Uwishunu is here to help you shop locally this holiday season; stock up on locally crafted jewelry, art, home goods, clothes, food and drink and much more. (Credit: iStockPhoto
The tree lights are atwinkle, the store windows are bursting with red, green, silver and gold, the ribbon and wrapping paper and cards are calling your name from inside your cabinet.
It’s officially gift-giving holiday heyday, and there’s no time like the present to stock up on Philadelphia-made crafts, clothes, food and more for the lucky ones on your list.
Enter: uwishunu’s holiday gift guide, complete with the events you can rely on for gift-shopping, the best places to find local gifts and our curated selections for specific finds from each. Note that our roundup is solely comprised of Philadelphia-made gifts, so if we missed your go-to gift shop it may be because they don’t stock locally.
Everything that you need to give locally this season, below:
Gift-Shopping Events
• Center City District Shopping Saturdays: Support local, independently owned small businesses throughout Center City over the next month. Here are the featured dates and locations. November 26: Midtown Village. December 3: The Shops at Liberty Place. December 10: The Gallery at Market East.December 17: Rittenhouse Row.
• NOLIBS Holiday Shopping Spree: December 3-4, from 2nd to 3rd and from The Piazza to Spring Garden. At this annual boutique crawl, 10 independent boutiques will be offering refreshments, free gift wrap and an opportunity to get up to 25% off your purchases. Shoppers are given a Shopping Spree Card and collect a sticker for each store at which they make a purchase. You get 10% off the first store, 15% off at the second, 20% off at the third and 25% off at all shops after collecting all three stickers.
• Stag & Doe Nights in Chestnut Hill: Wednesdays, December 5, 14, 21, 28, 6-9 p.m., throughout Chestnut Hill. All the shops open their doors and welcome you with wonderful gift ideas, refreshments and personalized, friendly service.
• H.O.P.E. for the Holidays Craft Bazaar: December 8-10, St. James Hall, Elkins Park. H.O.P.E. stands for Helping Other People Endure. The event includes a theater performance followed by a bazaar stocked with local crafters and artisans’ work.
• Greensgrow Holiday Bazaar: December 10, 11, 17, 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2501 E. Cumberland Street. Make a dent in your Christmas shopping at Greensgrow Farms’ Holiday Bazaar featuring local, handmade gift ideas from some of the neighborhood’s most talented crafters and artists, Christmas trees and holiday greenery.
• Crafty Balboa Holiday Edition: Saturday, December 17, Broad Street Ministry. Rooted in South Philly, this annual local craft extravaganza is a treasure trove of gifts.
• Punk Rock Flea Market Holiday Edition: Sunday, December 11, Punk Rock Flea Market Dome. Get pumped for 300+ tables of vendors selling old records, clothes, art, music, bicycles, stereo equipment, instruments, automobiles, tools, posters, furniture, computers, skateboards and more.
• Rittenhouse Farmers Market: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Walnut Street between 18th and 19th Streets. In addition to fresh flowers, produce, meat, hot apple cider and other edibles, you can pick up locally made crafts likes Timothy Bahash of 4mula’s living ornaments and wreaths.
• Clark Park Farmers Market: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 43rd Street at Baltimore Avenue. Participating vendors (all local of course) include Eden Garden Farm, Fahnestock Fruit Farm, Forest View Bakery, Slow Rise Bakery and plenty more. Pick up baked goods, handmade chocolates or locally made cider as great holiday gifts.
Where to Shop
Clothes & Accessories
• R.E.Load Bags: Create your own custom-designed messenger bag, choosing from seven styles of single-strap bags and three styles of double-straps, plus a trillion color combos. All construction work is done on site at the Northern Liberties shop. They also sell wallets, bike accessories and more. OUR PICK: The “Build Your Own” bag.
• Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney’s We ♥ Philly line: The 13th street dynamic duo has funneled their love for Philadelphia into a Philly-centric, everything-is-irresistible line of goods. The totes, cards, coasters, T-shirts, candles, paperweights and onesies are designed locally. Order online, at Open House or Verde, both in Midtown Village. OUR PICK: Pretzel necklace in silver or gold.
• SA VA: Local eco-friendly clothing designer and entrepreneur Sarah Van Aken is a true champion on the local Philly designer scene. Anything from her shop, above which her design studio is located, makes a special present. OUR PICK: Any of the wide range of eco-friendly and fair trade dresses, what SA VA is known for.
• Smak Parlour: This dollhouse-like establishment nestled in Old City is an edgy boutique where city-wise shoppers dabble in the hip and flirty. Founders Abby and Kate, who design all of the store’s garments and accessories, have created a perfect marriage of sugar and spice. OUR PICK: A chic warm sweater for the coming winter.
• Egan Day: Though not all the stock is made here in Philadelphia, much of it is. You’ll find gorgeous jewelry, from earrings to pendants to rings. OUR PICK: Jonathan Wahl’s cufflinks. Philly-born and -raised Wahl’s clients include Bruce Webber, Anne Hathaway and Caroline Kennedy.
Continue reading below for our top picks for home goods, food and drink selections and more.
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