HIGH FALLS GIFT GUIDE SHOP LOCAL WITH FEEL GOOD GIFTS Story / Photos by Philippe Trinh
Tis the season to be Jolly. And by jolly we mean feel good shopping with no regrets! Whether you’re looking for something special for your partner, spouse, family or friend- High Falls, New York has all your gifting needs covered. Our little town is filled with some of the most amazing small businesses. From gift shops, apothecary to great design shops, High Falls boasts some of the best locallyowned stores. And they’re newly stocked with hand selected treasures from around the world for your pickings. If the thought of shopping on Black Friday repulsed you this year- you’re already on the right track. This year forget all the big box stores and support our local businesses. Supporting our small businesses means that you’re supporting establishments that our owned and operated by our very own friends, neighbors and community. Help keep our money in High Falls this year by keeping it local this year. Below is our recap highlighting our favorite retailers in High Falls, NY, and some really great finds available this year. Photos: Nectar fabric ornaments, High Falls Mercantile’s Seed Library featuring heirloom seeds from the Hudson Valley
high falls mercantile 113 Main Street. High Falls, NY 12440 Tel: 800.687.6707 www.highfallsmercantile.com
One of High Falls most highly touted retail destinations, Larry Ruhl’s High Falls Mercantile is a one stop destination for a wide array of gifts and home decor goods. The store has an eclectic and fun mix of unique home furnishings. Larry’s designs have been published in multiple publications including Country Living, Country Home and The New York Times. At the High Falls Mercantile shop you’ll find their own line of bench-made barn wood furniture, comfortable sofas and chairs. They also have quite a large selection of rugs, throws, pillows, bedding, dinnerware, lighting, apothecary, and special home accessories hand selected from around the world. Some of our favorites are the apothecary line of luxury soaps, candles and fragrances by Santa Maria Novella, argan oil skin care products by Kahina-Giving Beauty and botanical soaps by Italian maker Nesti Dante and Blithe & Bonny. If you know anyone with a green thumb, we picked out an assortment of flowers, herbs, and vegetable seed packets from the Seed Library. They’re all heirloom seeds from the Hudson Valley and at only 3.75$ a packet they make great little stocking stuffers from the Hudson Valley.
High Falls Mercantile
High Falls Mercantile
High Falls Mercantile
the green cottage 1204 Route 213 High Falls, NY Tel: 845.687.4810 www.thegreencottage.com
Open since 1997, the Green Cottage was conceived by Dennis Nutley and floral designer, David Urso. They combined their talents to create a store filled with the most beautiful floral arrangements and beautifully paired handmade jewelry. The shop has a very unique point of view with amazing holiday decorations. They have great unique cards for all occasions and the store is filled children’s books, bath products, jewelry, scarves and hats that are perfect for the holidays! Dennis is an amazing florist and his impressive bouquets are always fresh, colorful and truly unique pieces of art itself. If you’re looking for the perfect floral arrangement or a holiday gift bouquet- there is only one place to go, The Green Cottage.
The Green Cottage flowers
Nectar: Civil War Coasters
nectar 1412 Route 213, High Falls, NY 12440 Tel: 845-687-2870 Email: info@shopnectar.com
This is true shopping that you can feel really good about! With treasures sourced from around the globe, Nectar houses Fair Trade items that support wonderful community projects and women’s cooperatives. Conscious of the environmental impact, most of their furniture and gifts are made from reclaimed and “green” materials.
Floating feather ornaments
If you’re looking for some really unique ornaments, Nectar has a fairly large selection of ornaments mainly under $15. We’re absolutely in love with the Floating Feather Ornaments by Roost. Inside the perfectly mouth-blown hollow glass spheres and icicles houses the most gorgeous and exotic feathers. They’re wonderful for window displays or dangling from a doorway. Since they’re real feathers, the colors and patterns vary with each set. “Great Man Gift” Set of four handmade coasters with Civil War soldier portraits. Antiqued and distressed for a very authentic feel, $32. Brass claw bottle openers. They look vintage and their eirily too cool to pass up. We picked up a few of these which are perfect for stocking stuffers at only $18.90 a piece. If you know someone that loves tea, Nectar has a wide array of special teas sold by the ounce. We picked up a few fragrant teas including their Duchess First Love, Earl Grey, and Dream Tea. Don’t forget to go across the street and visit their furniture annex store- it’s filled with the most beautiful pieces sourced from exotic destinations from around the world.
Nectar: ornaments
Nectar: imported teas