Home for the Holidays: A Local Gift Guide

Leah LeMoineNovember 17, 2020
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More than ever before, it’s important to support local businesses. Luckily, the Valley is full of talented makers who can help you knock out your gift list in two shakes of a reindeer’s tail.

Adult Bevs

Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Arcadia Premium

Prices vary
Shopping for a picky craft beer fan? Arcadia Premium owner Joel LaTondress can help you create a custom, mix-and-match six-pack. arcadiapremium.com

Photo courtesy Hidden Track Bottle Shop
Photo courtesy Hidden Track Bottle Shop
Hidden Track “Neighborhood Roots” Wine Series

$25
What do you get the Coronado resident who has it all? How about a historic-’hood-themed wine from Downtown’s most beloved vino purveyor? Grown and bottled in Arizona. hiddentrackbottleshop.com

SPIRITS TRIO

Photos by Grand Canyon Brewing + DIstillery; Santan Spirits; Mirelle Inglefield
Photos by Grand Canyon Brewing + DIstillery; Santan Spirits; Mirelle Inglefield
Scotchdale Scotch

$47
It’s more than just a cheeky pun. Distilled in Scotland, this Speyside/Highland 8-year blend (read: not too peaty) scored a 90 rating from Whiskey Advocate magazine. scotchdale.net

SanTan Spirits caramellow

$25
Based on SanTan’s Sacred Stave whiskey, this holiday sipper is infused with salted caramel. Great on ice or with a spritz of soda. santanspirits.com

Grand Canyon  Prickly Pear Vodka

$25
Local vodka infused with sweet-tart prickly pear, for the vodka-and-soda fan in your life. A 2019 bronze medal winner at the American Craft Spirts competition. grandcanyonbrewery.com

Photo by Jenelle Bonifield
Photo by Jenelle Bonifield
Book!
AZ Uncorked: The Arizona Wine Guide

$111
Photographer Jenelle Bonifield’s new book is a comprehensive resource (544 pages!) as well as a glowing love letter to Arizona wineries, complete with her stunning photography. arizonawineguide.com

Food & Drink

Photo courtesy Press Coffee
Photo courtesy Press Coffee
Press Coffee

$25-$200+
For the true coffee connoisseur in your life, consider Press Coffee’s Allocation line. This offering – which changes quarterly and comes in a 6-oz. tin – consists of beans that have a 90-point or higher rating from the Specialty Coffee Association of America. presscoffee.com

Benyaz Kitchen

$28
Chef/caterer Brenda Ogero created a line of T-shirts to give back. She donates 15 percent of the profit from each top to Chibwobi Primary School in Kisii, Kenya. To order, search “Benyaz Kitchen” on etsy.com.

Photo courtesy Benyaz Kitchen
Photo courtesy Benyaz Kitchen
Photo courtesy Side Piece
Photo courtesy Side Piece
Side Piece

$17-$22
These aren’t your grandma’s pies. Galette-style “Pie’ing Saucers” are made with organic ingredients and no added sugar – just fresh fruit, honey, granola, cinnamon, turmeric, sea salt and optional mascarpone. Instagram: @sidepieceaz

Photo courtesy MediTerra BakeHouse
Photo courtesy MediTerra BakeHouse
Mediterra BakeHouse

$7-$12
This family-owned bakery’s seasonal loaves make the perfect host gift or holiday dinner contribution. Choose from pumpkin, fig and anise, chocolate-cherry and stollen. mediterrabakehouse.com

Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Lilly May’s

$6-$10
Mesa preservation queen Lilly May churns out jarred delights including rosemary-tomato jam, orange-grapefruit marmalade and escabeche. Inquire for bulk deals. facebook.com/lillymayjam

Photo courtesy Stratta Kitchen
Photo courtesy Stratta Kitchen
Experience
Stratta Kitchen Michelin Chef Experience

Priced per person, varies based on custom menus
What could be more special than a personalized, multi-course dining experience helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Alex Stratta? strattakitchen.com/happenings

