If you happen to, like us, are sick of studying uninspired, disturbingly gendered reward guides stuffed with Amazon merchandise, we’re proud to current you with a thoughtfully curated and regionally centered checklist of whimsical reward concepts that vary in value and energy. In any case, you deserve higher concepts than beard oil and novelty chip clips. We’ll flip you right into a champion gift-giver very quickly.
For the Bookworm in Your Life
Personalized Guide Bundles
In Iceland, books are the most well-liked Christmas reward. The vacation season is preceded by an annual ebook flood of latest releases, they usually’re exchanged between family and friends on Christmas Eve, typically adopted by a nighttime studying session that’s complemented by scorching cocoa—a convention I feel we’d do nicely to undertake! If you wish to channel a few of that magic, attempt looking for out custom-made ebook recs on your recipients. The great individuals on the Seattle Public Library will fortunately present a listing of bespoke suggestions by way of their on-line Your Subsequent 5 Books program, and, in fact, your native booksellers at retailers like Elliott Bay Guide Firm and Charlie’s Queer Books can at all times level you in the appropriate path. I’m additionally a fan of the LGBTQ+-owned, Wisconsin-based bookstore A Room of One’s Personal Books, which can curate a candy “queer qare bundle” with books and different surprises based mostly on a questionnaire about your giftee. Costs vary from $45 to $1,000. JULIANNE BELL
A New York Assessment Books Subscription
Final 12 months, I obtained an NYRB Classics Guide Membership subscription for Christmas, and it improved my whole 12 months. If you happen to’re unfamiliar with NYRB—the publishing division of the New York Assessment of Books—think about the ebook model of the Criterion Assortment, identified for reprinting obscure, traditional, and worldwide titles with vibrant impressionistic paintings. With this annual subscription, the one you love ebook lover will obtain one ebook per 30 days. My favorites have been the metaphysical fiction novel The Pores and skin of Desires by French author Raymond Queneau and the artistic nonfiction assortment The Unforgivable and Different Writings by Italian essayist Cristina Campo. AUDREY VANN
Kids’s Books That Are Pleasant for Adults, Too
If you happen to’ve bought any kids’s books within the twenty first century, you’re probably acquainted with Carson Ellis. Nonetheless, we’d be remiss not to suggest her books. The illustrator’s naturalistic, folk-inspired, and richly detailed aesthetic falls in concord with the Pacific Northwest panorama. In The Shortest Day, Ellis illustrates a poetic reflection on the winter solstice, which feels like a beautiful vacation reward to me. (BTW, whilst you’re looking for children’ books, decide up a duplicate of Ellis’s new illustrated memoir, One Week in January, for your self—it revisits her experiences dwelling in a Portland warehouse within the early 2000s, throughout which era she met future husband/Decemberists frontman/Wildwood author Colin Meloy.)
And in case you haven’t explored the enchanted realm of Phoebe Wahl’s kids’s books, permit me to function your tiny mouse tour information. (In alignment with Wahl’s aesthetic, I put on a strawberry for a hat and reside beneath a mushroom cap.) I’m going arduous for Wahl—the Bellingham-based illustrator’s ebook Little Witch Hazel provides body-posi folklore with a heroine who rides an owl and doesn’t shave her legs. If you’re all for haunted tree stumps, streamside fairies, and moments of outstanding vulnerability, you will have discovered your new favourite individual. Little Witch Hazel is a flawless ebook—I’ve even gifted it to grownup associates—however Wahl’s different image books, like Sonya’s Chickens and The Blue Home, are treasures too, gently grappling with themes of gentrification and pet demise. Ask about availability at Secret Backyard Books in Ballard. LINDSAY COSTELLO
For Your Fortunately Overcaffeinated Cherished One
Boon Boona Espresso
Boon Boona Espresso is a Black-owned espresso roaster that brings the distinctive flavors and community-minded traditions of East Africa to Seattle. Along with making unbelievable espresso, they’re devoted to supporting moral sourcing, ladies growers, and underserved African coffee-growing areas. This summer time, I purchased a bag of their seasonal roast that listed strawberries as a tasting observe on the label. To my delight, the roast tasted candy however was additionally jammy and recent with the earthy notes of strawberry seeds. I extremely suggest shopping for the espresso addict(s) in your life a bag of Boon Boona beans or, higher but, one among their pattern packing containers or month-to-month espresso subscriptions. Additionally they provide baggage of inexperienced unroasted beans for espresso snobs who wish to attempt their hand on the roasting course of. AV
For the Present-Giver Who Has No Cash however Loads of Time and Endurance
Hand-Harvested Sea Salt
