Still searching for the perfect gift for your office grab bag, or an appropriate token for your new special friend? The Current is here to help. We’ve combed the area and come up with 11 affordable gift ideas for $20 or less, not including tax.
SOAP AND VINEGAR – Battaglia’s (319 Washington St., Hoboken) is a holiday shopper’s dream. The store sells everything from martini shakers to salad spinners to sea salt grinders to coffee mugs. Pictured are an Inter Design soap dispenser ($10.95), and a curvy bottle for vinegar ($12.95), which no home should be without.
POETIC POTTERY – If you want something with a more personal flair, you can solve your problems at A Time to Kiln (938 Washington St., Hoboken). The studio supplies the pottery – including $20 Santa teapots, and $18 menorahs – and you paint it yourself.
PATRIOTIC PRESENT – Galatea Lingerie (1224 Washington St., Hoboken) is peddling these patriotic long sleeved T-shirts for $20 a pop. Diane Stiglich, the boutique’s owner, designed the T-shirts. "After Sept. 11, I wanted a T-shirt with a flag, but they were all so aggressive, so I painted this one," she said. All proceeds from the sale of Stiglich’s benevolent, be-flagged garments are being donated to victims of Word Trade Center tragedy.
SAY CHEESE – Nothing says happy holiday like a stinky scrumptious block of fromage. Anthony David’s (953 Bloomfield, Hoboken) peddles myriad cheeses, including Tuma dla Paja, an aromatic Camembert-like sheep’s milk formaggio from Italy. The gourmet market is also a great place to get sweetly wrapped treats like spiced peach chutney, gooseberry mint sauce and sweet pepper pesto.
HIGH BALL – House Wear (626 Washington St., Hoboken) is overflowing with great gift ideas for under $20. For instance, Martini shakers ($17) and "High Balls, High Heels: The Art of Cocktails," ($13.95) always make a great gift.
BIG FUN – Oversized rubber ducks ($14) and Jesus action figures ($7) are just two of the great gifts to be found at Big Fun Toys (602 Washington St., Hoboken). They also sell dozens of board games, punching puppets and Silly Putty, along with tchotchkes that range in price form 50 cents to $5.
HAT DREAMS – Olive green wool hats adorned with pins that read "Rude Girl" and "Kitten" will make the perfect present for the sassy girl in your life. And fortunately, Hoboken’s chic boutique Airs Studios (55 First St.) peddles them for only $20.
PLANT IT – Sometimes all it takes is a single red rose to say happy holiday to that special someone in your life. At Grove Florist (317 Grove St., Jersey City), single flowers start at $2. They also sell plants, which start at $15.
FALL INTO THE GAP – Undergarments always make a great stocking stuffer. The Gap (Newport Centre Mall, Jersey City) is selling holiday-patterned soft-woven cotton boxers with elastic waist bands for only $12.50.
GREEN THUMB – Hardware stores are brimming with gift ideas. For instance, Downtown Hardware (152 Newark Ave., Jersey City) sells oversized forks for gardening ($13.99) – the perfect gift for the green thumb.
TALKING BEER OPENER – And last but not least, why not choose the perfect gift for the alcoholic in your life? With all the bars in this area, the sample we were recently mailed seemed like a great idea. Pacific Direct, a Seattle-based company, has developed a line of beer openers that actually talk. The sound automatically emits when the opener touches the bottle cap. The original Talking Beer Opener features a happy voice saying, "Oh yeah! Time for a beer!" The company has recently added a Corona version that says, "Cerveza Senor?" followed by an enthusiastic "Oh, Corona;" a Miller version that says "Oh, it’s Miller Time;" and a Three Stooges Talking Beer Opener featuring Curly ordering a beer. A Talking Beer Opener goes for $7.95 and can be purchased online at Talkingbeeropener.com or by calling (800) 535-0131.