Holiday Guide: December 2007 Archives
What's the deal?It's getting down to the wire as far as Christmas gifts go, and you need something that is easy to find and sure to please. Enter Teaposy. Part art, part tea, Teaposy takes high-quality tea and adds a little life - blooming flowers. The tea/flower misture is purchased in bulb form. When exposed to hot water, the flowers bloom inside of the glass teapot, and the tea brews like a typical sachet or loose-leaf variety. It would be easy to recommend this as a gift for tea conneseuirs, but we think anyone with a passing interest in tea would be captivated by the blooming tea process. Don't believe us? Check out the video after the jump.
What's the deal?
Don't be fooled by the ".com" name, the toys that live up to the company's name can only be found in their brick and mortar location in Milford. Sure, you can pick up airboats and hovercrafts on the store's website, but you have to visit the store for brain-teasing puzzles, racing solar-powered toy cars, spinning miniature globes powered by artificial light, and half a wall of yo-yos. "For the young and the young at heart" has been cliched into the ground, but I can think of no better phrase to describe Coolest Toys. The crowd was young and old and everything in between, and everyone had the same goofy grin as they geeked out on one thing or another.
"Everybody loves Johnny's Toys!" Oh the song still rings so lovely in my ears. When I was a kid Johnny's toys was it for me. There were many days that I wished I lived in Greenhills just so I could be within walking distance of Johnny's.
Johnny's toys is Cincinnati's only locally owned toy store chain, and what a store it is. Johnny's is a hobbyist's mecca. Train, model car, and rocket enthusiasts will find everything they are looking for at Johnny's. They also have a great bike shop. Johnny's has a fantastic toy selection as well, you are sure to find all the gifts you are looking for for the young or young at heart on your Christmas list.
You can visit Johnny's at two locations, in the Greenhills shopping center, or in Covington on Howard Litzler and Baron Drive. For Directions visit the website: www.johnnystoys.com
While on-line be sure to sign your children up for Johnny's Birthday club. Each year for their birthday your child will be given a key to the Johnny's Castle, were they can pick one free gift. Also check out Totter's Otterville Educational Entertainment Center. It's a great place for birthday parties and events.
So this Christmas skip Walmart and head to Johnny's Toys.
What's the deal?
You don't need to be Flava Flav to gift clocks during the holidays (though you do if you plan on wearing them). We spotted both of these recycled dandies at Park + Vine recently.
On the left of the picture above is a small desk clock made by a company that specializes in reusing bicycle parts, Resource Revival. This particular item was recycled from an old bike cog. Know someone who can't be separated from their wheels? This is the gift...run and get it now. To the right, we have the clock made for the geek in your life - one made from recycled computer circuit boards. That's not all the circuit board madness Park + Vine carries either. Check out the luggage tags and business card holders for a complete set of geekery. And if you don't think that's cool, obviously you're a n00b.
Perfect for?
The friend who always asks where your recycling bin is.
Where to get it?
Park + Vine
1109 Vine St.
Cincinnati, OH 45220
How much?
$22-$29
What's the deal?
In one of my favorite episodes of The Office (US), Michael Scott tries to win back lost clients through the "ultimate present that a person can receive" - a gift basket. He goes on, "Ryan wants everything in our company to be about emails and ims, but I think he is forgetting about the original instant message…letters attached to baskets of food."
There's a reason gift baskets were a perfect target for a show like The Office, they are a staple of business goodwill gestures everywhere. So, we thought we would give the cubicled among us a heads up on Cincinnati's gift basket HQ - Hyde Park Gourmet Food and Wine.
Perfect for?
Coworkers, bosses, annoying clients
Where to find it?
Gift baskets are sold online (www.hydeparkgourmet.com) or at their brick and mortar joint in Hyde Park Square.
2707 Erie Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45208
How much?
$50 to $80 for wine, cheese and chocolate heaven.
::Hyde Park Gourmet Food and Wine
It's terrible to have to lie during the holidays. Like, for instance, when you "love" yet another TGI Friday's gift card from the relatives you only see once a year. However, from the buyer's perspective, gift cards are the ultimate in holiday ease. It's better to have someone get something they really like than take a stab in the dark about their preferences - and it's easier to pick a place than a particular thing. So, this holiday season get creative with your gift cards and leave the big box certificates on the shelf. Here are some of our favorite local places offering gift cards that are sure to please:
Restaurants
Where?
Kona Bistro - 3012 Madison Road, Oakley (www.konabistro.com)
Melt - 4165 Hamilton Ave., Northside (www.meltnorthside.com)
Habanero - 358 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
Jean Robert's Greenup Cafe - 308 Greenup St., Covington (www.jeanrobertgroup.com/greenup)
Why?
Creative menus, high quality foods, cool atmospheres
Instead of?
TGI Ruby Tuesdaybees
It takes a comfortable couch, dedication, Tivo and a couple beers to coerce your significant other to watch football with you for a full 8 hours on Sunday. It probably takes a bit of stupidity to ask them to play a card game based on football right after that. Luckily, Quick Count is not only to be enjoyed by football fanatics, but - as I thankfully found out - by most anyone who puts up with them as well.
Quick Count is a new football game invented and manufactured (by US Playing Card) here in the city. The concept is simple - players take turns trying to gain yardage by playing "rush," "pass," and "catch" cards until they score. However, like any good card game, a little luck and a little strategy is needed to crush your opponent. Quick Count is interesting and involved enough that this 20-something, happily raised on TV and video games, sat down and played a card game until he lost track of time. But, the simplicity of the rules, which are written on only two playing cards, make the game easy for people of any age to pick up and start playing.
As such, this is sure to be a welcome addition to any football fan's stocking or tailgater's set-up. Get it at:
Metronation, 1213 Vine St., Cincinnati
King Arthur's Court, 3040 Madison Rd., Cincinnati
The Blue Marble, 1356 South Fort Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas
Just to name a few, or you can order directly from:
How would you like to find a great gift for someone you love and do some good for the community as well? You can do it this week at the St. Francis Seraph Sarah Center.
What's the deal?
The Sarah Center is an outreach organization of St. Francis Seraph Ministries in Over the Rhine. The Sarah Center encourages families in OTR to use the talents they have to build a better life for themselves. People from the area participate in programs that teach them how to create jewelry as a marketable skill. Designers create one of a kind designs using glass beads and semi-precious stones. These pieces are then sold at the Sarah Center with 60% of proceeds of the sale going to the designers. The other 40% goes to materials and rental of booth spaces.
When is it?
Thursday December 6th through Saturday the 8th from 9 am to 5 pm.
Where can you find it?
The Sarah Center is located at 1618 Vine Street.
For further information call 651-1532
Stop by this week, get a great gift and support a great cause!
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