Food & Drink
Seattle Magazine’s 2016 Gift Guide
Featuring finds from local stores as special as our favorite holiday songs and sayings, our 2016 gift guide proves December really is the most wonderful time of the year
By Jennifer McCullum December 6, 2016
This article originally appeared in the December 2016 issue of Seattle magazine.
The Land of Must-have Toys…
Techy teens can collect the customizable smart bracelets, $69, from Seattle-based start-up Gemio, which light up when a friend, also wearing a band, is nearby. Available for preorder at gogemio.com
Take Legos to go with the locally made Swoop mini bag, $26, perfect for toting toys during holiday travel. swoopbags.com
Seattle-based industrial designer Douglas Varey, founder of Resolute Lighting, created his vintage-inspired go-cart, the “Austin Boulogne,” using repurposed materials and an electric motor. Private commission, price upon request. Resolute Lighting showroom, SoDo, 4617 Colorado Ave. S, Unit A; 206.343.9323; resoluteonline.com
Headquartered in South Lake Union, Fort Boards custom fort-building kits, $79.99–$125, contain 20 square feet of plastic panels for kids to construct their dream hideout, castle or clubhouse. fortboards.com
Festivals of Light, Candles Glowing Oh So Bright…
Twinkling gold star dangle earrings, $28, designed by Gig Harbor–based Six Sisters Beadworks, sparkle and shine. sixsistersbeadworks.com
Throw pillows, like these metallic-embellished ones from Jonathan Adler, $250–$255, are an easy way to add a bit of holiday spirit to any home decor. Jonathan Adler, University Village, 2650 NE Village Lane; 206.525.0930; jonathanadler.com
After raising your glass, place it down on one of these festive die-cut gold-foil-stamped coasters, $21 for a set of 12. Available at E. Smith Mercantile, Pioneer Square, 208 First Ave. S; 206.641.7250; esmithmercantile.com
Add some sparkle to holiday tabletops with Z Gallerie’s Avelina glassware, $35.96–$47.96 for a set of four, featuring luxe gold textured details (also available in silver). Z Gallerie, Bellevue, Bellevue Square, 575 Bellevue Way NE; 425.519.4499; zgallerie.com
Winter may be a darker time of year, but your complexion can still be bright with Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate, $46, featuring a blend of ginger root essential oils, tamanu and sunflower seed botanical oils. Kiehl’s, University Village, 2611 NE University Village St.; 206.985.4414; kiehls.com
From local perfumer Maria Christofilis, the MC Parfums trio spray set, $110, includes TSA-approved refillable sprays of the line’s signature scents, including Fleur09, Mykonos12 and latest fragrance, Missive15: a woody, Oriental abstraction with notes of bergamot, Casablanca lilies and Madagascar vanilla bean. Available at Butch Blum, downtown, 1332 Sixth Ave.; 206.622.5760; and online at mariachristofilis.com
The gift of a Glassybaby votive holder, $44, (shown in warm amber Cozy) is like giving two presents in one. Ten percent of the cost benefits the handblown glass retailer’s White Light fund, which supports various worthy causes. Glassybaby, multiple locations, including Bellevue, 10230 Main St.; 425.256.2927; glassybaby.com
The Apothecary’s solid cologne for men is all natural and handcrafted in Seattle. The best-selling Maverick scent, $25.99, features notes of bergamot and tobacco, and the fragrant balm can be stashed in any briefcase, backpack or stocking. Available at Etsy shop By All the Little Things: etsy.com/shop/byallthelittlethings
The Frederique Constant Classic Moon Phase men’s timepiece, $2,295, is the ultimate luxury gift. Alvin Goldfarb Jeweler, Bellevue, 305 Bellevue Way NE; 425.454.9393; agjeweler.com
Eat, Drink & Be Merry…
Bring the on-draft craft beer experience into your kitchen with the PicoBrew Pico automated beer brewer, $799. Just add water to one of the machine’s PicoPaks, featuring flavors from more than 100 breweries, and your holiday beer is good to go. Mountain Homebrew & Wine Supply, Kirkland, 8530 122nd Ave. NE; 425.803.3996; and available online at picobrew.com
Spice up holiday dishes with Tacoma-based Downing Pottery’s salt and pepper cellars, $38 per set. Available at Venue, Ballard, 5408 22nd Ave. NW; 206.789.3335; venueballard.com
Soft Turkish towels, $18–$35, from Essenza add a decorative element to any kitchen. Essenza, Fremont, 615 N 35th St.; 206.547.4895; essenza-inc.com
Fremont-based Theo Chocolate’s chocolate clusters, $5.99, make a yummy snack and each flavor contains cocoa flavanols to boost heart health. Here’s to a happy, healthy new year! Available at Theo Chocolate, Fremont, 3400 Phinney Ave. N; 206.632.5100; theochocolate.com
Sugarfina’s martini “olives,” $7.50, offer a sweet surprise (white chocolate-covered almonds) and make a fun hostess gift for upcoming cocktail parties. Available at the Sugarfina boutique in Nordstrom, downtown, 500 Pine St.; 206.628.2111; sugarfina.com
Follow Us
Lots of Questions About Nordstrom Merger Proposal
Deal calls for merger with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool
You’ve probably heard the news that the Nordstrom family, led by Erik and Pete Nordstrom, wants to enter into an agreement with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool to sell all outstanding shares of the company for $23 per share in cash, or $380 billion...
Costco Hikes Membership Fees
The company last raised the price in 2017
I love shopping at Costco. Sure, our household doesn’t always need 18 tubes of toothpaste at once, but that’s a small price to pay for the savings. Even just one purchase — a computer, for instance — can recoup a basic membership fee. Rumors have been swirling for years that the company would raise its…
16 Local Gifts for a Seattle Mother’s Day
A funny candle, a meaningful necklace, and the best sundae in town
Let's talk about Mother's Day. It's a holiday that can feel a tad complex. Maybe you're planning to spoil your mom with a spa day, or maybe you're finding ways to honor her memory or handle some tricky emotions. No matter how you choose to celebrate, we’ve rounded up some fun and local gift ideas.
