No need to show up empty-handed

By Kathy Knotts

It’s Panic Week. Or at least that’s what it’s become known as. The period of time, about a week before Christmas, when consumers scramble to check off the last items for gift-giving and stocking stuffing.

If this doesn’t apply to you, you are perhaps one of the 61 percent of consumers who started shopping in early November, says the National Retail Federation.

Over the last decade, consumers have been kicking off their holiday shopping early in order to spread out their budgets and avoid the stress of holiday shopping. But of course that’s not everyone.

Dec. 18 is Super Saturday, the last Saturday before the holiday, and NRF says more than 148 million consumers plan to shop in stores and online.

While consumers plan to spend a total of $997.73 on holiday purchases this year, as of early December, they had completed roughly half (52 percent) of their holiday shopping. Still, many are aiming to wrap up their shopping early, with a record 42 percent planning to purchase their last gift before December 18. This figure is up from 40 percent a year ago and 30 percent in 2012 when NRF first asked this question. Even so, some procrastinators remain. More than half (52 percent) expect they will still be picking up last minute gifts in the week leading up to Christmas. 

With online shipping and supply issues still up in the air, CBM Bay Weekly would like to offer up some last-minute suggestions that you can snag right now and not be that person who shows up empty-handed. Some are even gifts that give back—perfect for the ultimate last-minute gift shoppers.

When you find that last perfect item, return the favor and please tell that business that you saw them here in Bay Weekly.

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Star Wars Collectibles

For the serious collectors in your life. Snag this 1994 Lucasfilm limited edition Yoda collectible (COA 2643/9500) or another treasure from the extensive collection of Ric Taylor, owner of Maryland Pipe Dreams. Call 443-486-7967.

A Reminder of Home

This unique tile-trivet features a map of Annapolis and the Severn River, a must-have for every sailor and lover of our home port. Matching coasters also available. $20, Wimsey Cove Framing and Fine Art Printing, Annapolis, 410-956-7278.

A Margarita Party

A basket full of ingredients to whip up a great margarita sounds like a perfect gift to us! This basket includes tequila, triple sec, sour mix and a recipe card. Make it even more fun by throwing in authentic JesseJays apparel (10 percent discount with basket purchase). Starts at $30, JesseJays Latin Inspired Kitchen, Churchton, 240-903-8100, jessejays.com

An Irish Holiday Treat

A treat born in a local Annapolis Irish pub and distilled in Ireland for authenticity, a bottle of Irish Eggnog makes a delicious gift for the holidays. Perfectly smooth Irish whiskey, genuine Irish cream, a hint of vanilla notes. This unique recipe tastes great straight-up or in one of the Irish Restaurant Company’s signature cocktail recipes. $23.99/bottle; $137/half-case; Ask about the Irish Eggnog Ice Cream. In restaurants or online: galwaybaymd.com/gift-certificates/galway-bay-eggnog

Galway Bay Irish Whiskey Bar, Annapolis, 410-263-8333.

Brian Boru Irish Pub, Severna Park, 410-975-2678.

Killarney House Irish Pub, Davidsonville, 410-798-8700.

Pirates Cove Restaurant, Galesville, 410-867-2300.

A Gift of Strength MD Strength

Having a helping hand is important when working out. Give the gift of a professional training session from Maryland Strength and Fitness. The Holiday Personal Training special includes three training sessions and one In-Body composition assessment for $150, 25 percent off the total value of $205. Book online or call: 301-787-4277. Maryland Strength and Training, 10735 Town Center Blvd., Suite 3, Dunkirk: marylandstrength.com

A Small Gem

Chesapeake Country is lucky to have talented artists on its shores and you can own some of their astounding artwork. Find them at McBride Gallery which hosts its annual Small Gems show in December featuring paintings and quality giclee prints from 16 artists, including Christmas cards by Carol Dyer (price for artwork varies from $150 to $850). Pictured is Spring Dance, a painting by Paula Waterman ($550), McBride Gallery, 215 Main Street, Annapolis, 410-267-7077, mcbridegallery.com

A Bit of Sparkle & Style

Give her a gift she will cherish. These dazzling evening bags from David Jeffrey Designs and Samser Designs are unique and full of style. Choose from bracelet bags or clutches—all beaded to perfection. Prices range from $98 to $240. Stardust Deluxe, 1915 Annapolis Towne Centre Blvd. Suite 130 (next to Paper Source), Facebook/Instagram: @stardustdeluxeboutique