Do you know you could harvest sea salt in your kitchen with just a few buckets of recent seawater and occasional filters? Many tutorials exist on-line; the gist of the method includes filtering and boiling the water till salt crystals kind. Then, dehydrate the salty sludge in your oven till it turns into stunning, recent sea salt. Mix the salt with herbs or citrus zest to make it further particular! Nevertheless, in case you don’t have the will to wade within the ocean accumulating salt water with a bucket, you’ll be able to merely reward a jar of regionally harvested salt from San Juan Island Sea Salt, accessible in fascinating flavors like truffle and bull kelp. AV
For Your Grandparents
A Christmas Decoration from Outdated World Christmas
Considered one of my favourite issues about Washington is that we’re house to the nation’s premier model of Christmas ornaments (I promise it’s cooler than it sounds). Spokane-based elves Outdated World Christmas have produced magical, hand-painted blown glass ornaments since 1979. The very best half is: They make ornaments of the whole lot. With over 2,100 totally different ornaments, they’ve all kinds of pets, meals, and popular culture icons to select from. In search of a Morton salt canister decoration? No drawback. Want a pregnant snowman? They’ve that, too. What about Grandpa’s favourite recliner? Outdated World Christmas has you coated. Final 12 months, I gifted my grandmother with a scorching air balloon decoration to commemorate our voyage on the whimsical plane. AV
For the Fiber Arts Freak
Cash for Yarn, aka the Energy of Alternative
Apart from understanding the distinction between knitting and crochet, the best reward you may give a fiber arts lover is enabling their interest. Many of the knitters and crocheters I do know (myself included) overspend on yarn, so that they’d most likely love a present certificates to a well-stocked LYS (native yarn retailer) just like the Tea Cozy Yarn Store, Fiber Gallery, Acorn Road Store, or Stitches. Cute notions like scissors or sew markers are additionally at all times welcome, since they probably lose theirs on a regular basis. For a enjoyable day or weekend journey, deal with them to a purchasing spree on the sheep-to-skein producer Spincycle Yarns in Bellingham, yarn retailers the Lamb & Child and La Mercerie on Bainbridge Island, witchy Ritual Dyes in Portland, or yarn retailer/speakeasy Skein & Tipple on Whidbey Island. JB
For the Glassware Collector
A Stylish Bottle of Booze or NA Spirit
Does the one you love have cabinets stuffed with dainty little cups? I’m speaking about champagne flutes, tiny cordial goblets, and grappa glasses. Take heed to me: Don’t purchase them any extra classic glassware! As an alternative, give them some causes to make use of what they have already got. The PNW is fortunate to have numerous distilleries, cideries, and bottle retailers that peddle liquid gold. Present them a bottle of flavorful arduous cider from Finnriver or Twin Island Cider, each of which brew utilizing native components. Or watch their jaw drop as they unwrap a bottle of luxurious amaro from the Seattle-based, women-owned and -operated distillery Quick Penny Spirits. In the event that they aren’t into the arduous stuff, cease by alcohol-free bottle store Cheeky & Dry for a classy bottle of NA spirits. It doesn’t matter what drink the one you love is cheers-ing with this vacation season, you received’t go unsuitable with a jar of Luxardo cherries, accessible at a number of native grocery retailers, together with DeLaurenti and Metropolitan Market. AV
For the Wine Drinker
A Wine Subscription from a Native Bottle Store
Need to impress your pal who has a Vivino account and is at all times speaking about how a lot they love “glou-glou?” Signal them up for a wine membership subscription from a hip spot like Left Financial institution in South Park, or La Dive, Otherworld, or Extensive Eyed Wines on Capitol Hill. In the event that they’re a bibliophile besides, get them a curated wine and ebook pairing from Drink Books, which closed its Phinney storefront however nonetheless sells its combos on-line. JB
For the Tea Lover
Geek-Themed Tea from Friday Afternoon Tea
Unfastened-leaf aficionados will adore something from Friday Afternoon Tea, a geek-themed tea store in Wallingford. Proprietor Friday Elliott has lexical-gustatory synesthesia, which implies she experiences phrases and ideas as flavors and makes use of this reward to craft particular blends impressed by sources starting from Studio Ghibli movies to The Lord of the Rings and Stardew Valley. For true indulgence, you’ll be able to even ebook a customized tea mixing appointment to create the brew of your recipient’s desires. The workers is tremendous pleasant and educated, if in case you have any questions. JB
For the Individual You Love So A lot, No Object Will Suffice
The Melograno in Scented Terracotta at Liten Apothecary
