s i T ’ the Season! Shopping and Dining Around the City
Right: Colorful stemware at JADE. Below: A Christmas bell from Judy at the Rink.
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THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE perusing a locally owned shop—beautiful home goods, ornate decorations, sweetly scented candles, handmade art and pottery, fabulous clothing. While it’s fun to shop for yourself, it’s even more satisfying to mark off items on your Christmas list! Fresh and fun glassware for your aunt? Check. A shining necklace for your sister? Check. New pajamas for dad? Check. And it’s undeniable that our local store and restaurant owners are even more excited to see your face during the holidays! DECK THE HALLS Hilltop Shoppe owner Mary-Martin France’s go-to advice for gifting is to “start simple”. She says: “Go with something everyone likes. Either a candle or one of our French tea towels is usually my go-to for the hard-tobuy-for customer.” Mary-Martin’s personal favorite gift this year is their new handmade wine glasses from Saban Glass. Available in bright and fun colors, each glass is oneof-a-kind. She also expects their new lacquered sphere candles and always popular Thymes Frasier Fir products to be customer favorites. Hilltop Shoppe will be part of several pop-up markets this year along with the Cannery’s Lanyard Lovebirds on December 5, and the Southern Hotel in Covington on December 9. Anything acrylic is a go-to gift for JADE owner Jennifer Rabalias. She suggests, “Frames, trays, vases, games, coasters—acrylic matches almost
I n side N ew Orl ean s
photo courtesy: JADE
by Leah Draffen
any style!” Other favorite items in store include Estelle colored glasses for the wine lovers, a gold sustainable electric chargeable lighter, luxe coffee table books, initial notepad with acrylic holder, brand new PJ Harlow sleepwear, and alpaca slippers. Jennifer has seen trends in fuzzy faux fur tree skirts, vintage inspired décor and ornaments, and whimsical glass Christmas ornaments perfect for ornament exchanges. She believes that the color gold continues to dominate the holiday season and beyond! BEJEWELED Speaking of gold, Anna Hollinger, of Symmetry Jewelers and Designers, says versatile, easy-to-wear pieces are going to be a hit this year. “We expect minimalist
