A Holiday Shopping Guide for (Almost) Everyone (Part Two)
The Holiday window at Sybil, 504 Main Street.
And so, we continue our deep dive into where to shop for every gift you might need this Holiday season. Whether you’re shopping for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Yule, you can find the perfect gift locally. And when you shop small and shop local, everybody wins—the business owner for whom every sale counts, and the gift recipient who gets a thoughtful gift they’ll love. That’s not to mention, you’ll gain a reputation as an A-grade gift giver!
See last week’s feature for Part One of this (hopefully) helpful Beacon Main Street Holiday Guide which included Holiday décor, vintage finds, and fragrance.
So now, here’s Part Two. Let’s start with gifting for cocktail enthusiasts.
Cocktails and artisanal spirits
Cocktails Across America by Diane Lapis and Anne Peck-Davis, accompanied by a bottle of Denning’s Point Distillery’s Great 9 Gin.
For the budding mixologist or cocktail aficionado, the perfect gift might be a beautiful book we were recently introduced to called Cocktails Across America, co-authored by Beacon Historical Society Trustee and former President, Diane Lapis and her long-time friend Anne Peck-Davis. Over the course of more than 220 pages, the authors feature classic cocktails and cocktail bars from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. And they’ve both made every one of the recipes! Fascinating stories are accompanied by reproductions of classic linen postcards of the time. Diane and Anne are keen collectors of vintage postcards featuring hotels, bars, ice-rinks, and tourist destinations like Rockefeller Center and the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Their common interest was the starting point for the creation of this charming book. Spending time with Cocktails Across America is a fun escape to a glorious, glamorous bygone era.
The book also features more than 50 classic cocktail recipes, so we asked the authors to recommend two of the featured cocktails to our readers —whether they’re bartenders or home enthusiasts—to make over the festive season. Here’s what they shared:
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Dempsey Cocktail (page 21): 1 oz. gin, 1 oz. calvados (French apple brandy) American applejack can be substituted (such as Laird's), 2 dashes of absinthe, 2 dashes of grenadine.
Although the original recipe recommends shaking the ingredients with ice, the authors recommend stirring the ingredients with ice in a mixing glass.
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MacArthur Cocktail (page 162): 2 oz. white rum, ½ oz. triple sec, 1/4 oz. dark rum, ¾ oz. fresh lime juice, 1 egg white.
Dry shake egg white in a cocktail shaker, add ice and other ingredients, shake again, strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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Cocktails Across America by Diane Lapis and Anne Peck-Davis can be ordered at Stanza Books (508 Main Street) and Binnacle Books (321 Main Street), or via their pages on Bookshop.org. (Click “Choose a bookstore” and select one of them in the top right-hand corner to ensure they get the credit.) If you live in Beacon, and would like the book signed, contact Diane via Instagram at @todayincocktailhistory.
A perfect pairing
If a cocktail enthusiast is on your list this year, why not pair this beautiful, collectible book with a bottle of fine artisanal liquor from one of Beacon’s distilleries or specialist stores.
You’ll find high quality spirits at the following locations:
Denning’s Point Distillery (10 North Chestnut Street) produces award-winning spirits like Great 9 Gin, Viskill Vodka, and Beacon Bourbon, which is a single barrel bourbon whiskey. Denning’s Point Distillery sources grains and fruits from family farms within 50 miles of its facility. If you’re keen to keep your gifting super-local, this is the place for you.
Artisan Wine Shop (180 Main Street) focuses on small producers of fine wines, cider, and spirits. They also sell vermouth, bitters and liqueurs. Everything you need to create the perfect cocktail can be found here.
New York State Spirits available at Paul Brady Wine, 344 Main Street.
Paul Brady Wine (344 Main Street) offers the best of New York State’s wines, beers, ciders, and spirits. Here you’ll also find essential (and delicious) cocktail-friendly liquor such as Method Sweet Vermouth, Arrowood Farms Gin, Faccia Brutto, and Stoutridge Absinthe Verte.
Campfire and outdoor treats
Hudson Valley Marshmallow, 510 Main Street.
If you’re buying for someone who’s a fan of toasting marshmallows and rich, yummy hot chocolate by the campfire or under the stars, then you should head straight to Hudson Valley Marshmallow (510 Main Street). It sells gourmet (and delicious) marshmallows, ceramic camper mugs, and everything you’ll need to toast your marshmallows outside, as well as their incredible OG Original Hot Chocolate (now made dairy free). You can even pick up a Campfire Stories deck of cards to “ignite stories by the fire,” with fellow campers.
Another-level homeware
Studio Arhoj “Ghosts,” available at Little King, 199 Main Street.
Beacon has no shortage of standout home goods stores that cater to all price points. These include Little King (199 Main Street) which sells everything from the super popular Japanese sockwear brand Rototo, kitchen goods, bird feeders, books, and &Tradition’s Flowerpot lamps to charming, ceramic Studio Arhoj “Ghosts” (pictured above) who serve as lucky talisman, ring holders, or purely decorative objects.
