It’s the holidays – time to buy gifts and entertain. So plan, prioritize, and hit the local stores. Got too many nieces and nephews to give to? Maybe you can organize a family effort in which each relative picks a name out of a hat to buy a gift for. That will keep prices down this year. It also helps to know where the sales are. Below you’ll find some suggestions for reasonably priced gifts and information on special holiday sales.
Sparrow Wine & Liquor
Nothing brings quicker cheer to the holidays than a glass of it. Wine or liquor is the perfect gift to bring to any festive occasion. It’s also a gift your host can appreciate with you.
Sparrow Wine & Liquor has two locations – 126 Washington St. and 1224 Shipyard Lane in Hoboken. They offer a superb selection of fine wines and a knowledgeable staff to help you decide. There are specialty gift baskets, personal wine labels, custom gift baskets, and gift cards.
For the personal wine labels, they will scan a picture for you to put on the bottle. The gift baskets can be large or small.
In addition to the many fine spirits, they have cheese, spreads, and specialty food items. You can arrange a basket according to your tastes or choose one of the pre-made baskets if you are in a hurry. Gift-wrapping is available, and all major credit cards are accepted. For more information, please call (201) 659-1500 or visit www.sparrowine.com.
Empire Coffee and Tea
Another good hostess gift is coffee or tea. Even if your host doesn’t drink it, they will probably need to serve it at some point.
Empire Coffee at 338 Bloomfield St. in Hoboken has a huge selection of custom blended coffee, including a large selection of decaffeinated blends. For the holidays, try the eggnog or pumpkin spice blends.
For the coffee connoisseur, there are cappuccino makers and beautiful cups and mugs. They also have specialty loose leaf tea, which is custom blended. In addition to the fine coffee and tea, they also have imported chocolates and cookies.
The store has large and small gift baskets starting at around $30, or you can custom design your own gift basket. They also offer a sampler for under $25 with four different kinds of coffee.
All major credit cards are accepted, gift certificates may be purchased, and gift-wrapping is done on the premises. The store hours are: Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Sunday from 10 to 6 p.m. For more information, please call (201) 216-9625 or visit www.empirecoffeetea.com.
Anastasia’s Accessories
Anastasia’s Accessories at 1006 Washington St. in Hoboken is offering specialty services for the holidays. The store has a fine jewelry line for men and women and many gift ideas for the men in your life. They have wine accessories, golf accessories, personal toiletries, and jewelry for men.
One of the services they provide is a gift registry. A person can come in a register and fill out a wish list for gift hints. (This is particularly good for women who want to drop a hint to their boyfriends.) Another is gift-wrap and gift delivery. They will hand deliver gifts or ship them.
All major credit cards are accepted, gift cards are available, and the store will have extended hours for the holiday season.
The store hours are: Monday to Friday from 12 to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 to 5 p.m. For more information, please call (201) 792-7330.
Antique Reflections
This specialty gift shop on 305 First St. in Hoboken has fine jewelry, gift items, and more. For the holiday they will be offering 25 percent off all antique silver items and selected antique jewelry. The sale runs from Nov. 22 to Dec. 24. The store hours are Monday through Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. For more information, please call (201) 798-4222.
Battaglia’s
Battaglia’s at 319 Washington St. in Hoboken has plenty of housewares, decorative ceramics, and dinnerware. They also have the largest selections of ornaments in Hoboken in addition to other decorative holiday items. In addition, they have a large selection of decorative candles that smell great too. All major credit cards are accepted. For more information, please call (201) 798-1122.
Hudson County Art Supply
For the artist in your life, what could be better than a new set of paints or paper? Hudson County Art Supply, located at 381 Monmouth St. in Jersey City has every art supply you could want including paints, pens, paper, chalk, charcoal, brushes, and much more.
They will arrange custom art kits, and gift certificates are available. For the holiday they will be offering a 20 to 50 percent discount on most items on certain days. Check with the store for more details.
They are open Monday through Friday from 11 to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. For more information, please call (201) 963-2121.
Big Drum
Big Drum, located in the Newport Center Mall, is a custom-framing place. For Black Friday (tomorrow), the store will offer 25 percent off custom orders. For more information please call, (201) 418-8771.
Downtown Hardware
Downtown Hardware, located at 152 Newark Ave. in Jersey City, has a sale on three items for the month of December including: Duracell Batteries for $1.99, Cowhide Leather gloves for $2.99, and a 75-piece adaptor set for drills for $8.99. For more information, please call (201) 432-9524 or visit www.downtownhardwarejc.com.
Shear Madness
Shear Madness at 80 Park Ave. in Hoboken is a full-service salon for men and women. The salon will offer specials throughout the holidays. On Dec. 11 they are having a holiday open house from 11 to 4 p.m. There will be free consultations, hair analysis, product samples and five-minute makeovers featuring makeup by Bed Head and The System Professional Line by Wella. Refreshments will be served.
In addition, for the month of December on Wednesdays or Fridays, if you book with Lisa you will receive extra savings including a $10 gift card with woman’s haircut, a $15 gift card with any single process color, and a $25 gift card with any highlight service.
Major credit cards are accepted and gift cards are available. For more information, please call (201) 222-2102.
Experience Life Spa
Experience Life Spa located at 20 River Drive South in Jersey City is a full service spa with services for men and women. For the holidays they have several spa gift packages to choose from.
The package for men includes: a hair cut, facial treatment and a choice of a warm stone massage or deep tissue for $165. The woman’s three-hour package includes: a stone massage, facial peel, Aveda scalp treatment, haircut and style, and much more for $220.
Both of the packages come with a spa gift.
On Dec. 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. is the holiday party with complimentary mini services and a spa gift for everyone. They offer gift certificates and custom designed packages. All major credit cards are accepted. For more information please call, (201) 626-6262.
Tia’s Place
Tia’s Place located at 277 Grove St. in Jersey City has a huge selection of men’s and women’s clothing, plus specialty gift items. For the holidays they have gifts, formal dresses and more.
All major credit cards are accepted, and gift cards and wrapping are available. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 8 p.m. For more information, please call (201) 451-9358.
For your furry friend!
Get Santa pictures with your pet for only $5 on Dec. 10 and 11 from 11 to 7 p.m. at Claws-n-Paws. Free Oatmeal bath for your dog with the coupon from the Hoboken Reporter. For more information please call (201) 386-1881, or visit their store at 508 Fifth St. in Hoboken.
Fetch It, located at 228 Seventh St. in Jersey City, is having a storewide sale on Black Friday. They are offering 10 to 25 percent off all selected merchandise. For more information please call (201) 659-2880.