Cary Holiday Gift Guide 2014
Cary, NC — Just in time for Small Business Saturday, here’s our 2014 Cary Holiday Gift Guide. Get service with a smile, give back to the local economy and forget those big box stores.
Small Business Saturday
Celebrate the season by shopping with our locally owned retailers in Cary. Here’s why it makes sense to do so:
Civic Economics analyzed data from fifteen independent retailers and seven independent restaurants…and found that the local retailers return a total of 52 percent of their revenue to the local economy, compared to just 14 percent for the national chain retailers.
In this story, we focus on some of our favorite locally owned shops in Cary. If you can’t make it out this coming Saturday, give them a try during the holiday season and beyond. You’ll be glad you did.
New-Fangled Toys
It wouldn’t be the holiday season if we didn’t talk about toys. In Cary, we are lucky to have two independently owned toy stores–Science Safari in Saltbox Village and Brilliant Sky in Stone Creek. They have very different vibes.
In Science Safari, you will find toys for the curious scientist and adventurer. At Brilliant Sky, you are welcomed with high quality toys reminiscent of yesteryear. Both provide quality products at reasonable prices.
This device can be controlled by a smart phone to make your paper airplane fly
Tattoos Alive create 3D images after they are applied to skin
Make Christmas morning thrilling with Tattoos Alive temporary tattoos (available at Science Safari for $5.95 each). After application, these tattoos jump to 3D and “move.”
Have a budding engineer? Try the Power-Up Plane ($59.95) that adds a bit of real power to those paper airplanes and, better yet, can be controlled with your smart phone. Science Safari also stocks some toys from local makers like Fun Lights, a temporary chalk hair dye.
At Brilliant Sky, there’s a Gyrobot ($53.99) that looks especially cool for hours of holiday fun. And for the more traditional, well-loved gifts, look for Thomas the Tank Engine, Corolle baby dolls ($44.99), and the new Lottie dolls that look more like real girls and are priced at just $21.99.
Lottie Dolls have realistic proportions
Everybody loves robots. This one combines robotics with gyroscope technology.
Man Cave / Dorm Fun
This variation on darts (also available at Science Safari) is the perfect addition to Dad’s man cave or to a college kid’s dorm room for entertainment. The Ring Toss ($10-$30) can be mounted to a stud in the wall inside or outside.
A game fit for the man-cave or dorm room
Do you have school spirit? Get a framed monogram of your school’s name ($39.95) from The Perfect Piece In Downtown Cary.
High School and College initials are framed at The Perfect Piece
The House Gift
This is the newest color that potter Kenneth Neilson has added at Cary Pottery
Many Cary residents own second homes at the Beach. Cary Pottery in Downtown has recently developed a new glaze called Sea Spray. The many pieces of this collection, including vases and mugs, would make great gifts for a beach house owner (priced $10-$30 for most).
Stuffed cat door stopper pillows from Elizabeth’s Home and Garden
Cary has several stores with great house gifts, including Elizabeth’s Home and Garden, Garden Supply, Whisk and The Perfect Piece. Know a cat-lover? At Elizabeth’s, we found these adorable stuffed cats that can be used both as pillows and as unique tromp ‘l’oeil door stoppers ($39).
Nespresso makes several sizes of coffee makers. This one, located at Whisk, is ideal for an office or first apartment.
Whisk in Waverly Place has every kitchen tool that a cook could ever want. They carry Nespresso coffee makers–trendy machines that use pods and can be programmed for pressure and volume to make a perfect cup of espresso or a latte.
At $99, the Nespresso pictured above is priced at a great value for a pod-type maker. Prices range up to $349 for the all-in-one machine that includes an electric frother.
For The Chef
Mason Cash bowls and bread forms are wonderful for the cook you know
You can find beautiful serving pieces for your chef friend at Whisk. The Mason Cash bowls and bread forms range from $16.99-$38.99 and sport a beautiful glaze with interesting patterns.
Is your friend or family member a real cook? How about buying them the time-saving tool of a Fagor 3-in-one electric cooker ($129) pictured below? It is a rice cooker, a pressure cooker and a slow cooker all-in-one.
A 3-way cooker takes care of rice, pressure cooking and slow cooking in one device
The Hostess Gift
How many times are you invited to a party and need to pick up a quick gift to take with you? These local retailers have some great ideas that won’t break the bank.
