Callisters has stores in pretty much every area mall — this location in Brookfield Square might be the largest. They’ve got it all — ornaments for every interest, profession and theme, home décor, Christmas village stuff and tons of Santa statues. Want to commemorate a milestone in ornament form? They’ve got ones for babies, marriages, engagements, retirements and more. Didn’t see any«divorce» ones though. Some people like a tasteful tree. Some like a tacky tree. Callisters can handle both but seems to trend toward the latter. I’m talking liquor bottles, ornaments shaped like slot machines and Santas riding motorcycles. I’m not judging. What really cracks me up are the more bizarre ornament choices: a whole Jewish deli section(corned beef! Pastrami on rye!), «internationally» themed ornaments that are certainly stereotypical and possibly borderline racist and my personal favorite — an ornament shaped like a plate of stuffed mushrooms(complete with a sign letting you know that they are, in fact, stuffed mushrooms). Was the world crying out for a stuffed mushroom appetizer ornament? Who decided to stock such a thing? Did someone leave Callisters in distress last year because their«TGIFridays appetizer» themed tree would forever be incomplete due to the lack of stuffed mushroom ornaments? I have questions… Anyway, Callisters is a great place to score really, really specific ornaments. It’s all made in China though and thus, horribly overpriced. World Market is waaaaayyy cheaper and has many just-as-tacky choices but no stuffed mushroom option. If a stuffed mushroom ornament is what you’re after, Callisters is your only choice.
