10 minute read
SHOP
Q&A Where do you love to shop around the city?
Melinda Wooding
Mom of three in Madison Park My favorite shop for any Hispanic food and general groceries and produce is La Esperanza Mercado y Carniceria on Beacon Hill. They have the best authentic carne asada! A huge plus is their large selection of the yummiest pan de dulce, baked fresh daily. My kids love it!
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Things we love Stocking stuffers with humor
If there are any kids ages 3 to 14 who don’t love Finger Meerkats or a Possum in a Peanut, we have yet to meet them. If you want the goofiest
Tiffany Jay of Squirrelly helps kids make fall leaf prints with acrylic paint in a class on the Wunderkind patio.
Making gifts with heart
These two local art studios help kids carefully craft their holiday presents
by DANIELLE HAYDEN/ photos by JOSHUA HUSTON
With online shopping more popular now than
ever and brick-andmortar retail stores recovering this year, we may forget that there is an additional option for gifts: This holiday season, you might consider creating your own presents.
Squirrelly Art Studio
“I love that art can be stress-relieving, self-esteem building and fun for all kids, no matter their age or skill level. The best projects are those that make every young artist feel successful,” says Tiffany Jay, owner and art facilitator at Squirrelly Art Studio + Gift Workshop, which currently operates on the patio at Wunderkind, a LEGO cafe and child-amusement center in North Seattle’s Bryant neighborhood. (Squirrelly will move to a hybrid trinkets for a holiday present, Archie McPhee in Wallingford has everything from Finger Bats to Finger Racoons and Finger Possums, too. Another kid favorite is the Handicorn: It’s a unicorn head plus hooves for your fingers. 1300 N. 45th St.; mcphee.com
Gloriously gluten-free
Find holiday baking ideas that are gluten- and dairy-free and vegan-friendly in Cannelle et Vanille Bakes Simple: A New Way to Bake Gluten-Free by Aran Goyoaga. The local mom of two shares more than 100 sweet and savory recipes for the everyday cook, in addition to holiday season favorites like rugelach, linzertorte and hot cross buns. — Jasmin Thankachen
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model in mid-November, with some indoor time, spaced out and masked, with windows open, but outdoor classes will still be offered.)
The studio offers art camps and classes year-round to kids, usually for ages 6 to 12, taught by a group of artists. (Most classes were being held outside this fall.) The children experiment with everything from watercolors to acrylics and oil paint to ceramics and jewelry making, as well as woodworking, sewing, dyeing fabrics and baking cakes. (For busy parents, before- and aftercare is also offered.)
This holiday season, Squirrelly has some special projects planned. While the specifics are still a surprise for guests, Jay hints that holiday workshop attendees will be concocting their own bath and body products, making one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces and painting something very special for the kitchen. “Gift making is my most favorite art activity to do with kids because it’s amazing to see them overflowing with pride and generosity,” she says. “It’s empowering for them to create truly lovely gifts for their loved ones, and so exciting that they take it home wrapped and ready to give — a real surprise that they create all on their own.”
Emerald City Fired Arts
Emerald City Fired Arts in the Mount Baker neighborhood allows people of all ages to create pottery, mosaics or glass fusion pieces at classes, camps or workshops, or if they just happen to walk in with the intention to create. For the holidays (and year-round), artists provide instruction, materials and supplies — along with granting unlimited time for people to complete pieces.
You can make something on-site or take advantage of their Pottery To Go option: you choose a piece, work on it at home with the store’s glaze brushes, stencils and more, and then bring it back to be fired up in their kiln for pickup the next week. Parents also have the option of renting out the space to work on things in private, or for a fun party with friends.
Owner Maidrine Chen believes that everyone is an artist regardless of skill or background, and hopes to encourage everyone to just relax, enjoy the moment and find the artist within. “People often ask me, ‘Am I an artist? I can’t paint … I don’t know what to do. I never learned,’” she says. But, she adds, “Art is a part of our lives. If we search inside ourselves, everyone is an artist.”
One of Chen’s favorite things about Emerald City is seeing families come in to work on a project together, such as an occasion when four generations came into the space to make art and the youngest family member was two months old. The eldest? 92.
Chen also loves hearing the many heartwarming stories about whom visitors are making gifts for, and the reasons why. “People come in to explore themselves. But it’s also a place where we can build a bridge and make connections with others. That’s the main thing.”
q Squirrelly Art Studio + Gift Workshop: At Wunderkind, 3318 NE 55th St.; squirrellyworkshop.com q Emerald City Fired Arts: 3333 Rainier Ave. S., emeraldcityfiredarts.com
Book Corner Enchanting stories for a heartwarming season
Here are some charming yet poignant holiday reads to share with friends and loved ones
as chilly winds approach. — Rene Holderman, children’s book buyer at Third Place Books
The Snowflake by Benji Davies The Snowflake is a delightful tale that draws parallels between a snowflake’s journey and a little girl’s path as they work out where they fit in the world. This wonderfully illustrated book will transport readers to a snowy wonderland as they follow Noelle and the snowflake.
