Everyone’s always looking for gift ideas around the holidays, so based on the things we love, the great experiences we’ve had, we present to you our…
10 recommendations for gifts this holiday season!
1. A bottle of booze or a tasting!
Beth and I often give each other a bottle of spirits. It’s a great way to re-visit an old favorite or try something new. Locally, our go-tos include Watershed‘s barrel-aged gin and bottled Old Fashioned, or Middle West Spirits‘ bourbon or wheat whiskey. Don’t forget Noble Cut, 451 Spirits, plus new offerings from High Bank Distillery and Echo Spirits. Breweries like Wolf’s Ridge Brewing are also doing special gift packs.
Or get tickets to a tasting night, like the bourbon tastings at Porch Growler, wine tastings at The Bottle Shop, or any of the Columbus 10 for $10 tastings around the city.
2. A staycation or quick overnight trip!
Give the gift of a night away, maybe to any of these three Columbus hotels. Or the Timbrook Guesthouse. Or BrewDog’s Doghouse Hotel in Canal Winchester. Or the new Moxy or Graduate hotels in Columbus. Or overnight to spots like the Wishmaker House in Bellville or the Buxton Inn in Granville. Or stay in a yurt at the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls in Logan!
3. A class!
Learn to make something together, like glassblowing at Glass Axis, everything under the sun at the Idea Foundry, brewing your own beer at North High Brewing, winemaking at the Winemaker’s Shop, cocktail classes at Denmark on High, or coffee roasting, brewing, and history at Crimson Cup’s Innovation Lab.
4. A little pampering!
Everyone loves and needs a pampering, like scheduling a stop at the Oasis Face Bar for a facial. I’ve loved partnering with Royal Rhino Club; I enjoy haircuts and beard trims from their team. You can stick around to play some pool, sip on a beer, or have a glass of bourbon. Or sign someone up for pilates or yoga classes at Movewell Studio.
5. A food subscription!
They’re the gift that keeps on giving! Sign someone up for a coffee subscription through Florin Coffee, or eggs, meats, and other locally and responsibly-raised products from farms like Copia Farm, Saddleberk, and Covey Rise Farms.
6. See a show!
Columbus is home to a lively theatre scene, with everything from musicals to classic plays, new works to touring Broadway shows to comedy nights. We really enjoyed the shows at the Nest Theatre. They offer a steady mix of sketch comedy, long- and short-form improv, improvised musicals, and even classes. We’re especially partial to the twice-monthly Anonymous shows, where they build sketches from audience secrets. The Nest has a full bar, and it makes a great pairing with dinner or drinks somewhere!
7. Something sweet!
This year we’ve really been digging into the ridiculously rich and creamy flavors of Indulgence Ice Cream, the beautiful confections of Coco Cat Bakery & Chocolates, and the bean-to-bar chocolates of Ohiyo Chocolate.
8. Plan a day trip!
One of the nicest gifts you can give someone is to make decisions for them. So give them a decision-free day by planning a quick trip! Our mantra for planning travel is Food, Park, Drink, Art. We love when a trip incorporates those four elements – just read the link above to get ideas.
Some beginning suggestions: biking, hiking, ice cream, and breweries in Yellow Springs; exploring wineries and breweries in Mansfield and Richland County; hiking, stargazing, or riding trains in Hocking Hills; arboretums, farmers markets, and breweries in Licking County; pancakes and astronauts in Wapokoneta. Boating, beer, and hot dogs in Athens.
9. An arts membership!
Another gift that lasts all year long! Buy someone a membership to the Columbus Zoo, COSI, Columbus Museum of Art and the Pizzuti Collection, Franklin Park Conservatory, the Wexner Center for the Arts.
10. A little live music!
Columbus has no shortage of intimate concert venues. Buy someone tickets and take them out to spots like CD102.5’s Big Room Bar, Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza in Worthington and their new Natalie’s Music Hall & Kitchen in Grandview, Ace of Cups, Rumba Cafe, the concert series at the McConnell Arts Center, and others.
