#free original glazed w/coffee

[sensei-aishitemasu]

2020 Black-Owned Gift Guide!

2020 Black-Owned Gift Guide!

It’s that time again! Our SIXTH ANNUAL BLACK-OWNED GIFT GUIDE IS HERE!!!! This Black Friday, try and support a Black-owned business for all your gift-giving needs. For last years gift guide, click here. For the 2018 gift guide, click here. For the 2017 gift guide, click here. For the 2016 gift guide, click here. For the 2015 gift guide, click here.

Similar to previous lists, I kept every individual item listed under $100! Click on the links to be taken to the websites in order to peruse more yourselves: all businesses listed are Black-owned, and many are run by Black women, Black Americans specifically, manufactured here in the United States, and/or sustainably and ethically sourced with philanthropic causes attached to sales! Check them out. 

In addition, this year there are THREE NEW CATEGORIES! Check out items for the ‘Goth/Kawaii,’ for your ‘Activist Bae,’ and for the ‘Esoteric’ down below.

[As always, this guide has been split into categories to make it easier to get through, but feel free to mix and match for the person in your life that fits all of (or none of!) these categories!]

For the Homebody:

Lettie Gooch Small Safety Matches, $18 Lettie Gooch Amber & Moss Soy Candle, $20 Lettie Gooch White Concrete White Tea & Ginger Candle, $28 Lettie Gooch Planetarium Throw Blanket, $68 Lettie Gooch Soleil Throw Blanket, $68

Debra Cartwright ‘Bike’ Watercolor Print, $38 Debra Cartwright ‘Aura’ Watercolor Print, $87 Debra Cartwright ‘Astro Millennial Ladies in Quarantine’ Coloring Book, $5

Harlem Candle Company ‘Brownstone’ Luxury Candle, $45 Harlem Candle Company ‘Lenox’ Luxury Room Spray, $30 Harlem Candle Company ‘Langston’ Luxury Room Spray, $30

Jungalow Genie Vase, $89 Jungalow Handwoven Peach Planter, $49 Jungalow Azul Face Pillow by Justina Blakeney X Loloi, $89 Jungalow Soft Mint Pillow, $89 Jungalow Aja Wallpaper in Green by Justina Blakeney, $5 (per sheet) Jungalow Tigris Wallpaper in Onyx by Justina Blakeney, $5 (per sheet) Jungalow Cream Looped Wool Rug, $99.00 Jungalow Silvia Teal & Berry Rug by Justina Blakeney X Loloi, $69.00 Jungalow Striped Orange Outdoor Rug, $59.00 Jungalow Reindeer Games Hook Pillow by Justina Blakeney, $60.00 Jungalow Peace Vase by Justina Blakeney, $68.00 

Kashmir Viii ‘S is for Soul’ Print, $35-$45 

Galerie LA Rooted Incense Holder, $45

Duchess365 358 Art Print, $23.99 

Jeff Manning Art ‘Aplomb’ Art Print, $45 Jeff Manning Art ‘Pacific’ Art Print, $30

Kicky Mats ‘Get Naked’ Bath Mat, $30 Kicky Mats ‘Did You Wash Your Hands?’ Doormat, $50 Kicky Mats ‘Go Away, Come Back With Wine’ Doormat, $50 Kicky Mats ‘Did You Call First?’ Doormat, $50

228 Grant Street Candle Co. Tobacco + Patchouli Gold Travel Tin, $11 228 Grant Street Candle Co. Wild Blackberry + Absinthe Amber Jar, $21 228 Grant Street Candle Co. Oakmoss + Amber Apothecary Jar, $32

Shea Makery Strawberry Cheesecake Signature Candle, $40 Shea Makery Cinna-Bowl Signature Candle, $40

The Silver Room Cider and Cedar Leaf Candle, $34 The Silver Room Rose Water & Tea Leaves Diffuser, $28 The Silver Room Minnie Ripperton - Les Fleur Vinyl, $26

Rituals + Ceremony Anonomy Sculptures, $79 Rituals + Ceremony USB Travel Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser, $25

Handcrafted Ceramic Watering Cans, $64

Fill More Waste Less Natural Loofah Sponge, $2.50 Fill More Waste Less Food Huggers, $12. 99 

Ment Nelson Backwoods Baptism Print, $50 Ment Nelson Old Sheldon Print, $40

Quarantine Games!

Trading Races, $19.99

Winsults, $25

Cards For All People - Black Card Revoked (First Edition), $17.99

Trap Wars - The Urban Game Night Experience, $22.99

Lyrically Correct 90's & 2000's Hip Hop/R&B Edition, $24.99

Black Wall Street - The Black History Board Game, $49.99

Pull Your Card Music Trivia: Hip Hop Edition, $14.99

Spill It Card Game, $23

'Verified' A Party Game for Social Media Lovers (Original Edition), $19.99

For the Foodie:

Kashmir Viii ‘The Black Power’ Mixtape Coasters, $40 Kashmir Viii ‘Reclaim It’ Mug, $16 Kashmir Viii ‘I Slay.’ Clutch, $45 

Galerie LA Peak and Valley Balance Blend, $30 

‘The Cooking Gene,’ by Michael W. Twitty, $28.99 

‘From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes From the Boss Dog’s Kitchen’ by Snoop Dogg, $24.95 

Essie Spice Signature Sauce Collection, $42 

‘Your Guide to Tasteful Manners’ with Love Cork Screw, $19.95 

‘Deliciously Vegan’ Cookbook by The Chic Natural, $28.95 

EAT Apron, $30

Midnight Reflections Crowned White Ceramic Mug, $19.99

The Spice Suite Utensils + Oven Mitts, $50 The Spice Suite ‘The Little Black Spice Book’ (E-book), $30

Rituals + Ceremony Circle Mug, $40 Rituals + Ceremony Agate 6pc Plate Set, $24

Blk + Grn Stainless Steel Tea Ball Infuser, $4

Fill More Waste Less Reusable Tea Strainer, $14.99

Good Thoughts Tea Co. Tea Spoon Set, $12

KazvareMadeIt Personalised Alphabet Mug Tile Print, $20.99 KazvareMadeIt Banananana Cushion, $55.80

Addie Rawr ‘Addie's Cocktail Collection’ (Cards & Prints), $3.75

For the Beauty Guru:

Lettie Gooch Blends Perfume: Earth, $30 Lettie Gooch Bloom Perfume Blend No. 586, $48 

Galerie LA Hand Sanitizer, $10 Galerie LA Cream Cleanser, $16 Galerie LA Citrine Sea Tropical Exfoliator, $18 Galerie LA Botanica Rose Roller, $14 Galerie LA Botanica Lavender Roller, $14 Galerie LA Aurora Superfood Elixer (Face Serum), $27 Galerie LA Jade Eye Mask, $44 Galerie LA Rose Quartz Facial Roller, $28.00 

Shea Makery Scar Healing Serum, $23 Shea Makery Cinnamon Bun Body Butter, $25 Shea Makery Glazed Donut Body Butter, $25 Shea Makery Milk + Honey + Syrup Bubble Bath, $22 Shea Makery Honeycomb Bath Set, $16

The Lip Bar Cheek and Eye Palette, $15  The Lip Bar ‘Goddess’ Lipgloss, $14 The Lip Bar ‘Bawse Lady’ Liquid Matte Lipstick, $13  The Lip Bar ‘4:00 Stuntin' Fast Face Kit,’ $99 The Lip Bar Limited Edition Easy Holiday Glam Collection, $25  The Lip Bar ‘Lip Bar Littles,’ $18.99 The Lip Bar Minimalist Lovers Bundle, $36

Auda B. Beauty Soy Polish Remover, $26 

Breukelen Polished ‘Paid and Full,’ $11 Breukelen Polished ‘Get Me Right’ Treatment Set, $25

Beauty Bakerie ‘Milk & Honey’ Highlighting Brush, $18 Beauty Bakerie ‘Coffee and Cocoa’ Bronzer Palette, $38 Beauty Bakerie ‘Black Egg-cellence’ Beauty Sponges, $18  Beauty Bakerie ‘Sugar Cookies’ Palette, $28 Beauty Bakerie ‘The Butter’ Hydrasilk Primer, $24

Mented Mini Brush Trio, $10 Mented Everyday Eyeshadow Palette, $28 Mented Brush Collection, $45 Mented Holiday Faves Trio, $50

Blac Minerals Highlight Bundle, $32 

Danessa Myricks Beauty Oil, $30  Danessa Myricks Waterproof Cream Palettes, $36 Danessa Myricks Luxe Cream Palettes ‘The Nudist,’ $44

Pear Nova ‘Holiday Essentials’ Nail Set, $90 

Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Voodoo, $18  Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Midnight Cowboy, $18 Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Black Orpheus, $18 Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Scarab, $18

Hunny Bunny Cuticle Cream, $4.50 Hunny Bunny Grapefruit Sugar Scrub, $20

Taupe Coat in Good Fortune, $11

More Brands To Try:

People of Color Beauty

Mischo Beauty

Suite Eleven

Brown Butter Beauty

Beija Flor Naturals

Plain Jane Beauty

Ancient Cosmetics

Hue Noir

Lotus Moon Skincare

For the Fashion Conscious:

Merit ‘Fate’ Bucket Hat, $20

Chris Cardi Signature TwistDYE Tee, $33

Lettie Gooch Black Mineral Washed Jacquard Leggings, $68 Lettie Gooch ‘Smiling On The Inside’ Mask, $28

Kashmir Viii Face Masks, $16 Kashmir Viii ‘Around The Way Girl’ Clutch, $45-$60

Galerie LA Hemp Tie Button Down Sage, $90 Galerie LA Gratia Jumpsuit Tumeric, $100 Galerie LA Red Zipper Wallet, $45 Galerie LA Dopp Kitt (Makeup Bag) in Navy, $40 Galerie LA Lunar Star Earrings, $100 Galerie LA Meria Sunglasses Coral Pink, $75 Galerie LA Oda Ring, $45 Galerie LA Sabbath Cocoon Tunic, $85

