Buy Milwaukee

With only a few shopping days left ’til Christmas, you may find yourself scrambling to find great last-minute gifts. What to buy for the person who has everything? Or the co-worker whose name you got in the Secret Santa drawing? No one wants to give (or receive) a lame gift, even if it was a down-to-the-wire purchase.

We asked our lovely staff and freelancers a simple question: What do you want for Christmas this year? Better yet, we wanted to know which quintessentially “Milwaukee” gifts our fellow TCDers were lusting after. In a season marked by excessive spending, we like to know where our hard earned dollars are going, and we’d prefer to sink them into local, independent businesses. In that vein, these gifts reflect some of the best wares Milwaukee businesses have to offer. Buy local — it’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Artful giving

Visual Arts writer Judith Ann Moriarty

Since I’ve been in Milwaukee for two decades, I guess that qualifies me as M’waukee all the way. Here’s a print of one of my paintings, and don’t cha’ love the cheesy frame from CVS? My house is filled with art from other Milwaukee artists too. I almost always Christmas gift friends with art. You can find lots of it in re-sale shops these days. And yes Virginia, there really were multiple murders in the Nodaway Valley.

Theatre contributor Peggy Sue Dunigan

This year, season tickets to one of the numerous theater or performing arts groups would be especially wonderful. They come in a variety of price points and also support the arts through participation. Milwaukee’s performing arts organizations reach to everyone’s economics and tastes that provide a glimpse of the city and refresh the soul all through the New Year and season tickets can be delightfully shared with someone special when purchasing a set for two.

The Historic Third Ward’s Renaissance Theaterworks begins with a three-performance season for under $100 while Milwaukee Chamber Theatre offers five selections for a little over $100. With a richer budget, the world class Milwaukee Ballet offers dance and music in spectacular style.

Arts & Culture Editor Tom Strini

Give annual memberships to the Milwaukee Art Museum. Members can drop in any time for a year; just show the pass and walk in. Drop in to see one piece, or make a day of it. The place and the art in it restore the soul. And memberships are ridiculously cheap: $25 students, $60 individual, $75 family for a whole year. The most cost-effective gift you’ll give this year.

Visual Arts writer Valerie J. Christell

My wish is to own a 7.5′ tall Shakyamuni Buddha bronze figure from Artasia in Milwaukee’s Third Ward.

Because the size, gesture and medium of this figure convey a calming energy that transforms the surrounding space and viewer, it would greatly support my engagement in Buddhism. It would be auspicious in our sequestered back yard on the bluff that rises just beyond our deck. Our home/studio is surrounded by 1/2 acre of trees, shrubs and flowers that provides a meditative environment just waiting for this statue.

Contributor Skip Forrest

My Christmas wish-list for a local gift is for one of those charming little commissioned portraits by Fred Bell through the Portrait Society.

Why? Because we are now so inundated with photographs of ourselves, each other and everything imaginable, that the idea of locking in how one appears at a set moment in time, interpreted through the eyes and hands of an artist, is profoundly appealing.

Fine edibles and libations

Dining Critics Mr. & Mrs. M.

The Seven Course Chef’s Choice for two at Milwaukee’s legendary Sanford restaurant (1547 North Jackson Street).

Social Media Intern Ashley Brandt

Mint-Truffle Chai Gift Set from Rishi Tea — It includes two 3-oz tins of tea, one of their chocolate chai, which I recently discovered to be absolutely delicious, and their vanilla mint chai, which I’m still waiting to try. They both come wrapped in a beautiful woven bamboo box for $20. It is a great gift for someone who loves hot chocolate or tea.

News Editor and Business Manager Patti Wenzel

You can never fail with the gift of chocolate at Christmas time, or anytime of the year, and the best place to get your chocolate fix in our corner of the world is Freese’s Fine Chocolates in West Allis (7312 W. Greenfield Ave.)

Hand-made and dipped with love, Freese’s has been the go to place for my family since we took over ‘Stallis in the 50’s. A pound of their famous turtles, in either milk or dark chocolate, with salted pecans and creamy caramel will melt your sweeties’ heart. The Fairy Food is to die for, light and airy and also hand dipped in milk or dark chocolate goodness. If nuts are your thing, the cinnamon sugar roasted cashews, pecans and almonds make for a memorable Christmas.

And the best part of Freese’s is the ability to taste all of the confections and nuts before you make your gift choice, so it’s really a gift for the both of you.

Exclusively Milwaukee

Photo Editor Brian Jacobson

While I can go many places local to get  tins of quality Rishi Tea , what I desire is one of their bamboo Chinese Gong Fu tea trays. It is an essential part of a tea ceremony and has practical applications. You can see around 1:15 into this YouTube video the main point of warming up cups and clarifying the brew — you don’t want to sip from the first batch so then it gets poured out.

Right now, the small version of the table is on sale for $25, but staff at Rishi noted that just the other day it was part of its daily “One Day Sale” running now through the end of December.

Editorial Intern Andy Hartman

Fischberger’s Variety Gift Card is the perfect holiday gift. Fischberger’s Variety is located in Riverwest and fully reflects the eclectic nature of its neighborhood. A great selection of retro and wooden toys, fabric, sewing needs, quirky house wares, books and zines make this local business a perfect stop whether you’re shopping for kids or adults.

Fischberger’s actually helped me shed my reputation of horrible gift-giving (at least for one year) with a beautiful pop-up book for my younger cousins called The Red Dot (think more sculpture art than pop-up book). The place is full of perfect gift ideas you never knew existed.

 

Contributor Ryan Findley

I want a membership to the Milwaukee Public Museum. Museum memberships are the gifts that keep on giving!

Contributor Elisabeth Albeck

For Christmas, I would love to get a gift card to Project M. The recent addition of a vintage nook to this Artist Collective and fashion hub has sealed the deal: I will probably never walk into Project M without finding something I LOVE, or feeling inspired to create.

Advertising Manager Curt Yorkey

A Spring Clean up certificate for Pile Patrol. Our back yard is hideous each year after the snow melts off. Jade (our four year old Boxer baby girl) leaves us many piles during the cold and snowy winter months. Once April hits, it is not a fun time cleaning up after her.

Editorial Intern Caitlin Penzey-Moog

When I drive by the Milwaukee Art Museum I usually think “this is the coolest thing in all of Milwaukee.” The Brise Soleil wings that open and close are really beautiful and the interior of the museum feels like a ship casting off into the lake.

The Museum’s gift shop are full of things that translate this coolness into nifty little trinkets and and practical products. To capitalize on the Brise Soleil there are mugs, t shirts, ornaments, and a book about the architecture. I’d like them all please.

Marketing Intern Joey Morgan

Funny Face Magnets! Created in Milwaukee, these sheets of silly human and animal faces will really spice up the pictures on your ‘fridge, and are available online, at Fischberger’s Variety or Art Smart’s Dart Mart. It’s a great and relatively inexpensive holiday gift for really anyone. I mean, who doesn’t own a refrigerator? I especially like the bear face. $8.99 per sheet of 25 faces. And, as an exclusive to TCD this holiday season, readers can receive a discounted price for online purchases by using the promo code 3rdcoast upon checkout. Yay!