The holiday season is here again, and with it comes my annual gift guides! I always like to start small and local, so today’s gift guide is all things Pittsburgh. It has both Pittsburgh-based small businesses, and gifts that are Pittsburgh-themed, and both! Perfect for those who want to spread a little Steel City love, whether you live here or not.
Heart of the City Tea Blend
Tea is such a nice gift in winter because it’s so warm and comforting. This herbal tea blend is a nice mix of caffeine-free tea from a local shop, and would be great as a hostess gift, or as part of a larger gift with a nice mug.
Ceramic Snowflake Ornament
Emmanuelle Ceramics makes some of the most beautiful pieces! I love this ceramic snowflake ornament – it would be a gorgeous addition to anyone’s tree, whether it’s a gift for yourself or for someone else.
Pittsburgh Mug
I love this mug from a local pottery studio! It has some Pittsburgh icons on it – Clark bars, the Kennywood sign, Heinz ketchup, the Eat’n’Park smiley cookie, and more. It’s such a fun, whimsical reminder of all the most well-known landmarks of the city.
Geode Vessel and Air Plant
This is another one that would be perfect as a hostess gift! It’s a really beautiful piece of decor, and an air plant is a really great, hard(er) to kill option for a houseplant. The vessel can also be used to house a tea light, too!
Cambell’s Soup Tea Towel
This tea towel is just a fun, kitschy gift for someone who loves Pittsburgh, Warhol, or both! I’d probably include this as part of a larger, kitchen or home-centric gift, but it’s just a little fun addition with a hint of Pittsburgh.
Cookie Table Candle
If you’re not from here, you might not know of the infamous cookie table. At weddings, in addition to the cake, we have a loooong table filled with lots and lots of different types of cookies, traditionally made by the families of the bride and groom. This candle is a cute little nod to that, and also seems like it would smell delicious.
Wire Table Decor
My friend Julie makes the most amazing wire creations and decor! I love these place settings, customizable with any word you’d like. It would be so nice for anyone hosting a holiday dinner!
Bow Ties
My friend Nisha makes these sustainably-sourced bow ties – all made out of scrap material that would be otherwise thrown away. Men are notoriously hard to shop for – this would be a perfect choice for the dapper men in your life!
Notecards
My friend Katie (I am so lucky to have such talented friends, I know!) is an incredibly talented artists. Her original pieces are probably out of budget for most gifts, but these notecards with prints of her works on them would make a perfect gift for a stationary lover.
Commonplace Coffee
Commonplace makes some of my favorite coffee in the city, and I love that they team up with local organizations to create special blends, and then donate a portion of the proceeds. This would be great paired with a mug, and maybe even a few different coffee blends for the truly perfect gift of caffeination.
