HolidayGuideandShoppingSeason 2021
2 COMPANY Holiday Guide 2021 FT1-1969013-1
3Holiday Guide 2021 FT3-1964104-1
PUBLISHER / ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Blue Marlin 16
CONTENTS 6 Holiday events in the Midlands 10 Checklist for a hit holiday party 14 grab-baggingGuilt-free 18 5 kitchen-fit tips for a holiday feast 21 Gifts for the tea or coffee lover on your list FT3-1968333-1
MARKETING & EVENTS MANAGER
Koger Center for the Arts 11 Holiday Lights on the River 7 Midlands Mediations 21
A COMPANY
MANAGING EDITOR
ADVERTISING STAFF
Chase Heatherly, cheatherly@postandcourier.com
Holiday Guide is published annually by Free Times and Evening Post Publishing 2101 Gervais St., Columbia, SC 29204 803.765.0707 | free-times.com
BUSINESS
ADVERTISERS
4 COMPANY Holiday Guide 2021
EdVenture Children’s Museum 15 Gibson’s Gift Shop 19 Historic Camden 17
David Clarey, davidc@free-times.com
Sunrise Artisan Bath and Body 21 Sylvan’s Jewelers 17
East Bay Deli 9
Scott Freedman, scottf@free-times.com
PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGER
Lisa Willis, lisaw@free-times.com
ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER
Angie Bledsoe, angieb@free-times.com
EDITORIAL
Hope Roberts, hoper@free-times.com
Ryan Willingham, ryanw@free-times.com
Holiday Guide and Shopping Season
Central Carolina Community Foundation 15 City of West Columbia 3 Columbia City Ballet 24 Crowntown Cannabis 23
Antai Asian Dining 13
Cooper Crews, cooperc@free-times.com
SC Department of Agriculture 2 St. Pat’s in Five Points 5 State of the Art Gallery 4 Stone Boot Co. 22
Lindsay Conine, lindsayc@free-times.com
Lindsey Rhinesmith, lindseyr@free-times.com
FT12-1968337-1
Here you’ll find our annual holiday guide, which breaks down the season’s events. Of course, things happen quickly and notable additions could come after this issue is published, so keep your eyes and ears peeled for even more exciting things to do around town. We’ll be sure to do the same and note them as they come.
Dec. 2-5. Columbia Classical Ballet, columbiaclassicalballet.com. Famed production hits the stage from the Columbia Classical Ballet.
“Anastasia”
“30 Americans”
And while the pandemic feels as if it’s passed us by, it is still an ongoing problem and affecting the holiday season. So while this year’s events calendar resembles pre-pandemic times, there are still many protocols and shifts to take note of. Expect masks, vaccination, social distancing or other measures to be put in place to many of these events.
We’ve seen less and less events be canceled by the pandemic, but do keep an eye on free-times. com, in case things take another turn for the worse, or anything else changes with these various happenings. Have a safe and lovely holidays!
Dec. 2. Newberry Opera newberryoperahouse.com.House,Athrowback to the yesteryear of classic country music, with a Christmas focus here.
It’s truly the happiest time of the year and, after what feels like an eternity, many of the season’s holiday event mainstays are back in business after the COVID-19 pandemic affected the bulk of it last year. So there’s plenty of reason to bring holiday joy and Free Times is determined to help you find places to sprinkle that joy around.
6 COMPANY Holiday Guide 2021
ZZ Top
“Elf the Musical”
South Carolina State Museum, scmuseum.org. Marking the 50th anniversary of humanity’s first steps on the moon, this exhibition charts the history of NASA’s Apollo program.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 17-18. Broadway in Broadwaybroadwayincolumbia.com.Columbia,Long-timeplaykicksofftheBroadway in Columbia series.
appy holidays, Columbia.
Apollo 50: Journey to the Moon
DECEMBER
Nov. 12-14, 19-21. Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, fineartscenter.org. It’s a murder-mystery, but mainly a comedy in this iteration of the story.
Branson on the Road Christmas
Nov. 18. The Vista, vistacolumbia.com. The Vista neighborhood shops, galleries and restaurant’s show off, while live entertainment is on hand.
