Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone and your family has overstayed its welcome (or vice versa), it’s onto the real fun: finding your loved ones cool and unique gifts for the holidays! If you’ve made it through Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday and you still have friends or family on your shopping list (or just want some cool stuff for yourself, we’re not judging), you’re in luck, ‘cause this right here is the Seventh Annual Submerge Holiday Gift Guide and it’s packed with tons of good stuff! We have a little something for everyone here, available everywhere from small local shops and regional creators, to stuff that we just think is awesome and is easily available online. Giving gifts feels good. Giving really great gifts feels even better, and we think all of these things would make pretty freakin’ cool gifts. So please, dive on in, and remember to try and shop local when you can!
Goldstate Pom Beanie and Socks by Timeless Thrills
Show your Sacramento pride and stay nice and warm this winter with the Goldstate Pom Beanie ($20) and Goldstate Socks ($10) from local brand Timeless Thrills. Both feature a graphic of the iconic Tower Bridge and are available at Timelessthrills.com.
iPhone Case & Camera Lens Combos from SquidCam
Sacramento-based company SquidCam wants to help you take your iPhone photography to the next level with their stylish and functional case/lens combos. For $64.95 you get the Lego-like case and four interchangeable fisheye, macro and wide angle lenses! Get individual lenses for $19.99 each and/or individual cases for $29.95. Visit Squidc.am to place an order (no shipping fee!), see all the different color options, view the SquidCam Photo Gallery and more.
Unique Local Handmade Plugs by Westcoast Wood Wear
Westcoast Wood Wear owner Steven Lovas handcrafts every pair of plugs that he sells with the highest quality wood, tools and materials right here in Sacramento. Each set is sealed with food safe, non-toxic oils and waxes. Plugs range in size and price ($15 to $80) and are available online at Westcoastwoodwear.com. Custom orders available. We’ve seen some pretty awesome bottle openers and wine stops pop up on Lovas’ Instagram page (@westcoastwoodwear), so keep an eye out!
Custom Ornaments from Local Designer Steven Colasanti
If you’re going to play it safe and get your mom an ornament for her tree, at least make sure it’s something awesome like these custom designs from local maker Steven Colasanti (@scolasanti on Instagram or Scola.me). “Thank you. It’s so unique,” she’ll say, to which you can reply, “You’re welcome, and as a matter of fact, each one is unique, so this one’s just for you, Mom.” OK maybe it won’t happen just like that, but these ornaments are super sweet and anyone would love ‘em. You can snag a pair for $20 at Display: California’s “Holladay pop up shop” (3433 Broadway, Sacramento) or get one for $12.
Hurricane Bottle Lamp at Ficklin-Wilcox
The Hurricane Bottle Lamp, available for $15 at Ficklin-Wilcox (920 20th Street, Sacramento), turns any old empty bottle of wine into something you might see in a Sunset magazine spread! Just drink a bottle of wine (twist our arms, why don’t ya?), clean it out, fill it with paraffin or lamp oil (easy to get and cheap), make sure the wick is protruding by half-an-inch and saturated, then light the wick and place the hurricane on the bottle! Boom. Super sweet glass lamp, and you got to drink while “making it.”
Fuck Everything Hoodie by Lurk Hard
Let’s face it: on some days (maybe even most days) don’t you just want to scream “Fuck Everything!” anyway? So why not let this cotton/poly fleece, hand-screenprinted in the USA hoodie from Sacramento-based company Lurk Hard say it for you? $60, available at Lurkhard.myshopify.com.
Welcome Skateboards from Sub-Versions
California’s Welcome Skateboards is truly an independent company, standing out in a sea of corporate-backed, drone-like brands with their DIY attitude, mind-bending graphics and unique board shapes. Welcome is bringing the “fun” and “weird” back into the skate world, which seems to be taking itself a little too seriously as of late. These boards are super fun to shred on and double as killer artwork for your office or apartment walls! Hit up the newly opened Sub-Versions Records & Skate Shop (2648 33rd Street, Sacramento) for a large selection of Welcome decks ($55 each). Graphics and deck sizes may vary.
Howdy Cow by Trumpette
Not only are these Howdy Cows by local brand Trumpette super-duper cute and fun for your kids to play on, they also serve as an aid to developing balance at a young age! Round up yer little ones and giddy up! $45 at Trumpette’s downtown location (2020 I Street, Sacramento) or at Trumpette.com.
Stuck on that perfect gift for your Secret Santa? Want to outdo your handmade cookie brigade from last year? Fear not, reader! Submerge has you covered with not one, not two, but nineteen unique, eclectic, (mostly) local gifts for any interest, any budget. Unique handcrafted jewelry? Check. Hottest in baby couture? Double check. Art, sports jerseys and dare we say, fish farms? Check, check, check. Peruse the list, get your shop on, and save a little room in the budget for yourself—we guarantee you’ll find some things you won’t be able to live without!
Custom Lamp featuring Local Photographer Miki Lansdowne’s Work
$23.95 – $63.95 at Lampinabox.com/miki-lansdowne
A stylish table lamp will quickly and easily add some flair to any room in the house. Rather than getting a run-of-the-mill IKEA or HomeGoods lamp that you’ll see in every other home, check out this cool option: a custom lamp featuring Sacramento-based urban exploration photographer Miki Lansdowne’s work (Sparrowandtheowl.com) wrapped around the entire lampshade! Los Angeles-based Lamp-In-A-Box is featuring many of Lansdowne’s epic photos on their lamps. Our favorite is her shot called “Explore the Keys.” Check out what other pieces would look like wrapped around a lampshade, swap out different stands and bases, click order and voila, you’ll get an awesome custom lamp in the mail to spruce up your pad, office, band room, art studio, wherever! You can even design your own lamp from scratch.