Binny’s Diwali by Thrity Umrigar; illustrated by Nidhi Chanani Binny’s Diwali is about how Binny does her best to describe the magic of Diwali, India’s annual holiday festival of lights, to her classmates. It’s a story that both introduces young readers to Diwali and demonstrates the vulnerability of presenting a part of your identity to an audience. The Christmas Mitzvah by Jeff Gottesfeld; illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha The Christmas Mitzvah is the heartwarming story of how friends and loved ones blend their Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations into a festive symphony that emphasizes being with the people who matter most. Inspired by a true story, this book shows readers that celebrations are about the people we choose to spend them with.
The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi; illustrated by Loveis Wise In The People Remember, Ibi Zoboi weaves the principles of Kwanzaa with Black history in America. With poetic text and stunning illustrations, young readers are introduced to Kwanzaa and its place in African-American history, and how cultures can endure adversity, why that is important today, and why it matters to celebrate.
holiday Seattle Aquarium 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59 GIFT seattleaquarium.org A visit to the Seattle Aquarium is more than just a simple outing — it’s a unique experience that allows you to connect with our marine environment like never before. guide This season, we invite you to share that experience with your friends and family by giving them the gift of a Seattle Aquarium membership. Take advantage of our holiday promotion: 10% off the price of membership gift certifi cates, through December 31. You’ll spread the joy of the Aquarium and make an important contribution to our work in conserving our world’s one ocean.
Kids Discovery Museum
301 Ravine Lane NE Bainbridge Island kidimu.org
Give the gift of play! A gift certificate to KiDiMu can be used toward admission, membership, or STEM boxes to enjoy KiDiMu from home. A day pass for four is just $32, and a family membership is $125 for a year of unlimited museum access for play and exploration. Located just steps from the Bainbridge ferry, KiDiMu is the premier Kitsap County children’s museum. Order your gift certifi cate at kidimu.org!
Swansons Nursery
9701 15th Ave. NW, Seattle • 206-782-2543 swansonsnursery.com • garden@swansonsnursery.com
Swansons Nursery is the perfect place to bring your family for a magical holiday outing. We’re decked out with thousands of glowing lights, holiday photo-ops, and even a dinosaurthemed model train village! Our full-service, tree-shopping experience means picking the perfect tree is easy and fun. We suspend the trees just off the ground in our cozy greenhouse so you can spin them to your heart’s delight and easily see them from every angle. Relax and let us do all the work: we’ll shake, wrap and load your tree onto your car. Visiting Swansons is a holiday dream come true.
Give the gift of play at KidsQuest and join us all year long! Purchase a gift card that can be used for memberships, daily admission, or to shop in our Explore Store. Our memberships feature year-round special events, discounts, plus member-only hours. For a one-of-a-kind gift this holiday season, turn your child’s artwork into a custom coaster set made on our 3D laser printer. Create memories for the whole family in the museum, at events and while you play. Love of learning starts here!
Cirque du Soleil Alegría
Opens January 18 • Under the Big Top at Redmond’s Marymoor Park cirquedusoleil.com/alegria
Don’t miss the family pack off er with up to 30% off tickets. A Cirque du Soleil show experience makes for a memorable Christmas gift. Beloved by fans around the world, Alegría is returning to the Big Top once more to share its timeless story of resilience and hope. The classic power struggle of old-meets-new has been reinterpreted through today’s lens. Carried by an intangible wind of change, an emerging movement strives to shake the established order, instilling hope and renewal to bring light and harmony to their world. With its joyful spirit, Alegría is a vital, energizing force driven by a thirst for a brighter world.
Robot vs Sloth
1535 1st Ave., Seattle robotvsloth.com
Located in Pike Place Market, Robot vs Sloth features art and gifts by 40 (mostly local) artists. A variety of “awww”-inspiring art is sold on vinyl stickers, washi tape, socks, ornaments, enamel pins, greeting cards, clothing and more! This Sloth and Unicorn T-shirt is available in youth, toddler, baby and adult sizes. Designed by Seattle artist La Ru, and screen-printed locally by Gorilla Screen Printing on a super soft tee. Shop online and in-store at Robot vs Sloth.
Chrysanthemum
Located in the heart of Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood, Chrysanthemum off ers aff ordable, gently used kids’ clothing, shoes, and toys, plus new, ethically produced clothing and toys. Give secondhand from a large selection of vintage and gently used resale items, or explore new gift options from high-quality brands. This shop has something for all ages: open-ended wooden toys, art supplies, science kits, baby must-haves, and a large curated selection of new puzzles and books. There is treasure in every corner!