Nov. 20-Dec. 30. Riverbanks Zoo, riverbanks.org. The zoo lights up on select nights and hosts Santa’s Village and more. See website for specific dates.
Lights Before Christmas
Part II 701 CCA SC Biennial
“Tiny Beautiful Things” by Cheryl Strayed
Nov. 24-Dec. 31. Saluda Shoals Park, icrc.net. A massive drive-through light display along the Saluda River, with nightly activities including train rides and crafts.
Vista Lights
Nov. 17-19. Longstreet sc.universitytickets.com.Theatre,Playadapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding).
“Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express”
continues on page 8 HOLIDAY Events
“The Nutcracker”
Nov. 18-Dec. 23. 701 Center for Contemporary Art, 701cca.org. A survey of the state’s contemporary artists. The exhibition collects works from South Carolina artists throughout the state and presents them in one place.
Holiday Lights on the River
H
Nov. 12-Dec.12. Town Theatre, towntheatre.com. Beloved aughts movie hits the Town Theatre in musical form.
Through Jan. 17. Columbia Museum of Art, columbiamuseum.org. A touring exhibition reaches what is perhaps the end of its decade-long run, with a stop in Columbia. The sprawling exhibit deals with themes of sexual, racial and historical identity through the lens of 30 different Black artists.
Nov. 19. Township Auditorium, thetownship.org. Old school rockers will play in Columbia.
ONGOING
7Holiday Guide 2021 FT12-1964117-1
“Best Christmas Pageant Ever”
Jan. 15. South Carolina Philharmonic, scphilharmonic.com. It’s a classical orchestra, minus the pretense. Check out Beethoven’s hits, but wear your blue jeans.
Dec. 15-16. Trustus Theatre, trustus.org. Local jazz trumpeter Mark Rapp brings unique arrangements of Christmas tunes to the Trustus Theatre in the Vista.
The Christmas Angel
Dec. 7, Jan. 11. Columbia Museum of Art, columbiamuseum.org. Ongoing series brings chamber music to Boyd Plaza, often with drinks and food trucks.
“Swan Lake”
KC & The Sunshine Band
Dec. 11-12, 18-19. Columbia City Ballet, columbiacityballet.com. Famed production hits the stage again in Columbia, but this time from the Columbia City Ballet.
JANUARY
Mark Rapp’s Jingle Bell Jazz
Appalachian Road Show Christmas Dec. 4. Newberry Opera andensemblenewberryoperahouse.com.House,TheacousticbringsAppalachiainthefirsthalfChristmasinthesecondhalf.
“The Magic of Christmas starring the Wagsters”
“Menopause the Musical”
Jan. 21. Township Auditorium, thetownship.org. Disco and funk band comes to the Township.
Dec. 12. Harbison classicmusiciansharbisontheatre.org.Theatre,S.C.Philharmonicringintheholidayseasonwithcarolsandholidayanthems.
Holiday Pops
Dec. 11-Dec. 18. Columbia Marionette Theatre, cmtpuppet.org. Local jazz advocacy organization ColaJazz partners with the
Columbia Marionette Theatre to bring a Christmas-themed jazz extravaganza together.
Dec. 3. Newberry Opera newberryoperahouse.com.House,Lightwire Theater, of “America’s Got Talent” fame, brings a holiday story of a bird named Max who gets lost in the North Pole.
Santa’s Christmas Party: A Swingin’ Celebration with the ColaJazz Foundation
continued
Chamber Music on Main
“The Nutcracker”
Dec. 3-5. Five Points of merchantsfivepointscolumbia.com.Columbia,FivePointsandothersgetintheholiday spirit during this annual neighborhood festival.
My Christmas with Jazz 2 (virtual) Dec. 12-18. Skipp Pearson Jazz Foundation. Skpfoundation.org. A virtual concert of jazzed up Christmas tunes.
