Orange holiday gift guide: niche places to shop for presents that won’t be regifted
Christmas: the most wonderful — and stressful — time of the year. Trying to get friends and family members presents that say, “I put a lot of thought into this gift, and it just screams you,” isn’t easy. How can you top Santa giving the little boy a reindeer's bell in "The Polar Express" or Scott giving Charlie the magical snow globe in "The Santa Clause"?
Luckily, Orange has several niche stores where you can find the gift you didn’t know you needed.. Here are six places to shop for Christmas gifts in Orange that actually have presents people won’t regift next year or return for store credit.
Laurenly
142 N Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866
Gift Highlights: two-piece sets, booties and jewelry
For those family or friends whose objective is to look cute and trendy this holiday season, Laurenly is the place to look for their gift. A soft pink matching set consisting of ribbed leggings and a ribbed half-zip sweater would be the perfect outfit for them to wear under the mistletoe this year. This comfy, pink set screams, “I just threw this on, but I look adorable” — the exact vibe to give off when lounging around your hometown. After all, you never know who you're going to run into; an old flame might turn into a holiday romance. Laurenly also has white and pink booties, as well as jewelry in both silver and gold, so you can get your friend accessories to match their own personal preferences.
Visitors of The Potting Shed in Old Towne Orange explore the lush greenery of the shop’s outdoor atrium. Photos by DANIEL PEARSON, Photo Editor
2. The Potting Shed by Carlisle
10 Plaza Square Suite 102, Orange, CA 92866
Gift Highlights: succulents, wall art, artisanal snacks and cocktail mixers
So, one of your friends collected a bunch of plants during quarantine and is now an official plant parent. If this scenario rings a bell, The Potting Shed is a great place to find a gift for any blossoming botanist; purchase the succulent of their dreams with a colorful new pot to start the new year off vibrantly.
Out of floor space? The store offers a piece of wooden wall art covered in moss that would complement any rustic decor.
Wooden shelves at The Potting Shed are lined with candles, sage and artisanal goods.
Additionally, The Potting Shed offers a surprising bounty of artisanal snacks such as ‘pickles under the ginfluence” (pickles brined in gin, rosemary and jalapeño), rustic sourdough flatbread and red mustard. All you need is some cheese, and you’ve got yourself a gourmet charcuterie board.
Pair it with one of their cocktail mixers, such as a Blackberry Pomegranate or a Lavender Honey concentrate, and your parent’s annual Christmas Eve party will be set to commence with your thoughtful cheese and booze combo. They can eat now and thank you later, after their hangover wears off.
3. Duchess on Cambridge
910 E Chapman Ave, Orange, CA 92866
Gift Highlights: festive tableware, charcuterie boards
Your parents are going to need a serving platter for all of the nibbly bits you're getting from the Potting Shed. Luckily, the Duchess on Cambridge has a plethora of festive tableware from ornament-shaped cups to wooden charcuterie boards.
Their wooden cheese boards are accompanied by little silver cheese knives accentuated with silver leaves and red holly to make them extra festive. The boards even come with a little silver bowl to put jams or the red mustard in, so the aesthetic of the ultimate cheese board doesn't become a gooey mess.
If children are coming to the party, a Christmas mug and a hot chocolate bomb filled with mini marshmallows would add an extra layer of Christmas merriment to their day. The Duchess on Cambridge offers boxes of chocolates and candy canes, so that the little ones can have something to snack on if red mustard and cheese are a bit too over their heads.
Even if these are not potential holiday gifts, the experience at this store is worth it. Each customer is greeted by Christmas carols, and the scent of sweet ferns makes this feel like the coziest house turned into an extravagant Christmas store.
4. Nevada Mineral and Book Company
342 S Tustin St, Orange, CA 92866
Gift Highlights: crystals
For friends and family members who want to manifest extra good energy going into their new year, a crystal might just be what they need to get through the darkness of January, which is what's offered at the Nevada Mineral Shop.
A rose quartz can help them emotionally heal from the turbulent year that was 2021 or even mend broken relationships that fell apart this year.
If they are already pretty stable in their lives, a clear quartz might still do them good, as it is said to clear any negative energy that might come into one’s life to ruin their positive workflow. Clear quartz is also claimed to enhance the beholder’s percolating ideas, turning thought into practice.
In this fast-paced world dominated by unhealthy ideals of productivity, it would be surprising if no one would find a moonstone to be useful. The moonstone is meant to calm emotions and encourage inspiration, so your friend or family's work can come out of a place of love and ingenuity rather than stress.
The Orange Circle Antique Mall attracts tourists and residents with a surplus of vintage items like records and clothing. DANIEL PEARSON, Photo Editor
5. Orange Circle Antique Mall
118 S Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866
Gift Highlights: 60s inspired accessories and decor
For those friends who became obsessed with the 60s style after watching “Last Night in Soho,” the Orange Circle Antique Mall is where you want to go to find their gift. Whether it's a new vintage purse or some jewelry to accessorize their chic shift dress and voluminous hair, the Antique Mall has it all. These purses are beaded with the most radiant pearlescent beads, so they will shine under the street lights on a night out.
If you’re looking to give the gift of immersion, pick up a Time magazine from the 1960s from the store’s vast collection to transport back to the swing age.
Record players have made a comeback in the 21st century, and what’s better than hearing the smooth music of the 60s the way it was intended. The Antique Mall has various records harking back several decades, so any music aficionado can find the record that speaks most to their style, no matter what their Spotify Wrapped was this year.
For those friends who consider themselves grandma chic, the Mall also has vintage China sets reminiscent of the type your grandma would keep stored in her display cabinet and never use. They have the classic blue and white china that can hang in the kitchen or clear crystal oval bowls for holding small treats.
6. Book Carnival
348 S Tustin St, Orange, CA 92866
Gift Highlights: books
The perfect gift for any bookworm, or even someone who says they buy books but never reads them, is found at The Book Carnival.
"Romeo and Juliet" is always a good one if someone is trying to catch up on the classics, but not if you’re coming out of heartbreak. In that case, the reader might want something more along the lines of “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle — a modern classic in which a woman documents her self-discovery and growth. The memoir is a much more entertaining form of a self-help book and is a little less preachy.
However, if your Secret Santa doesn't mind a self-help book, then “Atomic Habits” by James Clear is the way to go, as it will set them up for a productive new year. For the friend who is trying to make or break a habit this year, this book will finally check that off their bucket list.