Cody Merlot-Klein | cmelloklein@alextimes.com
The holidays are finally here, and with it comes the pressure to buy the perfect gift for friends and family.
The pandemic continues to affect our lives, and the global supply chain disruption has affected the gifts we can and cannot get this year. If you are struggling to find the specific gift you have been trying to find on Amazon or some other national retailer, don't worry. Online shopping and creative solutions to the challenges associated with celebrating holidays during the global pandemic are still the new normal, but this has not stopped local businesses in Alexandria from offering some holiday cheers.
From books and candles to vintage wineware and high-quality clothing, there are many opportunities to buy the perfect gift at various price points from one of the many boutiques and shops in Port City. In addition, Alexandria’s Shop Small Week this weekend will bring discounts, live music performances and outdoor shopping displays. You can turn a holiday shopping spree into a celebration of the city’s local business community.
Check out our selection of local selections in this week’s gift guide, and make sure to pay attention to next week’s gift guides, which are all related to self-care and personal health.
Before she founded Threadleaf, an independent boutique at 102 N. Fayette St., Nicole McGrew worked as a lawyer and worked for the federal government, and many of the clothes she sells today reflect her experience. The women's clothing provided by Threadleaf will not sacrifice style for function.
"One of the things I'm most famous for is a dress with pockets," McGrew said. "Since I was a member of the Federal Reserve, I have been thinking about clothes that can put the badge in it, because they always tell you to take the badge off as soon as you leave the building."
The Skate dress by Chicago designer Cynthia Ashby is priced at $155. It is easy to fit (with pockets) and has a stylish and stylish look, perfect for holiday parties. If you are looking for something to keep your loved one warm and comfortable, consider Bronte Moon’s plaid neutral scarf, which is priced at $70 and is 100% American made by one of the last remaining vertical mills in England. Made of Linu wool.
Threadleaf also sells a canvas coverall, which is perfect for the gardener in your life-or anyone who enjoys comfort and, of course, a lot of pockets.
"Half of my purchase was because I thought,'I need something, and if I need it, others may need it,'" McGrew said. "...I don't think they are just for gardening because they are actually very soft and very comfortable. Some people just like to wear work clothes. But they are actually very suitable for gardening because they have a lot of pockets."
Or, if the investment in work clothes is too large, you can use Threadleaf's pruning shears ($18) and a pair of gardening gloves ($7.50) to make a gardening gift bag. Threadleaf also sells body and household products that will not damage the bank, such as Be Kind's non-toxic nail polish ($15), natural French soap ($4.50) and lavender bath salt ($18). To browse Threadleaf's online store, please visit https://hellothreadleaf.com.
Shop Made in Virginia is the latest addition to the list of local companies in Alexandria. It opened about three weeks ago and has already made waves.
Shop Made in Virginia is located at 1121 King St., giving locals the opportunity to support more than 120 Virginia manufacturers, all of which sell their products at Shop Made’s location in Alexandria. From custom art prints and candles to peanuts and hot sauce, Shop Made’s hand-picked handmade products can always meet everyone's needs.
"Whether people want something very Virginia-centric — we have Virginia-shaped cutting boards and shirts with'Virginia Love' written on it — or they just want to buy people gifts and want to know what they are buying is taking place In other respects, we have all these things," said Stacey Price, co-founder of Shop Made in Virginia and its sister store Shop Made in DC.
Candles are always good stocking fillers. Shop Made sells a variety of candles made by ISO Candles, which is a candle manufacturer based in Alexandria. ISO candles range from US$20 to US$32. They smell like oranges and goji berries, white cherry blossoms, or, interestingly, have the scent of a waterfall. ISO also sells a series of candles designed to evoke the spirit of the holiday. The scent includes Douglas fir, cider and holiday cheers, mixed with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, pine and sweet apples.
For art lovers looking for home reminders, consider the custom art prints selected by Shop Made in Virginia. The prints by Alexander artist Ali Douglass depict the townhouses in the old city and the stylized maps of the old city, with prices ranging from $27 to $45.
Price said that Shop Made’s holiday options are still sold in-store and online, but plans to sell three different types of gift boxes, which will help reduce the pressure of choosing the perfect gift. The price of the gift box may be between US$50 and US$120.
"By the first week of December, we will have several Virginia gift boxes for people to order online," Price said. "For us, one of DC's big things is our gift box program, which can free you from thinking and allow you to customize them, or you can buy them directly."
The Shop Made in Virginia website is still being updated, but please visit https://www.shopmadeinva.com/ to find the shop's online products.
Whether you have your own children or nieces and nephews, you may have to find something for the little ones in your life. Fortunately, 529 Kids Consign at 122 S. Royal St. can meet your needs.
529 Kids Consign sells clothing suitable for children and mothers-to-be, as well as toys, accessories and gadgets. The Animal Tourists Tin Tea set ($35) was just launched during the holidays and will provide children with everything they need to pretend to have tea time with friends, family or stuffed animal buddies.
