Every holiday season, I get really excited for the prospect of buying gifts for people I love. Then I remember that everyone I love is really picky, and choosing the perfect present for everyone seems a lot more challenging than fun. I do have a few guidelines I keep in mind: 1) buy local, local, local 2) the more creative, the better & 3) when in doubt, give an experience.
Here’s a list of memberships/classes/stores/fairs/other things that I think are really rad AND promote the local art & culture scene around Seattle. Happy clicking & shopping!
Memberships
Northwest Film Forum membership // Experience Music Project (EMP) Membership // MOHAI membership // SAM Membership // Henry Membership // Burke Membership
Classes
Class at Hugo House | Class example: “Being Funny”
Class at Fremont Abbey | Class example: “Self Defense”
Class at The Vera Project | Class example: “Silkscreening 101”
Class at Velocity Dance Center | Class example: “Intro to Dance Series”
Other Experiences
Bumbershoot pass // SIFF gift certificate // 5th Avenue gift certificate // Tickets to Pacific Northwest Ballet
Tangible Stuff
Earth-friendly holiday gifts from Nature Consortium
Teen poetry collection from Pongo Teen Writing
Cookbook from Hedgebrook
Books from Floating Book Press
Drop some dough on a KEXP tile & put your name on the wall at their new Seattle Center space!
Lots & lots of goodies at the Frye Museum store
Everything you need for your next space trip at Greenwood Space Travel Supply Store (826 Seattle)
Records from the Sub Pop store
Cairo‘s trendy clothing
Or, trendy clothing from new store Glasswing
Ourobouros Press has ‘esoteric books’
& Science books at Ada’s Technical Books
T-shirts & art cards from Degenerate Art Ensemble
Surprise art! from LxWxH subscription
OR, are you a tactile purchaser and want to feel and hold something before you buy it? I understand. Here’s a smattering of fairs that might sell crafts/books/goods/cute things that are worth leaving your house for.
December 7-8 | Winter Festival and Crafts Fair | Phinney Center
December 7 | Holiday Show | Pottery Northwest
December 7 | Punk Rock Flea Market | Underground Events Center
December 7-8 | Urban Craft Uprising | Seattle Center
December 6-24 | Holiday Show and Sale | Seward Park Clay Studio
December 8 | Open Studios | Inscape Arts
December 8 | Annual Rummage Sale | Photo Center NW
December 4-9 | Fashion and Beauty | Alki Arts at the Harbor Steps
December 14 | DIY Holiday Fest | The Vera Project
December 14 | Holiday Bazaar Gnar | InartsNW
December 20-21 | Indie Book Fair | A/NT Gallery
December 18-23 | That Perfect Gift | Alki Arts at the Harbor Steps
For more holiday art fairs, check out this Seattle Times guide to holiday fairs.
Alright everyone, there are so many more cool stores and shops and fairs and artists that deserve recognition & for people to buy their stuff this holiday season. Leave a suggestion in the comments, or tweet them to us at @SeaOfficeofArts and we’ll tweet our praises of your local artsy suggestions! Happy holidays! – Annie Holden
