Last minute cheer

A procrastinator’s guide to holiday gift-giving

With the craziest gift-giving days of the year inching closer, it’s probably time to think about a shopping list. If joyless holiday spending at a big box chain doesn’t exactly scream ‘peace on earth’ to you, consider shopping from one of these local retailers instead. 

For the proud Okie
Dwelling Spaces | 119 S. Detroit Ave. 

If you’re in a hurry, grab one of Dwelling Spaces’ pre-made Okie grown gift baskets, featuring Joebot’s coffee, sasquatch coffee mugs, Tulsa Driller Christmas ornaments, gift cards, greeting cards, koozies, and more. 

If you’ve got some time to spend, scour the racks for the perfect find. Consider the Hard-Boiled Christmas Stories collection, edited by John Wooley and John McMahan, the newest vinyl releases from Nuns, Jacob Tovar and the Saddle Tramps, and other local acts, greeting cards by Cloudless Lens Photography featuring original prints from Rhys Martin, or the cutest Christmas ornament that ever lived: a sparkly cake donut on a string. Shopping for a kiddo? Cuddle Monsters sewn by Ashley Carver and some handmade crayons should do the trick.  

For the Sassafrass
Snow Goose | 1814 Utica Square   

The ample inappropriate finds at this Utica Square gift shop are enough to keep you browsing (and snickering under your breath) for days. Whether searching for the perfect dirty Santa gift for your office crush or a fake lump of coal for your asshole nephew, Snow Goose probably has it. 

Personal favorites include the timeless dinosaur-themed children’s book classic All My Friends are Still Dead, the tiny baby hands featured on Kristin Wiig’s character from the Lawrence Welk Show SNL sketch, a buoyant log of fake poop, and a desk tag for your boss that reads “Mr. Wonderful.” 

For the Artist
Arts Alliance Tulsa | artstulsa.org

The Tulsa Arts Sampler is made up of bundled tickets to local art exhibits, performances, and galleries, chosen at random and sold at a discounted price. Arts Alliance Tulsa’s 39 member organizations make up the offerings, and 100% of all proceeds go toward supporting them.

But what’s in a sampler? Think “A Chorus Line,” “Shrek,” the Tulsa Botanical Gardens, “The Nutcracker,” the “In Living Color” exhibition at Philbrook, the Woody Guthrie Center, and more. Choose your own adventure from three different package levels. Packages start at $60 per ticket.  

For the Former Athlete
Curiozity (Oz) | 2629 E. 15th Street 

If the glory days have come and gone for the giftee, consider gifting your ex-MVP with a new hobby. Curiozity can accommodate several interpretations on this front, but the best might just be the gift of disc golf. All it really takes is a quality putter, a mid-range, and a driver—about twelve bucks each. 

Not sure where to begin? Ask Forrest for help navigating the selection. 

For the Vintage Vixen
The Threaded Fox | #101c, 501 S. Boston Ave

Retro-inspired looks line the walls at this teensy weensy women's boutique in the Philcade building, a great place to shop for the stylish lady in your life. A holly green Doe & Rae dress begs to be merched up with gold jewelry, while a little red number by the same brand fits like a glove when taken out for a romantic Christmas light stroll in the ritzy part of town. Want something less froufrou? Grab a printed scarf before they run out. 

For the Vinyl Snob
Swing Set Discotique Vintage Records | Chickaskia@aol.com 
Holy Mountain Music & Oddities | 1416 E. 11th St.

Curtis Beckwith has been dealing rare vinyl, vintage clothing, magazines, and stereo equipment since 1999, and has amassed a diverse collection of more than 80,000 records over the years. A building in Sedan, KS houses his vast inventory, but his local stash is available for browsing at the Saturday Flea Market, and now and again at Guthrie Green. Email him to arrange a browsing session, a delivery, or a killer gift recommendation (“Music to Play in the Dark” by Bianchi & The Jungle is one of his favorites).  

For the metalhead in your life, Holy Mountain is a must. Specializing in punk, heavy metal and indie rock, this Pearl district gem is an analog purist’s dream. In addition to a motley selection of vinyl, Holy Mountain offers a treasure trove of new and vintage ‘zines and paperbacks. 

For the Cocktail Connoisseur 
Ranch Acres Liquor Store | 3324 E. 31st Street
Parkhill Liquors & Wine | 5111 S Lewis Ave

Booze is a tried-and-true holiday gift, but which form will make for the merriest gift exchange? For the budding sommelier, Vintage 1740 bartender Blake Engleman suggests Grower’s Champagne (or “Farmer Fizz,” as it’s affectionately called) or a nice Beaujolais. For the best selection, head to Ranch Acres.

But if wine isn’t the answer, consider gifting a bartender’s starter set: a tempered mixing glass, a Boston tin and shaker, a Hawthorne strainer, a long stirring spoon, and jiggers of varying sizes. For elixirs, start with a gin, a sweet vermouth, a whiskey, white rum, and bitters—Parkhill usually has a nice selection. 

For the Strong, Silent Type
This Land Press | ThisLandPress.com
The Frontier | ReadFrontier.com

Tulsa’s critically acclaimed This Land Press features quarterly issues of “aggressive and compelling journalism,” from local and national writers, as well as fiction, photography, poetry and art. Having transitioned from their broadsheet model last year, This Land’s new bound compilation is a holy grail of some of Middle America’s finest creative storytelling. You can pick up individual issues at newsstands around town, and annual subscriptions start at $50.

Is your wordsmith more news junkie than poet? Consider subscribing to The Frontier, a new digital media start-up published by Bobby Lorton (of Tulsa World lineage) and led by some of Tulsa’s most decorated and intrepid journalists. The Frontier aims to deliver quality investigative reporting without the buttress of advertising. The result is fair, high-quality storytelling that readers actually want to pay for. Take care of that last part and give the publication as a gift. Subscriptions start at $30 per month. 

For the Grumpy Old Man
The Gadget Store | 104 E. 15th Street

Need something for the 65-year-old man (or 65-year-old man at heart) in your life? Head to The Gadget Store and ask their resident Grumpy Old Man, Rich Rich, for a recommendation. He suggests the super bright Nebo Twyst 3-in-1 Flashlight Lantern, boasting a light power of 110 lumens, and a 250-Lumen lantern, or the big Larry 400-Lumen flashlight. Both are perfect for power outages, finding stuff in the garage, and tinkerin’ around under the sink.   

For something Oklahoma-made, go with a Stout Gear hunting knife, handmade by a group of homesteaders at Lake Oologah. Made up of quality 35VN steel, the blade is engraved with the Oklahoma state flag’s Osage battle shield and the words ‘Oklahoma Made.’ The nine-inch knife is priced at $349, but Stout Gear offers several other models, as well. If you want to personalize it, Rich suggests having it engraved with your Grumpy Old Man’s name, initials, or motto.

For more from Megan, read her review of Millicent Brasserie.