keep-calm-and-shop-local-105I have decided to try to do a better job of SHOPPING LOCAL for the holidays this year. Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky have so much to offer in terms of cool locally owned stores, boutiques and products, why look anywhere else?!?!  I’ve put together a list of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Holiday Gift Ideas for local gifts to help encourage my readers to consider the small business owners, such as myself, this holiday season.  These aren’t just ideas for places to shop, but also some ideas for giving “experiences” as gifts.  I don’t know about you, but I have a cluttered house and sometimes I welcome gifts that we can experience together as a family or on a date night.  That being said, we also have a passion for locally created products.  I think I have a little bit of everything on this list, but I’d love for you to leave comments if you can think of another great local gift idea! 

 Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Holiday Gift Ideas :: 

LOCAL Restaurants ~

York Street Cafe Dining RoomGift Certificates are quite popular during the gift-giving season, especially those to restaurants because they are perfect for pleasing everyone.  This year, instead of purchasing gift certificates for chain restaurants owned by big corporations, consider shopping local.  Buy gift certificates for restaurants owned by those that live in this area.  Introduce your friends to new and interesting restaurants as a holiday gift!
Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky offer so many different options to choose from, so I’m certain you could find a restaurant to meet anyone’s culinary interests.  Restaurant gift certificates are one of my go-to gifts, for several reasons.  The first being it’s a gift that I myself LOVE to receive because we love going out to eat and especially love trying new restaurants.
The other reason I love to give them as gifts is that it’s super easy shopping – just stop in your favorite restaurant and pick some up!  And many local restaurants offer deals around the holidays such as “spend X amount of dollars on gift certificates and get a free gift certificate as a bonus”.  Check out my HOLIDAY DEALS page to find awesome discounts!

ABCs CincinnatiThe ABC’s of Cincinnati Print ~

When I first saw this print at Summerfair at Coney Island I fell in love with it.  The ABC’s of Cincy has a certain charm about it that draws you in. You can find these prints made by Dawna Boehmer on Etsy for $18.  They are also available at Art on the Levee in Newport and Art on Symmes or on Donna’s Website.

Handmade Crafts ~

Speaking of Etsy, let’s talk about handmade gifts…our region has many great Craft Shows this time of year where you can find lovely handmade items for holiday gifts.  You can also search Etsy for items and find local crafters by searching by region.  I’m always a huge fan of giving handmade gifts!

IMG_5035For the Foodie ~ 

Consider a gift basket comprised of items or a gift certificate from Findlay Market in Over the Rhine or the Friendly Market in Boone County.  My sister has done this for me as a gift, and I LOVED it!  Both of these markets have so much to offer for the cooks on your list.  I can find whatever I need at either market, especially the most unusual of ingredients.  It’s fun to walk around and purchase a little bit here and a little bit there from the shops and put it together into an awesome gift basket.

Bourbon ~

 Valley Wine and SpiritsNothing says Kentucky like a good bottle of bourbon!  There are so many options to choose from, and the folks at Valley Wine and Spirits in Fort Wright and Edgewood are knowledgeable and can help you find the perfect bottle.  Valley Wine & Spirits also offers an engraving service for bottles, FREE of charge with the purchase of Woodford, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniels Single Barrel, Herradurra Tequila or Woodford Double Oaked.  The bottles are very classy looking when engraved, and would make a very unique gift for the bourbon fan on your list.

Local Art ~ 

Jeff Johns ArtThere are countless places to purchase local art around town.  Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are bursting at the seams with artists.  You can find galleries all over town where you can purchase artwork and support local artists.  I’m going to shine the spotlight on one of my favorite local artists, Jeff Johns.  He is a fantastic painter and photographer.  You can find his artwork hanging on the walls at Valley Wine and Spirits and online at: jeffjohnsgallery.com.  His masterpieces are priced high for some budgets, but when purchasing a Jeff Johns painting, you are purchasing an heirloom.  I’d love to have one of his paintings some day to hang in my home and then pass down to our kids.  It’s on my bucket list to own an original JJ painting!

