Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Season for (Smart) Giving
Truth: Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.
I live for the opportunity to give schmaltzy speeches about the people and things I am thankful for, and if I can be drinking wine and eating delicious food while I do so, then all the better.
While I love the winter holidays for their long seasons of festivity, quite frankly, they make me anxious. How do I translate my genuine feelings of thanks and well-wishing into gifts to those I love? It's a quagmire I run into every year, and I know I'm not alone.
So in the spirit of helping others (and coaching myself through the gift-giving process at the same time) I've complied a list of gift ideas for the holidays!
First -- Shop LOCALLY.
Working at Sunhee Moon has made supporting local businesses super important to me. What better way to celebrate the beautiful, dynamic, and unique place we live than to buy gifts from local merchants? I say pick up a Coco Cowl for your stylish loved ones chez nous during one of the many community shopping nights taking place this month.
On Friday December 5, the Lower Haight is having a shopping block party. Peruse shops in the neighborhood that was home to the original Sunhee Moon boutique!
On Saturday December 6, check out Fillmore's street-wide charity event for Goodwill. First, donate clothes at a participating store, then reap the benefits of special discounts after you're done!
On Friday December 12, head to the Mission for live entertainment, door prizes, discounts and drink specials at the boutiques around 16th Street. With a hot chocolate from Ritual in hand, the night couldn't get much better.
SECOND -- Support Your Friends!
In a city like this, chances are you know people doing some pretty incredible things. Whether they're aspiring chefs honing their skills at a great restaurant or hardworking fundraisers for a nonprofit organization, why not honor their contributions with gifts for others? Try buying gift certificates to restaurants where your friends work for your co-workers, or making charitable contributions to nonprofits in your family member's names.
For example, this year, I'm going to buy gifts from the Global Exchange Online Store that my friend Abby runs!
THIRD -- Support the Arts!
Ok, I'm probably biased, but I think there are some great arts organizations in this city that deserve our support. They make our city a more vibrant, open, and creative place by supporting artists and reaching out to underserved communities. Plus, their employees seem to love Sunhee Moon too.... :)
Some of my local favorites include... Southern Exposure, The LAB, and Headlands Center for the Arts.
I hope this little guide has helped or at least started the wheels turning for your holiday shopping. I say avoid downtown and see what your neighborhood has to offer instead! You might just suprise yourself with a new reason to be thankful :)
-- CASEY
I live for the opportunity to give schmaltzy speeches about the people and things I am thankful for, and if I can be drinking wine and eating delicious food while I do so, then all the better.
While I love the winter holidays for their long seasons of festivity, quite frankly, they make me anxious. How do I translate my genuine feelings of thanks and well-wishing into gifts to those I love? It's a quagmire I run into every year, and I know I'm not alone.
So in the spirit of helping others (and coaching myself through the gift-giving process at the same time) I've complied a list of gift ideas for the holidays!
First -- Shop LOCALLY.
Working at Sunhee Moon has made supporting local businesses super important to me. What better way to celebrate the beautiful, dynamic, and unique place we live than to buy gifts from local merchants? I say pick up a Coco Cowl for your stylish loved ones chez nous during one of the many community shopping nights taking place this month.
On Friday December 5, the Lower Haight is having a shopping block party. Peruse shops in the neighborhood that was home to the original Sunhee Moon boutique!
On Saturday December 6, check out Fillmore's street-wide charity event for Goodwill. First, donate clothes at a participating store, then reap the benefits of special discounts after you're done!
On Friday December 12, head to the Mission for live entertainment, door prizes, discounts and drink specials at the boutiques around 16th Street. With a hot chocolate from Ritual in hand, the night couldn't get much better.
SECOND -- Support Your Friends!
In a city like this, chances are you know people doing some pretty incredible things. Whether they're aspiring chefs honing their skills at a great restaurant or hardworking fundraisers for a nonprofit organization, why not honor their contributions with gifts for others? Try buying gift certificates to restaurants where your friends work for your co-workers, or making charitable contributions to nonprofits in your family member's names.
For example, this year, I'm going to buy gifts from the Global Exchange Online Store that my friend Abby runs!
THIRD -- Support the Arts!
Ok, I'm probably biased, but I think there are some great arts organizations in this city that deserve our support. They make our city a more vibrant, open, and creative place by supporting artists and reaching out to underserved communities. Plus, their employees seem to love Sunhee Moon too.... :)
Some of my local favorites include... Southern Exposure, The LAB, and Headlands Center for the Arts.
I hope this little guide has helped or at least started the wheels turning for your holiday shopping. I say avoid downtown and see what your neighborhood has to offer instead! You might just suprise yourself with a new reason to be thankful :)
-- CASEY
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