Getting into trading card or tabletop games isn't easy; with 1,000 different titles available, it's often a terrifying prospect for beginners. That's why the Valley is lucky to have a place like Imperial Outpost. The shop covers all your gaming needs, from miniature games and non-collectibles to board games galore. Plus, there's no reason to ever go home to play your favorite game, as the shop has several gaming rooms, a snack bar, and even a painting room. That last bit speaks to what makes the shop truly stand out: inclusivity. Because even if you don't know what game to buy, the shop fosters excitement regardless of your intent or skill level. You can wander around from different displays, watching others play or browsing boxes, and readily find your next obsessive-level hobby. In that way, Imperial Outpost feels like a genuine haven, and one that makes the Valley seem all that more playful and enjoyable for its mere existence.

Move over Hallmark: Hazel & Violet is in the house. After slogging your way through all those sappy cards in grocery stores and gift shops, it's so refreshing to stumble upon the cards created by Nancy Hill in her letterpress shop inside the historic Bragg's Pie Factory. For starters, they're printed on her impressive collection of letterpress machines, which means they have that wonderful type and texture that's lacking from generic greeting cards. More importantly, they reflect one of Hill's best qualities: her wicked sense of humor. Of course, you can find cards that are sweet at Hazel & Violet, where the presses are often running things like wedding invitations. But you can also find cards with bite. Several of Hill's cards feature words and images that reflect the local scene, from cactus decor to Midcentury Modern architecture. And you can even make your own cards during one of her letterpress workshops, which adds a whole new layer of creativity to the act of giving greeting cards.

It's been a tough couple of years for Phoenix mall culture — Metrocenter shuttered in summer 2020, followed by Paradise Valley Mall in spring 2021. But there are still a number of large-scale shopping centers still thriving, and our favorite is Arrowhead Towne Center in northwest Phoenix. It's big and filled with stores we want (and can actually afford) to shop at, like H&M and Lululemon. Arrowhead has a few tenants that aren't at other malls, too, like pop-culture shop Box Lunch and mattress mecca Tuft & Needle. Dining options abound, like Chompie's, Fired Pie, and Little Tokyo. All told, if we want to experience the simple, rapidly disappearing joy of a day at the mall, Arrowhead Towne Center is our destination of choice.

The Museum Store at Phoenix Art Museum has an incredible selection of items related to its most popular exhibits — far beyond basic stuff like catalogs and postcards. It also carries more general objects with an arts focus, including many inspired by some of the world's best-loved artists and masterpieces. You can pick up scarves, toys, kitchen wares, office gizmos, jewelry, ties, posters, puzzles, books, and home decor. They've got options in a wide range of prices, from simple pens to fancy furniture. It's a perfect place to shop for a baby shower, an office party, or an anniversary gift. The store even has a section featuring works by local artists, where you can buy ceramics, jewelry, and other fun finds. If you can't find a gift for someone here, you should probably just bake them cookies or something.

Fantasia Crystals doesn't beat you over the head with New Age beliefs. Instead, the store cultivates an environment where visitors feel safe questioning and exploring a wide range of worldviews. The staff is friendly and attentive, and skilled at helping people find just what they're looking for, even if they walk in not knowing exactly what that might be. The store carries a large selection of items, including crystals, tarot cards, candles, sculptures, jewelry, and more. One entire room is packed with books, including many that are hard to find in other places. Fantasia Crystals also has a useful lineup of classes, whether you want to learn to make jewelry or discover the basic tenets and practices of paganism. Positive energy and acceptance abound here, giving people a unique place to shop as well as fresh ways to think about the world.

A while back, we told some friends we were going to check out Zombi World Market's new, larger digs a couple of doors down from its original storefront. They all said they were intrigued by the store but had never actually visited. We get it. If you're not familiar with practices like Santeria, hoodoo, or folk magic, walking into Zombi World Market sounds a little intimidating. But nothing could be further from the truth. Whether you're a practitioner, a newbie, or just a curious passerby, the staff will quickly put you at ease. The shop sells a fascinating mix of goods, from candles and crystals to conjure oils and vintage books on occult topics. No question is too silly or basic for the staff (we know — we've asked some pretty elementary ones). And if you really want to learn more, Zombi World Market offers readings and classes so you can further explore the realm of the spiritual.

Practical Art is part retail shop, part community gathering space, and part art gallery. More than 150 artists and makers who have Arizona ties or call Arizona home sell their pieces through this store. Many of Phoenix's best-loved and most renowned artists have work for sale at Practical Art, including Brent Bond, Tato Caraveo, Jake Early, Annie Lopez, Carrie Marill, and Ann Morton. The shop carries a wide selection of functional and decorative pieces, including garden decor, furniture, kitchen wares, jewelry, and more. (You can make a personal shopping appointment or shop online.) Nobody else comes close to carrying such a wide selection of works made by local artists. The store also has an Art Club that gets you exclusive artworks, and exhibits that change monthly to help you learn more about all the amazing artists in your midst.

Back when Arizona Art Supply was the only art store in Phoenix, it was the place to go for graphite erasers and tempera paint and handmade easels. Today, 70 years later, it's not the only place offering paint and palettes and pencils, but it's certainly the best. That is, if what you're after is every manner of drawing, painting, sculpting, and crafting supply, neatly organized and offered at competitive prices. We love the chatty staff, most of whom are visual artists themselves, and often rely on their advice when we're ready to try a new type of watercolor paper or wonder why our clay isn't drying fast enough. We do sort of wish their sale-price markdowns weren't so tempting, but only because we're about out of room in our art studio and have taken to stashing Arizona Art's red-tag items in the trunk of our car.

Oops. You're halfway through a Jersey-knit shrug when you realize you're going to run out of Fair Isle wool. You know you can't trust an internet shop to match your dye lot, and there's no knit store in town that treats its customers like the royalty you know yourself to be. What to do? Drive to Wickenburg. Fiber fans far and wide know that Isabelle's will not only have what they need to start or finish knitwork, but they'll be nice about selling it to them besides. Isabelle's carries local spinners like Mary Gavan and well-loved wools from Plymouth to Malabrigo. You've never seen so many notions and needles in one knit shop, or so cozy a knitting room as the one Isabelle's provides. It's the perfect place to tie one on.

Our mind starts spinning the moment we walk into a SAS Fabrics store. "What could I make with this? How would I use that?" SAS Fabrics represents endless creative possibilities in each of its Valley locations. We love to run our fingers over the cozy fleece, delicate lace, faux mink, and heavy brocade. There's enough faux fur to create an army of Muppets. There are plenty of accessories here, too, from piles of zippers and rolls of elastic to fun patches and tubs of buttons. The staff is knowledgeable and ready to help, not just because you're not allowed to cut your fabric, but because they know the exquisite feeling of having a sewing project turn out perfectly.