TRASHMAG Editor’s Choice Gift Guide
Are you a last minute shopper that’s still unsure on what to get and want to support small businesses? Look no further and check out TRASHMAG’s Editor’s Gift Guide to help find the perfect gift!
Graphic by Anita Ngo
Corinne:
Green Haus Cafe, Mission Hill Boston, MA
“Green Haus Cafe” is a family-owned cafe in the Misson Hill Neighborhood of Boston, MA. The cafe features quality food and drinks and showcases a variety of house plants which are all up for sale. Visit the cafe for its cozy environment, friendly staff, and quality food; and leave with a plant to gift to the green thumbs in your life.
The Prize Booth, Castro Valley, CA
https://www.theprizebooth.com/
“The Prize Booth” is a family-owned toy store located in the Bay Area, CA with trendy and cute toys lining the walls, the Prize Booth welcomes customers with open arms. Explore the variety of products the store has to offer and find the perfect gift for the kids in your life.
Verbatim Books, San Diego, CA
“Verbatim Books” is a second-hand bookstore in San Diego, CA. The store offers gently used books as well as small press titles, locally published zines, and tarot decks. The store features an eclectic display of books and other trinkets that add to the store’s quirky charm. Any book from this store would be a perfect gift for book lovers.
Meet Cute Romance Bookshop, San Diego, CA
“Meet Cute Romance Bookshop” is a bookstore in San Diego, CA that focuses on romance books of all kinds. With its bubbly and colorful display of titles, the store offers a variety of books, stationery, pins, and more. From city romances to romantic thrillers you are sure to find a book that will satisfy your hopeless-romantic friends.
Ally:
Bug Girl 200, Online
Your bestie is going to love these hyperspecific pop culture goodies. One of our writers sat down with Madison Sinclair, or @buggirl200, ages ago, and she still hasn’t missed once, whether it’s a Nathan Fielder t-shirt or young Taylor Swift’s face above the words “feminine rage.”
Vidiots Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
https://vidiotsfoundation.org/
Long live physical media! Located at a theater and video store in Eagle Rock, Vidiots is dedicated to filmmakers and film lovers alike. Wow your cool film friends with a black-and-white movie or gift your film-obsessed granddad with a membership. (P.S. The popcorn at the theater is divine, and there’s a whole bar of toppings. Enjoy!)
Skylight Books, Los Angeles, CA
https://www.skylightbooks.com/
Confession: I do almost all my holiday shopping at Skylight. I do most of my shopping, period, at Skylight. Located on Vermont Ave in Los Feliz, Skylight has a niche for everyone: the travelers, the foodies, the Eastern philosophy nerds. I’m a fan of their poetry section, nestled in a sunlit corner of the shop. Stationary and other trinkets are by the door, don’t miss them on your way out. Or do, and get those stocking stuffers done and out of your way.
Bru Coffee Bar, Los Angeles, CA
https://www.brucoffeebar.com/
On top of serving my favorite latte in Los Feliz, Bru offers a wonderful array of ceramics, bags, candles, and more. Located just down the street from Skylight Books, finish off your gift shopping here and get yourself a pastry to go — you earned it.
CJ:
Ceisé, Online
“Ceisé” is a Black-Woman-owned skincare online shop known for its skin oil products. Their products are formulated to be made for not only dry and sensitive skin but for everyone to enjoy as our skin and hormones change as we age. Their glow oil is the perfect gift for any of your skincare fanatics but also for anyone who wants to get into skin oils for the perfect, well-balanced, product that’ll be sure to rejuvenate and perfectly glow your skin this holiday season.
Maaari Co, Online
“Maaari” meaning “what is possible” and “can be done” in Tagalog, is an independent Filipino-Woman-owned goods store that has everything you may need to give the perfect, aesthetic gift. You’re bound to find something you’ll love, from all kinds of jewelry, home goods, and unique apparel. Maaari also strives to create products that are rooted in consciousness inspired by the Philippines.
M.Lovewell, Santa Ana, CA
“M.Lovewell” is the perfect stationary and goods store where you can find the quintessential gift for the creative, journaling, sticker-obsessed person in your life! They also have gift bundles, ornaments, and Christmas-themed items in their shop. I usually have to restrain myself from actually buying every single item in this store whenever I visit. If you’re not in the area, you can also browse and shop on their online store.