Tree Fairfax Keychain, $22.50 Tree Fairfax Lois Belt, $45

LoveCortnie Polka Dot Leather Key Chain Clasps, $15 LoveCortnie Small Leather Tassel, $17 LoveCortnie ‘Color Me’ Coin Purse, $30 LoveCortnie Envelope Card Holder (Black & White), $32

Rue 107 ‘Toni’ Bikini in XOXO Print, $98 Rue 107 Signature Pencil Skirt in XOXO Print, $68 Rue 107 Tied Cropped Tank in XOXO Print, $48 Rue 107 Tied Cropped Tank in Vintage Rose Print, $48 Rue 107 Signature Pencil Skirt in Vintage Rose Print, $68

Grant Blvd ‘Sustainable Shit Only’ Fanny Pack, $26

Ebony and Green Mindfulness Earrings, $10

For the Bookworm:

‘Daymares’ by Kenya Moss-Dyme, $12.99

‘Hood Feminism’ by Mikki Kendall, $26

‘The Source of Self-Regard’ by Toni Morrison, $28.95

‘Tar Baby’ by Toni Morrison, $15

‘The Beautiful Ones’ by Prince, $30

‘In Her Hands: The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage’ by Alan Schroeder, $12.95

‘The Street: A Novel’ by Ann Petry, $15.99

‘Chasing Down a Dream: A Blessings Novel’ by Beverly Jenkins, $14.99

‘Rebel (Women Who Dare)’ by Beverly Jenkins, $5.98

‘Night Song’ by Beverly Jenkins, $8.99

‘Tempest’ by Beverly Jenkins, $5.98

‘Our Black Year: One Family's Quest to Buy Black in America's Racially Divided Economy’ by Maggie Anderson, $17

Rayo and Honey ‘Books Change Your Mind’ Pennant, $75

Jungalow Face Bookend Vase by Justina Blakeney, $98

Midnight Reflections Black Nerd Tote Bag, $18.99

Addie Rawr Book Club Dolls Stickers (Die Cut Stickers), $9.50

For the Kids:

Jungalow Leela Terracotta Rug by Justina Blakeney X Loloi, $89.00 Jungalow Pink Looped Wool Rug, $99.00

Galerie LA Kids Face Mask, $25

Duchess365 237 Canvas Print, $98.99 Duchess365 231 Tote Bag, $24.99 Duchess365 279 Art Print, $23.99 Duchess365 241 Framed Art Print, $47.99

Shea Makery PB & J Soap, $10 Shea Makery ‘Save A Life’ Mini Assorted Hand Soaps (Set of 12), $5

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, $16.99

‘Clean Getaway’ by Nic Stone, $16.99

‘Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid’ by Mikaela Ulmer, $16.19

ABC Me Flashcards, $20

IkdKids Rag Doll, $40

KaAn’s ‘Living The Dream’ Denim Jacket, $40

Yinibini Baby Badminton Playing Octopus Tee, $23 Yinibini Baby Fox Pullover Sweatshirt Jogger Set, $41 Yinibini Baby ROAR Lion Hooded Pullover, $45 Yinibini Narwhal Toy, $28

For the Masculine:

ALWD Signature DC PROPER Sweatshirt, $40

Chris Cardi ‘Bastards’ Tee, $30.03

Merit Flannel Shirt (Green), $65

Kashmir Viii ‘Everybody Eats, B,’ Tee, $45 Kashmir Viii ‘The Knockout’ Tee, $45

Galerie LA ‘Mister’ T-Shirt, $45

Jeff Manning Art ‘Overflow’ Art Print, $30 Jeff Manning Art ‘The Golden Age’ Art Print, $45 Jeff Manning Art ‘Overflowed Emotions’ Art Print, $50

Levi Fisher Beard Bundle, $39.99

Scotch Porter Face Care Collection, $28.99 Scotch Porter Journal, $9.99

Shea Makery Beard Oil, $15

Enbois Matte Lava Rock Bracelet, $40 Enbois Benji Matte Sunglasses, $45 Enbois Bracelets Collection - Cocoa, $50

The Silver Room Tourer Backpack, $95

Urban Profile Black Panther Shirt, $24.99

Solo Noir Starter Kit, $28.99

Bevel Shave Starter Bundle, $89.95 Bevel Skin Starter Set, $61.95

For the Tech Savvy:

Enbois iPhone Case, $12 Enbois Power Bank, $15 Enbois Grip Socket, $4

Chic Geeks Brown Faux Crocodile iPad Case, $75 Chic Geeks Brown Snakeskin iPad Case, $75 Chic Geeks Emerald Faux Crocodile iPhone Case, $50 Chic Geeks Grey Marble MacBook Case, $80 Chic Geeks Black Faux Crocodile iPad Case, $75

Khristian A. Howell Cava Melon Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99 Khristian A. Howell Cava Black Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99

NSPRE ‘Inferno’ Bluetooth Sunglasses, $71.99 NSPRE Micro SD Card (128GB), $21.98 NSPRE ‘The Ombres’ Bluetooth Audio Sunglasses, $59.99  NSPRE ‘The Solars’ Bluetooth BlueTech Glasses, $59.99

For the Goth/Kawaii:

VickiBeWicked Vinyl Sticker Heart Drippy Mushroom, Laptop Decal, $4 VickiBeWicked Rainbow Unicorn, Black Girl Magic Laptop Sleeve, $30.99 VickiBeWicked AfroGirls Masked Up Laptop Sleeve, $30.99 VickiBeWicked Pastel Horn Face Resin Keychain, $12.99 VickiBeWicked Red and White Splatter Skull Dangle Earrings, $7.50

Kashmir Viii ‘The KeKe’ Print, $35-$60

Adorned by Chi ‘Goth Club Presidenct’ Unisex Raglan T-Shirt, $34.99 Adorned by Chi ‘Pro Black’ Unisex Raglan T-Shirt, $34.99 Adorned by Chi ‘Pretty Girls Like Anime’ T-Shirt, $32.99 Adorned by Chi ‘Awkward’ Iron-On Patch, $11.99 Adorned by Chi ‘I Need My Space’ Hard Enamel Pin, $12.99

The Colour Polka Dot iPhone XS ‘Creepy Cute’ Rainbow Phone Case, $40 The Colour Polka Dot ‘Creepy Cute’ Spoopy Ornaments, $12 The Colour Polka Dot ‘Kawaii Cute’ Face Mask Case, $16

Embrii Shop Blush Pink Laptop Sleeve, $36

Gothic Lamb Anti Social Goth Club Tee, $28 Gothic Lamb ‘FedUp’ Tee, $24 Gothic Lamb ‘Make America Goth Again’ Tee, $28 Gothic Lamb ‘Melanin Manson’ Tee, $24

For the Esoteric:

Behati Life Third Eye Vision And Prophetic Dreams Intention Oil, $22 Behati Life New Moon Bath Soak Herbal Mix, $22 Behati Life Lunar Goddess Moon Magick Intention Oil, $22

Lettie Gooch Ecuadorian Palo Santo Quartz Crystal Bundle, $18

Jungalow Chaya Wallpaper in Amethyst by Justina Blakeney, $5

The Silver Room White Sage Bundle, $6

Grandma Baby's Black Gold Lenormand Tarot Deck, $44

Pretty Spirits ‘The Truth’ Decks, $50

The Afro Tarot, $88

The Hoodoo Tarot: 78-Card Deck and Book for Rootworkers by Tayannah Lee McQuillar, $18.66

‘Rootwork: Using the Folk Magick of Black America for Love, Money and Success’ by Tayannah Lee McQuillar, $11.99

Rituals + Ceremony Palo Santo Pack, $7 Rituals + Ceremony Empowered Vibes Ceramic Incense Holder, $10 Rituals + Ceremony Adinkra Intention Candles, $23 Rituals + Ceremony Cleanse and Protect Ritual Kit, $34 Rituals + Ceremony Crystal Candles, $22 Rituals + Ceremony Crystal Bliss: Attract Love, Feed Your Spirit, Manifest Your Dreams Book, $14.99

Ebony and Green Raw Clear Quartz Earrings, $15

For Your Activist Bae:

Kashmir Viii ‘Kash’s Bacon Shack’ Clutch, $45 Kashmir Viii ‘Copy and Paste’ Tee, $45 Kasmir Viii ‘We Did It First’ Stickers, $5.25-$20 Kashmir Viii ‘Reclaim It’ Clock, $45 Kashmir Viii ‘The Black Family’ Tee, $45

Jeff Manning Art ‘MLK’ Art Print, $35 Jeff Manning Art ‘We Shall Prevail’ Art Print, $45

‘The Spook Who Sat By The Door’ by Sam Greenlee, $21.99 ‘The Black Panthers Speak,’ $20 The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975, $22.95 A Beautiful Ghetto by Devin Allen, $26.95 ‘Are Prisons Obsolete?’ by Angela Davis, $15.95

Angela Davis T-Shirt, $25

Legendary Rootz ‘Black Girls Are The Purest Form of Art’ Tee, $25

Alex Carter ‘BLACK BUSINESS OWNERSHIP’ Tee, $50

Rayo and Honey ‘Much To Be Done & Undone’ Pennant, $75 Rayo and Honey ‘Black Lives Matter’ Pennant, $75 Rayo and Honey ‘Joy Is An Act Of Resistance’ Tote Bag, $65

‘They Carried Us: The Social Impact of Philadelphia’s Black Women Leaders’ by Allener M. Baker-Rogers & Fasaha M. Traylor, $ 28.99

