Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats
from The Exceptional Foundation of West Tennessee
Don’t forget your furry friends this holiday season! Exceptional Treats are made with love by participants and staff at EFWT, a local day facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental delays. Made with all the delicious flavors pups enjoy, the treats are grain- and gluten-free. $10.
Available at Oak Hall, Millstone Market, Joseph, The Booksellers at Laurelwood, and Dazzle. efwtn.org.
Mississippi River Notepads
from Poplar Print
Designed by Memphian Jennifer Frey and printed on the German Heidelberg offset press at Peerless Printing — an 89-year-old Memphis printing company — these 100-sheet, thick-stock notepads will make a great gift for your hard-to-buy-for loved ones. The art is an old map depicting the meandering belt and alluvial flood plains of the lower Mississippi River prior to 1944. $16.
Available at Peerless Printing (2896 Walnut Grove Road, 458-8152) and poplarprint.com.
Grizz Hearts
by the Carpenter Art Garden kids
This will be the season the Grizzlies go all the way. Believe, Memphis. You can put your undying faith in Gasol and the gang on display with a Grizz Heart yard sign. These hand-painted signs are created by 13-year-old Donte Davis and the kids of the Carpenter Art Garden. The money from each sale benefits the art garden, which provides art lessons and other skills classes to kids in Binghampton. $30.
Available at Bingham & Broad (2563 Broad Avenue, 323-3008) or direct from the Carpenter Art Garden via carpenterartgarden2012@gmail.com.
Cosmosimals Wall Art
by Little Karen Art
Memphis artist Karen Mulford sees stars in living creatures. Using acrylic paint on canvas, she illustrates this via her Cosmosimals. If you’re looking to get a cosmic gift for an out-of-this-world friend, choose an animal, splatter paint color, and canvas size. $30-$60, depending on size.
Available for purchase directly from the artist via facebook.com/littlekarenart or littlekarenart.weebly.com.
Flower Crown
from Holly & Ivy
Flower crowns have become a popular fashion trend among festival-goers, but they can also liven up an outfit for special occasions or nights out. To craft these floral headdresses, Memphian Holly Writt, owner and designer at Holly & Ivy, uses high-quality silk flowers — garden roses and peonies with Queen Anne’s lace accents. They’re sure to make any woman feel like royalty. $60.
486-7544. hollyandivyfloral.com.
Lift Up!
by Mighty Souls Brass Band
Memphis’ Mighty Souls Brass Band, a rotating collective of composer-players versed in a multitude of musical traditions, isn’t a soul band, nor is it a funk band, a marching band, or a swing band. And yet, depending on where you catch them live, you’ll hear all of those influences, as well as more from around the globe, in the group’s music. Their debut album, Lift Up!, was released earlier this year.
Available at various music retailers and on CD for $14.88 at archer-records.com.
Copper Baskets
by Virginia Fisher
Memphis metal artist Virginia Fisher hand-crafts these copper baskets, which can be used as wall art or, more functionally, to hold small items in any room in the home. All are finished with a food-safe coating that preserves the colors. The Memphis-style version has a patina line that represents the Mississippi River. Starting at $60 for the 8”x8” baskets.
Available year ’round at the Metal Museum (374 Metal Museum Drive, 774-6380) and from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve at WinterArts. facebook.com/Copperbaskets.
Popcorn
from Wolf River Popcorn
You might think spicy barbecue and caramel popcorn mixed together would be an odd combination. Leave it to Memphians to bring the heat and sweet together in harmony. Wolf River Popcorn has done just that with their spicy Memphis Mix. Also available in not-as-hot Memphis Mix Mild, Classic Caramel, and Cheezy Cheddar. Comes in half-quart or quart bags, starting at $6. Gift tins available via special order online.
Available at Miss Cordelia's, Superlo (Spottswood), The Booksellers at Laurelwood, Doc's Liquors, and other select locations. wolfriverpopcorn.com.
Chocolate Silk Pie
from Frost Bake Shop
This heavenly decadent pie can soothe even the fiercest sweet tooth. The dessert masters at Frost combine butter, eggs, and the best cocoa available to make a rich, smooth filling that sits inside a flaky pastry crust. It’s topped with lightly sweetened heavy cream and grated chocolate. Share if you must (but you might not want to). 9-inch pie, $21.
394 S. Grove Park. 682-4545. frostbakeshop.com.
Buckley vs. Vidal
from The Devault-Graves Agency
Conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr. and liberal author Gore Vidal exploded onto the political scene during the presidential conventions of 1968 when they debated 11 times on ABC News. They infamously blew up at each other during their penultimate debate in Chicago. The debates have not been shown or transcribed in their entirety since the original airings. Memphis’ Devault-Graves Agency exclusively brings you the complete, uncensored transcripts. Print edition, $14.95; E-book, $9.99.
Available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. devault-gravesagency.weebly.com.
Cookbook
from the Cupboard Restaurant
Your friends and family can whip up their own delicious meat-and-two with this newly released cookbook from Charles Cavallo’s World Famous Cupboard Restaurant. Featuring customer favorites like chicken and dumplings, spaghetti gravy, and other classic Southern staples, the book will make a great gift for any home chef. $9.
