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December 1, 2022 — The holiday season is upon us, which means it’s time for gift-givers to check every person off the list with gifts found in Philadelphia and the surrounding area courtesy of Art in the AgeBaba’s Acid TripBellemille Extra Virgin Olive OilBluebird DistillingChar & Stave CoffeeEast Passyunk Business Improvement DistrictJet Wine BarMy Local Brew Works, Occasionette, and The Pathfinder Hemp and Root. Check it out below to get all the details!

SHOP SMALL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Art in the Age, Philadelphia’s one-of-a-kind tasting room, home bar supply, and bottle shop, is home to every accessory an aspiring bartender needs to DIY cocktails from the comfort of home, including all the spirits, bar tools, mixers, over 150 types of bitters, glassware, cocktail books, and other spirit books, like Brand Mysticism: Cultivate Creativity and Intoxicate Your Audience by Art in the Age founder, Steven Grasse and noted writer, Aaron Goldfarb.

The bottle shop features local spirits, including Kinsey Bourbon from New Liberty Distillery ($39.99) and original Art in the Age products, such as the Art in the Age Black Trumpet Blueberry Cordial ($49.99). Art in the Age also showcases unique spirits from sister distillery Tamworth Distilling including Dunce Whiskey ($45) and Tamworth Garden VSOP Apple Brandy ($85), plus non-alcoholic spirits such as The Pathfinder Hemp and Root ($48)These spirits and more are available to shop in-person or ship across the state of Pennsylvania.

Hours of operation are 12 – 7pm Tuesday through Thursday, 12 – 8pm Friday and Saturday, and 12 – 6pm Sunday

116 N. 3rd St. Philadelphia PA | 215.922.2600 | www.artintheage.com

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Bluebird Distilling, Phoenixville’s grain-to-glass distillery, is crossing whiskey lovers off gift-givers’ lists with highly limited seasonal releases of the crowd-pleasing Winter WhiskeyDouble Barrel Bourbon, and Double Straight Rye. See more information below — all spirits are available for purchase in-store or online for shipping to Pennsylvania residents.

  • Winter Whiskey (80 proof, 750mL, $49.99) — Warm notes of vanilla, baking spices, orange zest, and toffee
  • Double Barrel Bourbon (50 proof, 750mL, $69.99) — This spirit that sold out in less than a day last year and features deep notes of dark honey, pecan pie, sarsaparilla, all spice, dates, s’mores, tanned leather and pepper
  • Double Barrel Straight Rye (100 proof, 750mL, $75) — Only 100 bottles of this spirit exist, and features notes of heavy baking spice, old oak, tobacco, dried cherries, and dark fruit

Hours of operation are 12 – 7pm Tuesday through Thursday, 12 – 8pm Friday and Saturday, and 12 – 6pm Sunday

100 Bridge St, Phoenixville PA | 610.933.7827 | www.bluebirddistilling.com

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East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID), home to more than 160 independently owned businesses in South Philadelphia, has decked the halls for the holiday season with an extensive host of retailers offering up seasonal goodies that will take care of any shopper’s gift-giving list.

  • Nice Things Handmade is a boutique gallery that offers one-of-a-kind and handmade items crafted by makers locally and throughout the country. Folks can expect to find items like ceramics, bold jewelry, art prints, and a wide array of pop culture-themed greeting cards throughout the store (1731 E Passyunk Ave).
  • South Fellini offers Philly-themed tees, hats, pins, and more that are perfect gifts or stocking stuffers that capture the Philadelphia spirit. An added bonus: match Adam Sandler and Bryce Harper, who have been seen wearing tees from the South Philly shop (1507 E. Passyunk Ave).
  • The Utopia Collective is a one-stop-shop for all things wedding — pick up curated home goods, gifts, and décor for any bride- or groom-to-be (1914 E Passyunk Ave).
  • Urban Jungle is the spot to grab a gift any plant-lover or gardener — find home décor in the retail area and a wide variety of plants perfect for gifting in the greenhouse (1526 E. Passyunk Ave).
  • Amelie’s Bark Shop offers holiday-themed gifts for one’s four-legged friends, including toys, ornaments, treats, cards, and more (1600 E. Passyunk Ave).
  • Latchkey is a love letter to the ‘80s and ‘90s with a curated selection of vinyl, tees, gifts, and more (1502 E Passyunk Ave).
  • Sermania Jewelry, the premier neighborhood jeweler, offers 100% recycled jewelry with a variety of styles available for any loved one who loves to accessorize with some bling (1719 E Passyunk Ave). 

East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District | www.visiteastpassyunk.com

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Occasionette, the independent, woman-owned, and operated gifts and goods retailer known for insanely creative and inspired gifting, has become the quintessential stop for all things holiday with four locations throughout the Philly region including the newly opened Chestnut Hill location, original on East Passyunk Avenue, and two shops in bustling Collingswood, including the “tiny humans” focused Occasionette Joy Shop.