Personalize It ~ 

MKsConsider something unique and PERSONALIZED for folks on your list!  MK’s Totebags & Monogramming in the Main Strasse Village has something for everyone, from babies to ladies to brides to families to the gents of the family.  She has everything from clothes to cups to coolers.  It’s really the perfect place to get gifts all year long, but during the holidays she really shines with some adorable holiday items such as stockings, dresses, aprons, ornaments and MORE.  Order soon, because they get busy close to the holidays!   Check out MK’s on Facebook.
 
For All Things OHIO ~

Shop MicaMiCA 12/v is a family owned business in Over the Rhine at 1201 Vine Street.  It is one of my favorite boutiques because it is so very unique.  It’s a special place to find a gift.  They have the most interesting collection of local arts and products.  You can find items such as t-shirts promoting Cincinnati pride, cutting boards shaped like the state of Ohio, hand made items, fine jewelry made by independent designers, and much much more!  Check out their Facebook page for hours.

Artistic Experiences ~ 

9162012 157Give the gift of artistic experiences by purchasing tuition for an art class for someone at a local arts organization such as Baker Hunt, The Carnegie,  Brazee Studios, or another local arts organization.  Or if you know someone who likes to sew, a class at Sewn Studio or a gift certificate would make a good gift!  We gave Ella the gift of a sewing class at Sewn Studio a few years back and she loved it so much!  And it was the gift that kept on giving, because now she has some sewing skills to build on as she gets older!

Local Beer ~ 

Braxton Brewing BarI’ve already mentioned Bourbon, which made me think of BEER.  There are so many great breweries around Cincinnati, that a collection of different local brews would make a fun gift for a beer lover.  You can pick up many great local and craft beers at Valley Wine and Spirits that I mentioned earlier, or the Party Source in Bellevue.  Those are my two favorite beer shopping locations.

Or perhaps a gift set from a local brewery?  Some local breweries sell items such as t-shirts or pint glasses, which when paired with beer would make a perfect gift.  I was going to name a few local breweries, but there really are so many that I’d find it hard to list just a couple.

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town ~

How about a BB Riverboat Cruise as a gift?!  I know it’s something I would love!  We have attended many of their cruises and always have such an awesome time.   Read all about our Beer & BBQ Dinner Cruise in this post.  It’s a great local gift…dinner on a boat while you hear live music and learn more about the area from the captain.  They offer a variety of cruises to choose from, from kiddie cruises to sightseeing cruises to beer tasting cruises.  Check out the BB Riverboats website for more details.

BB Riverboats

American Legacy Tours ~

Bockfest 5Do you have someone on your holiday shopping list who loves local history, or wants to learn more about the area they live in?  A tour from American Legacy is a GREAT gift idea for them!  We’ve taken a few of their tours and loved them.  They offer so many different options, from Gangster Tours to Brewery Tours.  Check out their website for all the options and prices.

For the Munchkins ~

  I’m not going to re-invent the wheel, Family Friendly Cincinnati has a terrific post about local toy shops in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area.  Check that out and SHOP LOCAL for the munchkins

For the Out of Towners ~

Consider shipping some Cincinnati Favorites such as Glier’s Goetta, Skyline Chili, Montgomery Inn or Larosa’s Pizza to Cincy fans in other states.  CincinnatiFavorites.com is Santa’s Little Helper when it comes to shipping these local favorites to your friends and family out of town!

For the Traveler ~

Jailers InnPlan a weekend away exploring one of the great state parks in Ohio or Kentucky, or another city in one of these states that you’ve been wanting to visit.  Two years ago I gave Michael the gift of a weekend away from the kids.  We went on the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky with his brother and sister-in-law and then stayed overnight at the Jailer’s Inn in Bardstown.  It was the perfect gift for a guy with four kids…time away from the munchkins + bourbon.  You can read more about our trip in this post I wrote for Family Friendly Cincinnati.  Also visit my TRAVEL ARCHIVES for ideas for planning trips.  I have documented our travels both near and far, so you are sure to find something to interest you!

Cards by Katie ~

photo (23)Last but not least, consider hand made note cards for the snail-mail lovers on your list.  I have an Etsy shop full of cards I make for every occasion.  The prices are reasonable, and I take custom orders as well.  If note cards aren’t your thing, spend some time browsing Etsy for other fabulous hand-crafted items.  I strongly urge you to support crafters!

What am I missing on this LOCAL GIFT IDEA LIST??  Comment below and share your ideas!