And just like that, it's December. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving and are looking forward to the holidays! Today's newsletter is a big long list of local gift shopping ideas. Tis the season to get your loved ones a really cool local present :) Enjoy!

Also, happy Giving Tuesday!! If you're looking to give back this season, check out the Boise Bicycle Project. They're now accepting bike donations for kids and volunteers. It ends December 14th and they'll be donating hundreds of bikes. Check out their page for more deets and spread the word!

Santa is coming to Downtown Boise

Bring your little ones and friends to meet City Santa on The Grove Plaza starting December 5th. Visiting Santa is free and adjacent to the free Glide on Grove skate rink. Bring your phone or camera to snap your festive photos; donations are encouraged to support the Women & Children’s Alliance. Santa will take holiday wishes on Thursday, December 5th from 4 to 7 pm, then Friday to Sunday, December 6th through 8th from 10 am to 1 pm daily.

While you’re downtown, go out and explore December First Thursday. The evening of Thursday, December 5, tons of Downtown Boise businesses will be hosting in-store events, local art exhibits, live music, tastings, and more! It’s the perfect time to finish your holiday shopping locally, enjoy special experiences, and find those perfect holiday gifts.

Make a night of it in Downtown Boise — holiday magic awaits!

Local shops

Mixed Greens - Cute little shop in downtown Boise for artwork, jewelry, candles, kitchen trinkets, baby gifts, air plants. They always have a good selection of xmas decor, ornaments, and cute wrapping paper. Also they will wrap your gifts for you!

Idaho Made - Everything in this store is handmade & locally-made things. Everything! They have ceramics, macramé, art, jewelry, magnets, cards, glass art & more! Also a good place for ornaments.

Flying M - Yes, it’s a coffee shop but they also have a tiny little gift shop packed with quirky gifts, journals, cards, stickers, books, funny socks, ornaments, and more.

Rediscovered Books - One of our local bookstores that has books and so much more! Games, calendars, puzzles, journals, maps, and more. So many gift ideas.

Record Exchange - If you didn’t know, Record Exchange is part record store, part gift shop. Of course, you can find all kinds of vinyl, CDs, tapes, posters, and record players here. The gift shop side has fun shirts, socks, bags, kid stuff, hats, magnets, kitchen trinkets, journals, Idaho things, and more. Lots of great stocking stuffers and a great card section, too.

Dragonfly - I love this little store! They have a unique selection of jewelry, tea towels, aromas, spa items, clothing, funny socks, purses, tarot cards, journals, etc. Cute ornaments too!

Re-POP Gifts - Re-POP has everything pop culture! You'll find all kinds of things here from Big Foot to Harry Potter to Star Trek to Strangers Things. Action figures, towels, posters, clothing, pins, stickers, ornaments, keychains, costumes, artwork & more.

Ward Hooper Vintage - Ward Hooper is a local artist that makes really cool Idaho prints. His vintage shop in downtown Boise has a curated collection of his art and vintage clothing, accessories, and other items.

Compass Goods - If you have an outdoorsy person on your list, check this shop out. They carry cool packable games and trinkets made for the outdoors. The games are super cool!

A’Tavola - If you are looking for a gift for a foodie, go here. They carry imported foods and all kinds of gifts for cooking, dinner parties, and more. Also be sure to ask about the secret Christmas room.

The Mixing Bowl - Speaking of foodies, if you have someone that loves to cook or bake, you can definitely find them something at The Mixing Bowl. So many cute kitchen things!

Crazy Neighbor - This shop in the Linen District of downtown Boise has all kinds of hats, bags & accessories. Also if someone in your life loves costumes, get them a gift card!

Fluff Hardware - Fluff Hardware is a local jewelry company that has two cool shops, one in the North End (1605 N 13th Street) and one downtown (765 W Idaho Street). You can shop metal stamped earrings, bracelets, necklaces & rings, plus all kinds of goodies like bags, clothing, candles, trinkets, etc.

LA Junk Antiques - An indoor/outdoor store located on the Boise Bench. Outside there are multiple sections filled with all kinds of antique finds. Inside there’s more antiques plus new clothing and home decor. They also have a fireplace! It’s really cute.

Lark + Larder - A gift store and market on the Boise bench filled with local goodies. Food items, beer/wine, cocktail mixers, ceramics, jewelry, artwork & more. Also they put together these cute curated gift boxes that make for super easy shopping. And they are doing holiday pop-ups with other artists and local businesses through Christmas.