We challenge you to visit Sybil (504 Main Street)—or their nearby children’s store, Sibling—and walk out without buying anything! This always adorable store is all dressed up for the Holidays and looking lovely. We also love that they have an area for Hanukkah celebrations. This is a destination for people who seek unusual and tasteful gifts, at every price point.
Hanukkah gifting at Sybil, 504 Main Street.
Giftable books, home décor, kitchen goods, candles & fragrances, and even small batch dog treats are just a few of the things you’ll find in Solstad House (488 Main Street) that aptly describes itself as “a uniquely Beacon general store.”
And don’t forget the gift cards
If you’re scratching your head wondering what on earth to buy that truly impossible-to-please cousin, or the friend who seems to have everything, then it’s worth remembering many of our local shops and eateries offer gift cards. It’s an easy way to keep it local with endless possibilities for the gift recipient.
Entertaining at home
Some of us are happy cooking every last Holiday dish from scratch. It’s what we live for. Others, not so much. That’s why we’re so lucky Beacon has plenty of options for scrumptious made-to-order dishes you can fool guests into thinking you slaved over for days.
Here’s the latest on what’s available and deadlines to order:
Let’s start with main act. The Beacon Daily (29 Teller Avenue) is ideal for the foodie looking to have their starters and main courses catered. Customers can order for pick up on either December 23rd or December 24th. Starters and appetizers include Nashville Spiced Deviled Eggs by the dozen, a Charcuterie Board in three different sizes, a Crudité platter (different sizes), Smoked Chicken Wings with honey butter hot sauce, and a Baker’s Dozen of Cheddar Scallion Biscuits. Main dish choices are Terra Ridge Farm Bourbon Glazed Holiday Hams, Smoked Ribeye with Cowboy Butter, Roasted Half Chickens with gravy and sides including Roasted Herbed Mushrooms, Glazed Carrots, and Brussels & Bacon.
Ember & Grain Bakery (305 Main Street)—new to Main Street—is offering a Winter Holiday Menu including a dozen assorted cookies such as Ginger Molasses Rye, Brown Butter Blondie Bites, Strawberry Thyme Thumbprints, and Vanilla Spritz. Also on the menu is Coquito Tres Leche—a classic Tres Leche featuring the flavors of Puerto Rican Egg Nog and a Stump de Noel, which is Ember & Grain’s take on a 6” classic Yule Log. There’s also great news for everyone who’s been waiting for this—celebration cakes are coming soon! Pre-orders accepted until December 20th.
Noble Pies (137 Main Street) has an abundance of savory and sweet pie options to cater for every taste. Sweet pies include Hudson Valley Apple, Apple Cranberry, Wild Blueberry, Marry Me Cherry, Texas Pecan, Chocolate Pecan, Mince, Banoffee, Coconut Cream, Black Dirt Chocolate, Chocolate Truffle, Key Lime, and Pumpkin Pie. Sweet treats including cookie trays, NY style Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, Crumb Cake, Cranberry Walnut Bread. On the savory side there’s Chicken Pot Pie, Shepherd’s Pie, Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Pie, Vegetable Quiche, Brussel Sprout Quiche. We recommend ordering sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.
Kitchen & Coffee Beacon at night, 382 Main Street.
We love how thoughtful Kitchen & Coffee Beacon (382 Main Street) is about its Holiday offerings, which feature Classic, Vegan, or Nut-free cookie options. You can order a Baker’s Dozen of the Classic: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, Vegan Ginger Spice, Vegan Peppermint Oreo. The Vegan (all vegan): Ginger Spice, Chocolate Crinkle, Oatmeal Walnut & Cranberry, Chocolate Chip Pecan, and Peppermint Oreo. There’s also Nut Free: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip, Vegan Ginger Spice, Vegan Peppermint Oreo, Vegan Sugar Cookie, Vegan Chocolate Crinkle. Personally, we love the Vegan cookie trays. We ordered one for Thanksgiving and it was a hit, even with the non-vegans.
And let’s not forget Beacon Bread Company (193-195 Main Street) where pre-orders will be accepted until December 21st, and pick-ups will be on December 24th. Their mouth-watering offerings include Chocolate Bundt Cake, ½ tray Glazed Bread Pudding, At Home Cinnamon Roll Kit, Cranberry Orange Loaf, and Christmas Cookie Plate (12 or six).
This is what we have so far. Keep checking back as we get updates to add to this feature. With a little planning, Holiday preparations can be fun and stress-free (as much as possible, anyway!), thanks to our Beacon small business owners.
There’s so many more fabulous shops and restaurants to choose from. To get the full picture see our Shop and Eat & Drink Directories.
Until next time…
The Beacon Beacon🧡