By Chris Gomez | Little Italy News

Need fresh ideas on how to spend your last days of summer? Little Italy is perfect —the neighborhood is full of shops, boutiques and galleries to check out and a great place to even start your back-to-school shopping!

The streets of Little Italy are the perfect place to shop, ranging from quaint local items and handmade pieces to luxury products and chic looks. Here are a few places to get your shopping on and what treasures you will find there.

For the art lover

Looking for art? Check out these art and culture hot spots that will be sure to fuel your inner artist. JDC Fine Art is perfect for contemporary photography or take a different decorative approach and collect limited edition prints and paper works from Meyer Fine Art. Once you’re done collecting art pieces, you can head over to Blick Art Materials and buy supplies to create your own work of art!

For her

Just for the ladies! Check out these boutiques for all of your wardrobe needs. Hit Little Apple and Bluza Boutique for great, everyday outfits and original styles. Then stop off at Kapreeza for fine European lingerie and swimwear that is sure to not only look great but feel comfortable!

For him and her

Little Italy has a little bit of everything for everyone! Vocabulary offers chic men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, home décor, paper, gifts and baby items!

For the pup

Dogs are like family, right? Little Italy has the greatest pet stores to keep your furry friend feeling like royalty. Wildside Unlimited offers doggie apparel, animal care and training to keep your pet styling and acting right. Hairy and Merry Pet Spa and Dog Wash is the next stop for your pet to be pampered and cleaned and much more!

For a little bit of this and that

Can’t decide exactly what you need? Shop around at one of the many culturally eclectic shops, like Casa Artelexia for handcrafted Mexican gifts or Architectural Salvage for vintage, restored home goods. Then stop off at Boomerang for a more modern design and consultation services to create your perfect home.

For accessories

We all know accessories make your outfit pop, so don’t forget to check out RosaMariposa and Verde after you’ve found your perfect outfit! Then make a pit stop at Spec Optometry, a luxury optical boutique for glasses, sunglasses and medical appointments. For more unique items, stop by Love & Aesthetic for symbolic home items and accessories or Masquerade Art of Living for European accessories, jewelry and of course masquerade masks!

There is something for everyone in Little Italy, find out more about what’s happening in the neighborhood by visiting littleitalysd.com, or follow us on Instagram and Twitter @LittleItalySD and Facebook/San Diego Little Italy.

—Christopher Gomez has been Little Italy’s district manager since 2000. Reach him at [email protected].