Photo courtesy of Allison Saeng/Unsplash.
Before you head to a big box retailer or Amazon, consider these local Texas businesses to give a far more memorable gift this holiday season.
‘Tis the season to go through your gift list and wonder what to get everyone for the holidays. For some folks, this is the most stressful situation they’ll go through every year. We’re here to help with our guide to local Texas shops.
Whether you’re hunting for home decor, clothing, wellness, food, or just some good old-fashioned experiences, there are plenty of gems to discover. Now, let’s make this shopping season the best one yet.
Home goods and artwork
Pick a planter or festive wine stopper from Awkward Auntie
Sarah Miller started Awkward Auntie as a website to express her feelings and experiences as an aunt. In 2018, her business turned into a creative outlet of a different kind. Today, Awkward Auntie offers a lovely mix of cement planters, candles, succulent magnets, and more. My favorites are the seasonal designs; the Skull with Winter Hat wine stopper is just delightful.
Photo courtesy of Awkward Auntie.
Hang some landmark photo art from Lone Chimney Mercantile
Lone Chimney Mercantile has set up shop in Richardson and the Dallas Farmers Market, and it’s worth stopping in the store to scope out the myriad quirky collections and unique finds. If you’re set on doing all your gift-giving from the comfort of home, however, the store’s online pop art will really…um, pop on any wall. Stay local with a piece like the mirrored Dallas skyline or the Howdy from Dallas billboard, or go with another city’s landmark and spin it as a vacation for the recipient.
Spice up your stationery with Talking Out Of Turn
Talking Out Of Turn, or Toot, as they refer to themselves, is perhaps the most vibrant shop in the DFW area. The variety of mini notebooks, planners, to-do lists, and stickers can brighten up even the saddest workspaces. Additionally, the colorful totes, hip pouches, and laptop bags will make anyone the center of attention, but in a fun way, not a “what in the world is that person doing?” way. The “Not Today” glass mug is a delightful option, too—I’d suggest picking one up for yourself to silently share your thoughts with the world when need be.
Photo Courtesy of Joi Louviere
Clothing and apparel
Support sports fans with Bullzerk clothing
Serving as “the Dallas Sh**t Company,” Bullzerk has terrific tees (and other apparel) for the sports fans in your life, plus other Dallas and Texas-centric options. Don’t know any die-hards, or are you avoiding Cowboys fans until this rough season is over? Check out the charity merch, which supports local organizations like the Dallas Public Library.
Photo courtesy of Bullzerk.
Jam “In Your Eyes” with a raccoon at We Are 1976
You could very well find something besides clothing from We Are 1976, which features a bevy of stationery, cards, home goods, plushies, and more from a vast collection of independent artists around the U.S. But we’re highlighting the apparel section here—notably, this “In Your Eyes” tee by Factory 43 that replicates the classic stereo scene from “Say Anything,” only with a raccoon doing the move instead of John Cusack.
Rock retro clothing with Dolly Python Vintage
We love a solid retro piece of clothing, and Dolly Python Vintage is a gold mine for these types of goodies. Friends or family members with a flair for fashion will appreciate anything you find from here. And because everything in the store is antique, discovering something cool to gift feels like you just won a treasure hunt. I’d personally recommend a Donald Duck watch or a kitsch fauna outfit.
Photo courtesy of Dolly Python.
Health and wellness
Put charcoal in someone’s stocking with White Rock Soap Gallery
I’m not sure if coal under the Christmas tree is as common a threat today as it was a few decades ago, but it would still be very disappointing to get it as a present. Charcoal, on the other hand? Bring it on. White Rock Soap Gallery has a variety of charcoal-centric products, from bath soaks to face and beard soap. Activated charcoal has strong exfoliating and detoxifying properties. It’s also good for insect bites—not that there are many in Texas in the winter, but maybe you’ve recently vacationed somewhere tropical.
