Well, the holiday shopping frenzy has begun for another year! As a retail survivor, I must admit that I am not a huge fan of the holidays. Blasphemy, I know. But something about hearing the Macy's holiday playlist repeated three times a shift broke me, resulting in 'Nam-style flashbacks whenever I hear Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas."
Holiday retail PTSD aside, I swear I'm not a total Grinch! I've always loved making or finding the perfect gift for friends and family, and the holidays are a great opportunity to support the things you believe in: handmade gifts, local businesses, and the arts. So for all of my fellow Grinches out there, I'm going to be sharing my suggestions for awesome holiday gifts.
As we all know, the last few years have been hard on the arts. Why not support your local arts programs and treat your loved ones to an actual experience? Memories last forever and don't take up space in your house. It's cheesy, but come on- your mother-in-law doesn't need another kitchen gadget or decorative vase. Instead of the latest fleece onesie/sartorial embarrassment, consider:
- Tickets to a local symphony performance
- A one-year museum membership
- Season passes to a community theater
- Tickets to the ballet
- A workshop or class from a local artist or musician
- Tickets to a film festival or a gift certificate to the local independent/art house movie theater
- Passes to an art or music festival in the area
- Something cool from a museum shoop
How do you support the arts at the holidays?
photo by Jessica McGowan via High Museum of Art on Facebook
photo by Jessica McGowan via High Museum of Art on Facebook
