Or make your own kitsch at the Studio Workshops & Gallery (47 Baltimore Ave., 30), where James Snyder teaches "faux painting" and leather-mask-making. At Critter Beach (33-A Baltimore Ave., 30), you'll find must-haves for your dog or cat - rain slickers, Arctic-fleece boots, bone-shaped ceramic dishes and even pet costumes: tutus and magic wands, top hat and tails. Other shops, designed for people dazed by cocoa butter fumes, are blatant invitations to foolish spending. Nearby, Philip Livingston of Elegant Slumming (33-I Baltimore Ave., 30) was still unpacking his winter finds earlier this month: painted wood carvings from Thailand and huge Malaysian clay pots. There's also a display of the owner's personal collection of Indian artifacts. The Thunderbird Shop (200 Rehoboth Ave., 30) offers traditional Native American handcrafts such as turquoise jewelry and webbed dream-catchers. No need to change, just pull shorts over your bathing suit and flip-flop in and out of the shops lining Rehoboth and Baltimore avenues and the mini-alleyways in between. Here, owners are also buyers, merchandisers, sales staff, sometimes even producers of their own wares. Just steps from the shore, beyond the smell of deep fry, vinegar and hot taffy, past the block of arcades, souvenir and T-shirt emporiums, lie the funky boutiques.
Instead, check out the unique merchandise and real bargains right off the boardwalk. Rehoboth Beach's real shopping surprises are not among the gantlet of alleged discounters on Route 1, where brand names beckon and everything looks the same.