Share a waterproof map from Never Astray
Never Astray raises a good point: “How are you going to survive the apocalypse if you don’t know where to go?” To help with emergency preparedness—or an extended walk or hike—they have maps of several major cities (including the Texas biggies of Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin). These aren’t your classic maps—they’re durable and waterproof and include dense street data, high-quality satellite imagery, and 3D topographical shading. Plus, anything that gets people off their phones is a nice bonus!
Buy a board game from Common Ground Games
From board games to trading card games to miniatures and dice, Common Ground Games has something for everyone. Gift a classic to someone you’re visiting for the holidays, or try to find a more obscure selection that your gaming aficionado pal has never tried before. Just promise me that whatever you select, you will not allow your group to be Jumanji’d into the game.
Food and drink
Spark some joy with JOY Macarons
Even if you don’t buy anything from JOY Macarons, I need you to click that link and look at the image on the homepage. I don’t know what I’d do if my head suddenly turned into a giant macaron, but it wouldn’t be long before I started sampling myself. Hopefully, we never have to worry about such hypotheticals. In the meantime, you can send 12- or 24-packs of macarons to your favorite foodies. And perhaps the pièce de résistance: the Tower of JOY, a multi-tiered tower that can hold between 40 and 220 of the tasty treats.
Photo courtesy of JOY Macarons.
Feast with Hot Damn, Tamales!
We’ve all had plenty of practice yelling “hot damn” in response to Bruno Mars singing “I’m too hot” in “Uptown Funk,” which was played approximately 87 million times on the radio the year it came out and continues appearing at 100% of weddings. Now, you can yell the phrase in deference to terrific tamales that use corn oil instead of lard, resulting in a light, delectable masa. You can pick up in person at the Hot Damn, Tamales Fort Worth location or ship a variety box to your top tamale enthusiast. Don’t skimp on the veggie options, either—there isn’t a slouch in the bunch with selections like Wild Mushroom & Texas Goat Cheese and Spinach Feta & Roasted Pine Nuts.
Savor a snowman from Kate Weiser Chocolate
You might scoff at chocolate or think it’s too simple of a gift. But let’s break it down: Unless someone hates chocolate, they will not be upset about receiving some. And if it’s Carl the Snowman from Kate Weiser Chocolate? They’re going to be smitten. Carl is made from a dark chocolate shell filled with hot cocoa and mini marshmallows. This is also a strategic gift because Carl serves six cups, so you can invite yourself over for hot cocoa.
Photo courtesy of Kate Weiser Chocolate.
Experiences
Relax with Fort Worth Float Company
Like many other things, I learned about sensory deprivation flotation tanks from “The Simpsons.” They can provide benefits that are hard to get anywhere else. Imagine shutting out the noise of the world and eliminating all distractions as you relax and float on water. It’s one of the most serene experiences, and given the stress of the holiday season, Fort Worth Float Company’s tanks are a welcome sight (though you might not actually see very much, but that’s sort of the point).
Send San Antonio in a Box
Driving from DFW to San Antonio usually takes at least four hours, and that’s when traffic isn’t too bad. If you still want the taste of the city without the road trip, opt for San Antonio in a Box. Allison Craig created the company to promote local vendors to folks around the world, and there are options for just about everyone, from BBQ lovers to healthcare heroes to Halloween fanatics (hey, some people need spooky season all year long). Can’t find a curated box you like? Try building one of your own, mixing and matching your favorite items.
Solve a Murder Mystery with The Dinner Detective
I will preface this entry by saying you need to know your audience. If you give this gift to an extreme introvert who dislikes mysteries and people, your gesture will probably be received poorly. But if you’re gifting it to someone who loves this sort of thing—like my friends who hosted a murder mystery as part of their wedding festivities—The Dinner Detective is a top Dallas experience (and a great date night activity). You’ll laugh, you’ll dine, you’ll accuse and perhaps be accused yourself, and most importantly, you’ll make it out alive to enjoy the rest of your gifts.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
