Holiday Gift Guide — Buy Local

This year it is almost hypercritical that we support local artists and shops who have struggled to remain open through the pandemic. As we all know, buying local helps the community in so many ways. Buying from a local artisan puts food on their table.

Here are some ideas of places to consider for your holiday gift-giving.

Utah Museum of Fine Arts Museum Store

For a variety of fun and unique gift items, try the Museum Store at Utah Museum of Fine Arts on the University of Utah campus. They offer personalized gifts and local artist products, including jewelry, pottery, textiles, books, and more.

The Museum Store is open Wednesday–Friday, noon to 5 p.m., through Friday, Dec. 18, but closed Thanksgiving Day and Friday, Nov. 27. Seniors and high-risk individuals are welcome to arrive at 11 a.m. Face masks are required, and the store’s capacity is limited for customer and staff safety.

410 Campus Center Dr., Salt Lake City. 801-585-6961. umfa.utah.edu/museum-store

Marissa’s Books and Gifts

Marissa’s Books is an independent, family-owned bookstore in Salt Lake City, offering 50% off books of all genres online. They are now providing curbside pickup, eGift Cards, shopping appointments, and over 10,000 items.

The perfect gift for the tea lover in your life. Simpson & Vail tea collection pairs perfectly with some of your favorite literary classics. Use code TEAPARTY at checkout for 15% off your order, valid on teas and corresponding literary classic.

3302 S. 900 East, Salt Lake City. Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m.–6 p.m. 801-262-2873. marissasbooks.com

Urban Arts Gallery

Urban Arts: A broad spectrum of art inspired by city life and culture that showcases everything from raw street art to fine modern art. Our spotlight: Artist Kaycee Lane creates these intricate, wild, decidedly untraditional trees out of everything from doll hands to seashells. 116 S. Rio Grande, Salt Lake City at The Gateway. Tues.-Sun., 12–9 p.m. 801-230- 0820. urbanartsgallery.org

Agile Art Glass

Art glass created by Salt Lake artisan Kevin Scott features a lot of LGBT-oriented designs. Here, we show their festive cheese platter with four cheese knives and servers. Rainbow without being SOO rainbow. But if you want SOOO rainbow, try the Rainbow Glass Garden Art. 801-328-3627 agileartglass.com

LUX Catering and Events

The lack of events has hit caterers and event planners extra hard. LUX has been a huge supporter of the Utah Pride Center and many other LGBTQ charities for many, many years. They are now offering gift boxes for pickup at their location across the street from the Wine Store on 300 West. They range from $25 to $50 and are elegantly packaged, as you would expect from the perfectionists at LUX. Get them at luxcateringandevents.com/shop

They are also offering catered Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner packages. Want to be a secret Santa? Order one for a family in need. Get those at luxcateringandevents. com/online-ordering/

The King’s English Bookshop

Look on page 20 of this magazine to see our 4-page section of our book reviewer’s recommendations for books that would make great books, and get with King’s English to order them. Their website shows availability for most of the books listed.

If you want a hilarious book by a local gay-as-a-bunny redhead, only King’s English carries Scott Perry’s Confession of a Red-Headed Step Child. Hurry and get yours before he releases his second book.

Dallas Ian’s LGBTees & Queer Gear

You’ve seen Dallas at every Pride and fun market there is with his irreverent tees. You may now order them online, along with gift packets for just $10. The “Trans is Beautiful” dog tag and T-bottle is our favorite. Items can be shipped, delivered locally, or picked up at his downtown location. dallas-ians-lgbtees-queer-gear. square.site

The Conjuring Tree

The gay-owned Conjuring Tree offers handcrafted items designed specifically from natural materials to bring love, light, and laughter into your home and enhance your own brand of magic.

The home-based store offers rustic home décor in combination with metaphysical supplies. You will find items you’d expect in a metaphysical store plus more: scented candles, candlesticks, curiosities, athames, Viking drinking horns, incense, herbs, and an assortment of bronze statues from the world-renown Veronese Collection.

Some best-sellers are the variety of Viking drinking horns, mugs, and tankards. Drinking horns have been used across many cultures for over 2,600 years. The buffalo horn was the drinking vessel of the Gods. Thor, the Norse God of thunder, drank from a buffalo horn that contained all of the seas. In Native American culture, horns represent wealth and abundance and are said to offer the energy of survival and the ability to overcome any obstacle. theconjuringtree.com, 385-842-3750

Pioneer Theatre Company

PTC is finding creative ways to keep theater professionals working while they sit out this unexpected intermission, and you can help. They are making masks, having their scene shop create gift items, and selling off props used in previous shows.

An example is this cute wine butler that fits on a bottle of wine or bubbly and holds two glasses created by PTC welders. (Wine and glasses not included.) bit.ly/ptcshoppe

Salt Lake City’s Downtown Alliance

The Downtown Alliance is incentivizing people to shop downtown by offering Downtown Dollars. You can shop, eat, and gift locally at dozens of downtown bars, restaurants, and retailers. This electronic gift card may be used at many of your favorite downtown merchants and is a great gift for your besties (including you). Simply show your eGift Card on your mobile device at participating retailers to use.

For a limited time, purchase $75 or more in Downtown Dollars and receive $25 in Bonus Bucks, or purchase $50 in Downtown Dollars and receive $10 in Bonus Bucks. downtownslc.org/dollars

Salt Lake City Performing Arts

The Arts took a tremendous hit this year. To ensure they can get back on track, consider gifting season tickets or gift cards.

PLAN-B THEATRE COMPANY is offering a 25% discount on their 2021 Subscription Series, featuring P.G. Anon by Julie Jensen, Art & Class by Matthew Ivan Bennett, and a short play series titled Local Color. planbtheatre.org

PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY is offering “Ticket to Feel” gift cards, good for any future show, at tickets.pioneertheatre.org (choose “Gift Cards”)

BALLET WEST’s season tickets are available at balletwest.org starting at $63 and as high as $498 with four options of which productions you want to see.

UTAH SYMPHONY AND UTAH OPERA have gift certificates available at my.usuo.org/ gift/add

OGDEN’S GOOD COMPANY THEATRE has gift certificates available at goodcotheatre.com

Utah AIDS Foundation

The Utah AIDS Foundation is holding a Virtual Red Ribbon Tree Adoption. The group set up a wish list through Amazon.com. Order any of the items on the list and have them directly sent to the Utah AIDS Foundation or you and take them in by Dec. 15. The list is available at utahaids. org/support-us/season-s-givings.