Midnight Reflections Black Radical Woman Tank, $25.00

The Colour Polka Dot ‘Fuck Racism’ Resin Heart Keychain, $8

Rituals + Ceremony Be The Change Scented Candle, $24

Grant Blvd ‘Disrupter’ Tee, $30 Grant Blvd ‘End Cash Bail’ Hoodie, $54 

Cards, Notebooks and Wrapping Paper + Holiday Ornaments:

VickiBeWicked ‘Skull Santa’ and Candy Cane Greeting Cards, $2

Harlem Candle Company Set of 10 Vintage Nightclub Greeting Cards, $30

Kashmir Viii ‘Nina En Printemps’ (Nina Simone) Notebook, $14 Kashmir Viii ‘Boo Yow!’ Notebook, $14

Midnight Reflections Wrapping Paper 3-pack, $26.97

Midnight Reflections Claus Ceramic Ornaments, $15.99

Midnight Reflections Emoji Black Santa Christmas Stockings, $24.99

Bylianarae Note Cards, $15

KazvareMadeIt Rap Lines Inspirational Coloring Book, $18.20 KazvareMadeIt Lemonade Notebook, $18.20 KazvareMadeIt Fried Egg Wallpaper, $4.88 KazvareMadeIt Diamond Retro Wrapping Paper, $4.88

Khristian A. Howell ‘Speak To Me’ Wallpaper, $12 (sample pack) Khristian A. Howell ‘Palm Springs’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Sonar’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Twinkle’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Ansley Park’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Rosy’ Holiday Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Long Weekend’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Bonjour’ Card Set (10 pk), $18

GreenTop Gifts ‘Clarence Claus’ HOHOHO Gift Wrap, $7.50 GreenTop Gifts ‘Clarence Claus’ Do Not Open Gift Wrap, $7.50 GreenTop Gifts ‘Clarence Claus’ Candy Canes and Trees Gift Wrap, $7.50

Addie Rawr 2021 Planners (Preorder), $30 Addie Rawr The Great Gratitude Journal, $20 Addie Rawr The Great Gratitude Journal, $20

[class-wom]

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[hazbinextgeneration]

These Few Moments

How does one decide another's worth? How does one predict another's personality or their impact they leave behind? Well unless you can see into the future and know for sure what you're dealing with then you're in for surprises. Which is what happened to him not too long ago. He could admit(just to himself) that he never expected to be surprised by someone he originally perceived as an easy pawn to his own needs. He never expected to be the one drawn to something so opposite of himself. But here he was, one moment minding himself the next- She didn't even know he was watching as she shifted through the small stack of papers in her hands. Her purple eyes narrowed and scrunched snout in thought. Suddenly her purple eyes lit up and she turned to him. He adverted his eyes just in time to not arose suspicions. "Everything seems organized already." "Is it now?" She nodded before leaning arcoss the desk to show him the neat stack of papers to him. His eyes glazed over the newspaper in his hand, raising a brow at her work. "Excellent! Now, why don't you put those away, Pet? Im sure you'll be busy with other things tomorrow." She rolled her eyes but leaned away. "Ok. I get the hint." He chuckled but sat back. A slight pang of pain shot up his left arm from the movement of his body but gritted his teeth and bit it down in front of company. Just a slight cramp from signing nothing but papers all day. Anyones arm would be sore....Come to think of it. How long had they been at this paper pushing fiasco? A couple hours by the way his wrist was feeling. He reached it out to grabb at the mug on the desk when another throb coursed through his arm. A single hiss escaped his gritted teeth which caught her attention. Her brow rose and she gave him a questioning look. "Are ...you alright?" His grin came back up. "Of course. Being tired is no problem..." His eyes glanced too the cup for a moment. "..Why don't you make yourself useful and get me some more coffee, Flower? Im going to need more energy if Im going to deal with this." "Alright. You're the boss." "And don't forget that.~" She rolled her eyes but received the mug whilst standing up. Grin still present on his face. She gave him another look before laying down the papers with her other hand and turning around. He waited for her back to turn and she was walking away before grimacing and holding up his sore wrist up to his face with a hiss. His muscles were cramped and tight when he moved the red digits. Just great. He rotated the pained appendage causing more pain and his eye to twitch in irritation. Mumbling to himself, he carefully set the wrist back down onto the desk and reached his good arm over to grab the papers. Slapping them down in front of him and staring at the words typed upon them. Eyes furrowed in irritation. He didn't notice the return of the lady who stopped momentarily upon seeing his annoyed expression. She frowned slightly upon noticing it. Did she do something wrong when she organized them? Or was he not happy with something written on it? She gulped down the rock in her stomach and put a smile on her face. "Hey." He flinched a bit and looked up at her. She held up the now warm mug. "You're drink's ready." He grumbled and made a motion for her to come in. She did but tilted her head to look at his face. "Is everything ok?" "Lovely," he grumbled. She placed the mug by his free hand and straightened back up. He didnt make an attempt to grab it at first and instead glanced up at her. "Amalfia.... Would you give me a moment? I....have something to take care of." She gave a puzzled look, but it was probably best not to argue when Lou was in a bad mood. So Amalfia turned and began making her way out. He initially cursed under his breath and subconsciously reached for the mug as he always did when he was irritated- ...The sound of a demonic cry and shattering glass made Amalfia jump and spin back around towards the desk to a very.....panicked scene. The plant demon hissed and clutched onto his wrist, the mug shattered in bits on the floor and liquid spilt all over the desk and by the looks of it him. Well she wasn't one to stand by while her boss was in pain. Hurrying over, her hand grabbed his shoulder. "Oh my god! Are y-?" His head snapped to her. "IM FINE!!" She immediately let go and stood back a couple steps back from the flashing red eyes. Taking a couple of deep breaths, he blinked and slowly slumped back from the tense pose he was in, giving a more calm look. The two stood there for a moment before Lou cleared his throat and excused himself from situation. Still clutching his wrist. ********************** The pain Hadn't reduced surprise, surprise. But instead hurt more if that was even possible ironically. Which irritated him further. The calm darkness of the room brought some ease to his mind at least, couldn't say the same for his hand, which was stiff as a board and slightly burnt from the hot drink spilling all over everything, but that one was on him to be honest. He sighed and stretched his body out slowly. It was going to be a long night with this problem. He almost didn't hear the knock at the door but looked up anyways. "...." Sighing he rubbed his face. "If this is a report for anything, it can wait until morning." There was a small silence, and he thought whoever it was left, when the doorknob turned and the door opened slowly with a creak. The plant demon rose a brow but stared in slight surprise when a white face poked into the entrance, she gave him an uncertain look before asking- "Do you still want me to leave?" "Uh...N-No. No. Don't just stand there." He gestured a hand. "Come in. And close the door behind you." She did but slowly. The door was closed with a click and she stood there silently. He regarded her with a raised brow before looking back down to his wrist. "Is there something wrong?" She didn't say anything for a moment but looked down in guilt. "Im sorry. " ".....Excuse me?" "I said Im sorry. I didn't know you would burn yourself...Im sorry." Silence. "Don't be." ...She blinked and looked up at him. "w-wha-" "You heard me. Don't apologize for something you didn't do." He glanced up at her from his sitting position. "It wasn't your intention to harm me was it?" "What?! N-No!" "Well there you go." "Why are you holding your wrist like that?" He gave her a questioning look and she pointed to his arm. "Are you ok?" she held out a hand towards him. When he didn't pull away she gently took a few steps and softly grabbed his good arm. Her eyes flashed confused worry at him. "Does it hurt?" When she reached her other hand towards his hurt wrist, he gave a sudden inhale of pain and he stopped. "Its...sore. Nothing I can't take care of myself." "I can see that." "I've suffered worse." "I don't doubt that, but you're more stubborn than a hellhorse." He gave an offended look but froze when she came around to the other side of him and sat down, gently taking his hand in hers. He gave her a confused look and she smiled. "I have an idea. My father used to have bad cramps and aches, my mother used to fix them easily. If you'll let me try that is?" When he didn't answer, she delicately pressed down on the sore flesh. Immediate pain spiked up his arm but he bit down any hisses and instead opted for digging his free hand into the mattress. Amalfia didn't seem to notice as she continued to carefully press down onto the tender flesh in strides. After a minute, the tightness in his palm decreased and he was left with a dull pain. She noticed his body loosened up on that tense aura and smiled. "Starting to feel better?" He hummed. "I suppose." His red eyes glanced over her working hands before trailing up to her face. "....You're solution is acceptable." A snort. "Just acceptable? Your way would've left you in another hour of aches and pains and acting like Midnight when one of her potions explodes." The comparion made him chuckle. "My dear. I am more capable of controlling my emotions than her." Purple eyes glanced up at him in amusement. "Oh? So acting like a baby because of a little cold air is capable control?" "Ill have you know that cold wind has severe damage on plant life, I have a right to be upset." She giggled. "Well, you're the boss." "And don't you forget that." "I haven't." She stopped and gave him a look. "To be quite honest, I think you're not given enough credit as far as Im concerned." His ears perked up at her answer. "Oh really?" She nodded. "And what do you mean by that, Pet? Id love to hear from you., She rolled her eyes. "And inflate your ego? I don't think so.....But I will say you're more agreeable and understanding than most men I've met. And actually know what you're doing. Not to mention tolerable. I don't see how you can deal with all the stuff around here with Disease and-..." She stopped upon seeing the smirk on his face. "...What?" "Don't let me stop you. Please, continue.~ But I believe you forgot a few of my better qualities.~" This sent her into a small giggle fit. Making him smike wider. "You know I have those qualities. Helping me deal with the idiots I work with....But not you. In all honestly, your work is quite admirable. " "....You really think so?" He paused for a moment, looking into those dark purple eyes staring back at him. She patiently stared back. Those purple eyes blinked and looked down to the feeling of those red digits closing around her own hand. Pink rushed to her cheeks and her body flinched when something touched her cheek. The red eyes holding neutral emotion towards the situation between them. "Yes." ********************************* Something I did with Amalfia x Lou. Lou belongs to @Palettepainter

[formeryelpers]

Coffee Commissary, 3121 W Olive Ave., Burbank, CA 91505

This might be the original Coffee Commissary location. I recently went to the new Kenneth Village, Glendale location, which seemed better than the Burbank location. The Burbank location has a similar menu and modern/industrial vibe though. Order at the counter and they’ll call your name when your order is ready for pickup.

