Small Biz Saturday: Abode's Local Gift Guide

Downtown Tacoma’s beloved yarn shop Fibers Etc. moved earlier this year. Now you’ll find them on Hood Street and find them you must if you have a knitter or crocheter in your circle. Curious Bear Toys & Books just opened in Fircrest and offers quality toys, puzzles, books, and games with a focus on creativity, learning, and interaction. You can find a sweet stuffed pal, art supplies, hardcover picture books to read aloud and material for young independent readers, or choose some finger puppets for telling your own story. Manifesto Coffee is one of my all time favorite Tacoma coffee roasters. Give some locally roasted whole beans to brew at home, or a gift certificate to this Hilltop spot. I’m in here several times a week with friends and highly recommend it!

Goods is a gift shop within Washington State History Museum, brought to you by the Stocklist team. Goods is the perfect spot if you’re looking for PNW and Tacoma focused t-shirts, mugs, prints, posters, guidebooks, and paraphernalia of all kinds. From the spunky to the beautiful, there’s something here to suit. Tinkertopia is a one-of-a-kind downtown Tacoma destination for kids of all ages who love to imaginatively reuse and create. You can prepay for a bag your loved one can then fill with all manner of objects to creatively transform into treasure or, prepay for Tinker-Time!

Simple Tidings is a unique gift and kitchen store in Sumner that is family-owned. They sell anything you could ever think of for your kitchen needs — some practical and then some really fun items too! I absolutely love all of their tea towels, there are so many to choose from. Their Gurgle pots are created by a local man in Sumner! The tea pot & Swig Wine Glasses caught my eye when I was there the other day. They also have great mugs & candy that will make perfect stocking stuffers, as well as an assortment of socks that will make you laugh (or maybe blush). Happy Shopping!

Our friend Katie Dean is an amazing artist and this tea towel made from one of her designs would make an excellent hostess gift. For someone who dotes on their furbaby, consider ordering a custom ornament from local artist Heidi at heidiwygle.com (only $12!) If you can’t get enough pretty things also consider these Flora Forager books and prints from Bridget Collins. Another beautiful option are these ceramic vessels available at Throwing Mud in Old Town. Proctor’s Teaching Toys store is a favorite not only for their vast selection of books & toys, but also for their colorful complimentary wrapping paper.

Crisp offers delicious & affordable meal prep, plus it’s healthy. Keto, Whole30, and paleo options are available throughout the week. Single servings range from $7-$10. They are opening a storefront off of 6th Avenue and North Stevens in December that will serve healthy salads & grain bowls. This is a much needed and anticipated Tacoma restaurant!

I love fashion and just added a bunch of things to my own wish list after visiting the new Rebels & Lovers boutique at Point Ruston. Prices are reasonable with all styles pictured here available for less than $70.

All Star Vintage is located in the heart of the Lincoln District on South 38th street, just a few doors down from Vien Dong. Love this place because they have a ton of throwback hats, shirts, and jackets for all your favorite teams. They also have some local Tacoma shirts. Another great spot for tees and hats is Bleach in downtown Tacoma They have a great selection of Tacoma Stars and Rainiers gear. They have a special place in my heart because they were the first to sell our Tacoma Skyline Shades!

Not only does Stacks in Federal Way have terrific, hand crafted burgers, but they also are a hub for the Federal Way community in supporting local sporting clubs and organizations in fundraising endeavors! My all-time favorite cold brew coffee (and I’m picky!) is sold at our local coffee shop in Federal Way called Poverty Bay Coffee. We not only love their coffee but their breakfast is delish also. They also roast locally and emphasize sustainability, so there’s lots of reasons to support them!

I support eTc Tacoma because the owners (Umi & Perris) are really good friends of mine. I love what they stand for and how much they represent Tacoma. This weekend is the perfect time to head downtown and check out their latest collection. (I might have added a few things to my own wish list!) If you’re looking for stocking stuffers, their socks and T-dome air fresheners are always popular gifts.

The stretch of Broadway between South 7th & 9th is best known for it’s collective of antique stores, but there is something for everyone down here! The OCD candy company carries more than sweets -- this is a perfect place to find stocking stuffers for everyone on your list. When you’re in the neighborhood, don’t miss Vessel Vintage Collective and Urban Squirrel. Several of these downtown shops will be having a scavenger hunt and raffle on Small Business Saturday, so be sure to swing by!

Heritage Distillery in Downtown Gig Harbor is a great spot to pick up a local, seasonal gift -- or just a bottle for yourself. Eggnog pairs well with their Brown Sugar Bourbon (so does apple cider!) You can also pick up the ingredients for the delicious “Rhymes With Orange” cocktail. Gameday Sports Shop in Uptown Gig Harbor has a great selection of Seahawks gear and beanies.

My favorite Sumner shop is North Light Interiors They are an amazing home decor, interior design and local artisan gift shop! I love that they create custom gift baskets for me for closing gifts (and also offer this as a free service for their clients while shopping their goodies). Check out this dreamy Jane Austin themed basket that was already prepared. The pomegranate spruce candle they carry is my all time favorite — I have it in my house always! I love interior design books & coffee table books so I would love to be gifted “Homebody” by Joanna Gaines.