Dec. 17. Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College, harbisontheatre.org. An original ballet in its 21st year of production, The Christmas Angel takes you on a magical journey with intriguing characters, compelling storyline, and beautiful scenery, costumes and dance.
page 6
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
DECEMBER, from
Dec. 10-12. Workshop Theatre of South Carolina, workshoptheatre.com. Local theater brings together a holiday-themed show.
Dec. 4. Columbia Children’s musical.TheatreAftercolumbiachildrenstheatre.com.Theatre,It’sback.twoyearsoff,theColumbiaChildren’sbringsbackthewelllovedholiday
A Very Electric Christmas
Festivus
A Magical Cirque Christmas
8 COMPANY Holiday Guide 2021
Dec. 14-15, Koger kogercenterforthearts.com.Center, The producers of Broadway’s smash hit “The Illusionists” have brought together the world’s greatest entertainers for a new holiday production.
Jan. 12. Broadway in broadwayincolumbia.com.Columbia,Popular comedy comes to town via Broadway in Columbia.
ColaJazz Christmas Dec. 17. Newberry Opera newberryoperahouse.com.House,Local jazz group brings their Little Big Band to Newberry for Christmas tunes.
Masterworks Series: Beethoven and Blue Jeans
Jan. 29. Columbia City columbiacityballet.com.Ballet,Famed ballet is performed by the Columbia City Ballet in January.
Dec. 8. Colonial Life coloniallifearena.com.Arena,Well loved American rock band, known for bright lights and epic anthems, stops in Columbia.
Columbia Art Museum Gala Dec 4. Columbia Museum of Art, columbiamuseum.org. The Gala is the CMA’s largest fundraiser of the year and raises significant funds to support the museum’s award-winning arts education and community enrichment programs.
9Holiday Guide 2021 FT12-1968288-1
BY ERIK J. MARTIN
• Get started early. “Secure a date, time, and location as soon as possible, and consider a special holiday theme that can drive your decor choices,” Riley suggests.
CHECKLIST
FOR A
Hit Holiday Party
Mirza Grotts, an etiquette expert in San Francisco, subscribes to that theory.
10 COMPANY Holiday Guide 2021
Fortunately, you can ensure a successful (and COVID-safe) get-together and pull off your merrymaking without a hitch by following the best practices recommended by the“Planningpros.
T
a party can seem simple, but planning an experience that your guests will remember, and one that focuses on pandemic safety, requires well-curated and thought-out details,” suggests Alesia Riley, event director for blk haus branding + events in Washington, DC.Lisa
For best results, follow this checklist of recommended steps, in order:
“The devil is in the details, especially when it comes to holiday parties. Planning a party is about time management, and as the adage says, the early bird always gets the worm,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be a stressful experience if you keep your cool and prep well ahead of time.”
he holidays are a time for getting together and celebrating the festivities of the season. Put more simply, it’s the perfect excuse to hold a party. And few events are more rewarding — or more stressful — than hosting a holiday shindig in November or December to which family and friends are invited.
11Holiday Guide 2021 FT3-1969898-1
• Establish a budget and stick to it. Determine how much you can spend, then set a limit on edibles, refreshments, entertainment, and other party essentials.
• Create a playlist. The right music sets the tone for your party, so give careful thought to the tunes and artists you want to play. Purchase a smart speaker that can link to your phone or online music account (like Spotify or Pandora) and be controlled via voice assistant.
RSVPs, house cleaning, decorating, cooking, setting the table, and cleaning up after the party.
12 COMPANY Holiday Guide 2021
• Mail or email invites weeks ahead of time — at least two to three weeks before a less formal party. “Make sure your invite is clear and that your guests know to RSVP so that you can plan ahead,” advises Grotts.
• Enlist help. Delegate a few responsibilities to loved ones or close friends, such as assistance with invites and gathering
• Practice pandemic cautions. That means following the latest recommendations from the CDC when it comes to wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, avoiding as much contact as possible, and more. If you live in a moderate climate, consider posting your party outdoors. Or, give thought to keeping your gathering to a smaller group and encouraging your invitees to get fully vaccinated. n
• Complete as many tasks as possible before the party date. You don’t want to leave all the fine details to the hours immediately before your festivities, so aim to check as many to-dos off your list in the days prior.