It’s more than a coffeehouse. They have a full kitchen where they make their own pastries (muffins, cookies, cakes, biscuits, donuts), a breakfast menu (toast, eggs, veggie burritos, breakfast sandwiches), and a lunch menu (salads, sandwiches). For the coffee drinks, they use different roasters like Take Flight and Coava.

Matcha glazed donut: I wouldn’t get it again because it was so oily. I kept tasting oil. The exterior was crispy.

The matcha flavor was weak and just in the glaze.

Latte: The foam art and flavor of the Glendale latte was superior to the one in Burbank. The Burbank latte had a sour flavor. They have a variety of milk options, including nonfat, lowfat and full fat milk and almond milk.

They have free wi-fi and a few parking spaces in the back. While it’s a popular camping spot, it is very loud inside, so bring headphones. The wi-fi also seemed slow. The seating is uncomfortable. Open daily from 7 AM – 8 PM.

3 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[indiepulserocks]

BOSTON CALLING MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2019 FOOD & DRINK LINEUP

The Festival’s 10th Edition Presents An All-Star Food & Drink Lineup

Featuring An Array Of Hometown Culinary Favorites, Local And International Brews, And Platinum Menus Curated By Some Of The City’s Most Prestigious Chefs

Boston Calling, headlined by Twenty-One Pilots (Friday), Tame Impala (Saturday), and Travis Scott (Sunday), delivers a food & drink lineup that is sure to please even the foodiest of festival goers. With a variety of fare ranging from award-winning barbecue to a raw bar sourced directly from the Atlantic, the festival rolls out a stellar collection of new culinary treats from legendary chefs, and brings back fan favorites. This year’s menu has something for everyone, including a wide assortment of craft beers and wines on hand to toast to Boston Calling’s 10th edition. Boston Calling takes place Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-26, 2019, at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston (65 North Harvard Street, Boston). Tickets are available at www.bostoncalling.com.     New to Boston Calling’s General Admission food offerings are Sweet Cheeks Q, two-time James Beard Best Chef nominee Tiffani Faison’s barbecue mecca, which will be serving up Smoked Hot Chicken Philly Cheese Steaks, Oooey Gooey Cheesy Nachos, and a mind-blowing Fluffernutter Garbage Sundae; and Café Beatrice, an exciting new pop-up restaurant from Will Gilson, the celebrated chef and owner of Cambridge’s Puritan & Co., which will feature, among other options,Roasted Pork, Provolone and Broccoli Rabe, and Prosciutto, Pepper, Fig and Burrata Sandwiches.Stuffed by Papi is a new addition to the bill, offering its signature Sopapillas like Chipotle and Pineapple Marinated Smoked Pork with Pineapple Pico and Homemade Hatch Green Chile Aioli Slaw served with a Handmade to Order Sopapilla, while the locally acclaimed food truck, Boston Trolley Dogs, rolls in with the Duke, their popular beef hot dog topped with relish, onion and deli mustard.     Also in General Admission, Boston Calling welcomes back Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, with its delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, including the Green Monster stuffed with three cheeses, crispy bacon and fresh guacamole; Arancini Bros and their variety of mouthwatering arancini flavors, such as the Classic Ragu which is Saffron Risotto with Tomato Meat Sauce, Peas & Mozzarella;The Smoke Shop, chef and owner Andy Husbands’ award-winning barbecue joint; and local burger authority Tasty Burger, which returns with its Tasty Burger Tots and introduces its newTasty Burger Chicken Nuggets. Other returnees include Zinneken’s with authentic Belgian Wafflesand the Shuck Truck with an incredible raw bar selection and Cape Cod lobster roll sliders. Between Whole Heart Provisions and The Chubby Chickpea, there will be ample vegetarian and vegan options, and when paired with decadent vegan ice creams from Fomu, a meal is complete. As in past years at Boston Calling, Platinum ticketholders will be treated to specialty evening menus created and prepared by some of the city’s most rousing culinary talent. Friday night features legendary two-time James Beard Award winning chef Jody Adams of Trade, Porto, and Saloniki. Adams will welcome guests with a Greek, Saloniki menu including a brilliant Meze Boardcomprised of crispy pita chips and house made dips, olives, sheeps milk feta and veggies before hosting a Souvlaki Sandwich Bar, complete with an assortment of grilled skewered meats includingchicken, pork, and lamb. Yet another James Beard Award winner, Jamie Bissonnette, chef and partner of Toro, Coppa and Little Donkey, will host Saturday’s Platinum menu. He will offer aFoie Bratwurst with Japanese flavors, a Lamb, Bacon, and Lettuce wrap station, Fried Chicken Sandos and the sensational Impossible Burger. Sunday nights menu closes the festival with a classic northeastern seafood spread from an icon within New England cooking: Jeremy Sewall, chef and partner of of Island Creek Oyster Bar and Row 34. Sewall’s seafood expertise will be represented with a selection of Maine Lobster Tacos, Crispy Oyster Sliders, a Smoked Salmon Plate complete with pickles and grilled bread, and a Roasted Chicken with Rigatoni and Basil Pesto. Just as Boston Calling has curated a vast assortment of culinary choices for its 10th edition, it has also sourced an equally standout selection of beers and wines in both General Admission and Platinum. Hometown brewing favorites Samuel Adams will be returning again this year with an assortment of flavors, including three staple summer brews, Summer Ale, Sam ‘76 and Boston Lager. Returning to Boston Calling from across the Atlantic is Copenhagen’s acclaimed Mikkeller Brewing with a wide array of signature craft brews on tap including Staff Magician NE Pale Aleand Mikkeller Chill Pils Yuzu Pilsner. Barefoot Wines will also be featured with an assortment of wines such as the Barefoot Summer Red Spritzer and the classic Barefoot Pinot Grigio. Platinum guests will have access to, during limited serving hours, exclusive curated bars, signature cocktails and an assortment of superlative spirits including Kettle One and Bulleit Bourbon. Sodas and bottled water will be available for purchase throughout the entire festival. In addition, several free water stations will be onsite at Boston Calling for attendees who bring a factory sealed water bottle or empty beverage container. The full food and drink lineup is below. All vendors and menu items are subject to change. A * denotes the 2019 newcomers. A folder containing images of dishes for this year as well as Platinum chef headshots can be accessed here.

