When the Houston Press stopped putting out print editions earlier this year, one of the reasons given was that many local businesses had incurred significant damage in Hurricane Harvey. Restaurants and stores that previously had advertising money now needed to spend it rebuilding their livelihoods. The storm did massive damage to the city and to all the independent entrepreneurs in it.
Hopefully everyone has lifted themselves out of their Thanksgiving food coma and weathered the hangover incurred from binge-drinking after your uncle went on about how great Trump is making America. That means it’s time to do your holiday shopping! I like not leaving the house as much as the next misanthrope, but this year I hope we’ll all consider maybe putting some money back into the city instead of ordering from the Lord God Amazon. Not only are there some fantastic places for all kinds of baubles and bangles, you’ll be putting money back into a recovering community.
Let’s start with the big one: toys. Christmas and toys go together like grapefruit vodka and literally everything. Houston has a ton of locally owned toy stores, and my daughter has benefitted greatly from them over the years as my brother-in-law hates going to big box stores. The best of the bunch is Toys to Love, which is especially good if you have a kid that likes science toys and games.
Need something good to read? Houston definitely has you covered there. Murder by the Book is a Houston institution that specializes in mysteries and crime, and they often have a spectacular schedule of author appearances. They’re running their annual holiday gift card promotion now, too, if you prefer that as a stocking stuffer. If comics are more your thing, then you will definitely want to visit 8th Dimension out on West Road. They have literally everything, including a first rate game selection, action figures, a kids section, and of course all the comics you could ever want. They are consistently one of the top-rated geek destinations is the city.
It should go without saying that the music lover in your life can probably be wowed by something from Cactus Music. In a world where most of us never buy physical music media any more, Cactus has managed to stay relevant and thrive. If you can’t find what you’re looking for on CD or vinyl, they can get it for you. Be sure to also check out their lovely display of music biographies and other books. Oh, and local musicians are well-represented at Cactus, adding in another chance to do some good. Speaking of local musicians, any holiday party would benefit from hearing Houston jazz siren Tianna Hall’s album Noel that she did with Chris Cortez. It’s damn near perfect.
Starbucks gift cards are always a popular “I didn’t know what to get you, but I know you like coffee” present because they’re all over the place. However, consider a gift card from A 2nd Cup instead. Not only is it supporting a local business, but they are a non-profit that uses the money they earn to fight human trafficking in Houston. This is more important now than ever as Hurricane Harvey put even more people at risk for becoming victims of human trafficking.
Skip the Hallmark Store for kitschiness and Old Navy for that cute shirt. Hello Lucky is a way better alternative. A lot of their clothes, accessories and artwork for sale is produced by local artists and craftspeople. Their collection of unique dish towels are especially capable of brightening up a kitchen, and their line of Houston-themed clothing way more awesome than anything you’re going to find in a souvenir shop. My Flaming Heart is another good destination for that sort of thing, but with a slightly more Stevie Nicks vibe.
The SNES Classic is set to be one of the big gifts this year. Lots of adult gamers are looking to relive simpler days playing Yoshi’s Island instead of the dumpster fire we’re currently living in. Why settle for Nintendo’s modern cash grab when you can get the real thing? Game Over is a Texas-owned independent video game store where the whole of gaming is available for sale. They have several locations in Houston, and you can pick up all kinds of electronic nostalgia as a gift.
Finally, what do you get your weird niece or nephew who shows up to Christmas with too much eyeliner and a black t-shirt celebrating a sinister-sounding band you’ve never heard of. Well, there’s a perfect shop in Houston for the weirdo in your life: The Wilde Collection. They deal in oddities, bizarre taxidermy, curiosities, and other macabre insanity. When you absolutely, positively got to find creepy perfection for someone to open under the tree, accept no substitutes.
There are hundreds of shops and eateries and art markets I’m not mentioning, but I hope the point is getting across. Houston took a beating this summer, and a lot of the people trying hard to succeed and give our city its special charm are still trying to get back up again. Nothing empowers a community like cash spent within it. I know it’s so easy to click through a wish list online and then get back to watching Riverdale, but a little effort to buy local is one way Christmas can help us up out of the water.
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