Helmed by Owner and Creative Director Sara Villari, Occasionette offers shoppers an expertly curated display of one-of-a-kind items that make for thoughtful gifts, such as cookbooks, baking essentials, color-coordinated stationery, locally-made candles, and more, including the nostalgic Vintage Style Ceramic Tree Nightlight ($24), as seen on The Today Show and Good Housekeeping Magazine, this keepsake is reminiscent of childhood holidays spent at grandma’s house. Additional fun gifting comes in the way of spirited décor, jewelry, a large array of hand-crafted cards, barware essentials, and more.

Occasionette’s freshly restocked and holiday merchandised Philadelphia and New Jersey-based shops are fully stocked with distinctly-local items such as Wanamaker Mug ($14), Pretzel Pillow ($49), and Philadelphia Jawn Pillow ($26). Additionally, gift-giving necessities range from holiday-inspired greeting cards to Christmas Movie Mug ($16) and Christmas Movie Tea Towel ($16) to an impressive collection of barware tools, cocktail books, glassware, non-alcoholic spirits, and more.

For those skipping the hustle-and-bustle of in-store holiday shopping, Occasionette offers various entertaining and holiday-centric goods available online, including Hot Toddy Cocktail Mixer ($18), Nostalgic Christmas Tree Farm Nightlight ($28), and Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix ($7/$12).

Gift wrap in a variety of colorful patterns and styles is offered for an additional charge of $3 and $5, depending on item size, complete with ribbon adornment.

Hours of operation for Occasionette East Passyunk, Collingswood, and Chestnut Hill are Monday through Saturday from 11am – 7pm, and Sunday from 11am – 5pm. Occasionette Joy Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am – 7pm, and Sunday from 11am – 4pm.

Occasionette East Passyunk | 1825 E. Passyunk Ave | www.occasionette.com

Occasionette Collingswood  | 724 Haddon Ave | www.occasionette.com

Occasionette Chestnut Hill | 8521 Germantown Ave | www.occasionette.com

Occasionette Joy Shop | 740 Haddon Ave | www.occasionette.com

 

UNIQUE GIFTS PERFECT FOR COCKTAIL, COFFEE, AND CULINARY LOVERS

Baba’s Acid Trip is a brand new line of tart and tangy kombucha vinegars created in Phoenixville, rich in probiotics and antioxidants from the green and black tea that form the backbone of the original kombucha brew. Founded by Olga Sorzano, founder of the beloved Baba’s Bucha brand, Baba’s Acid Trip presented a solution to pandemic supply chain issues, since the kombucha vinegar is a shelf-stable product and does not need to be refrigerated.

Baba’s Acid Trip has four unique flavors, Raspberry Lime, Grapefruit, Pear Ginger, and Cayenne. Served in 12 oz. bottles for $12.99 each or $48 for the Strange Trip Variety Pack — a perfect gift for any adventurous chef or craft cocktail lover, Baba’s Acid Trip is highly concentrated, boasting over 12 1 oz. servings per bottle.

Half an ounce is the perfect zero calorie addition to seltzer water for a mindful mocktail, and just an ounce can replace most high-end finishing vinegars and citrus in salad dressings and marinades. Raspberry Lime brightens cocktails including the Pink Gimlet and Cayenne brings the heat to a Thai Noodle SaladFor recipe inspiration, visit Baba’s Acid Trip’s website and Instagram.

Hot tip: they are a more sustainable cocktail acidifier than traditional citrus, which creates a lot of waste!

Purchase Baba’s Acid Trip online, or in-person at Baba’s Brew’s tasting room (333 Morgan St, Phoenixville PA), as well as Kimberton Whole Foods locations. Additionally, Baba’s Acid Trip is available at boutiques, bottle shops, and some of Philadelphia’s favorite bars and restaurants, such as Front Street Café, Rex at The Royal, Art in the Age, and more.

333 Morgan St, Phoenixville PA | 267.738.1973 | www.babasacidtrip.com

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Bellemille Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a new luxury first cold pressed olive oil founded by Philadelphia native turned expat, Alexa Dombkoski. After a study abroad semester in Italy and graduating from college in 2013, Dombkoski decided to leave her home in the Philadelphia suburbs, and moved to Florence, Italy. After nine years of working various jobs in hospitality and tourism, Dombkoski set her sights on Reggello, the fountainhead of extra virgin olive oil, and birthplace of the newest premium cooking and dipping oil, Bellemille Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Bellemille is fruity and a bit peppery with notes of almond and artichoke. Harvested during the fall on a single estate in the Tuscan countryside, the premium olive oil is now available for pre-order for $39/375 mL, and will ship out nationwide mid-late November, just in time for the holidays. The luxe oil can be used in cooking, baking, mixing cocktails (think: olive oil washed martini), drizzled on a salad or used for dipping with a crusty loaf of bread. For recipe inspiration, visit Bellemille’s website

Purchase online here for $39 / 375 mL, or get three 375 mL bottles for $105.

For more information and updates on Bellemille, check out www.bellemille.com and keep up with Bellemille on Instagram.

