Shopping local for holiday gifts is simple in the oldest city, with made-in-St. Augustine items available in many locally owned shops, and plenty of arts and dining experiences. See the list below for some ideas …
The St. Augustine Distillery offers made-in-St. Augustine rum (pictured above), vodka, gin, and bourbon.
ST. AUGUSTINE SPIRITS
Give St. Augustine-made bourbon, vodka, gin, and rum to friends and family during the holidays. Drop in the gift shop at the St. Augustine Distillery Company, 112 Riberia St., taste samples, grab a few bottles, along with cocktail-making supplies of all kinds, distillery T-shirts, copper mugs, bottle openers, coasters, flasks, and so much more. Go to staugustinedistillery.com or call 904-825-4963.
DATIL PEPPER SAUCES
Datil pepper sauces, jellies and jams are handmade and perfect for gift-giving at Hot Shot Bakery, 47 Cordova St., downtown St. Augustine. The location also offers bakery items, chocolate-covered datil peppers, and breakfast and lunch. Call 904-824-7898 or stay updated at www.facebook.com/hotshotbakery
LIVE THEATRE TICKETS
Give the gift of live theatre with tickets to an upcoming show at Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine’s only year-round community theatre. Limelight is located at 11 Old Mission Ave., uptown St Augustine, which means FREE parking! On stage in 2018 — Fool for Love by Sam Shepard January 18-February 11; Corpse! (a comedy thriller) March 9-31; Bad Jews, April 20-May 13; Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, June 1-24; and Heathers the Musical, July 20-August 19. Choose your favorite seats at limelight-theatre.org or call 904-825-1164
ART IN LOCAL GALLERIES
Art of all kinds — paintings, jewelry, sculpture, photography and more — can be found in over 30 galleries in the St. Augustine area. The photo above shows the Plein Air paint out held by the St. Augustine Art Association each year. For a list of more galleries, go to www.artgalleriesofstaugustine.org
Chocolates from Creme de La Cocoa.
HANDMADE CHOCOLATES
Amazing handmade chocolates are available at Creme de la Cocoa, 299 San Marco Avenue, in the north city area of St. Augustine, www.cremedelacocoa.com; and at Claude’s Chocolates, 6 Granada St., in downtown St. Augustine, www.claudeschocolate.com
LOCAL BOOKS
Two St. Augustine writers recently released new novels. Laura Lee Smith‘s The Ice House is available in local bookstores and on amazon. The book was listed on a list of Ten Books to Read in December on bbc.com.
Andrew Nance just released the suspense novel, All the Lovely Children with Red Adept Publishing. Find out more details here: All the Lovely Children
ORNAMENTS & LOCAL ITEMS
This hand-painted starfish ornament is a created by a St. Augustine artist and available in the St. Augustine Visitors Information Center.
Holiday gifts of all kinds are available at the St. Augustine Visitor Information Center, 10 W. Castillo Drive, next to the Historic Downtown Parking Facility (garage) in downtown St. Augustine.
Several ornaments, including the painted starfish ornament pictured here, are Made in St. Augustine by local artists. In addition, local authors have dozens of books available, with everything from Ancient City history to Datil Pepper recipes, and plenty of children’s books.
Visitors Center hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week.
SHORT DOG JEWELRY DESIGN
Local jewelry made in St. Augustine and available inside Retail Therapy of St. Augustine, at
1017 A1a Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, or online at etsy.com/shop/ShortDogJewelry
LOCAL RESTAURANT GIFT CERTIFICATES
Shop and eat local with gift certificates from the St. Augustine Independent Restaurant Association (SAiRA). Purchase the certificates at staugustinerestaurants.com
Buy one gift certificate and get 13 restaurant choices — this group of independently owned eateries offers a wide variety of dining choices.
ALL LOCAL ART AT SIMPLE GESTURES
Simple Gestures, 4 White St. East on Anastasia Island, offers handcrafted art — from sculptures, to paintings, to jewelry, and even apparel — this one-stop shop has Made in St. Augustine items of all kinds!
Call 904-827-9997 or go to www.facebook.com/Simple-Gestures
