The 2023 Yinzer Holiday Gift Guide!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Let’s frolic in a yard full of leaves while wearing giant scarves and carrying PSLs in celebration of my World Famous Internationally Best Selling Award Winning* Annual Yinzer Holiday Gift Guide! Scroll to the end for the fine print that is not any smaller than the regular print.
It is extensive and if you’re reading this in your email box, your email provider will cut it off so you’ll need to click a link at the end to see the whole thing. Happy shopping, my yinz. As I say to my teens when they roll their eyes at me … Mama loves you!
*Literally none of that is true, except in my head because that’s where the voices live. Also, I believe this is the 14th year for this list. Wow!
8-Bit Pittsburgh Monster Rocks Glass 11 oz.
$18 each
And right off the bat I am SCREAMING like an Oneil Cruz rocket to the Allegheny River (once again, why am I not a sports writer?). Look at these absolutely perfect 11-ounce rocks glasses featuring 8-bit versions of Pittsburgh and her monsters as dreamed up by Alternate Histories, a Pittsburgh company that creates … well … alternate histories! I have the best words. These are perfect to pair with your favorite locally made wine or spirit for the imbiber in your life, or for your favorite gamer who could use them to hold paper clips or whatnot. Honestly, anyone would love to receive one or two of these.
Eden’s Farm bracelets benefiting local survivors of human trafficking
$24 - $32 each
Here’s a gift that does some bonus good with your money! Eden’s Farm is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit providing services to survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. They do this via a residential program, support groups, drop-in care and more. They have an online shop that includes these really soothing, beautiful bracelets, both bearing their logo. The Matte Rose Gold bracelet is made with matte pink and zebra stones along with a rose gold beaded strand and a small logo charm. I love it so much. The hand-stamped Eden’s Farm bracelet is the work of local metalsmith Bethany Lauster and comes in three metals (brass, copper and aluminum); the proceeds of this bracelet are used toward their efforts to employ survivors.
Pittsburgh-themed vintage paper collage prints and notecards
($13/5-pack notecards or $20-30/print)
Do you know how much I have to love something to put an item on this list from freaking OHIO?? Or as my dad and classic OG yinzers all over the world call it … ah-hi-ya. I’d have to love it a serious bunch and, internet, I love this a serious bunch. Look at these Pittsburgh-themed collages made from cut vintage papers and then offered as prints by the paper artist at Papercutz. I take exception to the fact that Pittsburgh and Philly are categorized as the “Pittsburgh/Philadelphia Area,” because that is like saying the “Los Angeles/Portland Area” or the “diamond/actual shit area.” But the art is too good for me not to share! I love them all and zooming in to see the papers she used is quite fun. Buy a print or greeting card for the ex-pat in your life that would love to display their Pittsburgh devotion in such a neat way. I’m in love with her Pierogi Race print because Jalapeño Hannah is like, “Bitch, I have arrived,” while Sauerkraut Saul is basically flipping everyone off. The reason for the season!
Sister Epic leather-detailed beanies
$15 - $22
I adore this entire store, especially their necklaces, clutch bags and their soothing green Matcha line. Sister Epic, a local maker, focuses on leather crafting, and these 12-inch cuffed beanies accented with patches of the shop’s leather scraps are an affordable surefire gift for all the genders of humans who need warm noggins during the interminable winters.
Decoden Kawaii Do-It-Yourself Hair Clip Kits
$16.78 - $20
Eeeeeeeeeeee. Did you know there’s a local shop completely dedicated to Kawaii accessories and goodies with a slew of the cutest creations you’ve ever seen? Kawaii is a hella popular trend right now with the youths (“the two yutes”). Check out the whole CandyWrap Island shop for adorable hair clips and claws, brushes, phone cases, contact lens cases and more which are all locally made with cream clay (decoden). The two gift kits linked above are especially great for a unique craft to pass some time over winter break. The kits come with everything needed to create four to six hair clips. In addition, check out the shop’s mystery surprise box which includes 11 adorable Kawaii items in each. The entire shop is quite affordable, so grab a bunch of cute things and spread the adorableness around.