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Char & Stave Coffee, Bluebird Distilling’s new coffee roastery and Ardmore’s newest all-day café and cocktail bar, pulls out all the stops for holiday gifting for coffee and booze lovers. Char & Stave operates under the ethos of “coffee made by whiskey people,” and produces two signature barrel-aged roast coffee blends in collaboration with sister distillery, Bluebird Distilling, as well as seasonal blends alongside year-long staples.

  • Bourbon Barrel-Aged Espresso ($25) — a medium roast espresso blend aged in the barrels of Bluebird Distilling’s flagship spirit, Four Grain Bourbon
  • Rumpkin Spice ($23) — roasted in barrels that once housed Bluebird Distilling’s Spiced Pumpkin Dark Rum, featuring flavors like cocoa, vanilla, rum, spice, and pumpkin pie
  • Flannel Blend ($19) — a whole bean medium roast with a warm and savory taste, featuring cozy notes of chocolate, brown sugar, and jam in every sip
  • Everyday Blend ($17) — roasted using beans from Peru and Costa Rica

In addition to coffee, Char & Stave is home to a plethora of giftable spirits from sister distillery Bluebird Distilling, Phoenixville’s award-winning grain-to-glass distillery, that are the perfect addition to any bar cart.

The coffee blends and spirits are available in-store for purchase.

More information about Char & Stave, Bluebird Distilling, and Founder Jared Adkins available upon request.

Char & Stave | 21 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore PA | www.charandstave.com

Bluebird Distilling | 100 Bridge St, Phoenixville PA | 610.933.7827 | www.bluebirddistilling.com

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The gift that keeps on giving: Enroll the wine-lover in your life in Jet Wine Bar’s Jet Wine Club, a monthly program perfect for any aspiring sommelier that includes two bottles of wine each month, priority access to wine tastings, access to the newsletter, discounts, and more. Guests can sign up online on Jet Wine Bar’s website. See the full details listed below.

When signing up, guests can choose either $49.99/month, or $549.99/year (saves $40!).

  • 2 bottles of wine per month hand-picked by experts at Jet Wine Bar
  • 10% discount on all bottle shop purchases for wine to-go
  • Discounts on ticketed events and tastings, access to tickets before they go on sale to the public
  • Reservations for the wine garden for any group of 6 or less at any time (excluding events and holidays)
  • Member Only Events and Exclusive Parties

1525 South St, Philadelphia PA | 215.735.1116 | www.jetwinebar.com

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My Local Brew Works (MLBW), the world’s first custom craft brewery focused on special events and contract brewing, has the perfect out-of-the-box holiday gift for beer enthusiasts in their Bespoke Brewing Package. From office parties to family get togethers to friendly reunions, few gifts make memories like a custom beer built from the ground up for a specific person or function.

Purchasers and recipients of the package have the ability to join the MLBW team in the brewery, located in the scenic Globe Dye Works building, to brew their own custom beer with full creative control of beer style, hops, recipe, name, and more. From choosing the grain to designing the label, participants can be as hands-on or off as desired. Pricing varies based on a number of factors including volume of beer brewed, fermentation time, and ingredients, but starts at $120/person.

Those interested in the Bespoke Brewing Package can contact MLBW for a consultation by emailing beer@mylocalbrewworks.com

4500 Worth Street Ste J2, Philadelphia PA | 215.888.0360 | www.mylocalbrewworks.com

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The Pathfinder Hemp and Root, available at Old City’s Art in the Age, is a unique gift for any mindful imbiber this holiday season — this elixir is a fermented and distilled hemp-based non-alcoholic spirit with the intense flavor and aromatic characteristics of a spirit, with none of the harmful effects of alcohol. The spirit is blended with an alchemy of wormwood, angelica root, ginger, sage, juniper, saffron, orange peel, and wild-crafted Douglas-fir, as well as natural terpenes, to yield a revolutionary spirit of both character and complexity.

The Pathfinder is steeped in the rich history of the American West with a liquid that is just as wild as the landscape and the people that inhabited it. Inspired by the age of apothecaries and the homemade remedies often employed by pioneers, homesteaders, and snake oil salesmen alike, The Pathfinder Hemp and Root equally hearkens to a bygone age as it raises the standard of flavor and quality in non-alcoholic spirits with an eye to the future.

In drinks we recommend Hemp and Root in the signature spritz recipe, but it can also be taken as a shot, sipped neat served on the rocks, or used to modify a multitude of classic cocktails. In other words, it fits right into the back bar of your favorite cocktail destination as well as it does your home bar cart. Check out The Pathfinder Hemp and Root’s website for more recipe inspiration. 

Purchase online here for $39.99 / 700mL, as well as on Art in the Age’s website or in-person at Art in the Age, located at 116 N 3rd St, Philadelphia PA.

The Pathfinder Hemp and Root | www.drinkthepathfinder.com | Instagram: @drinkthepathfinder

-Hannah Church

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