Shopping in Zachary

Since 1964, Maple Street Book Shops have fueled local imaginations with novels and nonfiction works by classic, contemporary, and local writers. Originally "five rooms of paperbacks," the store now has four locations, including two charming, side-by-side establishments on the shop’s titular residential street. Here, a purple and green cottage houses a collection of 9,000 used tomes, and next door, the pink house sells the sweet perfume wrung from glossy new paperbacks. In addition to browsing the crowded shelves and chatting with the knowledgeable staff of one-time teachers, writers, and printmakers, visitors can chat with authors at sociable events.

Bath Junkie’s Metairie branch welcomes crafty visitors who aim to create their own customized bath products without welding together bathtubs or sewing shower curtains into tuxedo capes. Amid a vibrant and colorful atmosphere, the helpful staff assists customers in selecting non-tinted and unscented products such as salt scrubs, bath crystals, lotions, body washes, shampoos, conditioners, oils, perfumes, and magical elf ointments that instill tree-talking abilities. Next, around 200 scents are available to be fused into each product before a final tint application transforms skin-soothing concoctions into aesthetically striking bathroom accessories. Surprise your mom with a hydrating body mist ($8.75, 2 oz.) that matches her bedroom décor or pick up any bottled product ($11.75, 4 oz.) such as a conditioner, body wash, or bubble bath. Add pizzazz to bath time with fragrant bath crystals ($24.50) and an exfoliating salt scrub ($30). The fun, hands-on process provides all the childlike excitement of spontaneous soda-fountain chemistry while avoiding sugar-induced headaches and upset stomachs. Every product is suitable for sensitive skin and almost all are paraben- and SLS-free.

At Dirty Coast, visitors can acquire a bevy of fetching T-shirts, apparel, and merchandise that showcase a proud New Orleans swagger. Featuring designs illustrated by local and international artists, Dirty Coast’s products aim to spark conversation and the occasional thumb-wrestling match with city-wise graphics and topical opinion-expressers. Peruse a variety of shirts with a head-turning graphic reminder of all the things you'll need for NOLA's never-ending festival season ($15), or a charming hot-sauce-doused Dirty Coast design ($20). Cruise sidewalks and spaceship command decks in style with merchandise such as the environmentally friendly shopping bag ($20), or surf the web and lava rivers with a water meter mouse pad ($9). Customers can purchase multiple Groupons as gifts, allowing them to help update Uncle Bob’s dated wardrobe, which consists of steel chain mail and cargo shorts.