Tantris Metal Guitar Picks
$7.95 at Tantrispicks.com
This holiday season, give the gift of metal. These hand-finished, hand-polished stainless steel guitar picks from Elk Grove-based Tantris Picks are machined from surgical grade stainless steel and deliver a solid, bright attack that no other pick can. These things are perfect for rock/metal guitar players. They come in multiple badass designs like “Lucky Shot” and “Ace of Spades,” so pick up a couple pairs for the metalheads on your shopping list and maybe they’ll dedicate their next song to you!
Handmade Jewelry by Artist Susan Rabinovitz
$5 – $100 at Little Relics Boutique & Galleria (908 21st St., Sacramento)
All women love jewelry, that’s a fact. Moms, sisters, girlfriends, wives, grandmas, aunts—chances are, there are more than a few ladies on your holiday shopping list. Artist Susan Rabinovitz hand makes creative and stylish pieces of wearable art right here in Sacramento, and they range in price from very affordable (starting at just $5) to around $100. She makes cool stuff for guys, too, so visit her Midtown boutique and gallery Little Relics to see more handmade jewelry. While there, you can check out work from rotating guest artists.
Keytar Key Covers
$5.99 at Evangeline’s (113 K St., Sacramento)
It’s a common problem: too many keys on your keychain. “Which is the house key? The gold one? The silver one?” Eliminate the chances of getting keys confused with these sweet Keytar Key Covers! It’s not required, but highly suggested, to mouth your favorite guitar solo every time you open a lock with a Keytar.
Fruit- and Vegetable-Shaped Percussion Shakers
$8.25 – $14.99 at Skip’s Music (2740 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento)
They may look like real fruits and veggies, but these babies aren’t edible! They’re actually percussion shakers and they’re ready to add a hefty dose of rhythm to your next jam session. Pick some up today at Skip’s Music, where they range in price from $8.25 for the smaller ones to $14.99 for the larger ones. They sound great and, best of all, make for perfect stocking stuffers.
Skater Jenny Baby Socks
$27 for six pairs at Trumpette (2020 I St., Sacramento) or at Trumpette.com
Is it just us, or does it seem every other month like someone is announcing, “I’m having a baby!” No matter what season it is, those babies will need socks. What better to gift than these cute and stylish Skater Jenny socks from Sacramento-based luxury children’s apparel company Trumpette. They come in a six-pack of feminine colors for just $27 (for the baby boys out there, look for the Skater Johnnys).
Gucci Pinoy Snapback Hat by Official
$32 at Theofficialbrand.com
If you gift someone this sick “Gucci Pinoy” snapback hat from Sacramento-based headwear company Official, it’s like giving times two! One hundred percent of the proceeds from this hat go to the Philippine Red Cross. Official first released this design three years ago and it sold out immediately. Since a number of staff are Filipino, they were heavily affected by the recent typhoon that devastated the country, so Official decided to bring the hat back and give all the proceeds to charity. Pre-order the hat now at Theofficialbrand.com. Ships starting Dec. 12, 2013.
Black Sophisticated Ring by Compliment
$36 at Shopcompliment.com
This bold and sophisticated black ring by local brand Compliment is suited for work or play, featuring black Swarovski crystals on a silver band. Compliment founder and creative director Melissa Camilleri hand crafts jewelry, stationery, and “gifts for the spirit” in her studio space on Alhambra Blvd. Her work can be found at Identity Boutique (2600 J St., Sacramento), at GOOD: Street Food and Design Market, by appointment at her studio and via her website. Being a former high school English and AVID teacher, Camilleri is passionate about equality in educational opportunities for young people. That’s why 5% of Compliment purchases go to the Compliment Scholarship Fund, which supports young Sacramento-area women in their quest for a college education. Giving always feels good, but that makes it even sweeter.
Let’s face it, sports jerseys are expensive. So we suggest putting one on your list and hoping that someone else picks up the bill. If you want to go all authentic, it’s going to cost upwards of $300, but replicas are just as good at around $75 and can even feature your own custom name and/or number. Available for men and women in white, black and our favorite, purple. Listen up Sacramento, the Kings are here to stay, the Magoofs are out and we’re (finally, fingers crossed) getting that downtown arena. The hype is real. It’s time to get that jersey and rep your home team with pride.
Gift Cards to Sacramento Restaurants!
Any amount you want, available at most local restaurants
Still can’t decide what to get for that special someone? Save them the hassle of returning whatever it is you’re going to get and opt for gift cards to any of our many amazing local restaurants. If you will allow us to suggest a few: Clark’s Corner for that local East Sacramento cozy bar vibe (they have killer food too!); Tequila Museo Mayahuel for some of the best damn upscale Mexican cuisine you’ll ever taste; Paragary’s Restaurant Group, because, well, one gift card is good at many different tasty restaurants (try Hock Farm!); LowBrau for sausages and craft beer; and Red Rabbit and/or Magpie for farm-to-fork American fare that’ll straight up knock your socks off. Seriously, you can’t go wrong with gift cards, especially ones that fill up bellies with amazing food. Plus chances are good you’ll get taken out to a good dinner! Bon appetit.
