We Love Local!

by Trista Arney

Is that Christmas gift list starting to look a little overwhelming? Why not support some local businesses this year? Read on for a current round-up of local holiday gift favorites for kids and parents! 

Pie Cloud: This small business creates savory and sweet pies from scratch with the best ingredients. I have never had a pie there I didn’t like! A Pie Cloud creation makes a great host gift if you are gathering with your cohort over the holiday season, a fun treat to leave on a friend’s or relative’s doorstep, or a delicious addition to any dinner. Pie Cloud has two great locations to serve you: Marda Loop and their new location in the Calgary Farmers’ Market! For more information, visit piecloud.ca.

Kent of Inglewood: Located in Inglewood, this unique shop is completely focused on men’s skin care and shaving needs. They offer safety and straight razors, as well as shaving creams and beard-care products. Facial care needs attention now more than ever with face-mask use, so it is a great time to visit Kent of Inglewood for yourself or someone you love. They have social distancing in-store shopping and a robust online store presence. For more information, visit kentofinglewood.com.

Calgary Reads Book Bucks: Calgary Reads is an amazing local charitable organization that helps bring children the magic of reading. The cornerstone of their fundraising efforts is the annual Big Book Sale, which was postponed this year due to the pandemic. Support a local charity and foster a love of reading by purchasing Book Bucks for any member of the family!  These digital gift cards can be used at the next Big Book Sale and are purchasable in any denomination. For more information, calgaryreads.com/bookbucks.

Burwood Distillery: This local distillery offers a range of products for the adults in your life. Burwood offers a variety of spirits and mixed beverages, including a vodka soda quite similar to this year’s smash hit, White Claw, as well as Kombucha Cocktails. For a more practical gift, you can also purchase hand sanitizer and refills or a gift certificate to their restaurant. For more information, visit burwooddistillery.ca.

Villages Calgary: Support a local business and global free trade at Villages Calgary. You can find ideas for nearly anyone on your shopping list, from toys and books for the kids to housewares and décor for the adults in your life. My favorite purchase here was a bread warmer basket purchased for my mother-in-law; a practical gift that gets a lot of use! For more information, visit villagescalgary.ca.

Monkeyshines Childrens Books: If you have a reader in your family like I do, Monkeyshines is a wonderful place to shop. Located in Marda Loop, they are Calgary’s only bookstore dedicated to kids. They carry books, toys, trinkets, and more. Their store is a magical place to visit and they offer special orders if what you are looking for is not in stock. For more information, visit monkeyshinesbooks.com.

Castle Toys: Located near CF Chinook Centre, this toy store has been locally owned for over 30 years. Castle Toys carries top brands like LEGO®, MAGFORMERS®, PLAYMOBIL®, and more. They also carry harder-to-find brands like ORCHARD TOYS, PIGGY PAINT – Natural as Mud®, and MECCANO®. Their selection is varied but in-depth with an expansive collection of board games, science kits, and craft sets! I have never found such a large selection of Melissa & Doug® items in any other local store, or even on Amazon! For more information, visit castletoys.ca. 

Metal Galaxy Social Games & Bistro: If your child is interested in any of the collectible card games like Pokémon™, Yu-Gi-Oh!, or Magic: The Gathering, this locally-owned gaming café can help you out. You can purchase sealed cards, individual special cards, or pre-built decks. As an added bonus, the friendly staff are always happy to help teach your child (or you) how to play the game. Metal Galaxy is also a family-friendly board game café with no cover charge or hourly rate. Events, tutorials, and the Board Game library are currently unavailable due to current health precautions (hoping it will be available again soon!). For more information, visit metal-galaxy.com.

CAKEify Studio: All the fun of baking and decorating with the kids, without the prep work!  CAKEify Studio has lots of different DIY kits, from simple to stunning. Decorate cookies, cake pops, or full cakes by following their DIY videos. Your kit includes the baked goods and all the decorating gear you will need including buttercream, fondant, sprinkles, and more – depending on the design you choose. Many of their DIY kits have vegan or gluten-free options available. For more information, visit cakeifystudio.com/shop. 

Hippo Hug: A locally founded and owned company, Hippo Hug was built on a passion for helping people! Weighted blankets can have benefits for people of all ages with a variety of conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, ADHD, insomnia, menopause, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. Hippo Hug also offers crash mats, sensory products, and cotton face masks. For more information, visit hippohug.ca.

Yummy Co. Retro Candy Shoppe: This locally-owned business has remained open at the Crossroads Market, but they also understand that not all customers wish to shop in person right now, so they have added curbside services and delivery! The staff at Yummy Co. are available by phone to help you customize a treat box or you can browse their large selection of treats online for you or someone you love. They even have a selection of sugar-free candy, as well as imported British sweets. For more information, visit yummyco.com. 

Fire Escape® Pottery Painting and Ceramic Arts Studio: Let your creativity flow, even if you are staying home with a Studio in a Box! Fire Escape® offers a package where you can pick your favorite pottery pieces to customize and they will loan you the paint brushes, palettes, paint, and tools. When you return the painted pieces, they will fire them in their kiln for you. For more information, visit fireescape.com/cpr-kit. 

Hello Freckles!™: Created by a local Calgary mom, Hello Freckles!™ is a small business focused on fun, colorful, and high-quality hair accessories. Find hair bows, scrunchies, headbands, and more. They also sell bowties and face masks! Local pickup is available in Calgary or there are shipping options if you would like to send something special to family. For more information, visit hellofreckles.ca.

Crochetty Rose: Handmade locally in Calgary, Crochetty Rose offers a variety of hand crocheted items. Find the perfect stuffed toy, including some based on popular characters, warm wearables, home décor items, and spa-quality bath accessories. I particularly love their play food collection, perfect to inspire imaginative play! For more information, visit crochettyrose.ca.

Trista is a stay-at-home mom and loves to share her discoveries about how to make life in Calgary work for families of all kinds.