Gift Ideas

Looking to shop local or “green” this holiday? I’ve got ideas for you!

Fromagination (click here to read this month’s Genuine Articles on Fromagination) has a tasty array of gift baskets for your giftee. If you’ve got relatives or friends that don’t live here, consider buying local and sending the goods out to them! The shop offers pre-made baskets ranging in price from $35–$100.
Otherwise you can’t go wrong making your own basket and stuffing it with treats like Potter’s Crackers, Door County cherry jam and Hook’s cheddar cheese. Well, Fromagination’s actually got ninety cut-to-order artisan cheeses plus olive oils, mustards, nuts, charcuterie and gift accessories.
Other things you might notice about the downtown shop? The reclaimed wood floors (from a warehouse in Chicago), vintage clocks (courtesy of the State Capitol building) and the store’s gift basket return program—which allows customers to bring in an old gift basket to exchange for another recycled basket, or receive two dollars off a new basket. Per the store’s website, “our store incorporates sustainable, renewable, recycled, recycled vintage and found materials whenever possible.” So not only will you be buying local at Fromagination, you’ll be supporting a green business too.
Fromagination, 12 S. Carroll St. 255-2430. fromagination.com

Want a night at Lombardino’s for four, a hot-air balloon ride or a Packers helmet autographed by Brett Favre (this might be the only time I mention Brett Favre on this blog ☺) at a potential savings? Go to the Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility’s online auction and bid on these items and more. That Lombardino’s night had a leading bid of two hundred dollars as of press time, but the estimated actual value was three hundred dollars.
Josie Pradella, owner of Terra Source chocolates (which were delicious—we got to taste-test them here) recently stopped by our offices to talk about buying local and encouraged us to visit the auction site. You can even bid on a Terra Source “Box-a-Month” chocolate package.
The organization’s website encourages auction bidders to “Help support local, independently-owned businesses and educational outreach year round, where we live and work and worldwide.”
Bid now, because the auction ends December 16.
Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility Auction, through Dec. 16. http://auction.wiscpsa.org
Terra Source chocolates, 877-808-9217. terrasourcechocolates.com
Dane Buy Local, danebuylocal.com

The Bohemian Bauble’s annual “Bohemian Bazaar” is this weekend, Dec. 7–9. Um, have I mentioned buying local yet? Stop by this quaint shop to pick up bath and body goods, jewelry, art, and fun decorative goods. Bonus: many of the items are made with recycled or vintage goods, which isn’t too shabby for the environment. I see stuff like iPod cases made out of juice bags, sweater scarves, candles in tins, magazine purses, original photography and more.
Free gift wrapping all weekend, cookies and artists giveaways don’t hurt this event, either.
Bohemian Bauble Bohemian Bazaar, Dec. 7–9, 10a–4p. 404 W. Lakeside St. 333-BOHO. bohobauble.com

Three Orange Doors will be celebrating its second birthday in December by giving to a good cause: Second Harvest Foodbank. Twenty percent of profits between December 7 and 9 will go to the cause.
So get the trifecta shopping here: shopping local, buying green (the shop peddles vintage finds like a mahogany bar back from Tyrol Basin in Mt. Horeb) and donating to a good cause.
Three Orange Doors, 2789 Fitchrona Rd. 848-3336. 3orangedoors.com