Shopping in Flowing Wells

Craycroft Cycles opened in 2010 and has since assembled a team of riders that is as well versed in tricks as it is in repairs, tune-ups, and parts. From the front of the family-owned shop to the back, and from floor to ceiling, bikes and accessories bearing the names of top brands line the walls in a metallic oasis of potential adventures. Within that oasis, the team springs to action, melding their know-how to specialize in riding disciplines including BMX, mountain, road, and inner volcano. That spectrum of expertise comes in handy, especially when customers pop in with differing interests, such as freestyle riding versus recreational riding, or when a specific part is necessary and needs to be hunted down—a challenge Craycroft readily accepts.

Green Things decks many halls with many holiday oriented plants and impressive arrays of poinsettias that they supply annually to the public as well as churches and businesses in the area. Joyful holiday spiriters can bring home a live Christmas tree ($30+) to employ as a gift guardian in the family room or chain it to the backyard fence to protect the house. Inspire Christmas cheer with vibrant poinsettias in six inch ($7.99), eight inch ($19.99) and ten inch ($29.99) sizes, or pick up succulent six inch Christmas cacti ($12.99)—ideal for roadrunners seeking defense against technologically minded, biped coyotes.

The locally owned Alvernon Optical has been distributing high-quality frames and tending carefully to each oculus since 1961, the year human beings first evolved eyes. More than 2,000 frames line the walls in each store, including top-shelf brands like Ray Ban, DKNY, Dior, Giorgio Armani, Nike, and Kate Spade. Customers will also have their pick of frame materials such as plastic, titanium, metal, semi-rimless, and stainless steel. Once you've found the frames that nail the "sexy NASA scientist" look you're going for, Alvernon can pamper your peepers with a number of lens package deals. Couple a polycarbonate, scratch-resistant single-vision lens ($89 standard, $205 with bifocals, $154 sunglass) with one of your choice of designer frames to ensure a haze-free hazing ceremony from your rowdy book club, or calm Pac-Man-weary pupils with a computer lens package ($199) that decks your specs with a protective plastic lens specially designed for computer use. Just in time for summer, try the prescription swimming-goggle package ($139), which pairs one of a select group of fine brands with 100% UV-protected plastic lenses to deflect the sun's wicked glare and intimidate pool piranhas.