Say It with Jewelry

Sometimes art comes in a wearable form. The newly launched AnnaBella collection at Medart Gallery includes this “Sarah” bracelet.  The “Sarah” bracelet is a high polished sterling silver bracelet with three intertwined hearts that move freely. $185, Medart Gallery, 10735 Town Center Blvd., Suite 1, Dunkirk, 410-257-6616, medartgalleries.com

The Gift of a Great Smile

While you may not think orthodontics make a great gift, there are people out there whose lives have been changed by having a better smile. Receive $500 off Invisalign or braces at Chesapeake Orthodontics (new patients only, cannot be combined with insurance or other discounts, mention offer code: Fix My Smile). 690 Prince Frederick Blvd., Prince Frederick, 443-968-8133: somdbraces.com

A Tasty Outing Gingerbread

Want to gift an experience that will also create great memories? Give the gift of a trip to see The Gingerbread House Contest at Darnall’s Chance. The House Museum is happy to be back in-person and dressed up for the holidays and for its 22nd Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Show and the entries this year are nothing short of amazing. See these creations in person and cast your vote. This is the last weekend of the show, so hurry! Open noon-5pm, FSaSu, Darnall’s Chance House Museum, 14800 Governor Oden Bowie Dr., Upper Marlboro, $2 admission: 301-952-8010.

Gift of Better Snacking

Many small farms and specialty artisans across the country are hurting right now. Let’s work together to keep them open by eating more cheese. Vaughan Cheese is offering up this Victory Cheese Bundle with 10 percent of sales going to the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund. The bundle includes 0.33 lbs of five different American artisan cheeses with a full description card of each; a 1.5-ounce jar of Sidehill Farm Jam; 5.75-ounce jar of Fool’s Gold Wildflower Honey; a large Meat Crafters salami; specialty chocolate bar from Videri Chocolate Factory; and a book from 33 Books Co. to keep track of all your cheese. $85, Vaughan Cheese, 4116 7^th Street, North Beach, 410-474-9050, vaughancheese.com

Overhead Lighting with a Twist

A Vintage Deale offers many choices in lighting, ranging from the very unusual and expensive deer head chandelier below ($4,995) to smaller & pretty chandeliers and single light fixtures ($50 to $495).  A Vintage Deale, 655 Deale Rd., Deale, Facebook @AVintageDeale

Gifts of Appreciation

Showing up to a holiday party without a small token of appreciation for the host just isn’t cool. We love these candles in holiday scents ($14.85-$15.95). Or just about anything you find in this lovely shop is sure to be a hit. Magnolia Shoppe, 2 W. Friendship Rd., Friendship, 410-257-7510; [email protected]

A Holiday Table Fit for the Feast

Please don’t enjoy your dinner on paper plates. Dress up your holiday table with some Spode Christmas dinnerware. Priced well below retail value, as is practically everything in this repurpose shop run by the Faith Assembly of God. Saturday 9am-4pm, Mustard Seed Thrift Shop, 250 W. Bay Front Rd., Lothian, cash/check only: 410-867-0707.

Swagger Sweaters
Outfit your crew with your own custom holiday sweater designs. Create sweatshirts or t-shirts with your company or a fun team name and logo screen-printed in a variety of colors. And walk into the party full of holiday cheer. National Ink & Stitch, 7610 Meadow Run Ln., Owings, 410-257-1776, nationalinkandstitch.com

Rams Head on Your Tree

Each year, Homestead Gardens commissions artists from a workshop in Russia to hand paint scenes of Annapolis. Over the last 15 years, the ornament has featured scenes from historic downtown Annapolis. This year the ornament showcases iconic Rams Head Tavern on inner West Street. Each ornament is a creation of the artist, hand painted, and numbered. $49.99, sold at Homestead Gardens exclusively, in both the Davidsonville and Severna Park stores: homesteadgardens.com

Only in Annapolis

Show the world you love your hometown as much as you love the holiday season when you give a locally made ornament or greeting card. Choose from a hand-painted ornament depicting St. Mary’s ($25) or the Thomas Point Lighthouse ($25). The greeting cards, designed by local artist Yolie Aviles, has two cards each of five holiday scenes inspired by downtown Annapolis ($20). Each purchase helps the Downtown Annapolis Partnership keep the area dressed up and festive during the holidays. Volume discounts available. Buy online and pick up in Annapolis the next day. See them at downtownannapolispartnership.org/annapolis-ornaments-greeting-cards and then email your selection to [email protected].

