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How is 2021 almost over? How is Christmas next month? How did this happen?
Need help with unique gift ideas? Wondering how you can help small businesses? Fear not, What’s Up NW fans, I have some pretty cool gift ideas for you! I’ve worked with some of my fantastic local partners to come up with this unique holiday gift guide and I hope it inspires you to explore everything our local businesses have to offer! Buckle up and let’s go!
Alderbrook Resort and Spa | https://www.alderbrookresort.com/
Starting at $199 | Holiday Getaway
Alderbrook Resort & Spa, an award-winning destination set on Washington’s scenic Hood Canal, transforms it’s Union City Market to the North Pole for the holidays. Depart on a Christmas Cruise aboard Lady Alderbrook and arrive to find Santa, his entourage, holiday treats, and all the togetherness allowed given current COVID restrictions. Enjoy these gifts and goodies for kids and adults alike, and then find access to nature trails, top notch culinary offerings, a rejuvenating spa and much more.
The Bellevue Collection | https://bellevuecollection.com/
$5 Increments up to $500 | Gift Card
The Bellevue Collection is the Pacific Northwest’s premier shopping destination! A gift card for up to $500 is the perfect stocking stuffer for a shopping spree at one of their recently opened stores, including Radmor Golf, Oak + Fort, Kraken and The Bon Collection! Additional stores are opening before the holidays, including Ray-Ban, Swarovski, Lady M and so much more!
Bite Society| https://hellobitesociety.com/
$150 | Champagne and Chocolates
Created in 2020 by Lendy Hensley, Katy Carroll, and Shana Hicks, the dynamic team that was City Catering for over 20 years, Bite Society offers a modern and captivating take on the classic gift basket. Each gift basket offers an array of high quality housemade foods in tins, jars, and boxes that showcase Americana flash tattoos and arrive in a handsome gray felt basket alongside thoughtfully sourced products. Bite Society currently offers over 40 gift baskets that range from $32 to $450.
This year, give the gift of the classic tastes of chocolate and champagne in a modern gift box. All of their baskets include your choice of their original Bite Society Cards written by hand with your message. Bite Society cannot ship to Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, or Utah due to liquor laws (but feel free to order a different gift from Bite Society!).
Boma Jewelry | https://www.bomajewelry.com/
$55 | Etoile 5-Point Necklace
$40 | Fruity Bracelet
Boma Jewelry was founded in Seattle, WA in 1981 and is a family-owned company that focuses on the triple bottom line: people, planet and profits. This beautiful Etoile 5-Point Necklace is handcrafted in both 925 Sterling Silver and 14k Gold Vermeil over Sterling Silver, is nickel and lead free, hypoallergenic and made with recycled metals.
The Fruity Bracelet is the perfect stocking stuffer for kids! Hand-painted with non-toxic enamel in 925 sterling silver, the bracelet is an expressive piece that shows your true colors! It also ships in a giftable box with an anti-tarnish strip.
Buster Boy | https://www.busterboy.com/
Starting at $19.99 | The Backrest
Say hello to Buster Boy, a women-owned company that’s making amazing first of its kind car seat mats for dogs. These easy to use, no fuss mats are made in Seattle from non-slip materials that keep the mat on the seat without bulky buckles and straps, and most importantly, provide a grippy top surface for a safe and secure ride for dogs. Muddy paw prints and soggy seats are no longer a worry.
These mats are waterproof, anti-bacterial, heat-resistant, and a cinch to remove and toss in the back of the car or trunk. Your dog will be happy, and your friends will be even happier to sit in a clean car seat. Pro tip: add a backrest protector and/or organizer that holds all your important dog gear in one spot. Your car will be the envy of everyone at the dog park. No joke. Mats and backrests are available in slate black or dove gray. Drive a Subaru or Tesla? No problem! Custom model specific sizes are also available!
Ciao Food & Wine | https://ciao.store/
$100 | Date Night
Ciao Food & Wine based on Washington’s Whidbey Island provides the flavors of Italy with a new online marketplace and curated boxes. Order in a “Date Night,” have an Italian wine experience delivered or explore a selection of small batch artisan sauces and spreads, imported cheese, fresh pastas and more. Ciao also offers a monthly wine club membership with carefully curated wines ranging from two to four bottles between $40 – $75 per month. Perfect to treat the wine lover in your life for stay-at-home date nights, a girl’s afternoon, or just relaxing!