BOSTON CALLING 2019 GENERAL ADMISSION FOOD MENU Arancini Bros Classic Ragu - Saffron Risotto w/ Tomato Meat Sauce, Peas & Mozzarella Bianco Verde - Basil Pesto w/ Mozzarella Buffalo Ball - Roasted Chicken w/ Gorgonzola Cheese Pizza Ball - Margherita Style Basil, Tomato & Mozzarella Bucatini Fritti - Italian Style Mac & Cheese Our Famous Nutella - Hazelnut Chocolate w/ Cinnamon Sugar Bon Me The Namesake - Sandwich with BBQ Pork         The K-Town - Sandwich with Korean Style Spicy Chicken The JP - Sandwich with Roasted Paprika Tofu *Trolley Dogs Original (plain or mustard/ketchup) Duke (relish, onion & deli mustard) Dutchess (caramelized onions) California (chili & nacho cheese) New Yorker (sauerkraut & deli mustard) *Café Beatrice Tacos Chicken, Pork or Vegetable Tomato and Avocado BLT Prosciutto, Pepper, Fig and Burrata Sandwich Grass Fed Beef Meatball Sandwich Roasted Pork, Provolone and Broccoli Rabe Sandwich Chicken & Rice Guys Halal Chicken Plate Lamb Gyro Combination Plate (chicken & gyro) The Chubby Chickpea Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowl Falafel Bowl (Rice/Tabbouleh) Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves Chickpea Fries Hummus with Pita Copperdome Pizza Cheese Slice Pepperoni Slice Spinach & Feta Slice Whole Pizza (8 Slices - any combination) Dean’s Concessions Chicken Fingers & Fries Fries Fried Oreos El Pelon Taqueria Cheese Quesadilla V Salsa Fresca Side V/GF Guacamole Side V/GF Chips Boston Calling Combo (Cheese Quesadilla/Chips/Salsa/Guacamole) The Flatbread Company Cheese Pizza Fomu Ice Cream Scoops of Ice Cream Waffle Cone Sprinkles Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich Joe’s American Bar & Grill Mac & Cheese Gluten Free Mac & Cheese Clam Chowder Jaju Pierogi Mix & Match Pierogi Potato & Cheese V Kielbasa & Red Pepper Jalapeno Cheddar V Sweet Potato & Caramelized Onion V Love Art Sushi Love Art Special Hawaiian Poke Onigiri (Rice Ball) Inari Seaweed Salad Moyzilla Hand Folded Pork and Cabbage Dumplings Soy Ginger Dipping Sauce Katsu Meal Box add Spring Roll - Twice Fried Pork Cutlet, Rice, Shredded Cabbage, Homemade Japanese BBQ Sauce Katsu Sandwich - Twice Fried Pork Cutlet, Bulky Roll, Shredded Cabbage, Homemade Japanese BBQ Sauce, Aioli Crispy Spring Rolls with Thai Sweet Chili Sauce V Riceburg Crispy Chicken Rice Burger/Rice Bowl (Sweet & Sour) Bulgogi Shaved Steak Rice Burger/Rice Bowl GF upon request Shitake Mushroom Rice Burger/Rice Bowl V/GF upon request Matcha Green Tea Lemonade Roxy’s Grilled Cheese Three Cheese Melt Rookie Melt (three cheese melt with tomato) Hot Honey Bacon (three cheese melt with bacon and Mike's Hot Honey) Green Monster (three cheese melt with bacon & guacamole) Deep River Chips Ruth’s Chris Steak House Steak Sandwich Lobster Roll Chicken Salad Wrap Cape Cod Chips The Sausage Guy Sausage Guy Sausage Sweet Sausage Guy Sausage Hot Sausage Guy IPA Brat Sausage Guy All Beef Hot Steak Cheese Peppers-Onions Sate Grill (Momogoose) Banh Mi Sandwich Build Your Own Bowl + Side Rice Noodles or Salad Chicken or Curry Tofu CrispyRoll or Dumpling Vietnamese Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookie Shuck Truck Oysters on the Half Shell Lobster Roll Hot & Butter'd or Cape Cod Cold Lobster Roll Slider Hot & Butter'd or Cape Cod Cold Lobster Fries! Old Bae Fries With Brown Butter Bisque, Smoked Gouda Cheese, Fresh Shucked Lobster and Bacon Aioli V/GF Old Bae Fries V/GF/Vegan The Smoke Shop The BBQ Bomb The Pit Boss The BBQ Sandwiches (Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, Burnt Ends) The Sides (Cornbread, Mac & Cheese, Pit Beans, Coleslaw) The BRL (Bacon-Wrapped Smoked Pork Loin) Stone & Skillet Cheese Pizza Pepperoni Pizza *Stuffed by Papi Seared Steak and Cheese Fresh grilled steak with caramelized onions and peppers, artisan romaine, fontina or chef's choice cheese of the day and homemade Papi sauce/served with a handmade to order sopapilla Pork Al Pastor Chipotle and pineapple marinated smoked pork with pineapple pico and homemade hatch green chile aioli slaw/served with a handmade to order sopapilla Sopapilla Doughnut Fried and glazed to order with cinnamon toast crunch or Oreo The OG Sopapilla drizzled with honey and dusted with powdered sugar *Sweet Cheeks Q Smoked Hot Chicken Philly Cheese Steak add avocado or bacon Oooey Gooey Cheesy Nachos add guacamole, chicken, or bacon Fluffernutter Garbage Sundae Tasty Burger Hamburger Cheeseburger Bacon Cheeseburger Veggie Burger Veggie Burger with Cheese Tasty Burger Chicken Nuggets Chicken Nuggets Bag of Chips Tasty Burger Tots Tater Tots GF Cheese Tots Chili Tots Chili Cheese Tots Whole Heart Provisions MISO BOWL vegan & gluten free TAZON BOWL vegan & gluten free VIET BOWL vegan & gluten free SEARED AVOCADO vegan & gluten free Zinneken’s Liege Waffle The Gourmand (Caramel, Bananas, Whip Cream) Fruit Delight (Melted Chocolate, Bananas, Strawberries) Ice Cream Zandwich (Vanilla Ice Cream)                

BOSTON CALLING 2019 PLATINUM FOOD MENU

Friday, May 24 Chef Jody Adams Trade, Porto, Saloniki

Appetizer: Meze Board w/ Pita Chips & House Made Dips, Herb Marinated Olives, Sheeps Milk Feta, Veggies Main: Souvlaki Sandwich Bar w/ Grilled Skewered Meats (Chicken, Pork, Lamb, and Veggie) On the Buffet Line: Rolls, Toppings, House Made Sauces Salads: Village Salad Seasonal Salad Dessert: Baklava Triangles Mini Chocolate Cookies Halva Chocolate Chip Cookies Saturday, May 25 Chef Jamie Bissonnette Toro, Coppa, Little Donkey Celery Caesar COPPA V Foie Bratwurst (with Japanese Flavors) LD Corn (Off the Cob) TORO GF/V Lamb Bacon Lettuce Wrap Station (build your own) LD GF Impossible Burgers LD Fried Chicken Sandos LD Vegan Paella TORO V/GF Sunday, May 26 Chef Jeremy Sewall Island Creek Oyster Bar, Row 34 Romaine Salad, Roasted Tomatoes, Balsamic Vinaigrette Grilled Asparagus, Sauce Gribiche Maine Lobster Tacos, Mango, Avocado Chilled Shrimp Salad, Sesame, Roasted Peppers, Cucumber Crispy Oyster Sliders, Pickled Onion, Chili Aioli Roasted Chicken with Rigatoni And Basil Pesto Smoked Salmon Plate, Pickles, Grilled Bread Cookies and Brownies BOSTON CALLING 2019 BEER & WINE MENU BEER: Miller Lite Miller High Life Sol Cerveza Peroni Nastro Azzurro Pilsner Urquell (Draft Only) Sam Adams Summer Ale Sam Adams NEIPA Sam Adams ’76 (Draft Only) Sam Adams Boston Lager (Draft Only) Truly Wild Berry Spiked Seltzer Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Angry Orchard Rose (Draft Only) Mikkeller Table Talker Belgian Table Brew Mikkeller Chill Pils Yuzu Pilsner Mikkeller Staff Magician NE Pale Ale Mikkeller Passion Pool Gose Mikkeller Raspberry Blush Berliner Weisse Mikkeller Windy Hill NE IPA Mikkeller Beer Geek Brekkie Loq ABV Stout Mikkeller Ripple Effect West Coast IPA WINE: Barefoot Pinot Grigio Barefoot Pinot Noir Barefoot Moscato Spritzer Barefoot Rose Spritzer Barefoot Sangria Spritzer Barefoot Summer Red Spritzer Featured Liquor Sponsors: Bulleit Bourbon Ketel One Vodka

The day-by-day music lineup for Boston Calling 2019 is as follows. Performance times are forthcoming. *Artists are subject to change.

Friday May 24, 2019 Twenty One Pilots Greta Van Fleet Chvrches Lord Huron Christine and The Queens Tank and The Bangas Mura Masa Yaeji Gang of Youths Turnstile Pale Waves Bear Hands Naeem Adia Victoria Arena: Fred Armisen Sam Jay Lamont Price Saturday May 25, 2019 Tame Impala ODESZA Anderson. Paak & The Free Nationals Hozier Big Red Machine King Princess Mitski Clairo Denzel Curry Princess Nokia Young Fathers Superorganism Shame Pile White Reaper Sasha Sloan Dessa Sidney Gish Arena: Jenny Slate Imogen Heap Boston Ballet Marina Franklin Lamont Price Sunday May 26, 2019 Travis Scott Logic Brandi Carlile Sheck Wes Rainbow Kitten Surprise Marina Guster Chromeo (DJ Set) Snakehips Snail Mail SOB x RBE Ravyn Lenae Cautious Clay Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Kilo Kish SKEGSS Easy Life Arena: Michael Che Imogen Heap Boston Ballet Melissa Villaseñor Lamont Price

Images of 2019 Boston Calling artists and highlight images from the previous nine festivals can be found here. Boston Calling is proud to have Delta Air Lines, Samuel Adams, Miller Lite, Chase, JBL, Vans, Barefoot Wine, Subaru of New England, and 47 Brand as sponsors for this year’s festival. Tickets:  A limited number of Single Day and Three-Day General Admission, VIP and Platinum Passes are on sale now at www.bostoncalling.com. Getting There: Boston Calling is best accessed by the T on the Red Line’s Harvard Square stop; from there, it is a short walk to the festival’s main entrance.  Boston Calling will also be coordinating with taxi and rideshare programs for safe and easy pickup and drop off points. There will also be bike racks available onsite.  Onsite parking is available only to Platinum package purchasers. Boston Calling is produced by Boston Calling Events LLC (BCE) which is owned by Crash Line Productions and The Madison Square Garden Company. Crash Line Productions is a Boston-based entertainment production company that owns and produces dozens of events each year.  Formed in 2012 by Brian Appel and Mike Snow, Boston Calling Events continues to build its event platform around Boston Calling Music Festival. Boston Calling Events is part of The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG), a world leader in live sports and entertainment experiences. The company presents or hosts a broad array of premier events in its diverse collection of iconic venues: New York’s Madison Square Garden, Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, CA; and The Chicago Theatre.  Other MSG properties include legendary sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA) and the New York Rangers (NHL); two development league teams –  the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL); and esports teams through Counter Logic Gaming, a leading North American esports organization, and Knicks Gaming, MSG’s NBA 2K League franchise.  In addition, the Company features the popular original production – the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes – and through Boston Calling Events, produces New England’s preeminent Boston Calling Music Festival.  Also under the MSG umbrella is TAO Group, a world-class hospitality group with globally-recognized entertainment dining and nightlife brands: Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Avenue, Beauty & Essex and Vandal.  More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com

[monkeyjeff4]

Where To Find 32 Of LA's Best Donuts

People reach for free donuts ahead of a donut eating contest in Hollywood, California on June 1, 2018. The event raises money for veterans on National Donut Day, sponsored by The Salvation Army. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

Donuts, the ubiquitous fried dough confections, are a lot like Donuts, the 2006 album by legendary Detroit producer J Dilla — deceptively small, fits in the palm of your hand and packs a ridiculously addictive punch. Fortunately, Los Angeles is the mecca of doughy dreams and chocolate-glazed wishes. From Santa Monica to Downey, we boast some of the finest donut specimens in the world.

We also boast some of the kindest donut-eaters, like the customers of Donut City in Seal Beach. They keep buying out the store's stock so owner John Chhan can close early to spend time with his wife, who recently had a brain aneurysm.

In honor of National Doughnut Day (there are actually two National Doughnut Days), we've chosen 32 of the best, divided into five categories:

Old School

New School

Weird & Wacky

Fancy Shmancy

Vegan

So sit back, pour a cup of coffee and let's take a ride.

