2019 Holiday gift guide: We’ve got you covered for kids, millennials, parents, others

Happy holidays! It’s crunch time for gifting, and we’re here to help.

For this year’s Idaho Statesman gift guide, we partnered with people widely known for their taste and flare for giving: Juan “JJ” Saldaña, Boise booster and community resource development specialist at the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs; Terri Dillion, art collector and arts supporter, and global strategic growth specialist with Hewlett Packard; and Sandi Anderson, former executive director of Buy Idaho, now with the Boise Chamber of Commerce.

We’ve broken our gifts up by category this year: For the millennial, For your Parents, For Kids and Kids at Heart, The Pet Lover, and Stocking Stuffers.

Here are some mostly local gift ideas for those tricky people still on your list:

Sandy Anderson

This former Buy Idaho executive director fills her stockings and packages under the tree with creative local products.

FOR THE MILLENNIAL: “What Do You Meme?”

A Cards Against Humanity-style game where you pair photos with memes. “Millennials should be good at this. Didn’t they create memes?!” It’s $36 at Re-POP Gifts, 214 N. 10th St., in downtown Boise, and on WhatDoYouMeme.com. This locally owned, eclectic gift store carries loads of other pop culture and fandom items, from Harry Potter to “Game of Thrones,” plus locally made jewelry and more.

FOR THE PARENTS: A poinsettia from Edwards Greenhouse, 4106 Sand Creek St., Boise. EdwardsGreenhouse.com.

My mom doesn’t need any more “stuff!” This is a beautiful — and disposable — gift for the parents who have everything. Plus, with the nursery decorated for Christmas, just walking through the greenhouse is magical. They’re a variety of prices depending on the size, but they’re currently between 20% and 30% off, depending on the color. Edwards also has different festive arrangements available, as does the Edwards Flowershop.

FOR KIDS AND KIDS AT HEART: Idea Brick Works kits. You can find them at Re-POP Gifts, 210 N. 10th Street, Mixed Greens Modern Gifts, 213 N. 9th St., Taters on the Grove, 801 W Main St., Discovery Center of Idaho, 131 W. Myrtle St., Idaho State Musuem, 610 Julia Davis Dr., Bricks & Minifigs Boise Store, 10150 W. Fairview Ave. and IdeaBrickWorks.com.

Kids can have fun building a traditional or holiday-themed state of Idaho using Lego-style bricks. Kits run $20 to $34.

FOR PETS AND PET LOVERS: B’Arc Bones, available at The Arc, 4402 Albion St., the Boise Co-op, 888 W. Fort St., and the Idaho Humane Society store, 1300 S. Bird St., in Boise.

These are scratch-made in Boise by The Arc Idaho. The Arc is a nonprofit organization providing job skills for the disabled. At the Arc’s kitchen, adults with disabilities are supported by a professionally trained chef. Together they mix, bake and package the final product. So not only are you giving your pet a healthy, locally made treat, you are helping to support a great cause.

STOCKING STUFFERS: Idaho-shaped ornaments from Action Images, available at Idaho Gifts To Go, 5624 W State St., Boise, and Albertsons Market Place, Boise and Meridian.

These Boise-made, wooden Idaho cutouts from Action Images come as magnets or ornaments and are perfect as gifts. Made by artisan crafter Dick Richele, they have different themes of artwork, so you can find one for everyone on your shopping list. They run $9.99 and $10.99.

FOOD WINE, BEER, COFFEE LOVER: Wine tasting at Telaya Wine Co., 240 E. 32nd St, Garden City.

Give the gift of a wine tasting at Telaya Winery, or just purchase a bottle of its award-winning wine, but that would deprive someone of the experience of visiting this beautiful winery on Boise’s Greenbelt.

Buying for your favorite outdoor lover? Check out Idaho Statesman Outdoors Writer Nicole Blanchard’s gift guide.

Terri Dillion

When it comes to gift giving, Terri supports local businesses, makers, craftspeople and artists. “What an amazing place to live!!” she says. “Hey Santa, I want an HP Dragonfly for Christmas!”

Gifts? I love making or finding a just-right gift. I keep a gift idea list in my phone all year long, plus I’m surrounded by the best gifts ever – daughters April and Kathleen and their husbands and kiddos, and partner Mike Baltzell — and a passel of delightful friends!

FOR THE MILLENNIAL: Combo gift of a great hat and a night at the theater.

The millennial in your life will love their new hat and seeing, and being seen, at an innovative Homegrown performance.

Start at Crazy Neighbor, 1415 W. Grove St., in Boise’s Linen District. The store specializes in hats and accessories for everyone. (This is where art meets fashion and bling.) I love the beautiful designs, high quality and a fun selection.

Encourage your millennial to wear their hats to go to a show at Homegrown Theater. “This is theater created by millennials for millennials — and the rest of us,” Dillion says.

Performances are at the Gem Center for the Arts, 2417 Bank Drive, on the Boise Bench. Meet for pre-show drinks at the in-house bar.

FOR YOUR PARENTS: Axe throwing at Base Camp Pong + Axe, 815 Ann Morrison Park Drive, Boise. GrabTheHandle.com.

“A truly adults-only evening – no kids allowed to throw axes (go figure??)”

Don’t worry about the adults throwing out a shoulder. It’s not about strength. It’s about finesse — and the coaches that are on hand and dedicated to each lane will help you with your technique.