Sports & Outdoors

Photo by Daphne’s Headcovers
Photo by Daphne’s Headcovers
Daphne’s Headcovers

$35
This Phoenix-based company has cornered the golf club covering market with whimsical headcovers in the shape of pineapples, leprechauns, tacos and more. daphnesheadcovers.com

Photo by Stephen Denton
Photo by Stephen Denton
MannKrafted Kustom Milled Putters and Designs

$399+
Fountain Hills metalsmith LaMont Mann hand-mills custom golf putters using steel, brass, tellurium copper and aluminum. Lead time is four to six weeks – more for premium or intricate builds. mannkrafted.com

Photo by Trail Print
Photo by Trail Print
Trail Print

$26.50
Help your hiker friends rep their favorite treks with vintage-style T-shirts emblazoned with trail names like Dreamy Draw and South Mountain. trailprint.com

Photo courtesy PXG
Photo courtesy PXG
PXG

$250-$495
Bob and Renee Parsons’ golf line offers more than drivers. Sporty yet elegant leather duffels and backpacks make great gifts for the traveler in your life – whether they hit the links or not. pxg.com

Photo courtesy ISM Raceway
Photo courtesy ISM Raceway
EXPERIENCE
Drive an Indy Car at ISM Raceway

$364+ 
Have a lead-footed friend? A NASCAR-loving relative? Give them the gift of speed with a drive in a full-size, open-wheel, Indy-style race car. cloud9living.com/arizona/phoenix/drive-an-indy-car

Photo courtesy Lectric Bikes
Photo courtesy Lectric Bikes
Lectric Bikes

$899
Electric bikes trended big time this year. These arrive fully assembled, fold up to half their size, reach a speed of 28 mph and have a 25- to 50-mile range. lectricebikes.com

Photo courtesy PHOENIX magazine
Photo courtesy PHOENIX magazine
Book!
The Hike Book

$19.95
PHOENIX magazine hiking guru Mare Czinar rounds up the state’s best hikes, including some under-the-radar gems. It’s a must for any serious Arizona trekker’s bookshelf. phoenixmag.com/hikebook

Photo courtesy State Forty Eight
Photo courtesy State Forty Eight
State Forty Eight

$32-$34
Satisfy the Sun Devil on your list with a Sparky racerback tank from Arizona’s buzziest brand. statefortyeight.com

Fashion & Jewelry

Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Jennifer Favour Jewelry

$22-$165+
The Sonoran Desert inspires Mesa jewelry artisan Jennifer Favour, whose pieces include turquoise studded bracelets and silver Western star earrings. jenniferfavour.com

Photo courtesy Tough Apparel
Photo courtesy Tough Apparel
Tough Apparel

$30
Versatility and durability are paramount for Skylar Bennett and Kevin Shoemaker, whose machine-washable “tough tie” made an appearance on the ABC show Shark Tank. Their leather ratchet belt allows for 42 sizing options. toughapparel.com

Photo courtesy Phoenix Fashion Week
Photo courtesy Phoenix Fashion Week
Experience
Phoenix Fashion Week Digital Bootcamp

$199
Give the aspiring fashion designer or boutique owner in your life a leg up with Phoenix Fashion Week’s new digital bootcamp scheduled for December and January. phoenixfashionweek.com

Photo courtesy Adacious Sock Wear
Photo courtesy Adacious Sock Wear
Audacious Sock Wear

$10+
Brittany Harris designs these comfy socks with bold patterns ranging from acid clouds to pastiches of text, emojis and shapes. audacioussockwear.com

Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Blacksheep Originals

$35
Navajo artist Beverly Blacksheep is a creative powerhouse who produces illustrations, jewelry, mugs, phone cases, totes and clothing inspired by her heritage, like this “Walking in Beauty” collection.
beverlyblacksheep.com

Self-Care

Photo courtesy Butter & Fig
Photo courtesy Butter & Fig
Butter & Fig

$40
This Mesa bath and body boutique has a seasonal gift set fit for Peppermint Patty: peppermint marshmallow sugar polish and body soufflé. The handcrafted goodies come in a red gnome bag with a gift tag. butterandfig.com

