Shop Lake County for the perfect gift
Find everything for your holiday right in your own backyard

	Pottery at the Holden Arboretum

You’ve finally nailed down your holiday shopping list, and know who you need to buy for and even have a rough idea of what to buy them, but you’re not sure where to find the especially-for-you gifts you have in mind.

From where to find just the right gift to where to shop for the perfect holiday meal, Lake County residents weighed in on their favorite places to shop for the holidays.

 

Hometown Holiday

Local author Deanna Adams likes to shop in downtown Willoughby.

“What better way to spend a holiday shopping day than strolling down a small-town street, first stopping in for coffee at one of the three coffee shops (I particularly appreciate the legendary history of Kleifelds), shopping from one place to another, taking a break at Scooter's Sweet Shop, shopping some more, then having lunch at one of the many restaurants, then more shopping, and ending the day in time for Happy Hour at Willoughby Brewing Co., or Olivor Twist, or Ballantines, all within walking distance. I love the uniqueness of each shop and the quaintness of the area, and how they decorate the whole district during the holidays; just beautiful!”

Her favorites are the Art Gallery, Enchanted Grove and Look What I Bought!

“You'll find things at these shops you would never find in the big department stores,” Adams said. “Plus I make it a mission to support local businesses, and especially those independently owned. All it needs is a good independent bookstore and I'd have to just sleep at the Homestead B & B so I could do it all again the next day!”

Paris Wolfe, Concord Township resident and mother of two boys, loves shopping in downtown Willoughby as well.

“Twice Loved has interesting consignment items,” Wolfe says. “The gift shop next door has things I'd really use.”

 

Gifts from the HeART

	Pottery at the Holden Arboretum

Wolfe says she also likes shopping at Holden Arboretum and especially during the annual Gifts from the HeART of Nature artist sale.

“It makes me feel hopeful and wholesome,” she says. “I like the books and jewelry, unusual stocking stuffers and whatever else fits a person on my list.”

The artist sale starts November 13, 2010 and ends December 26th. Handcrafted gifts from a number of regional artists celebrate nature’s splendor, all inspired by the beauty of Northeast Ohio.

Browse the show for original gifts in a wide range of prices, with many of the nature-inspired works made from environmentally responsible materials. Featured, jury-selected art includes: Framed pen and ink prints and paintings, felt art, flagstones, wooden bowls and vases, apparel and accessories, stone, beach glass, fused glass and precious metal clay jewelry, pottery, ornaments, pressed flowers, sand castings, burned fungus, rock candles, calligraphy, gourds and soaps and more.

Holden’s Corning Visitor Center always has a selection of adult’s and children’s books, Holden gear and nature-related gifts.

For more information, visit www.holdenarb.org.

 

Crafty Christmas

	Bead wall at Safire Rose Beads and Things in Madison Village

Pam Sabo, retired Lake Metroparks employee and Madison resident, says her all-time favorite place is Safire Rose Beads and Things on the square at 50 W. Main St. in Madison Village.

“It is not your average bead shop,” Sabo says. “It has sparkle because of the tens of thousands of unusual and quality beads, and also because of the talent of the owner Linda Ebbert, and her daughter Terri, and their creative designs. It’s a wonderful adventure.”

The shop has readymade pieces, or you can buy and go, or stay, select and make; whatever your choice. It also has an array of unusual pendants that can be incorporated into a piece with earrings or bracelet.

Sabo says the staff is happy to help pick out special beads and fittings and help with design suggestions.

“My favorite part is being able to share with friends and having something special we created together,” Sabo said. “For the past several years I have treated five of my closest friends to a beading party, just for us, as a morning coffee outing or beading and wine/lunch afterwards at one of the local wineries.”

But the best part, Sabo says, is doing it with friends.

“We always walk away feeling like real designers and wearing our just-made creations,” Sabo said. “People always want to know where I purchased my jewelry and being able to say I made it myself is very special.”

 

A Touch of Nostalgia

Men may not be natural-born shoppers like many of their female counterparts, but Wickliffe Mayor Tom Ruffner is as traditional as it gets.

“My choice would be Macy’s,” Ruffner said. “Where else would you get goose bumps shopping at a holiday tradition so synonymous with Christmas? Your gifts are excellent quality and are well received. The salespeople are courteous and even remind customers of special savings and store specials. Can’t wait to see the parade!”

Jan Pemberton, marketing and sales associate at Breckenridge Village, also chooses a big-name department store as her favorite place to find it all.

“TJ Maxx is No. 1,” Pemberton said. “They have the same things as the mall for a lot less money. Plus so much is under one roof - tasty goodies, household items, jewelry, clothing - what more could you ask for?”