Gifts from the Arts

There’s a lot to choose from when you stop by the Muddy Creek Artist Guild’s holiday show for your last-minute gift. Don’t miss the last weekend to shop the variety created by the member artists. Pictured is a work by Sharon Porter, depicting daily activities on the Chesapeake Bay. FSa 10am-7pm, Su 11am-5pm, South River Colony, 179 Mitchells Chance Rd., Edgewater: muddycreekartistsguild.org

A Gift of the Unexpected

Stepping into Second Wind brings surprises and delight when you stumble upon a treasure. Like this 16×23 glass lighthouse mosaic, signed by the artist Angela Brady ($124.50). Imagine your loved one opening this up on Christmas morning? Stunning. Second Wind Consignments, 661 Deale Rd., Deale, call for pricing: 410-867-0480.

Fa-La-La-La Float

It’s been a stressful year. Take time to recharge your own batteries or give this gift to your stressed out neighbor (or editor!). Float the tension away in a private state-of-the-art ocean float room away from distractions and interruption. Floats are available in 90- or 60-minute sessions and you can get $25 off gift cards right now (max of 5 gift cards). Paradise also offers a variety of memberships and package deals—because your gift recipient will want to do this again! Paradise Float Spa, 619 Severn Ave., Annapolis, 410-280-1960, paradisefloatspa.com

Warm Drinks by the Fire

Give the gift of well-being with a holiday tea set from Capital Teas. This all-in-one starter kit is a great gift for the tea lovers in your life. It includes an infuser mug, self-contained ceramic brewing and drinking cup with micro-mesh stainless steel infuser basket that’s compact and easy to use; a perfect cup spoon, a teaspoon that measures just the right amount of leaves for one cup of tea; four opaque 2-ounce tins keep your tea leaves fresh for up to two years; and loose tea in four flavors—O’ Christmas Tea, Figgy Pudding, Peppermint Bark, and Gingerbread Rooibos; $84.95: capitalteas.com

Luxury Rides

Introduce your favorite people to riding in style by gifting them a red Icon electric golf cart from Eastern Carts. Not a basic golf cart, the 2022 IconEV i40 in torch red features a 48-volt motor for greater torque and distance, plus seating for four. And looks great with a holiday ribbon on the hood. $8999.95, Eastern Carts, 1318 Defense Hwy, Gambrills, 410-451-5181, easterncarts.com

Gifts That Give Back

For those people who are hard to shop for or just have everything, a few ideas on remembering them during the holidays without having to wrap something.

A Gift of Trees

Buy a gift for a loved one, for future generations and for the environment through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The Gift of Trees is a program where residents purchase native trees—a single tree or a grove of ten—for planting in honor of a celebration, commemoration, or observation. Place orders now for a certificate to be delivered by Christmas. Details: shopDNR.com.

A Museum Membership

If you know someone who loves to learn, a Calvert Marine Museum membership is a gift that lasts all year long. They get free admission, presale tickets, the opportunity to attend special events and a discount in the museum store (a great place to shop). Levels start at $40 for individual and run all the way up to the VIP level. To get a gift membership, call the office at 410-326-2042 x8063. Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Rd., Solomons: calvertmarinemuseum.com

Feed the Hungry

A pandemic, natural disasters and more have all contributed to an unprecedented number of families living with food insecurity. DOUBLE the number of meals provided with your donation to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank thanks to a match campaign with Crosby Marketing. Gifts made through the end of the year will be matched—dollar for dollar— up to $25,000! Give today and double your donation: aafoodbank.org/give

Help an Animal

The SPCA of Anne Arundel County relies on the community for the funding necessary to care for thousands of animals throughout the year. You can make donations to a variety of designations and in honor or in memory of someone close to you; $250 covers the average cost of caring for an animal until it goes up for adoption. Aacspca.org

In Calvert County, the Calvert Animal Welfare League runs the Second Hand Store (FSa 11am-3pm) where all the proceeds directly benefit animals at the center. CAWL says they have a special need right now for beds to use in the kennels and has an Amazon wish list plus a list of supplies they need on their website, making it easy to help an animal in need. cawlrescue.org

Fight to End Alzheimer’s

If you know someone who has been affected by Alzheimer’s, what better gift than helping to fund research to end this deadly disease? Every dollar raised during the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s goes to the care, support, research, awareness and advocacy by the Alzheimer’s Association. Honor a loved one with a tribute gift: act.alz.org