• Book any live entertainment you want well in advance. “Give thought to the fact that Santa Claus performers and musicians are often booked months in advance,” cautions Heather Roonan, a spokesperson for GigSalad, a Springfield, Missouriheadquartered entertainment booking online marketplace. “If you wait too long to plan this portion of your party, you risk not getting a higher-quality performer or getting one at all.”
• Serve a specialty cocktail. “You don’t want to be shaking martinis all night, so select one drink you can make in pitchers, like holiday sangria or a spiked punch, in addition to other libations,” says Grotts.
• Keep the menu from becoming overcomplicated. It’s ideal to hire a caterer, but if this is a DIY effort, ponder your entrée, side dishes, desserts, and beverages carefully. To simplify the party, consider setting up a food station or taco bar. “You can make one or two items yourself, or purchase the rest, or you can ask others to make and bring those dishes. A host should never be drudging in the kitchen when guests arrive, so try to plan for dishes that can be easily heated up or delivered,” Grotts says. “Three courses are plenty.”
• Order ahead. Say you’re aiming for a particular sized tablecloth or shade of serving tray. If so, it’s best to scour the web than drive all over town looking for it, Grotts adds.
FT12-1967523-1 antailexington@gmail.com @AntaiAsianDining HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Thur s 4-7PM Weʼve provided catering around Midlands for more than 13 years, chec k out our catering menu online or call for more details buy $100 get $20Gift Card 803.356.0062 5084 Sunset Blvd, #C Lexington, SC 29072
t’s easy to blow your budget on holiday presents quickly, especially if you have a large family or band of friends with whom you exchange. After all, part of the joy of the season is getting gifts for those you care about. But that list of recipients can fast outpace your ability to afford wrapped goodies for all of them.
The latter is simple to set up and execute:
2. Have each participant write his or her
Thankfully, there’s a time-tested method that groups can pursue that is not only designed to save money and ensure that every holiday party attendee goes home with a present, but one that will add fun and excitement to the festivities: create a gift exchange via either a white elephant game or secret Santa strategy.
5. When it’s time to exchange the gifts on your predetermined date, place the gifts together under the tree or in another area.
1. Determine well ahead of time (such as immediately after Thanksgiving dinner) who from your group or party wants to participate in buying and receiving a gift, which will be exchanged at a date you agree upon (such as Christmas evening) when all participants can be present.
How to set up a secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange
4. Later, after buying and wrapping the gift, label it with the recipient’s name but not your name as the gift-giver.
BY ERIK J. MARTIN
14 COMPANY Holiday Guide 2021
GUILT-FREE
GRAB-BAGGING (without the guesswork)
name, followed by a few ideas for gifts they would like to receive, on a piece of paper that they fold up and put in an open box.
I
3. Mix around the folded pieces of paper, and have each participant pick one piece from the box (if they pick themselves, re-fold the paper, put it back in the box, and pick a different piece of paper). The name of the person you pick is the one you purchase a gift for. No one should reveal the name they pick.
15Holiday Guide 2021 FT1-1964121-1 FT3-1968365-1
Here are the white elephant rules:
She says it’s also easy to conduct an online secret Santa exchange if you have COVID concerns or it’s too difficult for everyone to gather in person.
2. On that date, each participant must bring one wrapped and anonymous gift with them that will be placed on a large table, around which all participants will sit or stand.
3. Draw numbers to decide the unwrapping order, with the participant having the lowest number going first.
7. Each gift is only allowed to be stolen up to three times during the game, and each participant can only be stolen from up to three times (after which time that person can no longer play the game but gets to keep their gift).
7. Going in order around the room, each person must try to guess aloud who their secret Santa is. After two wrong guesses, their secret Santa must reveal his or her identity. That recipient opens the present, and the next person takes a turn.
5. Person #2 chooses whether to steal that gift (in which case person #1 then gets to choose another gift from the table) or choose another goodie to unwrap. The game continues in the same way, with each participant having the opportunity to steal (meaning swap) a gift from someone who unwrapped before them or select a different wrapped gift.
