Check out this guide to perfect presents, all from local stores, to spread some cheer this season.
By Laguna Beach Magazine Staff
Holiday shopping can be hectic this time of year, scrambling to find the ideal gifts for everyone on your list in between decorating the house, attending festive parties and meeting end-of-year work deadlines. But this season, there’s no need to stress. We’ve compiled a gift guide with recommendations that will put a smile on everyone’s face, from kids to sports fans to wine connoisseurs. So whether you’re picking up a present created by a local artist at Sawdust Art Festival’s Winter Fantasy (Fridays and weekends through Dec. 17) or a meaningful memento from a Laguna Beach store, you can feel good about getting great gifts and helping the local economy by supporting shops and brands that are based in town.
Sports Enthusiast
Local sports art master Dave Hobrecht recently released his first published work—“THE ALL-TIME DODGERS ART BOOK”—with selections of the greatest Dodgers players from the last century by former manager Ned Colletti. Baseball fans will take great joy in the book, which features 20 original pieces by Hobrecht that uniquely blend players of different eras, $40, at Hobrecht Sports Art. (714-326-6410; hobrecht.com)
Foodie
While dining out can be a joy, there’s nothing like whipping up a delicious gourmet meal at home. The INDIAN MADE EASY KIT is a simple way to try cooking dishes from another culture, with four spice blends as well as 10 recipes with “Indian-ish” and “Indian-est” versions of curry, chicken tikka masala, butter chicken and more, $48, at Tea & Turmeric. (949-715-9600; teaandturmeric.com)
Serenity Seeker
Nothing helps to create a calm mood better than a softly scented candle flickering in the room. The Earth’s Elements Wellness CRYSTAL CANDLE, made with hand-poured soy wax, essential oils and organic herbs, comes in scents from jasmine to coconut-vanilla. Each candle features a crystal that can be saved after the wax melts, from $29.95, at The Chakra Shack. (949-715-6930; chakrashack.com)
Beer Aficionado
For friends and family members who love craft beer, grab a FOUR-PACK of 16-ounce cans of Laguna Beer—which was founded by two local friends and recently changed its name from Laguna Beach Beer Co.—filled with IPA, blonde ale, lager or other types of brew, from $14, depending on the type, at Laguna Beer. (949-715-0805; lagunabeer.com)
Traveler
Whether your loved one prefers relaxing at local coves or jet setting to tropical destinations, THE COOLER TOTE BAG is the perfect gift for those who are always on the go. With a waterproof vinyl lining and chic patterns by Business & Pleasure Co. on the inside and out, this tote can be packed flat in a suitcase to use on trips across the globe or filled with ice, snacks and drinks to enjoy while exploring nearby, $99, at Laguna Beach House. (949-324-2939; businessandpleasureco.com)
Child
Perfect for stimulating the imagination of kids ages 3 and up, this set of three wooden CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES with rubber tires by PlanToys is sustainably made with organic pigments, water-based dyes, chemical-free rubberwood and formaldehyde-free glue so parents can feel good about helping the planet while also letting little ones have fun, $28, at Eco Now. (949-715-0632; econowca.com)
Exercise Guru
The new LiveMetta yoga studio in town contains its own fitness-focused boutique, with gifts that are perfect for the holiday season. Aside from yoga blankets, exercise balls and grip socks, you’ll find options like the PROLITE YOGA MAT from Manduka, which is lightweight and perfect for on the go while still offering cushioned support and nonslip texture, $108, at LiveMetta Laguna Beach. (949-416-3996; livemetta.com)
Philanthropist
To make a difference with a stylish gift, these WOVEN BASKETS with white beads along the top edge are ideal for decor or storage. They are handmade by artisans in Tanzania through a fair trade partnership with The Peace Exchange—a Laguna Beach-based nonprofit—and come in different sizes, from $25, at Laguna Beach Yoga & Fair Trade or on The Peace Exchange website. (949-312-1357; thepeaceexchange.com)
Outdoor Adventurer
With coves scattered along Laguna’s shoreline, local ocean waters are the perfect place for outdoor enthusiasts to dive into a new sport—and what better sport than one created right here in town? Glide across the water’s surface on a SOFT SKIM (48”) board, which offers a high-performance shape and a slick, high-density bottom that is perfect for beginners, $139.99, at Catch Surf. (949-715-7828; catchsurf.com)
Jewelry Lover