There is a full bar and gastropub that serves great small plates, but drink responsibly when you’re tossing an axe. Throwing and ping-pong add up to a gift your folks won’t soon forget!! If you’re lucky they’ll invite you along!

Axe throwing is $20 per person for the open session on Sundays and $37 per person for a private experience that includes a personal coach. Book online for 10 people or less, or call 208-488-4468. Ping-pong rental is $11 for 30 minutes or $18 for an hour per table. You can book private parties.

FOR KIDS AND KIDS AT HEART: Color therapy with “The Day the Crayons Quit” ($17.99), “The Day the Crayons Came Home” ($18.99), and the new “The Crayons’ Christmas” ($19.99) at Rediscovered Bookshop, 180 N. 8th St., Boise.

These books written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers make great gifts for anyone of any age.

“I love these books! Not just to read to the kiddos in my family, but because they make me laugh out loud! I have managed to work these stories into conversations with my adult friends — the concept is hysterical — and I totally connect with their workplace issues. (I mean, can you do your best work if your wrapper is coming off?!)”

Also, Rediscovered Bookshop curates its kids books with staff recommendations, notes on awards, plus the store offers story times (with snacks!) and visits from authors so you’re sure to get a book that will go over big!

The books run about $20 at Rediscovered Bookshop, 180 N .8th St., in downtown Boise.

PET OR PET LOVER: Cat Cave from Bark n’ Purr, 1036 S. Vista Ave., in the Vista Village, Boise, TheBarkNPurr.com.

“I know that if I like it, my cat won’t appear to like it until I’m away at work — she seems to sleep in it enough to leave behind plenty of fur!

“I love these. The designs and colors are fantastic and they look so comfy. OK, I actually want one for myself! And if a gourd-shaped cat cave isn’t perfect for the pet lover on your list — or if they are say, a dog lover — Bark n’ Purr will have something fantastic for them!”

STOCKING STUFFER: A Christmas ornament or jewelry from the Boise Art Museum gift shop, 670 Julia Davis Drive. BoiseArtMuseum.org.

“The BAM gift shop is one of the best places in Boise to get a unique little something any time of year.

“I love their collection of Christmas ornaments — and cards, and desk items, and books, and scarves, and original art — and for that special stocking jewelry by local makers such as Melissa Osgood.”

FOOD WINE, BEER, COFFEE LOVER: Farm to Fork Dinner at Vine and Branch Ranch (with Peaceful Belly Farm), 20023 Hoskins Road, Caldwell. VineAndBranch.com

“This is a gift that will blow away the food lover on your gift list! Five-course dinners are created and prepared by some of the area’s best chefs, including Vine and Branch chef Adeline Forrey, using fresh produce and locally sourced ingredients, presented brilliantly in a truly gorgeous farm setting. They now offer seating indoors and outdoors depending on the season. Dinners includes wine from Snake River Winery, cider from Stack Rock Cidery and — my favorite — Idaho Kombucha. Plus, you have the perfect reason to purchase a seat for yourself.”

Dinners run between $100 and $150 a plate. Plan ahead because they do sell out.

Or, visit the Farm Café Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 6 p.m., for a delicious lunch or unique ice cream snack. My grandchildren love the ice cream flavors.

Juan ‘JJ’ Saldaña

I am a lover of tamales, comic books and Boise. I believe in giving back to my community whenever I can. I’ve been known for putting together a variety of gift baskets, to welcome a new neighbor or for a charity event. When I am not able to attend a function that is raising money for a cause I believe in, I try to at least donate a gift basket for their silent auction. Here are my gift ideas:

FOR THE MILLENNIAL: Fun Boise swag from Wear Boise, 828 N. Idaho St., downtown Boise, and WearBoise.com.

A great place to shop for a millennial is Wear Boise, 828 W. Idaho St., in downtown. It has everything from T-shirts, hoodies, caps and socks to stickers, mugs and more, JJ says. “The shop has some cool and creative quotes on their clothing. It’s a great place for Boise-themed gifts.”

FOR THE PARENTS: A creative gift basket.

Sometimes parents are the hardest to shop for. What do you get the person who has everything? For me this is where gift baskets come in handy. You can pick a theme or be as random as you want. For example, I did a Mexican-themed gift basket. I was able to find everything at Campos Market, 413 Orchard St., Boise. If you don’t have a theme in mind just pull things together you know they like.

FOR KIDS AND KIDS AT HEART: Custom superhero water bottles from Laura Roher’s Elleezzdesigns.

These bottles are so fun! They’re handmade and personalized. I’m a superhero nerd, so most of the one’s I give are nerdy, but she can do just about any theme you want. Find her on Instagram at elleezzdesigns or contact her through email at elleezzdesigns@gmail.com.

STOCKING STUFFERS:

Stocking stuffers are always fun. I love to shop for them at City Peanut Shop in downtown. You can pick from different canisters filled with a variety of nuts and other teats and snacks.

The nerd in me loves to give out Funko collectible figurines. They are a fun part of pop culture. You can find them at a variety of stores, but I like to get mine at Captain Comics, 710 Vista Ave., Boise.

FOOD WINE, BEER, COFFEE LOVER

I am a huge coffee lover and every Christmas I tend to receive a few coffee shop gift cards — and I love it. One thing I like to do is mix it up and give people gift cards from different locations, and put the card in a matching cup.

This story was originally published December 19, 2019 at 8:31 AM.

Dana Oland

Idaho Statesman

Dana Oland is a former journalist the Idaho Statesman