With only seven days left until Christmas, it is hard to ignore the sound of the holiday clock rapidly ticking down. Even if you had the best intentions of getting your holiday shopping done early this year, your list likely includes a few people who seem to already have everything they need. As a result, you may still be running around frantically trying to find that perfect gift that will cause your recipient’s face to light up with joy.
Worry no more and shop local to take advantage of the abundance of talented artisans in the Northwest and find something truly unique to give your loved ones. To help simplify your search, check out our picks for six stops for last minute shopping in Seattle.
1. Copperworks
One look at the four gigantic gleaming copper stills located at the heart of Copperworks and you will realize that this small-batch distillery produces more than your average spirits. Delight home bartenders by stocking their liquor cabinets with local flavor from Copperworks.
The group’s award-winning gin is full of bright, citrus flavors and their unique vodka features vanilla notes for a soft mouthfeel and a hint of sweetness. Best of all, you don’t even have to make the trek to the distillery itself to pick up these fine spirits, as they are sold aboard in Clipper’s duty free shop.
2. E. Smith Mercantile
With a buck head, bunting and pickaxes mounted on the brick wall of this artisan boutique, you’ll feel as if you have wandered into an old general store in the center of a gold mining town…with a special Northwest touch. E. Smith Mercantile offers an abundance of small-batch, handmade goods such as sweet smelling essential oils, candles, rich gilded chocolates, American-made denim, antique jewelry, stylish home décor and warm knits are perfect for filling the stockings of friends. If you find the holiday crowds are getting you down, stop at the cozy Back Bar and allow a creative craft cocktail and tasty small bites to fuel your shopping.
3. Camelion Design
Brimming with housewares from cuddly blankets to cushy couches, this unique and stylish store offers great finds whether you are decorating a room, an apartment or a house. While Camelion Design is known as the “go-to” stores for luxe home furnishings, it also offers an expansive selection of novelty accessories, scented candles, clever letterpress greeting cards and books. As an added bonus, your earth conscious friends will be pleased to find the store’s owner hand-picks items made with environmentally safe materials.
4. Fremont Vintage Mall
Located in the heart of Fremont or the “center of the universe,” this funky basement shop is certainly not your grandma’s antique store. More like a museum than a store, the Fremont Vintage Mall offers a collection of trinkets from nearly every decade for a nostalgia-filled experience.
The shop’s treasure trove of curios runs the gamut from vinyl records, to mid-century furniture, to vintage clothing, so you are sure to find a gift that is sure to elicit childhood memories and please lovers of everything vintage.
5. Clover Toys
Step inside the historic storefront of this charming children’s shop and enter a wonderland of toys. Ballard’s Clover Toys offers an abundance of creative-type toys that inspire kids to use their imagination, learn and have fun.
Young artists will enjoy musical instruments and art supplies while budding scientists will appreciate a few more experiments to add to their lab. In addition, unique, high-quality items such as European wooden toys, furry stuffed animals and beautiful dolls from small-name brands will stand out from the generic plastic toys found in “big box” stores.
6. Milstead & Co.
Catch a whiff of the rich, aromatic scent of freshly brewed coffee emanating from this rustic-chic coffee shop, and it is hard not to wander inside. One of the few multi-roaster shops in the city, the modern Milstead & Co, offers a rotation of coffee produced by artisan roasters in order to help coffee aficionados discover and experience a wide variety of roast profiles. Give your loved ones a taste of the Northwest by picking up a fresh bag of coffee from much-loved roasters such as Kuma, Heart, Coava and Stumptown.
Bonus:
Perhaps there is an explorer on your list, but you would rather not gift them an assortment of gadgets and tchotchkes they may or may not use. Give the gift of travel with a Clipper Gift Card and provide friends and family with a fun adventure. They can travel to Victoria and soak in the city’s rich history and culture, catch sight of majestic orca whales on a San Juans whale watching tour, ski Whistler’s frosty slopes and more. If you are unsure how much to give, check out our 2015 Gift Guide for inspiration.
While Christmas is rapidly approaching, you are not quite out of luck yet. You still have the entire weekend and a few days next week to complete your list. Grab your boots and put your jacket and pay a visit to these shops in Pioneer Square, Fremont and Ballard and wrap up your shopping with gifts that your friends and family will love.