Kwiat’s sparkling CLUSTER PETAL PENDANT WITH PEAR CENTER STONE, crafted with 18-karat white gold and 1.08 carats of ethically sourced diamonds, features a mix of pear and marquise shapes arranged like fallen petals in a stunning design that will delight any jewelry lover, $5,700, at Fredric H. Rubel. (949-494-3513; rubeljewelers.com)
Beauty Junkie
Rather than using makeup to accent your features, bring your own natural beauty to life with luxurious Lola’s Apothecary BODY SOUFFLES and BODY & MASSAGE OILS, both from $58, at Spa Montage. Richer than lotion but lighter than body butter, the souffles bring out softness and radiance thanks to the blend of shea butter, vitamin E, coconut oil and rosehip while the body oils are botanical elixirs that transform the skin, both at Montage Laguna Beach. (949-715-6010; shopmontage.com)
Art Lover
Give the gift of an experience with the Sawdust Art Festival’s year-round ART CLASSES, ranging in subjects from jewelry making, portrait photography and pottery wheel ceramics to silk scarf painting, mosaics, glassblowing and more. Most materials are provided and instructors are knowledgeable local artists who are expertly suited to help your loved ones tap into their creativity or learn a new skill, from $95, at the Sawdust Art Festival grounds. (949-494-3030; sawdustartfestival.org)
Wine Connoisseur
Anyone who truly loves wine will be delighted to get a bottle of vino this holiday season. While sparkling sips can enhance a celebration and whites are light and refreshing for daytime fun, bold cabernets are the perfect complement to the chill in the air this season. Warm up with the MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR cabernet sauvignon, a smooth, full-body option that leaves notes of blackberry, plum and tobacco on the palate, $59.99, at Wine Gallery. (949-715-8744;
winegallerylaguna.com)
Baby
For the littles in your life, give something that’s both cute and serves a purpose like this RAINBOW MACRAME TEETHER from Chewable Charm, which is created with all-natural cotton cord and a beechwood teething ring, $22, at Cactus Jane Emporium. (cactusjaneemporium.com)
Proud Lagunan
Help a friend show off their love of this beach town with the LAGUNA BEACH BAR TOWEL, a 20- by 26.5-inch cotton towel—with an image of the historic lifeguard tower at Main Beach—that can be proudly displayed in the kitchen and is machine washable for easy care, $24, at Bushard’s Pharmacy. (949-494-1059; bushardspharmacy.com)
Photographer
For those who want to take their photography below the ocean’s surface, SeaLife’s REEFMASTER RM-4K takes 14 megapixel still images and 4K video with a compact camera that can be removed from its waterproof housing and features an easy, four-button control system as well as Wi-Fi connectivity, $349.95, at Beach Cities Scuba. (949-494-6965; beachcitiescuba.com)
Dog
Spoil Spot or Fido with this plush, squeaky WHITE CHEWY VUITON BONE TOY by Haute Diggity Dog for a posh play on a designer brand that dogs will adore, too; available in two different sizes, from $13, at Naked Dog Bistro. (949-715-9900; nakeddogbistro.com)
Coffee Enthusiast
Urth Caffe, the first exclusively heirloom organic coffee roaster in the country, offers a 12-ounce vacuum-sealed bag of RAINFOREST whole beans or ground coffee from the eastern Ethiopian Rift Valley and Yirgachefe among its signature blends. Lower in acid, this is the brand’s most popular light roast and features a rich, complex flavor that’s also sweet and bright with notes of cashew and currant, $14.50, at Urth Caffe. (949-376-8888; urthcaffe.com)
Fashionista
For a bold look that matches a town rich with art and creativity, grab your favorite fashionista the playful SAY MY WAY feather crop top, $97, and matching FEEL THE WAY pants, $95, from Australian designer Lisa Maree. The former model, who opened a boutique in town earlier this year, uses sustainable practices to create vibrant, artistic apparel, like this set, which is sure to stand out with its bright purple fabric, at Lisa Maree. (lisamaree.co)
Book Lover
In the artsy town of Laguna, it’s no surprise that members of the literary group Third Street Writers are inspired by the summer festivals held in town. Bookworms will love the group’s latest iteration of “ART INSCRIBED,” an anthology publication featuring stories and poems about pieces that appeared in this year’s Festival of Arts juried show. Funded by the FOA Foundation, all proceeds go to The Artists Fund, which offers grants for hardship or enrichment to festival artists, $15, via PayPal through the Third Street Writers website or by email at amy@thirdstreetwriters.org. (thirdstreetwriters.org)
