Once upon a time there was an oak-soaked prairie, until 1970 that is, when Houstonians were introduced to the most exciting concept in shopping since, well, ever. But the Galleria has always been more than a place to buy things; it’s Houston in miniature, a cameo of the zeitgeist. And yet, for all that, how well do you really know the place? Have you descended to its deepest recesses? Scaled its highest catwalks? Well, we have. We’ve toured the forgotten arcades and luxe boutiques, eaten, shopped, and shopped—the things we do for our readers!—all in the name of producing a Galleria guide without peer. But wait, there’s more. As long as we’re going anyway, we figured, why not go in search of perfect gifts for every last person on your list?

Illustration by Eva Vázquez