Bonebox gaming card boxes/set
$49.99 - $79.99
Many of you are looking at this picture and asking, “What is all of this?” while others are lustily imagining your Magic: The Gathering, D&D, or other game cards living inside of that box. Pittsburgh, meet local company Bonebox Games, creator of gaming card boxes, play mats and dice. This is the gift especially good for the tabletop role-playing gamer in your life and you already know who that is, I can tell. My daughter would love to keep her Pokemon cards in one of these boxes. If you upgrade to the set, you get the very cool dice and bag and other goodies. I’m sad to see their stunning Porcelain version is now sold out, so jump on their original box while you can!
Lovett Sundries Sustainable personal care shaving products
$8 - $18 each
Lovett Sundries is adorable, works hard, cares about the environment and their products, and has a brick and mortar in Wilkinsburg on Penn. They carry a line of personal and household care items and one thing you won’t find in their shop? Plastic. You could use their shop to put together packages for pretty much anyone of any gender as they carry skin care products including soaps, lip and tattoo balms, lotions, hair care products, and sustainable cleaning/household products. You can also choose your scents from things like evergreen, rosemary peppermint, orange blossom, unscented, etc. Grab some products and toss them in a basket and you’ve got a perfect locally made sustainable gift! I especially think their shaving line would be a great pampering self-care gift.
Sarris Candies chocolate advent calendar
$19.95
Put down the cheap crappy advent calendar with chocolate of questionable origin from the big store, and grab this locally made advent calendar from the famed Sarris Candies featuring an adorable winter scene of their flagship store in Canonsburg. Perfect gift for kids or anyone of any age who would love such a delicious way to count down the days to PRESENTS!
Earthenware Catch All Trays from Jenna Vanden Brink Ceramics
I own one of the smaller version of these soothing catch-all trays by local maker Jenna Vanden Brink thanks to a friend who gifted me one last year for the holidays. Its purpose in my life? It sits on my nightstand and is where I place my hearing aids each night before I get into bed and let blessed silence find my mostly dead ears. But whoever you buy a tray for will find a myriad of uses for them. Spoon rest, jewelry catch all, desktop paper clip holder, key tray near the front door, a tray to rest toothpick-speared olives on at the bar cart, etc. The possibilities are endless and when you tell them it’s locally made, it will become all the more treasured and used. As you can see from the pics, the small tray nests nicely into the medium tray, if you want a bigger two-item gift. The shop was just recently restocked, but items often sell out, so grab what you want while it’s available!
Stud and hoop earrings from Perfect Melange Jewelry
$40 and up
I’m personally a stud earring wearer but I WANT to be a hoop or dangling earring wearer and I’m feeling like the minimalist gold Naked Lucy earrings by local company Perfect Melange could be where I start as they’re kind of both a hoop and a dangle! Regardless of which type of earrings the person in your life wears, you’ll find something that fits their style in this shop. I’ve put my favorite three up there and they really are so soothing and gorgeous, right?
Boyd & Blair Bottled Craft Cocktails
$22.89 and up
How did I not know about this?! A local distillery that has an entire award-winning line of already mixed and bottled cocktails! Based in Glenshaw, Boyd & Blair are makers of potato vodka, rum and handcrafted cocktails with an emphasis on the best ingredients, locally sourced when possible. The flavors of their bottled cocktails include grapefruit mule, espresso martini, lavender martini, chai tea mule, pomegranate codder, daiquiri, Keystone tea, and blood orange cosmo. They also sell holiday sets and giftable flask packs. This is a great host(ess) or drinking pal gift. Just shake with ice and feel fancy as fa-la-la-la-la!