Photo courtesy Amazing Lash Studio
Photo courtesy Amazing Lash Studio
Amazing Lash Studio

$16+
For the YouTube makeup tutorial obsessive in your life, Valleywide Amazing Lash Studio offers a plethora of eyebrow and eyelash accoutrements: pencils, pens, pomade and tinted gel. amazinglashstudio.com

Photo courtesy PCA Skin
Photo courtesy PCA Skin
PCA Skin

$215
The Scottsdale-based skin care company’s Age-Defying Hydration Set includes three products to plump and firm skin and lips for a youthful appearance. pcaskin.com

Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Luxious Lemon

$13 for a stack of three
Give the gift of an at-home spa experience with eucalyptus-mint, rosemary-lemongrass and vanilla-lavender shower steamers made with pure essential oils. Available at Strawberry Hedgehog and luxiouslemon.com

Photo courtesy Sandi Shipley Photography
Photo courtesy Sandi Shipley Photography
Experience
Makeup Application at Stephanie Nault Makeup

$65-$95
Who doesn’t need a little glamour after the Year of Yoga Pants? Let makeup artist Stephanie Nault give you a makeover at her new studio. Her services include traditional and airbrush makeup, lash application, makeup bag consultations and special-occasion makeup. stephanienault.com

Photo courtesy Mia Mo
Photo courtesy Mia Mo
Book!
Six Steps to Six Inches

$14.99
Phoenix stylist and beauty guru Mia Mo wrote this e-book to help her black clients with natural hair reach their hair goals, from treating dandruff and psoriasis to maintaining moisture and reducing heat damage. miamostyles.com

Photo courtesy Strawberry Hedgehog
Photo courtesy Strawberry Hedgehog
Strawberry Hedgehog

$10+
Tracy Perkins is the Valley’s doyenne of vegan products, from handmade soaps and whipped body crème to intention oils and Breathe Easy spa shower mist – all made with pure essential oils. strawberryhedgehog.com

Photo courtesy @NVS_Photography
Photo courtesy @NVS_Photography
Experience
Aerial Yoga/Meditation at Elevate Yoga + Wellness

$29 
This Downtown Phoenix studio offers yoga and meditation classes in ethereal silks suspended from the ceiling. Buy a gift card and your recipient can take a single class sans membership fee. elevateyogaaz.com

Art & Home

Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Cosanti

$19-$105
Cosanti’s bells are an evergreen gift, but its hand-rolled, hand-cut ceramic tiles deserve some love, too. Gift one as a singular artwork or sets of four to create an installation. cosanti.com

Photo courtesy Little Shop of Horticulture
Photo courtesy Little Shop of Horticulture
Little Shop of Horticulture

$5-$16
We’d like this online shop for its name alone, but its wares are just as cool: a “zebra plant” (haworthia attenuata), “bunny ears” cactus (opuntia microdasys) and cactus seed packets, to name a few.
littleshopofhorticultureaz.com

Photo courtesy Practical Art
Photo courtesy Practical Art
Practical Art & Chad Schimmel

$115
Artist Chad Schimmel creates groovy lamps out of vintage cameras and phones. practical-art.com

Photo courtesy Things Western
Photo courtesy Things Western
Things Western

$28-$80
Things aren’t always what they seem. These humble little tree stumps, for example, have secret drawers – for storage and a general air of mystery. Available at the Tortilla Flat Mercantile. tortillaflataz.com

Photo courtesy Papay Solomon
Photo courtesy Papay Solomon
Papay Solomon

Price upon request
Liberian-American painter Papay Solomon’s portraits are so realistic many mistake them for photographs. Oil and pastel works like “DAMN! Look at Me, Portrait of Sekera Rasheri – Burundi” (pictured) help Solomon “amplify stories and experiences of the African diaspora.” papaysolomon.com

https://www.phoenixmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/PHM1220HG38.jpg
Phoenix Home & Garden’s Spring Garden Tour

