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I think sometimes we take advantage of how great living in and around downtown Portsmouth is; I mean, I know I do. There are so many great restaurants, shops and services there, yet I don’t think they always get as much attention from the locals as they should.

So for this week’s "Amanda's Choice" feature I headed in to downtown for an afternoon in hopes that talking about my favorite shops would inspire you to take a day to see the sights and experience the charm of downtown Portsmouth.

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Maine-Ly New Hampshire – 33 Deer St., Portsmouth

At first glance Maine-Ly New Hampshire may seem like a tourist shop, but under the surface are some great items that every New England native will want to have.

When it comes to describing this story, the name really speaks for itself. This store is made up of items produced in New Hampshire and Maine, and honestly, you can’t even imagine how many different items there really are. They have everything from maple candy to wine to jam to popcorn to glasses to purses, and it’s all made in New Hampshire, Maine or a nearby state.

My favorite items in this store are the hand-painted ornaments, which each feature a different area landmark, like Fenway Park and Wentworth by the Sea.

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Attrezzi Fine Kitchen Accessories– 78 Market St., Portsmouth

I fully believe that no matter how bad of a cook or hostess you think you are or no matter how much you think you hate wine, deep down inside there is a cook, hostess and/or wine lover in all of us; and Attrezzi Fine Kitchen Accessories is the place you’ll discover that piece of yourself.

If there is something you need for your kitchen, it’s a pretty close guarantee that you’ll find it at Attrezzi, but the real reason I love this shop is because of all of the theme items they have. At Attrezzi you can find plates, platters, silverware, cups, glasses, etc to fit any next party theme. One of my favorites is the lobster theme, which is available now, but I also love the seasonal themed items that come out during the holidays.

And if you’re in to wine, be sure to head up to the second floor where there is a great selection to choose from.

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Anna Street Studio – 113 Market St., Portsmouth

Ladies, I have just three words for you – custom-made purses!

Yes, that’s right; at Anna Street Studio you can design your own purse, picking from a large selection of colors, fabrics, prints and lettering, and they will make it for you. The colors they use in this shop can only be described as happy, bright colors and pastel colors seeming to be the favorites. You can of also buy purses they’ve already designed. But whether you’re designing it yourself or picking from one of their fantastic designs, don’t forget to pick up the matching big bag, little bag and makeup bag.

In a world where everyone is carrying around the same Coach or Burberry purse, Anna Street Studio is a great place to find a bag that will really stand out in a crowd.

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Bull Moose Music – 82 Congress St., Portsmouth

For the music lover in us all there is Bull Moose Music.

Like a music store out of “That ‘70s Show,” this place has so much more than you’ll find in any chain retailer. Whether you’re in to ACDC, Britney Spears or Michael Bolton, chances are you’ll find their CD at Bull Moose. And if CDs aren’t your thing, you’re more of a vinyl person, Bull Moose has you covered there too, offering a wide selection of records. One of the best things about this music store is its huge selection of used items, everything from CDS to video games to movies.

And if there is a singer or band that none of your friends have ever heard of, check with the guys and girls at Bull Moose. Chances are they’ve heard of it and have it in store.

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Treehouse Toys Limited – 143 Market St., Portsmouth

A store obviously meant for children, one step inside Treehouse Toys Limited will bring out the child in anyone.

When you first walk in to this toy store it isn’t what is on the floor or on the shelves that catches your attention, it’s what is hanging from the ceiling. A jungle of hanging marionette animals, walking through this store is like taking a trip to the zoo; there are even tall trees in the store to add to the atmosphere. As for the toys and games, there is something for every child in this store. There are walls and walls of princess stuff, science stuff, train stuff and more.

This isn’t any chain toy store, so if you’re looking for a gift for the child who has everything, make this place your first stop!

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Amanda’s Choice:

While I can’t get enough of all of the shops mentioned above, the one store I always go to when I’m downtown is Macro Polo at 89 Market St. This place is the ultimate adult toy store. It has everything from gag gifts to eclectic gifts to things that we actually need in our everyday life. One of my favorite everyday items Macro Polo carries is the pre-printed lists; there is a list for everything from things to do to make a person happy to to-do items to groceries to get. Another thing I love about this store is all of the things you can find here that are hard to find anywhere else, like Sea Monkeys and Mad Libs. While I could go on, I want you to check this place out for yourself, so the last thing I’ll mention is that this is a great place to buy light-hearted gifts; if you’re not that far in to a relationship or you need a gift for a co-worker, you’ll definitely find the perfect thing here!

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Note to readers: I will try to get pictures up of each of the stores by Monday.

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If you have a place you’d like me to visit or a topic you’d like me to cover, e-mail me at ahamilton@seacoastonline.com. Hope to hear from you soon!