6. At a time you collectively decide, each recipient must retrieve his or her labeled present.
FT3-1968330-1
16 COMPANY Holiday Guide 2021
4. Person #1 picks a gift from the table, unwraps it, and holds it aloft for everyone to clearly see.
“Our company has a long-held tradition of holding gift exchanges and white elephants around the holidays,” says Mike James, HR/ sales manager for Coffeeble in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “I led the charge in our COVID secret Santa party last year, which we held online, and it was a great success. If you thought white elephants were fun in person, hosting a digital scavenger hunt really added to the frivolity and excitement.” n
“If you are throwing a big holiday bash, the option to steal someone else’s present adds a fun and exciting dimension to the gift exchange tradition. Everyone ends up with a gift, but without blowing your budget,” notes Clare Jones, outreach manager for Custom Neon in Kansas City.
6. Once all presents are revealed, person #1 can opt to keep the gift they have – in which case the game is over – or take someone else’s gift. If they choose the latter, the game persists until the person whose turn it is decides to keep their gift instead of steal another.
“The tradition of secret Santa harkens back to the Scandinavian tradition of Juklapp, which involves knocking on someone’s door, throwing a present inside when it opens, and then running away. Its roots can also be traced back even further to German legends about the helpers of St. Nicholas, who divvied out presents to good boys and girls,” explains Meghan Langseder, support and community manager for Elfster, an Oakland, Californiabased publisher of apps and websites that can make gift exchanges like this easier.
“Invite all participants via email. Use a digital secret Santa generator available online to handle the name selections and wish lists. Arrange to have your recipient’s gift shipped to that person, but try to select the same delivery date so everyone is surprised on the same day,” Langseder suggests. “Then, host a holiday video party on Zoom and engage in the name guessing until all gifts are eventually opened.”Alternatively, consider holding a white elephant gift exchange, which can make your holiday get-together even more lively and entertaining. That’s thanks to the element of uncertainty introduced into what becomes a gift-giving game of strategy and swapping.
1. Learn who wants to participate from your group, set a spending limit (such as no more than $25 but no less than $20), and decide the date when the presents will be exchanged.
17Holiday Guide 2021 FT12-1968306-1 FT12-1969017-1
Jess Dang, founder of Cook Smarts, an online resource aimed at educating and inspiring home cooks, says she creates a spreadsheet to get organized before hosting people for the holidays.
18 COMPANY Holiday Guide 2021
kitchen with a few extra cooks calls for extra preparation and organization. What it doesn’t call for, says Philadelphia- area chef Tony Clark, is extra stress.
“Whenever I’m doing a large event, I find it really helpful to share a Google spreadsheet, where all the different meals are listed,” Dang says. “It lays things out nicely for folks to know what they’ll be responsible for. It also shows you took the time to think about it and plan.”
advantage of having many cooks in the kitchen? They bring an array of skills and specialties. Dang recommends hosts be mindful of this, playing up their guests’ strengths. Let the aunt who loves baking bring her mean cheesecake and give the cocktailexpert cousin bar duty. Anyone who is cooking-averse can help with cleanup.
2. Do your homework
“It’s the holidays and it’s more than just cooking,” Clark says. “You really want to make sure everyone’s enjoying themselves.”
T
BY RACHEL STARK
“I think it all comes down to knowing what people are good at,” Dang says.
here’s no place like home kitchens for the Orholidays.that’swhat it seems, at least, when guests congregate in the heart of the home to chat, snack and offer the host or hostess a helping hand.Acrowded
3. The good guest
People should also consider their cooking methods. If much of the meal will require the oven, they’ll need to plan accordingly. Oven rack inserts can help maximize space and save time.One
A chef of more than 35 years, and currently on the syndicated TV show “Rock Star Kitchen,” Clark is used to group cooking. With four sisters and five children, cooking is a family affair when they all gather for a holiday meal. “It’s much more fun when everyone’s involved,” he says.