 

An Old-Fashioned Christmas

Gifts made by hand, even when it’s someone else’s hand, can make some of the most meaningful gifts.

“I like to shop at a few of the local craft shows,” says Cheryl Rice of Painesville Township. She and husband Brian own Griswold Special Care, a nonmedical, in-home care company.

“We have never believed in spending excessively on Christmas and prefer to buy locally handmade jewelry, cards, baked goods, etc. I also shop at fair trade shows for unique, handmade treasures on a global scale. These organizations provide income for artisans from India, Africa, Mexico, etc. The gifts are not like anything you're likely to find at any Walmart or mall and prices are usually quite reasonable. And they help lift people out of crushing poverty.”

 

It’s all about the food

Ted Dalheim, a lifelong Concord Township resident, says Reider’s Market is one of his favorite holiday shopping spots.

“I know it’s ‘just food’ and not a place to buy most gifts, but I find the small, friendly market experience to be relaxing in the midst of the hectic holidays,” Dalheim said. “Food is an essential element of a successful holiday and one that provides a great sense of joy and comfort. Why should buying the food be such misery?”

Dalheim says at Reider’s, the atmosphere is always subdued and not rushed. Each aisle has something unique that you wouldn’t even be able to see while being rushed down the crowded aisles at the more traditional “big-box” grocery chains.

He says the staff is helpful and available to answer any questions.

“They take the time to make suggestions for a particular meal from the main course, to the right wine, to the best way to prepare and present the meal. Special orders are the norm and not the exception, so I never feel like an inconvenience, but rather feel like a truly valued customer,” he said.

He remembers the help he received this fall while preparing to host a Low Country Boil, a clambake-like meal involving different seafood being boiled in one pot all at once.

“It was a first-of-a-kind event for us,” he said. “Bruce, Gabe and the staff helped us with the quantities, got us a fresh order and even told us the best way to load the boil so that everything came out perfectly. It was one of the best fall meals I’ve ever experienced.”
Reider’s helped Dalheim plan the meal beginning with a conversation at the store and then a follow-up with various e-mails.

“Can you imagine planning an event via e-mail at a large grocer? That’s the difference at Reider’s,” Dalheim said. “The quality is always top-notch and the prices are very competitive for the value received. Of course, selection is more limited than the ‘be-everything-to-everybody’ large grocer, but I much prefer the atmosphere, quality, unique selections and customer experience of Reider’s. It’s my top choice on any day, and especially at the holidays.”

 

Other Local Gift Ideas

	Debonné Vineyards. Grapes are left on the vine until winter, when temperatures reach a cold 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Then the grapes are picked and pressed immediately.

A Cultured Christmas: The Fine Arts Association in Willoughby sells gift certificates in any amount that can be used for classes and/or tickets. The gift certificates can be for the exact amount of a class or tickets or in any increment from $25 up. Fine Arts also has coupon books that make great gifts.

The coupon books include six “tickets” that can be used for any performance in the 2010-2011 season. Cost of the coupon books are $120, a savings of 20 percent over regular adult ticket prices. Give an entire coupon book to someone or separate the coupons and pass them out to several people on your list.

Chocolate Stocking Stuffers: Solid milk chocolate Santas and Christmas trees from Brandt’s Candies in Willoughby make perfectly decadent stocking stuffers.

Brandt’s still makes all its candies by hand. Orders for gift boxes filled with smidgens, peanuts and turtles snow the candy makers under during the holiday season. Smidgens – peanut-butter-filled chocolate in Christmas shapes – are one of the biggest sellers.

	Barbara Phillips makes the traditional homemade, hand-dipped chocolate customers cherish at Brandt's Candies, a beloved Lake County institution.

Store manager Sally Mularo said you can’t beat the chocolate, or the customers.

“It’s very nostalgic,” she said. “We have people who have been coming in here since 1948. We have the same recipes and molds so people can still find the same candy they had as a kid.”

The shop ships their candy anywhere in the continental U.S. Visit them at www.brandts-candies.com or better yet – stop in and try it first-hand.

Captains’ Christmas: Help keep your friends and family warm all winter while showing support for the home team with team apparel and tickets from Lake County Captains. Visit www.captainsbaseball.com for team merchandise information.

Deal a Winning Hand: Styled like a deck of cards, the Cleveland Independents Deck highlights 52 of Cleveland’s locally-owned restaurants. Each card features a $10 special offer and a description of one participating restaurant.

Lake County restaurants stacking the deck include Beach Club Grill and John Palmer’s Bistro 44 in Concord, Chester’s Legacy Tavern in Painesville, and Gavi’s in Willoughby. Visit www.clevelandindependentsdeck.com to place your order.

We wish you a merry Christmas shopping experience! Let it snow!