Elysian Brewing | https://www.elysianbrewing.com/
Price Varies | Skalrock
Give the gift of Elysian! As we say goodbye to our beloved pumpkin season, it’s time to make way for heavier, hoppier beers that’ll warm up your belly as you take part in holiday festivities. Skalrock is a new winter seasonal from Elysian. A strong performance of malts and hops give this beer a moderately sweet, slightly bitter, and subtly tart taste; but the real star in this group is the Kveik. This special yeast strain gives the Nordic Pale Ale a well-balanced flavor, and a citrus-forward aroma that is unforgettable.
jcoco | https://www.seattlechocolate.com/pages/jcoco
$35 | Prism Gift Box
Seattle Chocolate + jcoco have you covered this holiday season! On Black Friday, 11/26/21, Seattle Chocolate will offer 20% off its NEW Mistletoe Moose Truffle Box and jcoco Prism Box. On Cyber Monday, 11/29/21, Seattle Chocolate will offer 20% off its all bulk Malted Milk Ball, Vanilla Orange Cream and Mint Chip truffles. On Thursday, 12/9/21, in honor of jcoco’s 10 year anniversary, all jcoco bars + gifts (online + in-store) will be 20% off, excluding care packages.
This holiday season, Seattle Chocolate is also donating a percentage of proceeds from its holiday collection to support the National Wildlife Federation’s efforts to protect nature and wildlife. With every jcoco purchase, Seattle Chocolate Company donates 10% of net profits to those in need in partnership with its food security partners like Food Bank For NYC, Northwest Harvest, and San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. Almost four million servings of food have been donated to the organizations thus far.
Knack | https://knackshops.com/
$80 | We Adore S’more Gift
Knack offers custom gifts to create lasting memories! With made-to-order gift sets, values-based curation, free, easy personalization and a stunning unboxing experience – you can’t go wrong!
If you think of s’mores as something you can’t send in the mail, think again! This gift set elevates everyone’s favorite campfire snack to a gourmet art form, and it’s not for the casual s’more-ficionado. Sure, there’s some assembly required, but everyone knows that’s part of the fun.
This collection of treats contains crisp graham crackers, dark chocolate, and tender marshmallows ready to be roasted to the exact shade of toastiness you crave. They’ve included a set of 2 extending marshmallow roasting sticks to help you achieve a perfectly gooey marshmallow without singeing your fingers or burning it to a crisp–unless, of course, you like them that way. The S’mores recipe book will add to the fun with over 60 different ways to make the perfect s’mores. (Tray and dish are not included).
Lawless Forge | https://lawlessforge.com/
Starting at $80 | Blacksmith Class
Lawless Forge brings people closer together through blacksmithing experiences. All ages and backgrounds are invited to step into the unfamiliar and exhilarating shoes of a blacksmith: As a team. Let loose, try the forbidden, and discover that you’re capable of far more than you think. Forge stronger group bonds and register for one of their 3 hour Seattle blacksmithing classes.
Made in Washington | https://madeinwashington.com/
$55 | Bite of Washington Gift Box
Take a tour through Washington state with some of our favorite treats! Start in Ferndale, with Moon Cheese’s Cheddar Believe It crunchy cheese snack (2 oz), then head to Anacortes on Fidalgo Island, and try SeaBear’s Ready to Eat Sockeye Salmon (3.5 oz), head down to Seattle and enjoy some Beecher’s Flagship Cheese Crackers (5 oz) and Market Spice’s Cinnamon-Orange tea! Then, go to Bellevue for Garvey’s Butter Toffee Peanuts (7 oz) and in Tukwila, enjoy Seattle Chocolate’s San Juan Sea Salt Bar (2.5 oz). Make a stop in Fife and enjoy some Black Truffle Infused Almonds by Recipe 33 and wrap up your tour with one of our customer favorites from AJ’s Edible Arts, their famous Walla Walla Onion Mustard (4 oz).
Pike Place Market Foundation | https://pikeplacemarketfoundation.org/
Donations | http://pikeplacemarketfoundation.org/giving-tree/
Support the Pike Place Market Foundation by shopping with your favorite, participating local merchants this season! Look for the iconic Rachel the Piggy Bank cutouts at participating Market businesses where a portion of proceeds will go back to the neighborhood’s small businesses, workers, senior residents and network of social services for the community. Be sure to stop by the Giving Tree to help provide warm winter items and holiday gifts for seniors, families and residents in and around the Market community.
Salish Lodge & Spa | https://www.salishlodge.com/
Price Varies | Holiday Events and Winter Room Packages
The Salish Lodge & Spa offers incredibly indulgent winter packages and festive holiday events, surrounded by the frosty beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Proudly owned by the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, it’s hard to imagine a more beautifully romantic December setting than sacred Snoqualmie Falls, or a more iconic Washington State resort getaway than Salish Lodge & Spa. Check out their upcoming holiday events and winter room packages!
Starhug | https://www.nordstrom.com
$9.99 – $17.99 | Board Book or Hard Cover
Seattle author Cindy Wong has just released her new children’s book, Starhug, which is now available at Nordstrom stores nationwide. The book follows a star and sea star connecting through an emotional journey and centering around the healing power of a hug. The story weaves together social and emotional learning traits such as courage, compassion, and diversity into a beautiful tale that reaches across the universe from the depths of the oceans to outer space.
