Here it is, the annual gallery of local goods, submitted for your holiday shopping approval. If you’re going to get all material this Christmas, it might as well be local material, right?
In most cases you can acquire these items in retail stores or shop online. Click on the images for more information and links.
Marvelous Melissa Boyle reuses old socks and sweaters to make eco-friendly cat toys. Her Etsy site has a lot of different critter designs for your cat to chew on and bat around.
Handmade, handpainted chocolates in gift boxes or for events. With names like Luscious Lemon, Caramel Knowledge, and Hungarian Heat, these are not your typical chocolates. Available at 185Chocolat.com or at JJ Astor’s and Art in the Alley.
Magical Maps are a high-tech, interactive way to plan your primitive camping trip. Easily find any lake, entry point (on BWCA maps), campsite, portage and canoe routes. For the BWCA you can see hiking and ski trails, too.
The holidays mean parties, and parties need dips. Matt Ramczyk of Cornucopia makes dip kits bursting with flavor from herbs, vegetables and a special blend of spices. Each Gourmet DipKit makes 2 cups of dip.
Another spin on Bob Dylan songs recorded by the Black-eyed Snakes and Charlie Parr, James Moors, Rachael Kilgour, Two Many Banjos, Shaunna Heckman, Sarah Krueger, the Fontenelles, Dirty Horse, the Acceleratii and more. Another Side of Duluth Does Dylan is the third in the Duluth Does Dylan compilation series.
Even the investment bankers and IT professionals in Duluth have their rugged side. They can show it off with the handmade and highly functional Frost River bags. Check out the new Frost River storefront at 1910 W. Superior Street.
Minimal in design and name – pick from “Yellow” for a delay, “Brown” for a fuzztone, “White” for an overdrive – Lotus Pedal Designs offer quality components and premium sound. Check out the videos on the site for examples of the sounds that come out of these stomp boxes, designed by Duluth’s Sean Erspamer.
For the extremely practical gift-giver, there’s a shelving system from Duluth-based Lifespan Closets. Lifespan can help you organize every room from the bathroom to the garage.
Duluth has plenty of people taking pretty pictures, but Nate Lindstrom has a particularly good eye for what makes this place awesome. Beautiful pictures and clean design make this a great gift option.
Sheila Packa has compiled and edited a book of poetry and prose by new and favorite Lake Superior area writers who tackle subjects relating to change. Read reviews and more at Sheila’s blog. Migrations is available at local bookstores.
Northern Waters now has an online store, but you really should visit the actual store in the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace so you can take in the fantastic smells. Gift packages, sandwiches, and lots of delicious stuff.
White Winter Winery offers wine, mead, hard ciders and non-alcoholic sparkling fruit drinks. Local fruit and honey are used in their creations, which can be purchased online or at several local stores.
Whether training for the Iditarod or just taking Fido out for a little skijouring, dogbooties.com can supply your dog with two styles and several sizes of dog harness.
Mmmmm, Santa might appreciate a nice latté with the cookies you leave out for him. Duluth Coffee Company offers ordering through their web site and is also available at several restaurants around town.
Find a truly one-of-a-kind gift for that hard to shop for person at the shop and yard of North Shore Architectural Antiques. Lights, doors, plumbing, stonework, cabinets and more. Show off some of the area’s history in your own home.
