2014 Gift Guide: For the Locals

Gifts made in Fishtown (and NoLibs) | Sameer Rao

1. | Fishtown Neighbors Association Swag: We know what you’re thinking: a neighborhood association making gear? Still, the folks who bring you the River City Festival and make the neighborhood the cultural force it is make some pretty stylish stuff. The sleek FNA logo — splayed over tote bags, pint glasses, and house number sign — makes a sweet gift for those who have deep neighborhood ties (or who want to look like they do). $3-$60, Fishtown Neighbors’ Association, 267-702-4690, fishtown.org. 

2. | River wards map: OK, so maybe we cheated a little on this one: The duo behind Eyes Habit, a design collaborative who make stunning and utilitarian maps of several Philadelphia neighborhoods, are technically split between East Passyunk and East Kensington. Still, this map is an all-river-wards treasure, dotted with landmarks that speak to the area’s growth and evolution. If this insanely affordable map isn’t already hanging in your living or working space, it should be. $20, Eyes Habit, eyeshabit.com. 

3 | Art Dept. prints, apparel, etc.: The folks who create in this workshop and gallery space aren’t just the purveyors of an ever-productive and consistently innovative segment of the Fishtown arts community (one that sees their space hold workshops on everything from guitar pedal construction to denim repair): The Art Dept.’s artists also lend their talents to a whole range of goods including prints, T-shirts, bags and now beanies. Everything sells out fast, so act faster. $6-$68, Art Dept., 1638 E. Berks St., 215-739-4146, artdeptpa.com.

4 | Ritual Ritual locally crafted jewelry: If you’d rather wear your neighborhood pride on your fingers or ears instead of your shoulder/torso/wall, this NoLibs boutique employs a number of gifted local designers whose creations will add subtle style to any wardrobe. Few other boutiques invest so much in local artists, and most of this jewelry is affordably priced.$20-$335, Ritual Ritual, 816 N. Second St., 267-606-6082, ritualritual.com.

Gifts made in West Philly | Julie Zeglen 

5 | VIX Emporium items: Two standouts at VIX Emporium, a small hub of artisan gifts made largely by local artists, are West Philly-themed nail polishes by Esther Fox of Philly Loves Lacquer and Flaming Idols altar candles by Robin Markle. The polishes were named by VIX owner Emily Dorn in homage to neighborhood landmarks and businesses: “The Green Line,” “Baltimore Ave. Burgundy,” “Cedar Park Jazz.” In the same vein, the altar candles honor LGBTQ heroes like Laverne Cox, Margaret Cho, Leslie Knope and, of course, Queen Bey. $12 (nail polish), $10 (altar candles), VIX Emporium, 5009 Baltimore Ave., 215-471-7700, vixemporium.com. 

6 | Gush Gallery items: West Philly’s newest art gallery boasts monthly rotations of local artists’ work, plus a “consignment shop” of assorted handmade wares, like leather bird earrings by Julie Bradley-Norton and “collage poetry” buttons by Marlo Keba. On the walls this month are the colorful, abstract pieces of James Pasternack, as well as other artists’ paintings, photography and mixed-media pieces. Check back in December for a show of affordable art — nothing more than $50. $15 (earrings), $7 (buttons), $35 (prints), Gush Gallery, 5015 Baltimore Ave., 267-353-8776, gushgallery.com. 

7 | PB & Jams: PB & Jams products can be found at Milk & Honey Market, HubBub Coffee, 1920 Commons at UPenn, the Franklin Flea and the Clark Park farmers’ market. Unfortunately for the rabid fans of Megan Gibson’s simple, locally sourced spreads, the company has no storefront. After trying flavors like Maple Walnut Butter (vegan!) and Hot or Not Peanut Butter (watch out before slathering this on a regular old PB&J sandwich – it has a kick), you’ll be hunting her down. $6.50-$10, pbandjamsphl.com. 

8 | Dock Street Brewery: Fill up a growler at Dock Street, which touts itself as Philly’s first microbrewery, with a local, seasonal brew like Bubbly Wit, Cranberry Kolsch or Truffled Old Ale. Exact release dates are difficult to specify because of the oft-unpredictable fermentation process, but check back throughout the winter for the most current selection of holiday craft beer. $10-$18 (filled growler), $2.50 (pint glass), Dock Street Brewery, 701 S. 50th St., 215-726-2337, dockstreetbeer.com. 

Gifts made in South Philly | Jim Saksa 

9 | South Philly Stained Glass: For the last 27 years, Frank Sorrentino has been foiling and soldering, framing and finishing his days away in his wife’s little shop on East Passyunk Avenue. “I’m just working for her,” says Frank, sipping a noontime beer while putting the touches on another commissioned custom piece. Such modesty belies his expert craftsmanship of windows, transoms, lamps and more. Sorrentino doesn’t have many pre-made samples, but you can see his work adorning windows all along the Avenue. $60 (Phillies “P”), $15-$500 (custom pieces), South Philly Stained Glass, 1621 E. Passyunk Ave., 267-318-1016. 

10 | Carpenter Collection Watch:Timepieces are statement makers. Sport a stopwatch: You’re an athlete. Flash a gold Rolex: You’re a man of great wealth and insecurity. Drag a grandfather clock around: You’re my crazy Uncle Morty and not welcome to Thanksgiving this year, not after last year’s “turkey incident.” But those who rock the minimalist elegance of an eco-friendly wooden watch exude more quiet confidence than pricier pieces ever could. $149.99, Analog Watch Co., 1214 Moore St., 484-808-5831, analogwatchco.com. 

11 | Osker Dopp Kit Bag: The best gifts are those that the person would never buy for themselves, but will love and use all the time. Good toiletry bags are exactly that: Most guys use Ziplock bags up until the day a loved one finally gets them a good dopp kit. Be that loved one this year, and get him one of these beautifully and sustainably designed handmade bags from the good folks who invented the bike Lock Holster. $55, Fabric Horse, 1737 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-995-1026, fabrichorse.com. 

12 | Handmade Karen Burmese Bag: Available for purchase only from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Mural Arts Program’s Southeast by Southeast storefront, this brilliantly colored and traditionally inspired bag was woven on backstrap looms by recent refugees from Burma. You can also buy playful skirts, silk-screened shirts and other items handmade by recent Bhutanese and Nepali immigrants. Pick some things up and you’ll look chic and feel good about the purchase: Social justice is the new black. $15-$30, Mural Arts Program’s Southeast by Southeast, 1927 S. Seventh St., 215-685-0750, muralarts.org/southeast. 

13 | Philly Love Notes woodcut map: Emma Fried-Cassorla, in “a brief stint of insanity,” once hand-cut a 3-by-4-foot paper map of Philly. Now, to raise money for her phillylovenotes.com blog, she’s also selling intricate laser-cut woodcut maps of the city. (The heat makes them smell pleasantly like a fireplace.) You can order maps of Center City, Fishtown and South Philly — where she lives and makes the maps — or a custom cut. Hurry, she can only make a limited number through Dec. 20. $75-$150, phillylovenotes.com/maps-for-preorder.