The Ultimate Pittsburgh Gift Guide - Holidays 2018
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Ready or not, it’s the holiday season again!
And with that, I guess it’s about time I update my Pittsburgh Holiday Gift Guide.
When I first published this guide in 2017, it took everything out of me. I spent hours ( and I mean hours) formatting/flighting with Squarespace to get it published.
But it ended up being worth it! A year later, it’s still super relevant and helpful! I don’t need to rewrite it again this year because…. well, yeah! It’s still right here.
I couldn't be more proud... and by that I mean proud of my city! We are SO lucky to live in a place with this many talented residents!
As this is a "Pittsburgh Holiday Guide," every single item on this list was either made in Pittsburgh, or specifically relates to the city (or both!)
I provided links for online ordering, but many of these items can be found in different shops across the city. If you see something you like, use the brand's website and see if they can be found in any local shops.
What’s your favorite local gift? Leave it in the comments below!
Without further ado....
My Favorite Pittsburgh Holiday Gifts - Christmas 2018
Section 1 -Trinkets:
Sapling Press
natter doodle wine bag
Tons of calligraphy/lettering items. Stationary, posters, trinkets, ect!
HarajukuThreads
onesie - garbella
photo: simple sugars
felicia - printer punch
Mugs, calligraphy prints, ect.
Check below for local coffee suggestions to pair with these mugs!
Kerf Cases
Stitchburgh Boutique
Section 2 - Experiences:
Popcraft Classes
Pop up craft classes - make something artsy with the Popcraft folks. Classes change frequently and include mosaics, reclaimed wood art, hand lettering, and much more.
21 Course Tasting Menu at The Twisted Frenchman
The Twisted Frenchman restaurant in East Liberty offers a 21-course chef's tasting menu inside of the kitchen of the restaurant.
I got my parents this experience for their 30th wedding anniversary. My parents live & breath food, attend Food Network festivals, and have been to countless Michelin Starred restaurants. They say the meal was unlike anything they have ever experienced.
This tasting menu is easily the ultimate food experience currently available in Pittsburgh.
The Twisted Frenchman. Call (412) 665-2880 for reservations.
Candle Making at The Candle Lab
Pick an empty jar (prices $16 - $31) that can later be brought into the store to make a custom candle. Choose from dozens of scents to make a completely personalized candle. Each candle can combine up to three scents.
The Candle Lab is located at 4409 Butler St.
A519 Chocolate Making
Pittsburgh's too-pretty-to-eat boutique chocolate company, A519 chocolate, offers a personalized, three hour truffle making class with their nationally acclaimed head chocolatier, Amanda Wright.
Beer Making at Copper Kettle
Copper Kettle Brewing Company offers guests the opportunity to purchase a fun, educational brewing experience. For $200, a CKB brewer will guide you through the brewing experience, bottles, caps, cases and generic labels. The experience takes 2 hours. A few months later, you'll receive 4 cases of beer.
Book a brewing experience at Copper Kettle.
Porter Tours Beer Tour
Give the gift of a beer tour around Pittsburgh. Hang out on the stylish Porter bus and get a tour of several breweries around the city.
Tech Class with HackPgh
photo: hackpgh
Hack Pgh hosts fun tech classes like "Build a LED Flashing Xmas Tree." Keep your eye on their schedule for something that interests you.
Workshop PGH DIY School
WorkshopPGH in Garfield has a consistent rotation of unique art classes including fringe jewelry, wreath making, wooden benches, and much more.
Section 3 - Food:
Canned Beers from Local Breweries
Many breweries in Pittsburgh have "can release days" where customers can purchase canned varieties of their favorite local beers. This is great for friends and relatives in and out of Pittsburgh. Many beer fans outside of the city would have no chance to try these brews otherwise. (Personal favorites include Hitchhiker and Dancing Gnome).
Sugar Bakers
photo: sugar bakeers
Chip and Kale Local Meal Delivery
photo: chip and kale
Chip and Kale meal delivery is like Blue Apron... but local and healthy. The business offers 100% plant-based gourmet food delivery. They deliver within a 20 miles radius of Downtown Pittsburgh.
A519 Chocolates
photo: a519 chocolate
A519 Chocolates can be ordered online.
Beautiful Bread from Mediterra Bakehouse
Country Hammer Moonshine
photo: country hammer moonshine
Funky flavor moonshine - Birthday Cake, Butterscotch, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Reese’s Cup, ect.
Country hammer has two locations in Pittsburgh.
Leaf & Twig Tea
photo: leaf and twig tea
Gingerbread Bar - Nathan Miller Chocolate
(Okay, yeah... this is closer to Philly... but c'mon! Gingerbread chocolate??)
Yummyholic Cookies
Order Yummyholic cookies online.
Threadbare Cider
photo: threadbare cider
Local Coffee
Pittsburgh has dozens of local coffee roasters. Check the vendor list for Rise + Shine festival for a list of Pittsburgh roasters.
Ultra Matcha
Brian Giniewski
Reiko Yamamoto
Docks from STAK Ceramics
White Swan Studio
Camp Copeland
Stoop kid creative
Red Robot Creative
Red Robot creative
Reconstructing Ideas
Ryan McCormick
Reach out to Ryan about his work.
Jen Joyce
KloRebel
Baxter and the Bear
mapsburgh
Strawberry Luna
Abbie Adams
Abbie adams
Reach out to Abbie for information on her prints, or to order a custom house portrait.
Section 5 - Jewelry:
Samantha Skelton Jewelry
Samantha Skelton has a shop on Penn Ave in Bloomfield.
Frost Finery
What section was your favorite? Please let me know in the comments below!
If you buy any of these gifts, please leave tag me in your pictures in Instagram!