For budding fashionistas, there are Tiny Treats handbags. Priced at $35, they evoke the style of designer handbag brands and are available in a variety of colors. Or, if your kids are future scientists or builders, try the STEM-friendly Power Blox starter kit ($31), which allows kids to build 3D light-emitting structures using conductive blocks and batteries.
Winter may not be the best time for runners, but you can help alleviate the melancholy of cold weather and get the runners in your life on the road with excitement-or treadmills-with the gift of the walker running team.
When it comes to shoes, the Pacers have many daunting options, but the staff recommended Brooks Adrenaline ($130) and Hoka's Clifton ($130) and Bondi ($150) models.
Hoka Clifton is lightweight, designed with breathable mesh and an extended heel bumper. Hoka Bondi provides a smooth, balanced midsole and super soft memory foam that can adapt to any foot shape, while providing a smooth running experience for those running on the brick sidewalks in the old city.
The Pacers also sell many accessories that can make any runner dizzy. The price of Goodr sunglasses ranges from US$25 to US$35, while Aftershokz earmuff-style Bluetooth headsets start at US$80 and can go up to US$160, which will help you enjoy a pleasant journey. At the same time, for those who want to splurge after running, Pacers offers Theragun's electric massage device, which is priced from 200 to 600 US dollars depending on the model.
Visit Walker Alexander in person at 1301 King Street or at https://runpacers.com/pages/alexandria.
Use some old-fashioned wine utensils from The Hour to take the old saying "Happy drinking" to a new level.
Victoria Vergason’s bar supplies boutique at 1015 King St. sells her own bespoke items as well as vintage cocktail shakers, glasses and bar tools that Vergason has collected from real estate sales, auction houses, and European flea markets over the past 30 years.
"Cocktail time is when people put down their phones, spend time having a drink, and chatting together," Vergason said. "We talk to each other. Of course, this will happen with friends and family during the holidays."
The Hour's wide range of bar supplies are perfect for friends or family members who are building bar carts or are only interested in antique goods in your life. If your budget is limited, there are bitters and syrups for those who want to try various flavors. The Hour sells Jamaican bitters from Bittercube ($27.95) and Hella Bitters' ginger bitters ($21.50), as well as firewood and honeydew jalapeno shrub syrup ($13.50) to make the cocktail time more interesting.
If you are willing to spend a little more, The Hour also provides you with a selection of vintage cocktail shakers, with prices ranging from US$87.50 to US$1,500. The silver Art Deco style shaker ($375) or the vintage Bernard Rice's Sons shaker ($125) are two classic choices. At the same time, the bar tool set uses stainless steel, wooden or marble handles, or art deco style bird claw-shaped ice tongs, which can make any bar cart more perfect.
In addition to the rocks, shot glasses and cocktail glasses they often choose, The Hour adds a festive joy to any festive glass that is poured. A set of modern Home Bar rock glasses covered with four reindeer or Santa Claus sells for $62. Buy The Hour online store at https://thehourshop.com/.
Let's be honest: the holidays can be exhausting. Between shopping, cooking, and holiday planning, there are many dishes to deal with, not to mention all the complications associated with the pandemic.
To make everyone full of energy and optimism, consider giving a caffeine gift-while supporting a budding local roaster.
Michael Hinkle is hesitant to call Whik's Coffee Roasters, a company that he and his wife Kayla run in their kitchen at home, which is a micro-baking factory. Instead, he referred to the joint venture in which he and Kayla were separated with a nine-to-five job as Nano Baking Factory.
Hinkles sells single-origin, light-to-medium roasted coffee purchased directly from farmers, regardless of the scale of the business. Since the launch of Whik's in July 2020, these two James Madison University graduates have been among local coffee lovers It was an incredible success.
"We stick to the light to medium side because, to be honest, in the end we tend to bake what we like, and we like light to moderate baking," Hinkle said. "It just brings out more subtle fruit flavors in the coffee, which is really refreshing."
If someone in your life avoids Starbucks and wants to expand their palette, then Whik's is for them. The beans that Whink's sells in its online store are changed every month, but the price of each bag is always $15. Currently, Whiink's sells Ethiopian Guji Oromia and Honduras Guinope El Paraiso on its website www.whiinkscoffeeroasters.com.
If you know someone who wants to fully commit to the micro-baking lifestyle, Whik's also sells a "baker's select subscription" for $14 a month.
"It can be said that you take your coffee life in our hands, and we will send you something unique, cool or interesting. Sometimes we don’t even publish this coffee on the website because the quantity we get is very high. Limited," Hinkel said.
According to Hinkle, he and his wife also prepared something special for the holiday: a limited supply of Guatemalan Huehuetenango coffee has been aged in wheat bourbon barrels for nearly a month. The end result is a flavour profile that is perfect for holidays, with flavors of bourbon, caramel, toffee and lemon.
"If you have ever drunk cask coffee, this coffee can really absorb the taste of those wonderful bourbon whiskeys. As a hot drink, pourer or French filter press, it is a perfect winter drink. It kind of warms the soul," Hinkel said.