As the holidays loom closer, so too can the panic over what to give friends, family, and colleagues. Our advice: Shop local. Don’t feel like you need to trek hundreds of miles to find the perfect present, or begin a desperate online campaign of frustrated Google searches (i.e., “father-in-law + perfect gift under $50”). There’s an amazing array of area retailers specializing in original, meaningful, beautiful, and useful gifts catering to a wide range of tastes and budgets. Remember: Shopping locally means more than just convenience. It’s about supporting your community and bringing home a rich variety of extraordinary locally made and sold goods.
Elegance in Giving
Going for that high-class look without that upper-class guilt? Head over to Antara Home at the Broadway Arcade in Albany where you can find fair trade throws from Swaziland ($185) that will look good in any setting. Vermont-based Creative Women partners with Swazis to produce these throws out of mohair, a silky fabric made from the hair of an Angora goat. Tiny Swaziland has a long tradition of textile weaving amongst its women, a tradition that has continued to this day. The goal of Creative Women is not simply to buy these products at a reasonable price, but to make the Swazi producers viable in the larger, international market. It seems to be working—the throws perfectly complement pillows produced by respected international names. They also come with their own matching pillow enclosures, including real African wood buttons and feather-down pillow inserts ($150). Consider these items an investment: both as a gift to a loved one (or yourself) and to those who will never have the luxury of being picky about pillows and throws.
Antara Home, 488 Broadway (Store 102), Albany; (518) 465-8475;
www.antarahome.com.
Serving Style for the Holidays
This holiday season, show some appreciation for the people who will make your dinner. Stop by Pearl Grant Richman in Stuyvesant Plaza and choose from two lines of serving sets that are not only elegant, but useful for that impending holiday feast. Pacific Merchants’ Acaciaware consists of bowls, platters, and plates, each in a variety of shapes and hand-carved from a single piece of South Pacific acacia wood. Dine without guilt—the company only harvests fast-growing, nonendangered trees on private land.
If you’re looking for a sleek, futuristic look, Nambe has created a line of similar kitchen items from a top-secret metal alloy that doesn’t crack, chip, or tarnish. Originating from a tiny village in New Mexico, the works of Nambe’s artisans have been seen at museums worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Now that’s something to start a dinner conversation.
Pearl Grant Richman, Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany; (518) 438-8409.
A Cute Alternative to a Bank Account
Saving money is usually the furthest thing from most minds during the holiday season, but Fashion Angels Enterprises’ Zookidookis will certainly not go unnoticed. These fancifully designed creatures exhibit the clear influence of Japanese animation, from their oversize eyes to their exaggerated facial expressions. Far from being piggy banks, they are equal parts art and function—perfect for the young, or the simply young-at-heart.
The Museum of Modern Art in New York has noticed the appeal of the Zookidooki, selling them for $25. Cheeky Tiki Monkey (where the strange critters seem right at home) on Lark Street only asks for $19.99. They carry eight different types of Zookidooki, each unique in name, shape, size, and color. Whether you pick the adorably gloomy Unagigi, the buoyant Wasabibi, or any of the other Zookidookis, all are ready to collect both attention and your loose change.
Cheeky Tiki Monkey, 252 Lark Street, Albany; (518) 281-6816.
The Best of Asia
Asia-Barong’s selection of Asian art, antiques, furniture, and sculpture—the largest on the East Coast—is as vast as the continent itself. With an inventory of items priced from 50 cents to $75,000, there is bound to be something in your price range. Spectacular antique Indonesian gazebos run for $6,000 and up and make pleasant nooks for friends to share beneath pleated woven bamboo ceilings covered by wood-shingled roofs. A decorative Balinese Buddha mask, hand-carved from Balahu wood and gilded at the base and on the floral headpiece, stands five feet tall and is an ideal focal point for an at home meditation center. Can’t find what you’re looking for in the heavily stocked multileveled “Asian playground”? This Great Barrington store and gallery will search Asia for you.
Asia Barong, 199 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington; (413) 528-5091;
www.asiabarong.com.
What’s Hanging this Holiday
The Nightmare Before Christmas remains a strong favorite this time of year, and for good reason—the juxtaposition of Halloween and Christmas is strangely charming. Local artist and craftswoman Elissa Halloran draws inspiration from the cult classic and the Mexican Day of the Dead in creating the “Skeleton Guys,” a group of delicately crafted wall hangings. Crafted from wire, bone, and a plethora of household items (including many snapped up from estate sales), these “Guys” are every bit as intricately made as the polished jewelry Halloran carries at her Lark Street studio. These “Guys” aren’t out to frighten; rather, they can be seen riding bicycles, rocking on electric guitars, and spurring on wire horses. Their big, toothy, goofy grins will endear them to your heart, and their affordable price (as low as $25) will endear them to your wallet. These morbidly merry gentlemen will liven up your days long after the holiday season has departed.
Elissa Halloran, 229 Lark Street, Albany; (518) 432-7090;
www.ehdesigns.com.
