Elevation DC's last-minute, local shopping guide
Kaitlynn Hendricks |
Monday, December 15, 2014
Still need some gifts for the winter holidays? We've put together a guide to the greatest locally made products, small businesses and awesome stores, so we've got you covered no matter how much is left on your list.
Food and beverage- Co Co. Sala is a great local spot to enjoy a drink or a bite anytime, but when you do, you’ll find a delicious chocolate center. They’ve got signature chocolate boxes and chocolate bars in classic flavors, as well as more inventive ones like “Frankly, My Dear...” (with pecans, brown sugar and local honey) and mango lassi. Specialties like “chocolate enrobed bacon” have also been known to turn a few heads.
Find it at: Co Co. Sala, 929 F St NW, or its Union Market boutique at 1309 5th St NE.
Kombucha has been around for 2,000 years, but Capital Kombucha is the District’s first kombucha producer. They’ve introduced lots of great flavors like cherry blossom, cucumber melon, and basil lemongrass to this ancient recipe as the drink gains modern popularity for its numerous health benefits and unique taste.
Find it at: any of these locations.
- Capital Honey is a family-owned, 100% pure, raw, natural, locally produced honey. Their methods (and, believe it or not, urban location) make for significantly lower pesticide levels and a richer flavor profile.
Find it at: Salt and Sundry in Union Market or by getting in touch with the owners directly.
Clothing and accessories - Hugh & Crye makes well-fitting men’s shirts and blazers using a simple system to achieve the best fit for each man’s height and build. For a budget-friendly option, look for Hugh & Crye's ties, pocket squares, custom collar-stays and vintage lapel pins.
Find them at: Hugh & Crye, 3212 O Street NW #5
While working in international affairs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sarah Bayot was inspired by the beauty she saw there. Back in the U.S., she launched Kicheko, a jewelry/accessories brand that donates 30% of all proceeds towards education in the DRC. Look for earrings and necklaces in geometric and natural shapes made of leather, wood or brass.
Find it at: one of Kicheko's upcoming pop-ups
- Check out Via Gypset near Woodley Park for a great mix of new, “pre-loved” and vintage clothes. You can find high-end designer labels like Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino, and a wide-variety of well-curated clothes, bags, belts and jewelry. This boutique team takes regular international shopping trips (some of them moonlighting from their D.C. agency jobs) to source the best boho jetset fashion from around the globe.
Find it at: Via Gypset, 2311 Calvert Street NW
This and that- Board games: so much more than Sorry! and Monopoly. Labyrinth Games and Puzzles and its knowledgeable staff will help you pick from their selection of hand-crafted models of chess boards and puzzles, kids' educational games for all ages, family favorites, and inventive strategy games of all flavors.
Find them at: Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Revolution Cycles opened its doors in Georgetown 16 years ago (though it has several area locations) and carries all kinds of bikes, accessories, tools and active-wear. Whether you’re a brand-new rider, a near-expert looking for the perfect gear, or somewhere in between, these are your guys. They’ll even give fit consultations to help make sure you’re set up with the right bike.
Find them at: Revolution Cycles, 3411 M St NW or three other locations
- This gift is literally a piece of American history (so it's perfect for your extra-patriotic uncle). Every year, the White House Historical Association produces a limited edition Christmas ornament. Roll your eyes as a seasoned D.C. resident, but remember that outsiders still think this stuff is pretty cool, even if you don't.
Get it at: the White House Gift Shop, 701 15th St, NW
For that hard-to-shop-for friend
Good Wood on U St has an awesome, ever-revolving cache of vintage goods. It’s a great place to look for unique vintage furniture, clothes or other one-of-a-kind style. You may not always be able to predict whether or not they still have that one awesome thing you saw on their Instagram in stock, because everything is unique, but you’re likely to find something else just as cool and distinctive if you stop by.
Find it at: Good Wood, 1428 U ST NW
- Think of Hill's Kitchen like a locally owned Williams-Sonoma, where the owner will be your personal shopping buddy to help you find the best items for the best price. They definitely stock for quality, but have great low-cost options like custom-shaped cookie-cutters that look like the Capitol dome, the Washington Monument or just about every state. They also host cooking classes for a great experiential gift.
Find it at: Hill's Kitchen, 713 D St SE
- One of the few stores to endure in Cleveland Park's main drag on Connecticut Ave NW since 1988, Wake up Little Suzie has been widely praised for its fantastic hand-made jewelry, but also has home décor like funky pottery, plus kids' clothes, great cards and holiday trimmings and lots more. The place is known for being unique and quirky, but also for being one of those places you can go and solve the gift dilemma for just about anyone.
Find it at: Wake Up Little Suzie, 3409 Connecticut Ave NW
Editor's note: while we wanted to include EVERY local business in D.C. on this list, we obviously had to make some (subjective) choices. Did we miss your favorite product or business? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter.
Kaitlynn Hendricks is a solutions-focused economist working as a business developer in Washington, DC. She enjoys timeless and (occasionally) avant-garde fashion, reading things that are just a bit too complicated to really understand, challenging the status quo, and exploring the city on her Vespa.