This Vom Fass gift set includes both a balsamic vinegar and an infused extra virgin olive oil
Vom Fass, which opened this summer in Waverly Place, has a wide range of flavored oils and vinegars. The shop is very happy to make gift baskets and also has some pre-packaged (like the one pictured above) for your quick gifts ranging in price from $15 to $50. Any hostess would be happy to receive something this special that she probably would not think to buy for herself.
These fun Tea Towels are sold at Made in Stone Creek Village
Have a friend who cooks and has a wacky sense of humor? These tea towels ($13.50) from Made in Stone Creek Village will give them a laugh every time they use them in the kitchen.
The coasters pictured below depict many fun restaurants and shops in the area. They are sold individually at Whisk, so you can make your own sets.
Coasters are specially made for Whisk with Cary familiar icons.
For the Girls
When you don’t know what to get a niece, mother, or friend, jewelry is always a safe bet. Size is never an issue, and many women don’t think to buy jewelry for themselves. It’s a welcome gift.
Several Downtown Cary shops now carry a selection of jewelry, including Paisley, A Perfect Piece, The Purple Polka Dot, and Elizabeth’s. In Stone Creek, look to Made, Scout & Molly’s and Pink Alli.
Lilly and Laura bracelets at Pink Alli are perfect for mixing and matching
We love Lilly and Laura bracelets, found locally at Pink Alli. Why buy one for $12 when you can get three for $30? It’s an easy way for young girls to buy their friends an affordable gift, too.
If your daughter or friend is obsessed with monograms, check out the Purple Polka Dot. They have carried “Moon and Lola” for ages and are known for their acrylic monogrammed necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
Most items range from $38 for a key chain on up to $78 for a more elaborate necklace. But beware, you need to allow at least 4 weeks to place an order during the holidays!
Monograms for earrings, necklaces, or a key chain like this one, allow at least 4 weeks to order.
No time to wait for an order to ship? Try these gold or silver charm bracelets and necklaces with initials. Most letters are usually in stock and are a steal at less than $30 each.
Pressed for time? Initial bracelets are usually in stock at Purple Polka Dot
Rocks and geodes are all the rage this season. Look to Paisley’s necklaces on long chains, made by a local maker in Raleigh, and Purple Polka Dot’s bracelets from Bourbon and Bowles ($28-$32). They can be worn grouped or by themselves.
Bourbon and Bowles bracelets incorporate real semi precious stones and gold wire
Cary’s Newest retailer, Paisley in Downtown, carries locally made jewelry like these crystal necklaces $50-$70
For the Sporty
Cary is known as a town that likes to bike and run, and there are several independent retailers here that cater to sports enthusiasts. Why go to a big box when you can get personalized attention at Omega Sports, Cycling Spoken Here, The Bicycle Chain, and Inside Out Sports?
If you know a runner, you know that a little cold weather doesn’t stop them from exercising. Why not gift them Northface’s newest lightweight quilted down zipfront jacket (from Omega at $99)? Or a pair of patterned leggings ($45-60)? Know a techie athlete?
How about the Vivo (similar to FitBit), available in colors for men and women at $99?
Vivo is a wristband that tracks your steps and workouts
Light weight quilted down jacket great for those cold work out mornings
Inside Out Sports focuses on triathlon trainers, and this time of year there are plenty of tech tools to keep runners safe as our daylight diminishes. Bandelier vests keep runners visible to motorists at $24.99, and Pulsar Strobe lights strap on hats or handle bars for only $9.99.
The store also stocks plenty of lightweight running jackets that stop the wind and actually warm up as you begin to perspire. These tops and jackets run $69-$89.
With less daylight in winter, bikers and runners keep safe with a strobe light
Stone Creek Village has a store called Love All that specializes in the popular sport of tennis that has gift items and workout gear as well. Their tennis bags are always a great gift, and there’s a price for every budget ranging from $56-$148.
The store says folks come in for “Captain’s gifts” when teammates look to buy gifts for each other. We found a tennis wine stopper for $12 and a tennis racket necklace that fit the bill at $24.
Love All Tennis has this cute tennis necklace for your court star
Shop Local
You can find unique gifts right here in Cary for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Save yourself the trip to the mall and keep more of your retail dollar right here in town this season.
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CaryCitizen is grateful this Thanksgiving for the support of Waverly, Great Harvest Bread Cary, Rally Point, Vom Fass, Academy Street Bistro, Elizabeth’s Home & Garden, Whisk and Chatham Hill Winery.