Hyde and Seek - This little shop in the North End is quite literally filled to the brim with things. It's a lil more on the spendy side but there's soo many things to find. Tons and tons of xmas decor, home decor, jewelry, trinkets, and beautiful stained glass windows. They will gift wrap for you!

Folks - Folks is a candle studio and tiny gift shop. They make beeswax candles that are my favorite and carry a selection of wellness/skincare products, art, and ceramics.

Sagebrush Collaborative - This lil shop is so cute! It has an emphasis on hand made and sustainable. There’s over 70 regional artists featured under one roof. Shop for stickers, jewelry, fine art, greeting cards, plants, prints, earrings, wood working, leather work, hand sewn goods and bags, up-cycled art, original artwork, ceramics, and more.

Robert & Wallace - A new home decor store in Southeast Boise with home decor, furniture, candles, and more. They also do curated gift boxes.

Merry Makers Market - A pop up gift shop with a curated selection of locally handmade gifts. It’s run by the artists involved and lasts only a month! This year the shop is located at 1459 N Milwaukee St in Boise.

The Cottage on Second Avenue - This cute shop in Eagle is a shop that has “everything for the home and homemaking.” They go all out for Christmas, too!

Roost Gift & Home - Another cute shop in Eagle with loads of great gifts. Home decor, stocking stuffers, ornaments, chocolates, teas, clothing, accessories, all kinds of things. You can also shop the store online.

Wearables

Shift Boutique & Keystone Station - Shift Boutique has super cute ladies clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, etc. Next door (same owners) is Keystone, which is men's clothing, hats, accessories.

Banana Ink - All Idaho-inspired designs. Clothing, hats, pendants, mugs & more.

Boise Brand - A local brand that makes Boise clothing. Available online only.

Iron Pine - All Boise and Idaho-inspired clothing. Available online only.

No New Vintage - Shop multiple vintage sellers under one roof! They do gift cards too.

3Peat Vintage & Streetwear - If you are shopping for a sneakerhead or someone who loves vintage sportswear & streetwear, this is your place.

Garden City Projects - Another one of my fave local jewelry makers, Garden City Projects’ studio and store is located inside Hideout Coffee Co. She has lots of cool handmade silver and gold earrings and bracelets.

Clay by Shay - All handmade clay pots, vases, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. These are some of my fave earrings and pots!

Plants & garden goodies

North End Nursery - It’s a nursery but inside they have incredible house plants, little gifts for the garden, and plant/food-inspired gifts. Random but they have a rack of really yummy spice mixes that make great gifts. And they have xmas trees too!

Edwards Greenhouse - Edwards has amazing flower arrangements, houseplants, and garden gifts.

Greenscapes Boutique - This shop on the Boise Bench is quite literally packed to the brim with plants. They also have a large selection of rare plants.

A Succulent Day - Get the plant-lover in your life a new houseplant. Trust me they will love it.

Things to eat & drink

I love to give food items for stocking stuffers, make a lil gift basket with them, attach something to the top of another gift… there’s so many options! A few places to find unique food & drink things:

Lee's Candies - Can’t go wrong with chocolate.

The Chocolat Bar - Again, can’t go wrong with chocolate.

Das Alpenhaus Delikatessen - In addition to being a really good restaurant, Alpenhaus has a little market inside with imported German food, bread, treats, and drinks.

The Basque Market - Another restaurant with a little market inside. They have imported Basque and Spanish wine, pintxos, treats, and more.

Hops & Bottles - If you are shopping for a beer drinker, go to Hops & Bottles and make them a six pack!

Olivin Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom - They have over 40 high-quality, fresh extra virgin olive oils and vinegar on tap! You can try them out and then buy a few bottles.

City Peanut Shop - The nuts here are so good! They have small bags, seasonal flavors, gift boxes, and gift tins! Easy gift idea.

Toys & games

G. Willikers Toy Merchant - Super cute toy store in Hyde Park with tons of different toys, games, puzzles, science kits, crafts & so much more. They do free gift wrapping!

Fantastic Games - All the games you can imagine.

ToyTown - So many toys, games, balls, kits, crafts, and more. They have a whole wall of trucks!

Bricks & Minifigs - A Lego store where you can buy, trade & sell Legos.