Prepare your kitchen for the invasion of guest chefs. Clean, organize and stock the shelves for stress-free, heavy-duty cooking and baking this holiday season
Clark’s relatives typically stick to tradition with familiar, family recipes. He purchases all the ingredients and completes any complicated cooking tasks before the guests arrive. “I try to make it easy, and never do anything too stressful,” he says.
Plus, a bottle of wine is at the ready, opened when the cooking begins.
1. Keep it simple
5 kitchen-fit tips for a holiday feast
Crowther, a Vermont-based chef, teacher and author of “The No Recipe Cookbook” (Skyhorse Publishing, 2013), says people should feel comfortable asking for and accepting help. “I think nowadays, we don’t want to ask for help,” she says. “Throw that paradigm away. This is not the time for the one-woman (or man) show.”
The easiest way to add counter space is to purchase a portable kitchen island or cart. The bonus is that it’ll add visual appeal along with extra storage — but it is a relatively big purchase, so only do so if you plan to use it throughout the year.
A cramped kitchen can be an obstacle to any group cooking experience. Those who are short on counter space can make their mealtime easier with a few simple tweaks.
People should also look outside of the kitchen and utilize other spaces, Dang says. She suggests clearing clutter from counters by placing items on a dining table or a desk, or turning another room or the garage into a baking area with a card table and toaster oven.
5. Make space
It’s important to make room for a deluge of food. Clean and strategically arrange your refrigerator and pantry ahead of time, Dang suggests.Tomake more room in the kitchen, hosts can get creative by assigning guests to different stations throughout the home. Two sisters could catch up while chopping vegetables at the dining room table, for instance, while the kids snap green beans outside.Susie
19Holiday Guide 2021
The keys to working in a tight space, Clark says, are to keep the area clean and embrace simplicity. “Don’t overdo it,” he says. “People get stressed while cooking, but it’s not about that. You want to make sure you’re happy when you’re cooking the meal.” n
Gibson’s Gifts Cards • Stationery 743 Saluda Avenue Columbia, South Carolina 29205 (803) 771-4520 ON SALUDA SINCE 1955! 5 POINTS COLUMBIA FT1-1969498-1
4. Make a plan
are to have fun, be together and be open to the outcome,” she says. “You might ruin the dish, but you’ll have a great story at the dinner table.”
Clark says he likes to use the outdoor grill year-round. When preparing a big meal, that’s one less piece that needs the oven.
Instead, she suggests people embrace the mindset of working together as a community. Aside from making a dish or helping with cleanup, guests could contribute by bringing serving utensils, cutting boards or knives. “Have a list and just tell guests what to do. People like to give; it makes them feel important.”Mostofall, Crowther says, people cooking together over the holidays should focus on the process rather than the product. “The keys
A smaller company also can blend your favorite flavors. “We have a customer who has a favorite blend of two coffees and we make it just for her,” Curry says.
BY LISA IANNUCCI
“Did the person get married in Hawaii? Honeymoon in Costa Rica? Study abroad in Kenya? Or maybe the connection is something like the coffee they drank while they were a new parent, or they were pulling all-nighters studying for the bar,” Curry says. “Coffee that reminds them of those milestones in their lives will show your thoughtfulness.”
Not sure what flavor your recipient will like? “When we have a customer come into the shop and ask what coffee they should get, we ask them about their preferences,” Curry says. “Do you like something milder or bolder? Something earthy or fruity? If they prefer milder coffees, we suggest medium
FOR THE COFFEE LOVER
roast coffees from central or South America. For bolder coffees, we’ll suggest African or Indonesian coffees, which typically are roasted darker.”Atasmall shop, you often can smell the buckets of roasted beans before you order. “Does the person you’re buying coffee for have a grinder?” Curry asks. “Coffee is best when it is fresh, so it’s best to buy it whole bean and grind it just before brewing. That is because oxygen is the enemy of freshness.”
20 COMPANY Holiday Guide 2021
If you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift and your recipient loves coffee, tea or something a little stronger, there are plenty of ideas from which you can choose
Pick up holiday gifts for the tea or coffee lover on your list
“Coffee is at its peak for flavor within 21 days of roasting; most coffee you buy at the grocery store was roasted 6-9 months earlier and has a “best if used by” date of 18 months out,” she explains. “We roast in small batches two to three times a week and roast date our coffee so you know when it was produced.”