In the book, Cindy’s mom is portrayed as a star in the sky and her children represent the sea stars back on earth. “Starhug is about supporting each other through difficult times,” said Cindy, “With so many of us separated from loved ones over the course of the pandemic, this book is bound to resonate with all.”
Still Spa Voluspa Candles | https://www.thewoodmark.com/still-spa
$10-$40 | Crushed Candy Cane Candles
Just in time for the holidays, Still Spa at The Woodmark has replenished its stock of luxurious Voluspa candles featuring festive seasonal scents, such as Crushed Candy Cane and the new Forbidden Fig. Perfect as stocking stuffers and hostess gifts, Voluspa candle prices range from $10 for a mini tin to $40 for a two-wick glass candle.
- Forbidden Fig: Notes of Ripened Fig, Velvety Musk, Midnight Rose & Fig Leaf
- White Cypress: Notes of White Cypress, Juniper Berry, Mint Leaves and Evergreen Wood
- Spiced Pumpkin Latte: Notes of fresh Kabocha Pumpkin, Vanilla Marshmallow, Coconut Crema & Cinnamon Spiced Brûlée
- Crushed Candy Cane: Notes of Crisp Peppermint, Warm Buttery Scent of Fresh Baked Cookies
- Spiced Goji Tarocco Orange: Notes of Goji Berry, Ripe Mango, Tarocco Orange, Anise, Clove & Cinnamon
- Gilt Pomander & Hinoki: Notes of Golden Spiced Pomander, Holly Berries, Cardamon & Japanese Hinoki Bark
Still Spa also offers Gift Certificates in any denomination. Stop by Still Spa for your holiday gifting needs, currently open Sunday – Tuesday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Thursday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and closed on Wednesdays. Visit https://www.thewoodmark.com/still-spa for a complete list of treatments and pricing or call Still Spa directly at 425-803-9000 with any questions on its Voluspa inventory.
Tokki | https://shop.tokki.com/
$34.99 | The Tokki Reusable Photo/Video Bow-Card Pack of 4
Just in time for the holidays, Tokki is excited to debut its new Tokki Bow-Card, which allows gifters to show up from afar with a reusable photo and video card. Made with recycled plastic, the eco-friendly Tokki Bow-Card can be clipped to any present for simple and personal presentation, embracing the concept of ‘gifting naked’. From curated gift sets and candles that say just the right thing, there’s something for everyone on your list.
Traeger® | https://www.traeger.com/
$649.99 | Traeger Pro Series 22 Best Pellet Grill in Bronze
The redefined Pro grill has a linebacker-like sawhorse chassis for stability. Get even weight distribution while hauling your grill with the brawny new side-lift bar, the all-terrain wheels are rock-solid and make rolling your grill over pavers, rocks, and dirt simple. The new series touts better temperature control, the Digital Pro Controller has Advanced Grilling Logic to keep temps within +/-15 degrees F* for guaranteed precision grilling. Create the Traeger taste for family and friends when you take your grilling experience Pro.
W Seattle | https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/seawh-w-seattle/
$779 | Live Like a Rock Star Package
Get the ultimate experience gift with W Seattle’s Live Like a Rock Star package! You can now live out your rock and roll dreams at W Seattle. Not only will you enjoy lavish WOW Suite accommodations, but you and up to 5 of your BFF’s will get exclusive access to our W Sound Suite, home of the first ever of its kind in North America for W Hotels. Your Live Like A Rock Star Package includes WOW Suite accommodations, 2 cool cocktails, Breakfast for 2 in TRACE Market, 2 adult tickets for entry into MoPOP, (Museum of Pop Culture), and late check out of 2pm.
The Works | https://theworksseattle.com/
$40 | Bubble Tea DIY Kit
Collection of DIY Kits create memorable holiday connections through shared experiences at The Works. At the shop in Seattle, customers can explore a lineup of upcoming holiday classes ranging from Watercolor 101: Poinsettias, Holiday Cheeseboards or Mocktails, Tea Blending, Block Printing and more. The collection of DIY Kits like Gourmet Garden, Cookie Decorating, and Bubble Tea, provide the magic of in-person classes distilled into a box available for shipping nationwide.
This holiday season new DIY Kits include: Wreath Making (local pickup only), a joyful holiday tradition that includes a step-by-step video, hot chocolate for four, wreath frame and all of the accents; Cookie Decorating Kit (coming December 1) provides all the ingredients, tips, and tricks to bake and decorate a dozen baked shortbread cookies with colorful royal icing and also learn how to bake the perfect shortbread cookie, make royal icing, and implement decoration methods with unique effects.
Yuan Spa | https://yuanspa.com/
Price varies | Gift Card
Give the gift of total relaxation this holiday season with a gift card to Yuan Spa. Services include facials, massages, hand and foot treatments, body treatments, and a unique hydrotherapy experience you won’t find anywhere else. Visit the Bellevue location or check out the new location at the Village at Totem Lake opening in early December.
