by Kelly Pollock, feature writer Buzz Cafe
Holiday shopping opportunities abound in the Oak Park Arts District. Stocked shelves, holiday events, and rotating discounts are making Harrison Street the place to be this December.
At Elevate Hair and Beauty Boutique (321 Harrison Street), you can purchase a bath bomb gift set ($50) to treat someone special or shop their Jingle & Mingle event on Friday, December 13 from 6pm-9pm. There will be drinks, snacks, and special holiday sales.
Still marveling at the last minute good fortune that is keeping the doors open, Val’s halla Records (239 Harrison Street) is offering a holiday bundle to “get you into vinyl.” For $149, customers can buy an Audio-Technica turntable with headphones (model AT-LP60XHP) that comes with a $30 Val’s gift card which covers the price of just about any album in the store.
Love pie? The Happy Apple Pie Shop (226 Harrison Street) is offering a gift card special: Buy $100 of gift cards (any denominations) and get a $20 gift card that can be used January through March. Whole pies, slices, and mini pies are available in three flavors each week.
The Brown Elephant (217 Harrison Street) is decked out for the season and has everything you need for your holiday table including a set of four colorful champagne flutes for $12. And if you still need ornaments, check out their decorated trees for inspiration where nothing is priced higher than $5.
Looking for the perfect hostess gift? Rare Bird Preserves (211 Harrison Street) sells a three-jar box set ($34-$40) of their locally-made products. Mix and match their classic preserves and signature curds in flavors like strawberry rhubarb and passion fruit. They are sure to satisfy the foodie on your list.
Bead in Hand (145 Harrison Street) is hosting a staff jewelry show on December 13 from 10am-6pm and December 14 from 10am-5pm. If you’d rather make something yourself, then drop in on December 6 or 20 from 2pm-5pm or December 7 or 21 from 1pm-4pm to create snowflake ornaments. Three sizes are available and are priced at $6, $12, and $15. Bring the kids and delight the grandparents with these holiday ornaments.
Celebrate the season at Studio 144 (144 Harrison Street) with “The Twelve Days of Christmas” promotion that runs from December 13-24. Check Facebook for the deal of the day. Candles are a popular gift and you can get two for $25 (regularly $20 each) throughout December. For the child in your life, celebrate Disney’s Frozen II with a singing Anna, Elsa, or Olaf doll ($39.99 each).
Jake’s Place Books (142 Harrison Street) is offering rotating discounts every week in December and has several books by local authors available. Consider the graphic novel Rusty Brown by Chris Ware ($26), the fill-in journal Read Your Partner Like a Book: Everything You Should Know…But Never Thought to Ask by Rob Elder ($12), or the newly-released The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg ($22). They have something for every bibliophile.
Shopping for mom and baby? The Birth Boutique (128 Harrison Street) stocks gifts like the adorable Noodoll plush toy ($30) and dinosaur teether with clip ($24). They are hosting a holiday shopping event on Friday, December 13 from 5pm-8pm. Stop by for wine, nibbles, and shopping from local vendors.
Shop the Oak Park Arts District this holiday season. There’s something for everyone!