If the person you’re buying for is a caffeine addict, Curry recommends a medium roast coffee for the basket. “There’s actually more caffeine in medium roasts than dark roasts,” sheShesays.also says the best gifts connect with memories and emotions.
When it comes to coffee, forget the big companies and support the smaller, local businesses, such as John and Pat Curry’s Buona Caffe Artisan Roasted Coffee in Augusta, Georgia. Pat explains that you should buy from a smaller company for several reasons, including customization, speed and freshness.
21Holiday Guide 2021 710 Saluda Ave Columbia, SC 29205 803.939.2245 sunriseartisan@gmail.com Sunrise is more than a bath, it’s an experience From the very beginning, we knew our most valuable asset is you! It is our goal to ensure that when you purchase a product made by Sunrise that the quality, the appearance and even the packaging meets our standards! That will always include an excessive dose of positive energy! BRV Soap Myster y Bar Essential Lavender Bath Bomb FT1-1968361-1 Artisan Natural Soaps, Bath Bombs, Body Butters, and more! FT3-1970135-1 Need HELP CREATING a solution to your problem?
807 Meeting Street, West Columbia, SC 29169 803.931.3620 FT1-1969542-1 bi WESTERN BOOTS,FASHION BOOTS,WORK BOOTS, HATS, BELTS AND MORE FOR THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT! OUR SHELVES ARE FULL! Come visit Your local family-owned boot boutique Where you can find:
Pair the coffee with something else they’ll enjoy. “One of the great things about coffee is that it is affordably priced,” Curry says. “Put together a gift basket with coffee and a new book from their favorite author, a mug with a great saying on it, a gourmet pastry or other treat, a snuggly robe, a scented candle, a new pair of jammies or whatever you think they might enjoy.”
If your recipient prefers a nice cup of tea, Jeanette Hurt, author of “Drink Like a Woman” says you should know what kind of tea your recipient prefers.
“For example, find out if they like herbal tea, loose tea or black tea,” Hurt says. “Buy them some of their favorites and then branch out.”
“You can infuse vodka with your favorite teas or make your own coffee liquor and then put it in gift bottles,” she says.
Hurt also suggests supporting smaller tea companies. “Bingley’s Tea Ltd., has a great Jane Austen Tea Series with quotes about being a ‘loose’ woman,” Hurt says. “Mighty Leaf Tea and Rishi Organic Tea also have great tea
FOR THE TEA DRINKER
She also says Teavana makes a great insulated tea infuser and tumbler.
With so much to choose from, it will be hard to narrow it all down for your favorite beverage hot-beverage aficionado. n
“Perfect for tea drinkers on the go,” Rollano says. “You can hot or cold brew loose leaf tea in this Withtumbler.”bothcoffee and tea, Hurt says that you can get even more creative.
For those who prefer a straight cocktail, Hurt suggests a good shaker. “Even more important is a jigger that has clearly designated measurement markings inside,” she says. “Cocktail Kingdom makes beautiful jiggers with measurements.”
22 COMPANY Holiday Guide 2021
at garage sales. A book to read with the tea should be in your basket, too.”
Mary Ann Rollano, a tea specialist and founder of Life Is Better With Tea (lifeisbetterwithtea.com), says every tea lover should have a special teakettle. “The one by Alessi, the Michael Graves Kettle with Bird Whistle, is the cutest kettle I’ve ever seen,” she says. “It has a lot of style and makes a very thoughtful gift. Aside from design, you want to look for kettles with a wide base design for a quick boil.”
Hurtflavors.”suggests pairing the tea with scones from a local bakery, cookies or crackers. “Chocolate doesn’t perfectly go with tea, but there are tea flavored candies, from Indulgence Chocolatiers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that are really interesting. Add honey from a local company, too, as well as a nice sturdy mug that you can find on sale or
Happy Holidays!
FT3-1969020-1