Classic Tote by Rivet Leatherworks
$295
Alright. Here’s the expensive gift on the list, but it’s so gorgeous and locally made, so on it goes! What I like about this bag, other than it being locally made, are the beautiful colors it comes in, the hooped straps, and the fact that it doesn’t have a divider or pockets. Why? Because I hate bags with a whole bunch of internal sections. I never put things back in their correct side or pocket and so when I need to find something, I’m having to fish through multiple pockets. NO THANKS. Give me zero pockets and let me find what I need inside the bag. The leather in these bags will soften and wear nicely making it the kind of classic bag a person will carry for years.
Heinz dog and cat collars
$12.95 - $17.95
These sturdy, well-made pet collars were hard to find for a while and I know this because when I posted a photo of my dogs wearing theirs, people responded that they were unable to find them in the Heinz History Center gift shop. But they are back in stock and so I had to feature them! I can say from experience that these hold up well to pet scratching and regular wear and tear. Better than other collars I’ve purchased. The shop also carries leashes and pet toys, so be sure to check them all out if you’re the kind of person who gives gifts to your pet and I am not judging you if you are. Spread the love to the furry ones. Unless you have a hairless cat and then I questioning why you spent money on a demon. KIDDING! Don’t email me.
4-1-2 sign language t-shirt by Made in PGH
$25
The perfect shirt for any Pittsburgh lover but especially the hard-of-hearing (ahem), deaf, or ASL-knowing person in your life. As an added bonus, it is both locally designed and locally printed! Can’t beat that when you’re trying to keep your dollar local. Pair it with this locally made I Love You in ASL wooden magnet by Keystone Steel for a complete ILY gift.
Pittsburgh sports humor from Pittsburgh Clothing Co.
$19.99 - $23.99
Talk about evergreen items that will never stop being true or timely! The Pittsburgh Pirates will probably never be good, so the wishful hat is perfectly hopeful no matter the year, Wayne Gretzky < Mario Lemieux forever, and Mike Tomlin will always be there on the camper mug to tell people to eff off and leave your loved one alone. They’re working, damn it! I really love the vintage line this store carries with items featuring the Pipers, Hornets, Maulers and more.
Honey spreads and honey from Bumbleberry Farms and wooden spoons/spreaders from Riverwood Trading
$13.50 and up for spreads and honey / $10 - $20 for spoons
Bumbleberry Farms is new to me as it recently relocated from rural Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh and, boy oh boy. Look at all the deliciousness they offer from their hardworking bees. Honey spreads, honey, honeycomb, candies, accessories, gift sets, subscriptions and more. If you gift these spreads or honeys to the foodie in your life, make it special by pairing it with an affordable handmade wood utensil from a company appearing on this list for the second time, the father-son woodworking team behind Riverwood Trading in Harmony, PA. The dual peanut butter jelly spoon/spreader is a small joy.
Pittsburgh Penguins Players Edition ornament by Wendell August Forge
$30
Why is this giving me emotions??? Like what in the world? But I love it so much. The way Crosby and Letang have their gloves on Malkin’s head? As Tina Belcher once said, my heart just pooped its pants. This aluminum ornament by famed local maker Wendell August Forge (which is celebrating its 100th year!) is a great gift for the Pens fan in your life who also has a Christmas tree, and because this is Pittsburgh, I feel like that’s going to be a bunch of people you know. Definitely an ornament they’ll cherish not just because it was made right here, but because of the memories it will bring up every year they put it on the tree. Let’s go, Pens!
Woman-themed Pittsburgh tees via Yinzylvania
$27.99 each
I love all of these, but obviously the Queen of the Cookie Table shirt is a personal shout-out to me. Grab one, grab four, give them out to the badass bitches in your life who know who they are and stay unapologetic about it.
Otto Finn Compact Mirrors/3-Day Pill Compact Mirrors
$25
Do you know how long I’ve wanted to put a locally made compact mirror on this list? Years! Because they make useful gifts! But my annual quests to find a local maker that fit my needs were fruitless until I found Otto Finn. Jack. Pot. Pittsburgh’s Otto Finn creates these compact mirrors and 3-day pill compact mirrors using scraps from their already repurposed Kantha blankets from which they make clothing and accessories, so your gift has a nice sustainable touch! I adore these so much and I’m so excited to include them. Grab the 3-day pill version for those who take a medication they like to have with them, or the double-mirror versions for those who could use it for the occasional teeth or makeup check.