OLD SCHOOL

The giant donut on the roof of Randy's Donuts is adorned with a mini US Space Shuttle, strung up in the donut hole, on October 11, 2012 in Inglewood. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

Randy's Donuts - Inglewood The icon. A 62-year-old star of Hollywood movies and late-night cravings, this Inglewood institution features one of the city's most recognizable emblems, the giant donut at the corner of Manchester and La Cienega. Getting down to business, Randy's delivers the goods with classic crullers, old fashioneds, cinnamon crumb and plain raised donuts. Add this shack to the list of landmarks L.A. should never lose. 805 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood. 310-645-4707

California Donuts - Koreatown Don't be surprised if you're greeted by a long line when you arrive at this K-Town favorite, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. California Donuts is a walk-up paradise known for over-the-top creations like the Snickers Bar Donut, which comes with a full-sized candy bar tucked inside. No wonder it's nicknamed the "Dentist's Delight." Among the high-concept offerings and seasonal selections, don't miss staples like their Lemonade Donuts (made with Girl Scout cookies) and possibly the best blueberry donut in town. 3540 W. 3rd St., Koreatown. 213-385-3318

Maple bacon donuts at S&K Donuts. (Photo via S&K Donuts website)

S&K Donuts - Miracle Mile This little spot off Cochran has been a favorite of Angelenos for years. Back in business after a lengthy renovation, S&K Donuts now has a sleek, sterile sophistication that matches the gentrifying Miracle Mile neighborhood. The donuts are still top-notch, though. Cinnamon roll fans, take notice! They make 'em right. While the store has doubled in size, the tiny parking lot at the corner of busy 3rd St. is perilous. 5850 W. 3rd St., Suite #A, Miracle Mile. 323-935-2409.

Darling Donuts & Ice Cream - Mid-City This quaint storefront on Venice is a hidden gem. If it's not already in your do-tation (donut + rotation), add it to the mix. They'll hit you with one of the finest cinnamon rolls in the city and toss in a handful donut holes to ease your troubles. Don't overlook the dizzying selection of freshly squeezed juices ($5-8), which includes celery pineapple, bitter melon and a bunch of combos with beets. It's cash only, so come prepared. 5431 Venice Blvd., Mid-City.

Cars exit The Donut Hole drive-in restaurant, located on Elliot Avenue at Amar Road in La Puente, on January 4, 1983. (Herald-Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

The Donut Hole - La Puente You haven't been to the San Gabriel Valley until you've been to The Donut Hole, one of the region's finest examples of programmatic architecture. The Los Angeles Conservancy sings the praises of the "unknown genius person" who decided to create a building shaped like a giant drive-through donut. The bacon maple bar is popular with adults while kids end up fighting over the Oreo, Fruit Loops and Reese's Pieces donuts. This is usually a cash only establishment but if you buy more than $10 worth of goodies, they might let you slide that plastic. 15300 Amar Rd, La Puente. 626-968-2912.

Monarch Donuts - Arcadia The apple fritter at Monarch Donuts is the kind of beauty that puts other apple fritters to shame — and it tastes as good as it looks. Their perfect crunch gives way to warm, buttery apple deliciousness. Regular customers rave about shop owner Jonathan Ung, who puts a lot of heart into his donuts and offers great customer service. This place is cash only but has an ATM on the premises. When you go, bring us back a couple of the cinnamon crumbs, please and thank you. 15 W. Huntington Dr., Arcadia. 626-818-6478

Donut Prince - Burbank Burbank still retains much of it's mid-20th century charm and Donut Prince is a prime example. You may feel like Don Cheadle at the end of Boogie Nights when you walk into this old-school shop with walls covered in autographed pictures of celebs There's a great selection of buttermilk, cake, cake and raised donuts but the pecan rolls and apple fritters are the stars of the show. It's the perfect pit-stop before launching a mission to IKEA and they have the best tagline in the business: "Don't get a divorce — get a donut!" 1721 W. Olive Ave, Burbank. 818-841-0859.

Primo's Donuts - West L.A. When your family has been cranking out quality donuts since the Eisenhower administration, you probably know a thing or two about fried dough. Primo's also likes to keep it new. Owners Ralph and Celia Primo plan to open another location on Main Street in Venice, thanks in large part to the brand's popularity on social media. At the original Sawtelle spot, they dole out Dodger donuts to support the Boys in Blue but they're best known for their classic old fashioned and glazed donuts. They recently added a salted caramel buttermilk bar to the menu. 2918 Sawtelle Blvd., West L.A. 310-478-6930.

Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts - Fairfax Bob's stands out amid the bustle of the Original Farmer's Market thanks to the large coffee cup and donut sculpture on its awning. The devil's food, a chocolate cake donut glazed with chocolate and sprinkled with chocolate chips, is a fan favorite as is the cinnamon crumb. They make one of the city's best apple fritters. It's crisp and glazed with a hint of burnt sugar on the outside and filled with apple chunks. They also make kid-pleasing donuts shaped like dinosaurs and, on rare occasions, a delicious strawberry glazed donut. Getting in and out of the Farmers Market, located at the constantly traffic-clogged intersection of 3rd and Fairfax, is a nightmare. Bob's is also cash only. 6333 W. 3rd St #450, Fairfax. 323-933-8929.

Donut Man - Glendora Strawberries! Strawberries! Strawberries! Owner Jim Nakano is the inventor of Donut Man's legendary strawberry donut — a plain, glazed round donut that's sliced in half and crammed with half a basket of glazed strawberries. The concoction is offered year-round. For a brief period in the late summer, he makes the same donut with peaches — and it's even better. The shop also makes all the standard raised and cake donuts. Their Tiger Tail, a full foot of cinnamon and chocolate goodness twisted into a braid, is magic. 915 E. Rte 66, Glendora. 626-335-9111.

Dad's Donuts & Bakery - Burbank Tucked away next to a nail salon in an unassuming strip mall, Dad's does right by the classics — maple bars, cinnamon rolls, apple fritters, Boston creme, French crullers — with a buttery glaze that melts in your mouth. If you want a taste of fancy, dad (AKA owner Bruce Bu) has updated his selection with addictive cronut holes and an amazing Churro Donut. 2501 W. Victory Blvd, Burbank. 818-841-1910.

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Daily Donuts - Los Feliz Bring cash when you swing by this Daily Donuts, since that's all this neighborhood favorite takes. You'll want to grab several coconut-covered, peanut-encrusted, sprinkle-topped and sugar-dusted creations. They deliver the classics with style, so expect cinnamon rolls and glazed donuts made with love — and lots of butter. Don't miss out on the yummy croissants. 1908 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz. 323-665-5043.

Blinkie's Donuts - Woodland Hills Beyond the essentials, Blinkie's has you covered when it comes to cronuts and funky flavors like Thai tea and horchata. Their secret weapon: the black and white donut, a collision of chocolate and vanilla that echoes the popular New York deli cookie of the same name. Blinkie's is only for early risers or extreme night owls. Hours are from 5 a.m. to noon on weekdays and 6 a.m. to noon on weekends. 4884 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. 818-884-4456.

NEW SCHOOL

Trejo's Coffee and Donuts - Hollywood Give it up for actor Danny Trejo. He's succeeding in L.A.'s tough taco market and now he's bringing that same ingenuity to donuts. Machete don't back down from nobody. Trejo's Coffee and Donuts makes instant classics like the Nacho, a cake donut made with sour cream, chives, hot sauce and sprinkled with cheddar cheese. The Abuelita sprinkles more chocolate on top of dark chocolate icing spread over a raised donut. Sigh. Please allow me to take a moment. OK, don't miss the Margarita, which brings the flavors of tequila, lime and salt to an iced donut. They've always got a slew of vegan options like vegan peanut butter and a vegan take on the Low Rider, a mix of cinnamon, almonds and bananas. You'll hone your driving skills navigating through the Hollywood traffic pretty much any time you come but the sugar rush is worth it. Trejo's is also looking to open a location in DTLA. 6785 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. 323-462-4600.

Astro's Doughnuts & Fried Chicken - Downtown L.A. When it comes to the donuts, Astro's outstanding selections include PB&J, crème brulée and root beer, a square donut that's glazed with the flavor of Sassafras. If they have the devil's food cake, a stacked pile of chocolate perfection, get it. Another major advantage: Fried chicken. Look for them to blast off with another location, in Santa Monica. 516 W. 6th St., downtown L.A. 213-622-7876.

Cofax - Fairfax You know Cofax for their terrific breakfast burritos. Don't ignore their donuts, developed by Nicole Rucker. They're in a small case on top of the counter to show off flavors like a lemon pistachio yeast donut, a sea salt caramel-glazed raised donut and coconut horchata. 40 N. Fairfax Ave., Fairfax. 323-424-7485.

Birdies - downtown L.A. A relative newcomer to DTLA, Birdies rolls out instant classics such as the horchata twist, which is thick with a dulce de leche glaze, and the classic NY black and white. Blueberry lemon is a tart but sugary surprise, and the lemon thyme pistachio is a pleasant surprise from the inspired and unexpected combination of flavors. 314 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown L.A. 213-536-5714.

Kettle Glazed Doughnuts in Hollywood. (Photo via Kettle Glazed Doughnuts' website)

Kettle Glazed Doughnuts - Hollywood Hiding in the shadow of the 101 freeway, Kettle Glazed has been cranking out subtle remixes of classic flavors since 2013. The old fashioned is offered in buttermilk vanilla, blueberry lemon and double chocolate varieties. The graham cracker-topped s'mores donut and their original chocolate drizzle "croissant style" gems are worth the cheat day meal. 6211 Franklin Ave., Hollywood. 323-462-2344.

