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December 13, 2011

Holiday Gift Guide Addendum: Our Top Picks For Last-Minute Philadelphia Presents – Bruce Tickets, Barnes Memberships, Garces Gift Cards, Hotel Packages, Spa Treatments, Theater Subscriptions & More

You can shop local this holiday season by giving the gift of theater subscriptions, museum memberships, exhibition tickets, restaurant gift cards, hotel packages and more. (Credit: iStockPhoto)

We’re all about supporting local boutique and shop owners, local artists and crafters and local food and drink purveyors.

To that end, we published our all-local holiday gift guide, comprised of our top picks for locally made holiday gifts.

But in addition to those options, there are many gift ideas equally worthy of your dollar, that aren’t technically “made” here in the city but that still support some great local institutions. That’s because they come in the form of blockbuster exhibition tickets, theater subscriptions, restaurant gift cards, museum memberships, spa treatments and the like.

Our top picks for last-minute holiday gifts, from theater tickets to gift cards that are easy to pick up for speedy gifting:

Tickets

Advance tickets to “From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen”: Come February 17, the National Constitution Center is bringing the Boss to its state-of-the-art exhibition space, with a display featuring more than 150 items, many of which have never been seen before by the public. Get tickets to the exhibition in advance for the music lover on your list.

PECO Power Week $10 Philadelphia Orchestra tickets: December 13-20, you can snag $10 tickets to the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra. You have your choice of 16 different concerts; spring for two or three and gift a musical bonanza!

Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre Bard Card: Support Philly Shakes with a ticket package, with savings ranging from $40 to $70. You get 20% off additional ticket purchases, free ticket exchanges and upgrades and only one handling fee for the entire season. The Bard Card can be used for any performance between March 21-May 13, 2012.

Arden Theatre Holiday Gift Packages: Support local theater and give the gift of high-quality live art. Choose from “Family Fun”, which includes four tickets to the Arden Children’s Theatre show of your choice, the book that inspired the play, two buttons with the show image, and two cookies when you come to the theatre; “Dramatic Teen,” which includes a drama school class and a ticket to a show plus a backstage tour; “Night Out in Old City,” a show ticket and $25 gift certificate to Marmont Steakhouse on Market Street; or “Three Pack of Plays,” which includes free parking and dining discounts in addition to a pair of tickets to three shows.

Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia Access Certificates: The Greater Philadelphia region is home to more than 135 producing theatres. Choose any amount you like, and you will receive a package of Access Xertificates in that amount, valid for use at any participating theatre. Gift certificates work just like cash and can be used towards ticket purchases, theatre classes or workshop fees, merchandise, etc. All gift certificates are good for one full year, and can be personalized with a special message.

Walnut Street Theatre’s Spectacular Musical Sampler: America’s oldest theatre lets you subscribe to three shows with prime seats for just $130.

E-tickets to the 2012 Philadelphia Auto Show: Purchase e-tickets before January 1 and get a $2 discount off adult admissions. The 9-day auto extravaganza returns to the newly-expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center bigger, bolder and better.

InterAct Theatre Gift Certificates: Certificates may be redeemed for individual tickets or applied toward the purchase of season subscriptions, so your gift-giving is super flexible. InterAct was named Philly’s
Best Political Theater by Philadelphia Weekly.

2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show Tickets: The 2012 Flower Show will be a trip to a tropical heaven. The theme is “Islands of Aloha,” bringing the balmy winds of tranquil paradise to Philadelphia from March 4-11. You can also purchase a ticket combo package for Van Gogh Up Close at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (coming February 1-May 6) along with the Flower Show.

Azuka Theatre Subscription: You can customize your subscription to include just previews; just Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; or Fridays, Saturdays and Opening Nights. Azuka has been nominated for more Barrymore Awards than you can count on two hands and has built a reputation for accessible, thought-provoking and socially conscious theatre.

Annenberg Center’s Signature Series: Curate your own performing arts experience. Mix and match theatre and dance, jazz and world music, favorite artists and emerging talent. You’ll save up to 15% on each ticket, the ability to exchange tickets for free if you can’t attend a performance, special discounts on parking and special offers at great restaurants.

Below, we have ideas for memberships, food and drink and more.

Memberships

Barnes Foundation membership: Give the gift of Founding Membership to art lovers, who will then be among the first to experience the new Barnes in Philadelphia, and will also enjoy advance ticketing, unlimited free admission, guest passes, discounts on classes, docent tours, and shop and café purchases and more.

Philadelphia Film Society membership: Movie maven on your list? Purchase a gift membership before December 15 and receive two complimentary tickets to an upcoming PFS Sneak Preview screening. PFS members can get free tickets to year-round Sneak Preview screenings of popular films, all-access badges to the 2012 Philadelphia Film Festival, discounts at great local restaurants and shops and more.

Free Library membership: For just $50, you can get the bibliophile on your list membership to the Free Library, one of the city’s most important cultural institutions. He or she will get a membership card which includes access to special discounts and perks around the city, a Free Library of Philadelphia bookmark and the pride of being a supporter of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation.