Polish and pierogi soaps from Regent Park Naturals
$10.99 - $12
I mean … heckin’ yes? What a perfect gift for literally everyone on Polish Hill, right? These polish-themed soaps are locally made and have great reviews, which is weird considering the word CABBAGE is literally on these soaps. I particularly love the “makes every bathroom a Pittsburgh Potty” tagline on the Pierogi on a Rope soap. If your family has more Slovak roots, as many Pittsburgh families do, they’ve got a Slovakian line too! These make great stocking stuffers, or if you buy the collection, you better pair it with this “There’s ain’t no way everyone living on that hill is Polish” shirt from Pittsburgh Personified, or the mug version.
Pittsburgh ink and watercolor print by Jen Joyce
$18.50 for 8 x 10 print
This is one of the freshest and most gorgeous artist interpretations I’ve seen of downtown Pittsburgh in a long time. How soothing, unusual, but familiar! Grab this print of Jen Joyce’s original art and frame it for the Burgh-lover in your life who can add it to their office or home wall. I can especially see the minimalists adoring this print for its understated take on the Steel City.
Audra Azoury’s 2023 Pittsburgh stainless steel ornament collection
$12 - $30
Local jewelry icon Audra Azoury is back on the Yinzer Holiday Gift Guide, this year with her latest collection of stainless steel Pittsburgh ornaments, a large collection of which I’ve only shared three photos. You can pre-order her Dippy with knitted scarf ornament, or her neighborhood ornaments featuring South Side, Shady Side, Polish Hill, Deutschtown and more. They’ll ship on December 4! While you’re there, check out all her Burghy and non-Burghy themed jewelry. They’re very popular and you can find her items at lots of local stockists.
Holiday- and space-themed merch from Steel City
$10 - $62
Steel City has holiday-themed merch now! Look at the now-iconic logo all decked out in seasonal colors, and the hilarious tee that I want to wear around children in Cleveland to make them cry. I am kidding. Ish. There are other seasonal items in their store, but the four up there are my faves. Also awesome? Their space merch!
My friend recently gifted the solar system shirt to me as a reward for my year of bravery. I love it so much. Either shirt is a great local gift for the space-lover in your life, which should be everyone or … RED FLAG! Speaking of space …
La Prima Espresso Astrobotic/Moonshot Museum “One Small Sip” coffee
$20 for a one-pound bag with $1 supporting the Moonshot Museum
I always include a local coffee gift on the list and this year, I get to share a coffee that has a space theme! One Small Sip is a La Prima limited edition blend made especially in partnership with Astrobotic’s Moonshot Museum. Pair it with two adorable La Prima espresso glasses and maybe a wooden coffee scoop from Riverwood and you’ve got a complete gift for your beloved coffee/espresso drinking space nerd. Me. It’s me.
Wigenton Candle Co. candles and liquid hand soaps
$6 and up
I discovered Wigenton Candle Co. via their appearance on KDKA and had to go visit their store in person where I purchased a bunch of candles and hand soaps to test. Here’s why Wigenton stands out for me: (1) their candles are designed for those with lung issues, (2) they use wood wicks (these wood wicks do not crackle because do you know what makes wood wicks crackle? A chemical coating.), (3) the candles burn clean and are not overly powerful to the point they knock you out of the room. Their hand soaps come in sturdy glass bottles great for refills. My favorite candles are the coffee-scented Java Bliss, Vanilla Bean which was created with autistic people in mind for its scent simplicity (my autistic teen loves it), and Lone Wolf, which has hints of marine, lavender and sandalwood. For the hand soaps, I use Energized in the kitchen (citrus, agave, blood orange and grapefruit), and Date Night in the powder room (jasmine, leather and amber). If you shop online, find your scent then scroll down to see all the available products you can get in that scent. I highly recommend you pay them an in-person visit in Monroeville. They package your stuff to go really beautifully and they have a gorgeous setup for candle making workshops which would also be a great gift for your friend or family group.