Portraits with the Artist as a Young Man (or Woman)
The aspiring young artist in your life needs something to draw on, and if you cannot provide, then your walls might just end up covered in crayon or paint. Spare yourself this indignity and give the little boy or girl the Art Alternatives “Kid Easel” ($56.89) from Central Art Supply on Lark Street. It folds up for easy storage and includes a dry-erase board on one side and a chalkboard on the other. At slightly less than four feet tall, the easel is perfect for a young tyke just learning to embrace his or her creative energies. Another item of note for both young and old alike is “Fun with Rock Painting,” a nonintimidating way to let out your inner Rembrandt without spending too much ($9.95). There are several kits, such as “Dragon & Castle,” and “Pirate & Treasure,” and they all come with instructions, a full set of paint, a brush, and a smoothed rock. Truly, they exemplify what a child’s imagination can do with something as plain as a rock.
Central Art Supply, 292 Lark Street, Albany; (518) 426-3501;
www.central-art.com.
Doggone Spoiled
Do you have a posh pooch? Your upscale pup might me tempted to toss back a few “Cosmo-paw-litans” or “Muttinis.” Maybe you have a laid back lab that’s more interested in burgers, fries, cannolis, and doughnuts. Sloppy Kisses, a Saratoga Springs dog bakery and boutique, provides treats, collars, apparel, carries, toys, and dog supplies. Gift baskets and certificates are also available. Recent dog food recalls and FDA investigations have made many pet-owners wary of large dog food manufacturers, but no worries here. All Sloppy Kisses’ treats are made with human-grade ingredients. Burger treats use unbleached flour, whole wheat, tomatoes, chicken broth, hickory, and the bun is covered in real sesame seeds. Unsweetened yogurt decorates the sugar-free, cocktail glass-shaped biscuits while cinnamon and honey flavor these delightful desserts.
Sloppy Kisses, 493 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. (518) 587-2207;
www.sloppykissesofsaratoga.com.
The Gift of Culture
The Capitol Region offers much in the way of culture, music, and theater. Why not share it with someone this holiday season? Gift certificates and subscription packages are available in many of the area’s finest performance venues. Instead of buying a ticket to one particular show get a gift certificate from Troy Savings Bank Music Hall that allows the recipient to choose from a number of events. They can use it right away to see legendary singer songwriter John Prine on January 6 or save it for the March installment of the Troy Chromatic Concert series featuring the Czech Philharmonic, one of Europe’s best orchestras. Encourage a healthy love affair with classical music by giving a subscription package for the Albany Symphony that will linger on after the mistletoe and holly are tucked away. Choose tickets from Proctors in Schenectady for an eclectic blend of musical theater, dance, children’s shows, music, and cultural performances. Can’t make it to Manhattan? Broadway comes to Proctors with Monty Python’s “SPAMALOT” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” If you know someone who wants to take a ride on the wayback machine to the 1980s, Howard “What Is Love Anyway” Jones comes to The Egg in Albany on January 13. Once your friends receive their tickets, they’ll never complain about having nowhere to go again.
The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 30 Second Street, Troy; (518) 273-0038;
www.troymusichall.org. Albany Symphony, 19 Clinton Avenue, Albany; (518) 465-4755; www.albanysymphony.com. Proctors Theatre, 432 State Street, Schenectady; www.proctors.org. The Egg, Empire State Plaza, Albany; (518) 473-1845;
www.theegg.org.
Wrapped in Compassion
Global warming aside, winters in the Capital Region can be brutally cold. This holiday, give a gift that will warm both body and heart—a fair trade silk scarf ($39-$61) from Cambodia, on sale now at The Open Door Bookstore in Schenectady. Wild Boar Creek has been working since 1999 to improve the quality of living of a dozen Cambodian villages by importing their handcrafted items at a fair price. Most of the people who live in these villages lack power and fresh water because of their poverty, but have a long tradition of quality weaving, something that stands out in these silks. You don’t need the whole back story to appreciate the scarves for their exquisite craftsmanship: They are unbelievably soft, boldly colored, and just plain stylish. They can add color and character to any winter outfit—you’ll find yourself bragging about how great these scarves are long after the ice caps have melted away.
The Open Door Bookstore & Gift Gallery, 128 Jay Street, Schenectady;
(518) 346-2719; www.opendoor-bookstore.com.
Colorful Metal for Colorful People
Having a jewelry addict on your holiday gift list assures that every year you will find yourself sifting through piles of traditional, expensive gemstones. Save your sanity and head to the Designers Studio in Saratoga Springs, where you will find Holly Yashi’s Niobium jewelry. Niobium is a light, durable, and rare metal that takes on color as it receives an electrical charge. Since the color is a result of the metal’s own oxide (and not paint or dye), the coloring is permanent. Best of all, the Niobium earrings, bracelets, and necklaces come in a broad price range (from $15 to $200)—perfect for any holiday budget. While you’re at the Designers Studio, look for jewelry boxes and drawers by Mike Mikutowski, priced between $40 and $950. Sturdily made from exotic hardwoods such as cocobolo and bird’s-eye maple, these works will help that jewelry addict keep organized, at the very least.
Designers Studio, 492 Broadway, Saratoga Springs; (518) 584-1977;
www.designersstudiony.com.
This article appears in December 2007.
