PDD Gift Guide 2015
’Tis the season for the seventh annual PDD Gift Guide — a list of holiday gift ideas with a local connection. We present 15 ideas to get things started, and invite everyone to add their own suggestions and links in the comments below.
Leather Journal Cover
Keep your notes and great ideas safe and sound with this reusable leather journal cover from Hemlock Leather Works, handmade by Candace LaCosse in her Downtown Duluth studio.
$22
The Bamboo Sword
The latest book by award-winning author Margie Preus is a young-adult adventure set in 1800’s Japan. It’s available at local bookstores and at margipreus.com.
$16.95
Earrings
Bring sparkle and “crystazzle” to your life with handcrafted jewelry by Crystal Pelkey, local woman-about-town and artist.
$20+
Home T-Shirt
218 Gift makes cool, simple designs on shirts, stickers, glasses and more. Let people know where home is with a “Minnesota Home” screen-printed baseball tee.
$29
Kings of Israel Board Game
Inspired by cooperative board games, like Pandemic, local game designer Lance Hill created this biblically themed game and then produced it after a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Available at Funhill Games.
$44.99
MN Paddle Floaty Keychain
Whether you’re kayaking silently or zipping around on a jet ski, keep your keys off the bottom of the lake with a Paddle Floaty Keychain from Sota Clothing.
$8
Kombucha Growler
If craft beer isn’t your thing, you can still tote home a growler filled with a tasty beverage. The Snooty Fox Tea Shop makes its kombucha from fermented organic green tea and cane sugar.
$16 (with a $4 initial deposit)
Hillsider
Don’t call him “outgoing Duluth Mayor Don Ness.” He’ll reply: “No, I’m an introvert.” His new book of essays and reflections on his “curious political journey” is filled with photos and other contributions from various Duluthians. It’s available at local bookstores and at donnessbook.com.
$24.95
Voyageur Stainless Steel Growler
The region’s newest brewery opened earlier this year in Grand Marais. Though distribution channels haven’t brought the beer to Duluth to any reliable degree yet, a collection of Voyageur Brewing Company clothing and other goods, such as the featured stainless steel growler, is available to order online.
$45
Duluth Skyscape Hoodie
Available at the Birchhaus pop-up cart or online at birchausmarket.com.
$44
Chocolate Ore Boat
Sugarplums be damned. True Duluthians have visions of chocolate ore boats dancing in their heads. Available at Hepzibah’s.
$3.99
Mural Mug
The book mural from the big round wall of the downtown library, now wrapped around your coffee. Available at Duluth Public Library branches.
$10
Wicker Kittens movie and/or Soundtrack
Duluth director Mike Scholtz’s documentary about competitive jigsaw puzzling shows how mild-mannered Midwesterners turn into stone-cold competitors. The soundtrack features music by Duluth band Portrait of a Drowned Man. Available from iTunes, Amazon, Hulu, Bandcamp and more via wickerkittens.com.
Dlh Pinter Set – 2 glasses
Show the world where you and your favorite beverage are from.
Dlh Clothing
$15
Cameron Witting print
There’s a dry sense of humor in photographer Cameron Witting‘s series of prints titled “Duluth Typology.” His shots of Duluth are a stark contrast to his equally funny color shots of famous landmarks from around the world.
$150
The recommended links below point to previous Holiday Gifts Guides, but keep in mind, like ghosts of Christmases past, internet links change and disappear as time goes on.
As usual, there is no shortage of local music available for stuffing stockings. Check out PDD’s list of Duluth Album Releases in 2015.
Just launched today, SUDS Beer Soap. According to the website, beer gives the soap exfoliating and lathering properties. Available at the Bent Paddle Taproom.
Denfeld High School’s first holiday ornament shows off the school’s classic clock tower and raises money for the theater department. It’s available during productions of Leaving Iowa, which run through Nov. 21 at the Denfeld Auditorium, or by emailing Matthew Pursi at the address given in the graphic above.
Another apparel option: North Shore Clothing Company is a UMD student-owned business selling casual apparel inspired by Minnesota’s North Shore. Shown above is a long-sleeve 50/50 cotton/polyester unisex shirt with the left-chest pocket featuring a smaller version of the same logo that appears on the back. All profits are donated to local nonprofit organizations.
Duluth News Tribune: Entrepreneur class turns projects into reality
New London Apothecary is concocting soaps, body butters, lip balms, and beeswax candles for your delight! I stumbled across the Lakeside-based brand at Mount Royal Market.
The Fitger’s Brewhouse Beer Store has about 25 different items available for order online. There are also a few in-store-only bundels, such as the Adventure Pack Bundle (shown above). It includes a hydroflask growler, a Brewhouse Growler Pack (with leather strap) made by Duluth Pack, two carabiner mugs, a growler refill card and a magnet.
Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar’s online store features copies of this snappy cook book. Fifty recipes, 114 pages, 16 bucks.
A Bentleyville ornament, with photography by Christian Dalbec. $18 with free shipping and handling.
Prints of goofy animal and monster illustrations. By me.
Give a Wine Goblet Making Class from Lake Superior Art Glass! $59.
The 9th Volume of the Christmas by the Lake CD featuring piles and piles of local musicians is available online or at Duluth/Superior/Cloquet/Two Harbors Super One Food locations and Pam’s Hallmark in the Miller Hill Mall. Proceeds go to the Bluebird Foundation.
Apparently it’s possible to buy something called the Pussy Pillow at the Emerson Holiday Bazaar.
“Don’t miss out on your chance to purchase that perfect gift for all of your menstruating friends, family members, neighbors, whoever,” Brandi Balmer wrote on Facebook. “I am happy to present to you my first product to ever be made for sale, Pussy Pillows. This handmade menstrual pad, with a dreamy bamboo knit top and a friendly kitty on the back is sure to cheer you through any moon cycle.”
Lifelong Duluthian Chuck Haavik began writing poetry at age 61 and recently published his first book, teaming up with Duluth artist Aaron Kloss on Christmas Here in Northern Lands. The book is available at Siiviis Gallery, Lizzards Gallery, Grandma’s Gift Shop in Canal Park, the Book Store at Fitgers, and local coffee and gift shops. It is also available online at chuckhaavikauthor.com.
The Art Dock in the Dewitt Seitz building will have a limited number of sculptures by local woodworker John Thompson, made from the recently cut 4th Street Trees. The trees are from 5 to 20 inches tall, and are identified as “4th Street Silver Maple.”