The Crossbody Bag by Day Owl
$55 + 20% off with email signup
Day Owl is back! Formerly known as Thread and founded by Pittsburgher Ian Rosenberger, Day Owl shut down for a period during the high pandemic years, but has returned to the market with new products and colors. Dedicated to sustainable fabrics made from discarded plastic bottles, Day Owl has a line of bags that are great for the student or parent. It’s hard for me to adequately express how much I love their clay orange and leaf green colors. An especially great gift this year is their crossbody. People of all genders and ages are increasingly finding this style of bag useful for daily wearing. It allows for hands-free parenting, shopping, and biking when you don’t wish or need to carry a backpack full of stuff. It comes numbered and in four colors. Plus you can add a cool patch (hello, Amber Vittoria patch!). If you want it as a bigger gift, grab the slim backpack/crossbody duo set! I’d say orange backpack and navy crossbody for me. It’s all about meeeeeee! The reason for the season. Speaking of …
Nothing. Everything. by this bitch right here
$19.99/print or $9.99/e-book
What? Shut up and buy my book, jag. I say that with so much love you can’t even believe it. Perfect gift for the reader in your life who needs a story to fill their heart, make them laugh, and give them hope. Just go read the Goodreads reviews to see what people are saying. Is this an ad? Maybe! Seems like a gray area to me. If you’d like me to personalize the book for whomever you are gifting it to, bring it to the Carnegie Library event at the Squirrel Hill branch on December 6 and I’ll do that for you there! Other options are to snag already-signed copies at City Books on the North Side, the Heinz History Center in the Strip, or the Pitt bookstore in Oakland on Fifth.
And now for something completely random …
Let’s wrap the list up with a roundup of some local small stuff that you can grab without your wallet exploding in your face:
Locally made holiday cards
$4.50 and up
My three favorite locally made holiday cards of 2023 are:
Happy Holidays gingerbread incline greeting card from Finch and Flourish ($5.50 for one or $20 for a 5-pack)
Slippiest Time of the Year greeting card from Commonwealth Press ($4.50 for one or 6 for $20 with CARDPACK code at checkout)
All My Jewish Friend greeting card from Sapling Press. How I LOLed. (1 for $6 or 6 for $24)
Funny, locally made, occasionally sweary stocking stuffers
$4.95 - $20
Why so serious? Bring a smile to your favorite face with one or more of these funny local gifts that are the perfect size for dropping into a stocking. Except maybe the candle? You’ll figure it out.
Hilarious Jesus-themed stamped pencil pack by Sapling Press ($10/pack)
Pretty but sweary fabric wristlets/keychains by Pretty Darn Profane ($8)
Christmas? In this economy? embossed cash greeting card by Sapling Press ($6)
Bag of wooden spare fucks by Pip & Lola ($12)
Waterproof vinyl The Fool tarot sticker by Songbird Artistry ($4.95)
Novelty Jalapeño Hannah Prayer Candle by Happy Lil Canvases ($10)
Tiny Pittsburgh Parking Chair by Commonwealth Press ($20)
And that’s the list for 2023!
I hope you find a few things that will drive you to spend your money locally this year because our small shops only stay open if we purchase from them.
Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, joyful Kwanzaa, and blessed Festivus to all!
Let us commence the Feats of Strength.
The not-fine but still pretty hot print: 1. In an effort to ensure this list reflects the local market, included are Black, Asian, Pacific Islander, woman and LGBTQIA+ makers, owners, sellers. 2. I received NOTHING from any of these sellers. I decline all offers of free products or discounts so that you know these are my real suggestions. 3. When I felt it necessary, I confirmed with makers/sellers that they have a decent supply available to meet demand of my readers because THERE ARE DOZENS OF YOU. DOZENS! If items you have your heart set on sell out, email the makers/sellers as they’ll probably do their best to help you. 4. Get your orders in early so that you can be sure to receive the gifts on time.