One of my favorite places to shop is The Foundry Men’s shop in Gig Harbor’s Uptown Community. My own Christmas wish list includes a pair of Red Wings from their Heritage line, and this plaid shirt. The Foundry also carries my favorite pomade from Imperial. If you’re looking for ladies wear, check out their sister shops Bloom & Frankie.

To keep the house fresh, I like burning Boy Smells candles, which are available at Lapis in Proctor They are $29 for the large candle or $44 for the 3-pack.

Although many people visit the Metropolitan Market for the vast selection of cheese or the infamous cookie, this is also a fantastic spot to grab a special card, or pretty paper goods like these decorative cocktail napkins with clever sayings. Grab an ornament or a Tacoma Aroma Candle for your office gift exchange.

Valhalla coffee now has two locations, so there’s no reason not to stop and grab some fresh roasted beans to go with dessert. While you’re there, make sure you pick up some of their screen printed gear. I love their baseball tee, but they have onesies, hats and hoodies that would all make great gifts. Another local company I love to support is Chambers Bay Distillery, a University Place based company that has a tasty Sea Salt flavored Vodka perfect for a holiday gathering. Cheers!

I love the jewelry from Splendor and Stone! Her geometric jewelry had a unique flair to it and fits my style. Her pieces make a great gift for anyone who loves one of a kind pieces too. They’re handmade of light materials so you don’t have to worry about being weighed down while wearing them. Find lots of styles at Paperluxe in Fircrest I’ve been buying polish from Pepper Pot Polish for two years now and it’s my favorite! It doesn’t smell harsh like store bought polishes and you’re not gonna find glitter polishes like hers anywhere else! It’s a great stocking stuffer! Who doesn’t love quirky artwork and greeting cards? People will get a good laugh at a snarky cat card handmade by Rx Letterpress. Tacoman Laurie Cinotto makes the most beautiful handmade ornaments you’re not going to find in a store. Their whimsy will bring delight to any Christmas tree!

At the top of my list this year are these Smartwool socks for Winter running and working in the yard from Gig Harbor Fly Shop. My wife Jessica will be repping Pullman in style with this sweater from the Cougarwear Shop. I’m also going to be supporting local 10-year-old entrepreneur Justin Dennis by gifting a few of these succulents to friends and family. They are also available at the shop. I recently broke my router so I’m asking Santa to stop at Builder’s First Source to get me a new one from Dewalt (that’s the 12 Amp 2-1/4 Horsepower Plunge Base and Fixed Base model in case he needs the specs).

A smart tote bag is the gift everyone needs, and it’s hard to beat this reusable burlap bag with leather handles from Satori in Downtown Tacoma near UWT. They also carry clothes, shoes, unique jewelry and bouquets from Wildflower & Co. Maybe your wish list includes a project instead of a present? Family owned Gray Lumber is your spot for the DIYer you love. I’m in the middle of my own reno so I must stop by every other day right now! Hilltop Artists are having their last glass sale of the year on December 1st. Shorten your wait in line by signing up for a timed ticket by November 29th: https://www.hilltopartists.org/events/winter18/ Finally, I’ve been loving my gym time at Edgeworks Tacoma. Think about signing the adventurer in your life up for a few sessions during these rainy winter months!

A woman cannot have enough capes or pretty accessories. Evolve Home has you covered on both. Good coffee and good books will help you survive the Pacific Northwest Winters. Not sure what to buy for someone else? I always get the best recommendations from King’s Books. Whenever I get compliments on my earrings I seem to be wearing a pair from Baleen, which I purchase from Satori.

Although I am never in town to attend, YOU should totally go to Beautiful Angle’s annual fundraiser. They do incredible things for this city and you buy prior posters and limited editions! Compass Rose is a local go-to for gifts, and one of my favorites is Bicycle Soap. I also fell in love with these handmade “people” from local maker Lemon Heart Creations. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, she takes custom orders. P.S. If Santa is reading this, I’m really hoping for the giant dark chocolate peanut butter cup from Tease Chocolates in my stocking.

Look no further than The Thunderdome Apparel shop on South Tacoma Way to grab custom Tacoma-centric gear for both men and women. Here you can find the PolyRev brand, created by Schelhammer, that features clothing and designs inspired by his travels with a touch of activism. You can count on RareBreed Apparel for your custom ordered gear, team orders, and anything else you need printed. RareBreed also features a clothing line, most recently releasing the ‘Kween’ collection. Owner Ron Pittman has been behind the scenes supporting RareBreed Apparel along with the Real Art Tacoma building. Dumbjocks is a brand you can find at the ThunderDome as well. DumbJocks’ take on design and themes is a welcome addition to any pop culture/athlete head. They too create unique Tacoma-themed gear, as well as highlighting different local athletes.

The Real Art Tacoma building not only houses these businesses, but also serves as a venue for local shows and home of Makin Music Clothing. Check them all out!