We’re nearly only one week out from Christmas Day, and if you’re anything like me, there’s still so much gift shopping to do.
With the help of our community, Apt613 has put together a guide for those of us who are looking for last-minute gift ideas from around the Ottawa area that would make perfect stocking stuffers or dinner party offerings. These suggestions also include general places to find gifts for everyone on your list.
Let’s get to it!
First off, I would be remiss to not mention the Ottawa Christmas Market (or genuinely any other holiday market in the area). Seriously, I’ve already been thrice this season, and there’s something for everyone. You’ll find plenty of local shops — like Alpaca Tracks, Alicja’s Confectionary, and Uptown Sox — all in one festive place and won’t leave empty handed!
I also love to visit bookstores to find gifts, and the Spaniel’s Tale on Wellington Street is no exception. You can find puzzles, bookmarks, mugs, and books (of course) here. They’ve even got a subscription box service, perfect for the book lover in your life (though somewhat costly, at $40 a month)!
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Some of my other go-to’s for gifting include board and card games like Uno and all its different versions, Anomia, and Clue. Studio Staja on Rideau Street, which opened just last month, is a great place to find new and pre-played games, collectibles, and artworks. And while we’re on the topic of gaming, Wizard’s Tower in Barrhaven has all you may need for tabletop games like D&D, including dice, figurines, guides, etc.
For music lovers, the Ottawa Jazz Festival just announced some of the first musicians for their 2025 summer season. Early passes are already on sale, with their Bronze Pass at a discounted price until Jan. 17, 2025. If you’re looking for something more timely, they also are hosting their Winter Jazz Festival, starting Jan. 30!
— Daria Maystruk
Another great place to find a variety of gifts is Bee You Creative Styles. It has so many options for local, sustainable gifts. They carry lots of locally produced items, such as jewelry and all-natural soaps and candles, as well as beautiful clothes, scarves and hats, plus lots of arty and nostalgic books. Bee You is located in Sandy Hill on Somerset Street, just west of Strathcona Park.
— Leah Geller
For the foodies in my life, I’ve got my eye on a number of different cooking classes and experiences. Top of my list are the Cooking and Wine classes at La Bottega and the classes at Pot & Pantry. Classes can be a bit of a splurge so I’m also a fan of browsing both spots for fun kitchen accessories, neat bar tools, interesting sauces and syrups, and different food products to try. There are also a couple cool events coming up that would be fun to attend: the Canadian Culinary Championship (a.k.a the Great Kitchen Party), featuring Chef Lizardo Becerra from Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine representing Ottawa; and the SnowBall for the Snowsuit Fund.
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On the sports front, there are so many teams to support this year: Ottawa Charge (Professional Women’s Hockey League), Ottawa 67’s (Ontario Hockey League), Ottawa Black Bears (National Lacrosse League), Ottawa Titans (Frontier League), Ottawa BlackJacks (Canadian Elite Basketball League), Atlético Ottawa (Canadian Premier League), Ottawa Senators (National Hockey League), and Ottawa RedBlacks (Canadian Football League). Plus the IIHF World Junior Championship! Easy gift ideas are tickets to one of the many local teams, or a shirt or jersey to wear to a home game. I also love gifting a membership to Run Ottawa for the walkers and runners in my life so they can take advantage of cool promos and perks for all the local races.
My partner loves going to the movies so I’ve got my eye on annual memberships to the ByTowne Cinema and the Mayfair Theatre. There are also some great cinematic and music experiences in the new year like Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert at the Arena at TD Place, Classic Albums Live at the National Arts Centre, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial movie in concert at the NAC.
Finally, I picked up Vodkow‘s cream liquors to give away as gifts for all the holiday party hosts. After trying their eggnog cream liquor at the Ottawa Christmas Market last year, I stocked up early this year before they sell out.
— Hannah Manning
Hope these ideas helped you find festive inspiration! Happy holidays!
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