Philadelphia Art Alliance membership: A $75 individual membership gets your art loving friend unlimited free admission to PAA galleries and exhibitions, “Bring a Friend” discounted admission for up to four non-member guests, 10% discount at The Art Shop at Moore College of Art & Design, 10% off purchases at Utrecht Art Supply and more.

Food and Drink

Pennsylvania General Store’s Philly-centric food packages: Located in Reading Terminal, the Pennsylvania General Store sells quintessential Philadelphia goods that are perfectly packaged for homesick City of Brotherly Love expats. Items of particular note include Chocolate Scrapple, a Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels and mustard pack and more.

Battleship New Jersey Holiday Wine Pack: Enjoy a bottle of Battleship Red and Battleship White Wine, and two self-guided tour tickets to the Battleship for just $35. You’ll get a delicious gift that anyone on your holiday list will enjoy, plus you’ll be helping support the ship.

Garces Restaurant Group Gift Cards: A perfect gift for any hungry Philadelphian, gift cards are available in any amount, and can be purchased online or in any Garces restaurant. Best of all, for every $250 you spend, you’ll receive a $25 gift card as a bonus (to keep or give).

Starr Restaurant Organization Gift Cards: What’s better than a gift card the giftee can spend at any of 20 restaurants? (And that’s just in Philadelphia.) For every $500 spent, get $50. With every additional $250 spent, get another $50 in gift card form. You can purchase online or at any Starr resto.

13th Street Restaurant Group Gift Cards: Snag a gift card to any or all of Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran’s restaurants (including the yet-to-open Jamonera!) Try not to get distracted by the other goodies on the site, from clever tees to delicious chocolates. Ok, you can get distracted.

Krispy Kreme’s Kosher Sufganiyot or Red Velvet Doughnuts: Krispy Kreme’s four area locations are selling holiday-perfect treats that take approximately two seconds to order and have packed. It’s a great option for kids, a coworker or a party gift.

Lacroix Chocolat Sampler: What’s more chic than chocolate in a pretty package? Answer: chocolat (as in, the French version) in a pretty package. Enjoy Lacroix Chocolate Laboratory’s novel creations, made fresh by Chef Fredrick Ortega and his highly trained staff. Take your pick from an extensive range of sizes and seasonal flavors.

Just Dogs! Gourmet: Treat your pooch, or a friend’s, to a jar of gourmet handmade snacks.

Miscellaneous Packages

Children’s Bundle from the Rosenbach Museum & Library: Let the museum do the choosing and wrapping. The bundle, a ready-to-give gift, includes Light the Lights!: A Story About Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas, by Margaret Moorman; The Juniper Tree: And Other Tales from Grimm, illustrated by Maurice Sendak; Hansel and Gretel DVD; snowglobe; Nutcracker Magnetic Finger Puppets; and Glow-in-the-Dark Stars to decorate the child’s walls or ceiling.

Four Seasons Spa Packages: There’s nothing more luxurious than a spa package at The Four Seasons. You have several options, all including top-notch service and ultra-luxe treatments. Kashwére rob, aromatherapy massage and poolside lunch? Yes, please.

The Art of Shaving Holiday Kits: Let the pros handle the picking and packaging, and you’ll have a sophisticated set to gift your boyfriend, husband, dad, brother-in-law, inappropriately shaggy coworker, you name it.

Philly Overnight® Hotel Package: Just in time for New Year’s weekend, you can provide someone special on your list with an unbeatable hotel package in Philadelphia. You get two nights accommodations, free hotel parking both nights (HUGE deal) and a special With Love, Philadelphia XOXO® teddy bear.

Wine School of Philadelphia Class Gift Certificate: Buy any class you want, and then print a gift card directly from the online page. Go for Wine 101 for wine newbies, or Beer and Brewing 101 for the hops-lovers.

City Food Tours: Food experts lead a series of tasty encounters while sharing the inside scoop on how foods are made and the quirky stories behind their creation. Get tickets to any of the awesome options and let your giftee see and taste the city.

Christmas Bulb Kits at Vagabond Boutique: Black thumb? The kit makes gardening a cinch. Pair it with a holiday letter press card and you’re good to go.

Needlepoint Kit from Rittenhouse Needlepoint: Crafter on your list? Get them a ready-to-go kit from this quaint second-floor shop in Rittenhouse and they’ll have all they need to craft an Eyeglass Case, Coin Purse or Scissors Holder.

Juju Spa & Organics Package: This multiple-award-winning salon and spa has great options for gift packages. Or, you can create a customized package perfect for the lady on your list.

Breakaway Bikes Gift Package: Buy a bike and get free coaching and indoor classes for your bike-riding friend or family member.

Previously: Uwishunu’s Holiday Gift Guide: Our Top Picks For Where To Buy Locally Made Goods, Highlights From Each Place, And Upcoming Neighborhood Gift-Shopping Events

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  1. Pingback: Philly Homegrown – Local Food in Philadelphia: Restaurants, Farmers' Markets, Shops, Tours and More | Philly Homegrown’s 2011 (Mostly) Edible Gift Guide on December 14, 2011

(2 responses)

December 13, 2011, 12:06 pm

Brian Smith says:

Nice collection and offers …!! Keep posting …Cheers

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