While I’m not a huge chocolate fan, it’s worth stopping into one of the largest gourmet candy stores I’ve ever seen anyhow. Make sure you check out the back room. It’s legit; I swear.

Ok, a disclaimer here - I’m a traditionalist. I see certain beauty in things that I often times expect others to see. I’ll use “The Boat Club” as an example. I’ve been visiting the Allegheny River in Verona, PA for 30 whole years now. As far as I’m concerned, the approximately one acre of property where my family keeps the boats is a slice of Heaven on Earth. I’ve taken friends there over the 30 years I’ve been going there, and I have family who’s been going there as long as I have, and I don’t get the sense they feel the same way about it. I think they’re all nuts, but hey, to each his own, right?

That fits in here because I don’t want you heading up there and saying to yourself “What, this is it? That Average White Guy isn’t right in the head.” I think you’ll enjoy it, but I can’t be certain. I think you’ll come back here and thank me because you found that one Christmas decoration there that your mom and dad had when you were a kid that you’ve had your eye out for but never found… until now. Go get ‘em western PA (and northeastern OH)! Happy Holidays!