Grizzby's Biscuits & Donuts - Claremont Two great tastes that taste great together, Grizzby's delicious savory biscuits alongside donuts in fun flavors like pepita, a very SoCal creation. Their caramel apple fritters are fine fritters dipped into the housemade caramel glaze. Grizzby's Spooktacular menu includes a shout-out to one of our favorite local DJs, Peanut Butter Wolf, with a peanut butter-glazed donut crusted with peanut butter cookie crumbles. The Blue Moon (blueberry glaze with a cardamom shimmer) is a work of art and a mind-melting taste sensation. 353 W. Bonita Ave., Claremont. 909-399-0991.

WEIRD & WONDERFUL

Colorado Donuts - Eagle Rock Eagle Rock's favorite donut shop is ready for fall, rolling out seasonal pumpkin spice donuts. They've also got your Dodger Blues to support the team's run for the World Series. Halloween options include beautifully designed donuts shaped like spiders, unicorns, ghosts and Frankenstein. Vegans should dig the blueberry glaze and the Skippy-filled PB&J varieties. 1578 Colorado Blvd., #14, Eagle Rock. 323-340-1962.

The Bidi Bom donut, a tribute to Mexican superstar singer Selena, at Donas in Downey. (Photo by Lori Galarreta/KPCC)

Dona's Donuts - Downey This indie Mexican donut shop is an Instagram paradise. Bright, colorful and full of energy, Dona's signature donut is the Bidi Bom. Inspired by beloved Tejano singer Selena, the sparkly creation is covered in honey lavender and purple glitter. The Rich Bitch is slathered in gold glitter while the El Puerquito is topped with a blanket of maple glaze and chicharrones. 8636 Imperial Hwy., Downey. 562-622-2429.

DKs Donuts and Bakery - Santa Monica This '80s relic is proud to be the home of the Double-Decker #O-Nut, a croissant/donut hybrid. DKs Donuts also boasts the original ube purple yam donut, made with purple ube dough, purple cream cheese, toasted coconut, bacon and pistachios. You'll find donuts topped with edible flowers and others overflowing with Nutella. How about a donut topped with Reese's Pieces or a whole Ferrero Rocher truffle? West Side represent. 1614 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. 310-829-2512.

A few of the offerings at Stan's Doughnuts in Westwood, California. (Elina Shatkin/LAist)

Stan's Doughnuts - Westwood Village If you find yourself near UCLA, Stan's Doughnuts has been ready to sate your sweet tooth since 1965. They have one of the most complete donut menus in town. The cinnamon rolls, for example, come in classic, blueberry and chocolate chip varieties. Looking for cheese donuts? Craving miniature donuts,. Itching for an apple cinnamon log? Stan's has 'em, along with wonders like the Huell, which comes stuffed with peanut butter with chocolate chips sprinkled on top. 10948 Weyburn Ave., Westwood. 310-208-8660.

Voodoo Doughnut - Universal City You'll have to brave the neon wilds of Universal Citywalk to experience this Portland-based brand. Look for the bright pink facade where you'll find Voodoo's infamous Cock-N-Balls, a big ol' yeast donut triple-filled with Bavarian cream and topped with chocolate frosting that's shaped into exactly what you'd expect. Another fan favorite is the Maple Blazer Blunt, a raised yeast doughnut rolled into the shape of a blunt and dusted with cinnamon sugar. The top is dipped in maple frosting and red sprinkles to resemble the burning end of a doobie. The Memphis Mafia is an Elvis tribute packed with banana chunks and cinnamon then drizzled in chocolate and peanut butter with peanuts and chocolate chips on top. Whew! The Grape Ape, covered with grape dust and lavender sprinkles, is so pretty you'll almost feel bad for eating. Bonus points for the Ol' Dirty Bastard, because Wu-Tang, much like donuts, are for the children. 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. 818-622-6646.

FANCY SCHMANCY

Blue Star Donuts - Venice, Manhattan Beach Yeah, these are definitely gentrified donuts but it's hard to complain when Blue Star serves a pumpkin panna cotta brûlée (made with Rose City Distilling's whiskey). Ther bacon bourbon breakfast fritter combines brioche dough with shredded Yukon Gold potatoes, chunks of bacon, cracked black pepper and fresh sage. And since too much is never enough, they coat the whole thing in a maple-bourbon glaze. 1142 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291, (310) 450-5630 451 Manhattan Beach Blvd D-118, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, (310) 545-2187

Donut Snob - delivery only "We're snobby, really, really snobby about our donuts and what goes into the making of them," Donut Snob proclaims — and that snobbery has paid off with the some of the most beautiful and tastiest donuts in town. They include innovative flavors like blueberry earl grey, pumpkin spice caramel and matcha black sesame, which is made with Japanese matcha powder glaze and topped with black sesame seeds. 213-373-4898.

Sidecar Doughnuts - Santa Monica, Del Mar and Costa Mesa Sidecar debuted in Orange County in 2013 and has branched out thanks to their airy raised donuts with high-end toppings like salted caramel and vanilla chai. Their fall menu showcases Halloween cake, a vanilla cake doughnut glazed with vanilla and topped with chocolate and orange sprinkles, and the pumpkin pie and everything spice, Sidecar's signature "raised bullseye" with a pumpkin glaze, whipped mascarpone pumpkin mousse, housemade gingersnap crumble, roasted pepitas and maple syrup. Don't skip the apple cider donut, dusted with cinnamon and finished with a drizzle of apple cider glaze. There's a Torrance location planned for spring 2019. 631 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401, (310) 587-0022 12925 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130, (310) 587-0022 270 E. 17th St., #18, Costa Mesa, California 92627, (949) 873-5424

The Goods - Carlsbad If you find yourself in Carlsbad Village, stroll into The Goods, an adorable shop known for creative selections like a strawberry cheesecake donut that tastes like you're biting into a fresh slice of New York's finest. Other hoity toity flavors include berry compote and Tahitian vanilla. They also make a spot-on plain glazed. 2965 State St, Carlsbad. 760-994-0458.

VEGAN

Donut Farm - Echo Park Deep in a surprisingly cute strip mall, Donut Farm offers inspired flavors like whiskey tangerine fig and orange creamsicle, which will remind you of chasing the ice cream man down the street. The blueberry fritter takes the apple favorite to a dark and delicious place with a thick, sugary glaze, while the lavender earl grey is like sipping tea in a magical garden. Yes, it's so good that I actually said that out loud in public. A magical garden. It's a good donut, people. Don't bother poking around for non-vegan options. 1411 Echo Park Ave., Ste. 105, Echo Park. 213-481-1489.

Sweet Retreat Donuts - Long Beach Set toward the back of a nondescript strip mall, Sweet Retreat is anything but inconspicuous when it comes to vegan donuts. They've got a loud and proud selection that includes lemon pistachio, blueberry icing with fresh fruit, vanilla coconut, vanilla almond, chocolate and cinnamon sugar. They're mixed in among the non-vegan donuts, so don't just go willy-nilly in there thinking it's all vegan. 924 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach. 562-612-0506.

Ring Baked Tofu Donuts - Canoga Park These Japanese delights come in a variety of vegan flavors including chocolate and vanilla tofu. Ring Baked also makes uncommon but tasty drinks such as sea salt cream iced matcha green tea. This is another spot with vegan offerings mixed in with non-vegan fare. So if you're not sure, just ask. 6800 Owensmouth Ave. #130, Canoga Park. 323-963-3881.

Fonuts - Beverly Grove What Fonuts makes aren't exactly donuts, and they know it, hence the cheeky name. Their "fonuts" are more like mini Bundt cakes. They're baked not fried and they're now entirely gluten-free. I keep coming back to the blueberry earl grey, which adds a dollop of fruit to a swirl of tea. The strawberry yogurt is also reminiscent of its namesake. Whether or not fonuts are actually donuts, they often generate this reaction: "I didn't think I could like vegan donuts!" 8104 W. 3rd St., Beverly Grove. 323-592-3075.

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Source: http://www.laist.com/2018/11/05/where_to_find_the_best_donuts_in_la_right_now.php

[uncleyarn2-blog]

Our 2018 all-Chicago holiday gift guide

Sustenance

1/ Local coffee subscription: Back of the Yards, Dark Matter, or Metric Coffee

Coffee is the social lubricant that wakes you up, keeps you awake—or maybe puts you to sleep. You can drink it hot in winter to stay warm! But drink good, fresh coffee. Chicago is home to many fine craft coffee roasters, and may offer subscriptions for a steady supply. Metric Coffee offers espresso ($20) and blend ($20) subscriptions as well as a Roasters Choice Subscription ($22) and Single Origin Subscription ($24) each with two different eight-ounce bags in every weekly or monthly delivery. Dark Matter Coffee offers three, six, and twelve-month subscriptions to their monthly limited blends for $20 per month—with discounts for longer subscriptions. Back of the Yards Coffee Co.'s Coffee Club subscriptions page is currently under construction. Hopefully that will be available again soon. In the meantime, they do sell their espresso and 47th Street Blend medium-dark roast coffee in twelve-ounce bags ($15.99), with one dollar from every 47th Street Blend going to their Social Impact fund to benefit the neighborhood.—John Dunlevy Prices vary at backoftheyardscoffee.com, darkmattercoffee.com, and metriccoffee.com.

2/ Coffee maker Nº3 by Manual.is

Manual's newest coffee maker is four usages in one: pour over, French press, cold brew, and a pitcher. It can keep its liquids hot for about an hour in the double-wall insulated design. With this elegant, hand-blown borosilicate glass vessel, even a person who doesn't drink coffee regularly (me) will savor the ritual of making, and serving coffee. —Sue Kwong $140 at Manual Shop & Studio, 3251½ W. Bryn Mawr, 312-870-0799, manual.is.