Price TBD
At press time, our sister publication had tentatively planned its annual spring tour of the Valley’s most beautiful gardens for April 17, 2021. The event will be outside and socially distanced. phgmag.com

Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Primitive Glass

$20-$28
Artist and glassblower Daniel Shircliff’s borosilicate glass ornaments with hand-laid lines are so stunning you’ll want to keep them up all year long. They are the stuff family heirlooms are made of.
Instagram: @primitive_glass

Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
STEM SWAG

$99
Master florist Gary Guerin does things a little differently – think Morticia Addams-inspired bouquets and Plant Pet kits. The Winter Wanderlust arrangement features blooms in an etched glass bulb that evokes a Christmas ornament. stemswag.co

Kids

Photo by Pax Philomena
Photo by Pax Philomena
Pax Philomena

$65-$95
For the chic, desert-dwelling child in your life, the Prickly Pax Cactus line from women’s luxury label Pax Philomena makes for sophisticated gifting. paxphilomena.com

Photo by Arielle Gebhardt
Photo by Arielle Gebhardt
Ari Mobile Maker

$75-$110
Phoenix artist Arielle Gebhardt makes bespoke baby mobiles with dangling felt figurines. Adorable mobile themes have included doughnuts, dinosaurs and succulents/cacti. Instagram: @ari_mobile.maker

Photo courtesy Sam Baker
Photo courtesy Sam Baker
Book!
Oscar the Mouse

$17.99
PHOENIX magazine Great 48 honoree Sam Baker recently published his second children’s book. The nonagenarian tells the tale of Oscar the mouse and his human friend, Mimi. sambakerbooks.com

Photo courtesy Min Min Bear Foundation
Photo courtesy Min Min Bear Foundation
MinMin Bear

$30
Valley TV personality Rachelle McCray created MinMin Bears to raise awareness (and money) for organ transplants and send bears to children affected by organ donation. Visit the website to learn about the MinMin Bear Challenge. minminbearfoundation.org

Photo courtesy Spirit Of Arizona Tours
Photo courtesy Spirit Of Arizona Tours
Experience
Holiday Lights Tour with Spirit of Arizona Tours

$20 per child (14 and younger), $30 per adult
Make a little holiday magic with tour guide Jarrod Riddle’s festive drive through some of the Valley’s best holiday light displays. Guests can bring their own food and drinks, and Riddle makes two stops for photos. Private tours are available for an additional fee. spiritofarizonatours.com

Gift Boxes

Photo courtesy Birdytell
Photo courtesy Birdytell
Birdytell

$65+
Lisa Morrow curates the best local products from across the Valley for her themed boxes. This year, we collaborated with her on Best of the Valley boxes to showcase our BOV winners. birdytell.com

Photo courtesy Made On Main St.
Photo courtesy Made On Main St.
Made on Main St. Box

$25+
Mesa makers get the spotlight with these gift boxes, which come in themed packages like Treat Yo Self (self-care stuff) and Eternal Hoptimist (beer gear). All of the funds go back to the participating businesses. madeonmainstbox.com

Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Photo by Mirelle Inglefield
Tracy Dempsey Originals/ODV Wines Custom Gift Basket

Price varies
Book a private shopping appointment or FaceTime shopping session with owner Tracy Dempsey to create your own gift basket with chocolates, coffee, seasonings, Original Bacon Pecan Brittle, s’mores and snack mix. Contact Dempsey at tracy@tracydempseyoriginals.com to arrange an appointment.

Photo courtesy Phoenix General
Photo courtesy Phoenix General
Book lover Care Package from Changing Hands

$23+
Choose from a variety of themed care packages for kids and adults. You can pick the book(s) or select the “surprise” option and a bookseller will shop for your recipient based on questions you answer about their likes and dislikes. changinghands.com

Photo courtesy Changing Hands
Photo courtesy Changing Hands
PHXHUG Care Package from Phoenix General

$33+
In the era of social distancing, send a figurative hug with these gift packages, which boast themes like The Pup Pack and Grocery Run. phoenixgeneral.com/collections/phxhug