1400 Union Avenue. 276-8015. thecupboardrestaurant.com.
Kettle Chips
from Nikki’s Hot A**
Memphian Nikki Schroeder (whose face you see screaming on the package) started selling her spicy, homemade season-all mix in 2011. The idea to distribute it widely came to her after having friends regularly ask to purchase bags of the “hot ass” seasoning. The name stuck. Today, she also offers kettle chips generously sprinkled with the stuff that started it all. A bag of this picante, crunchy goodness would fit nicely inside a holiday stocking. 1 oz. bags, $1; 7 oz. bags, $3.99.
Available at local groceries, restaurants, and retail outlets. nikkishotass.com.
Lucky or Strong
by Caleb Sweazy
Caleb Sweazy’s fourth studio album was recorded at Memphis’ Music+Arts Studio by producer Kevin Houston (Sid Selvidge, North Mississippi Allstars). Recorded completely live, Lucky or Strong finds Sweazy recalling bittersweet tales that cover everything from an old Model A Ford to WWI. Sweazy claims to like songs that make the listener feel happy and sad at the same time, and this collection of guitar-driven, bluesy folk rock is sure to do just that.
Available at various music retailers and on CD for $14.98 at archer-records.com.
Bow Ties
from Doggone Bow Ties
Give the men in your life the gift of style this season with a Doggone Bow Tie handmade by Memphian Courtenay Elliott. Simple, sleek, colorful, or creative — she’s got a bow tie for any guy. She’ll even refurbish an old sentimental necktie into a bow tie. $18-$55, depending on style.
Available locally at Guy’s Formal Wear (539 Perkins Extended), The Booksellers at Laurelwood, the Cotton Museum, and doggonebowties.com.
No Less Worthy
by Dorchelle T. Spence
Written by a lifelong Memphian, the young-adult novel is a brave coming-of-age story that features many recognizable Memphis institutions while focusing on the broader theme of finding one’s place in the world. A great holiday gift idea for the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends of tweens and teens who seem to already have everything they want. $12.95.
Available at Barnes & Noble and amazon.com.
Coffee
from J. Brooks
With over a decade of experience producing artisan coffees, the folks at J. Brooks melded their passion and potential to bring Memphians “the best coffee, period.” John Pitman (the “J”) is the roastmaster responsible for roasting each carefully sourced bean to perfection. The Spirit of Memphis is a medium roast, with full-bodied flavor and traces of sweetness. Starting at $10.38 for a 12 oz. bag.
Available at Miss Cordelia’s, City Market, Whole Foods, High Point Grocery, and other select grocers and retailers. jbrookscoffeeroasters.com.
Cake
from Judy Pound Cakes
Memphian Judy Douglass has been baking pound cakes her whole life. Using her mother’s recipe, she often made cakes for friends and loved ones during the holidays, and offered them as comfort food when words simply wouldn’t work. Today, you can gift them, too. 6-inch round cake, $15; 10-inch round, $35.
Available at High Point Grocery, Superlo Foods (Spottswood), Miss Cordelia’s, Pugh's Flowers (2435 Whitten Road), and judypoundcakes.com.
Grit & Grind Cuff
by Debra | Jill
This locally designed collection was created to benefit The Grizzlies Foundation — 20 percent of the proceeds from each cuff purchase goes to the organization. The etched wrist cuffs are crafted with sterling silver. The 18-diamond cuffs are available in sterling silver, rose gold, and yellow gold. This collection includes five designs for women and one for men. Starting at $260.
Available online at debrajill.com.
Hand-blown Wine Glasses
from Cooper-Young Glassworks & Gifts
If you’ve ever seen a glassblower in action, you know it’s a pretty impressive art. And resident glass artist and Cooper-Young Glassworks & Gifts owner Robert Snyder gives the art a functional, fun twist with these handmade wine glasses. To make things even more interesting, you can go with the color-changing option — the glasses magically shift shades when they’re filled with red wine. Singles, $18-$45; also available in sets.
906 South Cooper. 272-2277. youngavenueglassworks.com.
Vodka
from Pyramid Vodka
Alexander and Winston Folk grew up in the family restaurant, Folk’s Folly. There they developed their love for crafted Southern spirits. The brothers officially bottled their first batch of Pyramid Vodka in November 2014. Today, Memphians can enjoy it, too. Alexander’s favorite Pyramid cocktail is the Basil Sour: 1.5 oz. of vodka, 1 oz. simple syrup, 1 oz. fresh lemon juice, and muddled fresh basil, shaken and served over ice. 750ml bottle, $19.99-$21.99.
Available at Joe’s, The Corkscrew, Buster’s, and other local liquor stores. pyramidvodka.com.
I Love Memphis Necklace
from Pangaea Designs
Your giftees will proudly rep’ our hometown with this Memphis-made necklace. A hand-sawed, Tennessee-shaped sterling silver pendant, stamped with a heart and everyone’s favorite area code, is available on either a cable or ball chain (18” or 20” length). $53. Originally designed for former I Love Memphis blogger Kerry Crawford, this piece of jewelry allows the wearer to keep Memphis close to their heart.
Available at etsy.com/shop/PangaeaDesigns.
Mugs
by Paper & Clay Modern Handmade Ceramics
It’s tea time anytime with these beautifully simple, yet elegant handmade mugs. The Danish-inspired mugs are crafted in small batches by local designer/artist Brit McDaniel who says she makes “each piece from start to finish with these two tiny hands.” Mugs are food-safe, microwaveable, and range slightly in size but hold 12 ounces. $44.
525 North Main. 679-4352. shoppaperandclay.com.