For the final decade, I’ve lovingly referred to it as “The Pomegranate”—an elusive piece I promised myself I’d purchase sometime if I’m ever rich. To this point, that plan hasn’t labored out for me. However that doesn’t imply you’re not rich, or at the least prepared to shell out $75 for a scented terracotta fruit made by an 800-year-old Italian apothecary firm. (Santa Maria Novella merchandise had been first crafted by Dominican friars in 1221.) That is the chicest object ever created. Right here’s why: The Pomegranate’s key options embody a bergamot prime, pomegranate (clearly) center, and oakmoss base, and these notes coalesce right into a spicy olfactory household. It additionally comes with a bit plate, so your pomegranate has one thing to relaxation on. Santa Maria Novella explains that this fruit is “a universe that unfolds into distinctive and distinctive sensory nuances.” I’m assured that your reward recipient requires extra sensory nuance of their life. You could find the Pomegranate, which is extra formally titled the “Melograno in Scented Terracotta,” at Liten Apothecary in Fremont. Plus, I’ve one other (budget-friendly!) scent suggestion for you: Papier d’Arménie, which I’ve been buying for $5–$7 a pop for years. These little booklets of flammable scented paper have been in manufacturing in France since 1885, they usually slide completely right into a stocking. LC
A Tintype from Purple Room Tintype
In contrast to a typical {photograph}, a tintype is printed on a metallic plate, which implies it may possibly final for 100+ years. That is significantly romantic in case you’re seeking a present that symbolizes eternal devotion to a beloved one. Final 12 months, I took my pal Sophia to Purple Room Tintype on Queen Anne to have our friendship memorialized without end, and I used to be awestruck by the ghostly, elegant consequence. Tintypes run round $150–$200. If you happen to’re on a decent price range, think about creating your individual equally charming reward, like a Victorian-style shadow silhouette. All you want is black paper, scissors, artistic lighting, and perhaps a gilded body from the thrift retailer. Make one among your pal’s pet—they may cry. AV
For the Hygge-Loving Trend Fanatic
Socks. Actually, Actually Good Socks.
Hear me out—I do know socks are sometimes decried as a boring, overly sensible current, however I feel that’s reductive, particularly when you will get socks as cozy and opulent as those supplied by the indie model Le Bon Shoppe, which can be found at boutiques like Butter House on Capitol Hill, MILLIE on Queen Anne, and Pipe & Row in Fremont. Their thick, soft “cloud socks” are my favourite, however types just like the sporty “girlfriend” and “boyfriend” crew socks and the stretchy ribbed “her socks” are simply as timeless and trendy. For a extra reasonably priced sock possibility, I like the playful pairs bought at H Mart and Daiso. Alternatively, the Sock Monster in Wallingford has nearly each variation you’ll be able to consider, from tame to statement-making and from ankle socks to thigh-highs (together with wide-calf and plus-size choices). JB
For These Who Hate Overconsumption and Capitalism
Donate!
There’s an abundance of worthy native, nationwide, and worldwide causes to present your cash to. To your consideration, we’re recommending: the Palestine Kids’s Reduction Fund and Anera, that are offering pressing humanitarian aid in Palestine and Lebanon; Connecting Humanity, which provides eSIMs (digital SIM playing cards) to Gaza residents; the Girls’s Reproductive Rights Help Challenge, which works to bridge the monetary hole in entry to abortion and emergency contraceptives; and the Lavender Rights Challenge, a Seattle-based group that empowers the Black intersex and gender-diverse neighborhood by way of intersectional authorized and social companies. Give a donation in the one you love’s identify, or think about setting apart 10%–25% of your gift-buying price range to donate this 12 months. AV
Presents That Carry on Giving
A Membership to a Native Artwork Group
Does your giftee love artwork? Present a membership to the Seattle Artwork Museum, which will get them limitless free admission for a complete 12 months, together with different perks. In the event that they’re a cinema buff, look into memberships at their native theater—equivalent to SIFF or Grand Phantasm (who’re dealing with a pricey transfer in 2025). You may additionally make a pledge to KEXP to get the music lover in your life a snazzy T-shirt or mug. Or, in case your important different has stated, “We must always go mountaineering extra,” purchase them a Uncover Cross. In the event that they’re a historical past buff, signal them as much as assist their native PBS station to allow them to obsessively binge Antiques Roadshow (okay, perhaps I’m projecting). AV
One Extra Factor to Take into account
Home made Wrapping
I’m gonna get on my soapbox right here: I don’t wish to see any extra wasteful and, frankly, ugly reward wrap from Goal. Head to your nearest artistic reuse retailer to search out charming classic paper, material, ribbons, stickers, and stamps. You’ll be stunned by what you’ll find. Final 12 months, for underneath $20, I sourced varied velvet ribbons, tiny bells, and butcher paper from Seattle ReCreative to wrap my vacation presents—most of which I can reuse this 12 months. They’ve two areas, in Georgetown and Greenwood. This apply saves on waste and cash, and your family and friends will probably be impressed by your Martha Stewart-esque expertise. AV