3/ Mushroom tree ornaments by Facture Goods

The handcrafted mushroom Christmas ornaments come in earthy brown clay glazed in gray and flecked with 22-karat gold. They typically sell out in minutes when creator Aron Fischer puts a fresh batch in his online shop. But on November 24 you can find them at Martha Mae in Andersonville during Small Business Saturday. The mushrooms come in enoki, morel, shiitake, and straw varietals. Plus, while you're there, you can snag plenty more gifts for loved ones in Jean Cate's magical shop. —Maya Dukmasova $18 each or $60 for a set of four at facturegoods.com and on November 24 only at Martha Mae, 5407 N. Clark, 872-806-0988, marthamae.info.

4/ Malort soy candle

Everyone's favorite drink in candle form. —Vince Cerasani $30 at reuse-first.com.

5/ Tellicherry Black Whole Peppercorns from Reluctant Trading Experiment

Pretty amazing pepper from an outfit started by Scott Eirinberg, the entrepreneur who founded, and later sold, The Land of Nod. —Suggested by Kate Schmidt, written by Reader staff Starting at $6.50 at reluctanttrading.com.

Self Care

1/ Houseplant from Foyer

This little plant and stationary store opened in Andersonville a few months ago. It's run by a tremendously helpful and non-judgmental Alma Vescovi, who wants you to get past your fear of killing houseplants. The stock is refreshed weekly and she carries hard-to-find varietals like pilea, monstera, and satin pothos alongside all kinds of succulents and cacti. There are also vintage planters and pots as well as ones made by local artists. If things don't go well with your new plant friend, you can always bring it back for a check-up with Vescovi. She once helped me resuscitate a delicate plumosa fern. It's doing great. Plants are the gift that keeps on giving.—Maya Dukmasova Starting at $8 at 1480 W. Berwyn, 713-994-0302, foyer.shop.

2/ Sound wave art, Soundwaves by Mordecai

Kathleen Mordecai turns sound waves from parts of songs or special moments (for example Pat Hughes saying "Chicago Cubs win the World Series" or children's laughter, as pictured) into sculptures she handcrafts using reclaimed wood. Whether you're shopping for someone who lives in a tiny studio, or in a mansion with plenty of wall space to fill, there's likely an option that will fit; the current selection of sculptures in her online shop runs from 12 inches to 4 feet. Mordecai also takes custom orders, and for those who want to be able to hear the sound while enjoying the visuals, she offers an option for audio playback. —Jamie Ludwig Starting at $76 at etsy.com/soundwavesbyMordecai.

3/ Soap Distillery

The brand tagline for Soap Distillery may promise "Small batches. No hangovers," but no such claim can be made about whether these boozy body care miracles are addictive. Because they are, friends. A bottle of the Beer + Cigarettes hand and body wash disappeared so quickly from my bathroom that I'm not entirely convinced my partner wasn't drinking it. Perfect for the person on your list who always smells so damn good. —Karen Hawkins Prices vary at soapdistillery.com. Catch up with founder Danielle Martin at a holiday shopping event or click here for a list of retailers.

4/ King Spa & Sauna

King Spa & Sauna, the Korean spa in Niles, does not fulfil the glossy magazine ideal of the spa day. There are no fluffy white robes, no soothing music or nice-smelling oils and lotions. Instead, there's a series of saunas, each filled with a different substance that will relieve you of a different source of stress, each more baroque than the last: amethyst geodes, living crystals, 350-million-year-old salt rocks, a 23-karat gold pyramid. The admission fee gets a person access to all of them, plus the soaking pools, food court, and movie theater. (Massages and other spa treatments are extra.) The spa's open 24 hours, so guests can stay as long as they like. In Korea, entire families go to spas for an easy weekend getaway. Maybe they're onto something? —Aimee Levitt $40 admission at King Spa & Sauna, 809 Civic Center Drive, Niles, 847-972-2540, kingspa.com/chicago. Gift cards available.

5/ Mochimochi Land knitting kits

Forget sweaters and scarves, Mochimochi Land gives you the tools to show off your needle skills by knitting something truly unique: cute miniature characters like tiny burgers or tiny walruses or tiny robots and really any other tiny thing you can dream up. The kits go for $12-$15 and include yarn, stuffing, notions, and patterns—all you need are knitting needles, available separately on the website. Mochimochi Land creator Anna Hrachovec features her knitted friends in stop-motion animated videos and GIFs of everyday life in the mystical, yarn-covered land of her own creation. Hrachovec also used the style in her book, Adventures in Mochimochi Land, which follows the adventures of a talking doughnut and a lovelorn balloon, of course. The online shop offers patterns for larger, equally adorable knitting projects ranging from $5-$8 and, for the less crafty among us, pre-knit gnomes, hedgehogs, zombies, and unicorns for $25 each. —Brianna Wellen Prices vary at mochimochiland.com.

6/ Mano y Metal handmade accessories

These aren't your basic accessories. Mano y Metal offers handmade metal jewelry that spices up any look. Owner Desiree T. Guzman features hand stamped metal rings, cuff bracelets, earrings, necklaces, dog tags and more with empowering sayings engraved on them like "be badass" ("chingona" in Spanish) or "me vale madre" which translates to "I don't give a damn." The online shop even offers options available for customization and a Chicago collection. —Marissa De La Cerda $10 for keychains, $16 for rings, $20-$22 for double finger rings, $16-$28 for bracelets, $17-$58 for necklaces at manoymetal.com.

7/ The WasteShed Art Supplies

Help fuel your loved one's winter craft addiction and help rescue markers, knitting needles and paints from the landfill. Cultivating a more sustainable culture, The WasteShed accepts donations of art supplies and repurposes art, craft and school supplies. Pull together a gift basket for a DIY project from their low cost offerings, or grab a gift certificate for the creatives and teachers on your list. While you're there, drop off the crocheting you gave up on. The WasteShed is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) so your donations are tax deductible! See their web site for complete list of acceptable donations. — Jamie Ramsay Prices vary at 2842 W. Chicago, 773-666-5997, thewasteshed.com.

8/ Mermaid lessons at AquaMermaid

Who doesn't know someone who once dreamed of being a mermaid? (If your answer is "me," feel free to skip this item.) Fortunately, AquaMermaid exists for the sole purpose of helping people fulfill this glorious dream. Weekly lessons are available on Sunday afternoons at the UIC Sports and Fitness Center pool for both kids and adults; parties can also be arranged. You'll learn basic mermaid maneuvers, like how to glide gracefully underwater, flip your fins, and wave gracefully with your tail. And yes, tails are provided—though you'll have to wear your own bathing suit, or a seashell bra if you want to go full Ariel. Be warned: being a mermaid is a lot harder than it looks, but you'll get a great core workout. —Aimee Levitt Starting at $60 at UIC Sports and Fitness Center, 901 W. Roosevelt Road, 866-279-2767, aquamermaid.com.

Community Care

1/ Chicago Community Bond Fund donation

What better way to spread holiday cheer than to help someone in jail get home to their family? CCBF accepts donations large and small to pay bail for those awaiting trial in Cook County Jail. —Maya Dukmasova Visit chicagobond.org to see the criteria they use to select whose bail to pay.

2/ Women & Children First gift certificate

This post-#MeToo moment is a really good time to give all the sexist jerks in your life a gift certificate to one of the oldest and most significant women-owned bookstores in the US. Making people support women-owned businesses and select from an array of books including a higher-than-average spate by women and nonbinary folks is truly a gift that will benefit generations to come. —Anne Elizabeth Moore Prices vary at 5233 N. Clark, 773-769-9299, womenandchildrenfirst.com.

3/ My Block, My Hood, My City gear

Founded by Jamal Cole, MBMHMC is a connectivity-encouraging, mentoring nonprofit that focuses on providing underserved teenagers exposure to opportunities beyond their familiar neighborhoods. Through excursions in STEM, art, entrepreneurism, and community development, called the Explorers Program, as well as service projects like shoveling snow for seniors, MBMHMC fosters experiences to nurture and empower Chicago youth. Twenty percent of all apparel sales go toward the Explorers Program. On December 1 and 8, volunteer to help hang holiday lights from 51st to 87th Streets along historic Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Like their Facebook page or check https://www.formyblock.org/events/ for updates on projects, calls to action, and to learn about volunteering. —Jamie Ramsay from $50 for hoodies (available in English, Spanish and Mandarin), $25 for skullies, at formyblock.org.

4/ Haymarket Books Book Club

If there's a radical or revolutionary on your shopping list, or, at the very least, someone who cares about social and economic justice, odds are they already know about Haymarket Books, the Buena Park-based publisher of Angela Davis, Rebecca Solnit, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, and Eve Ewing, among many, many others. Membership in Haymarket's book club provides regular monthly shipments of all the publisher's new titles, in either print or e-book format, plus discounts on everything on the backlist. Not only will you provide someone with the foundation of a great personal library, you'll also be supporting a local business. It's a win for everybody. —Aimee Levitt $20-$30/month at haymarketbooks.org.

5/ T-Shirt from the Silver Room

I discovered Silver Room when I first saw Eve Ewing wearing a "Make Chicago Great Again" Harold Washington T-shirt at Pitchfork last year. But the store has a lot more to offer, with shirts by local artists ranging from a profile of Colin Kaepernick made out of tiny red fists to one that looks like a hand-painted bodega advertisement for Hyde Park. The store is full of hand-crafted leather goods, jewelry, and home decor, many by black makers. —Maya Dukmasova $20-$30 at Silver Room, 1506 E. 53rd St., 773-947-0024, thesilverroom.com.

6/ Rebel Betty Arte prints and zines

Support a Latinx artist this holiday season by buying zines, prints, buttons and other artwork by Rebel Betty, an Afro-Latina artist, DJ, and educator. Her work focuses on raising awareness and creating discussions about gentrification and issues affecting black and brown communities. —Marissa De La Cerda $5-$35 for prints, $5-$15 for zines, $10-$15 for buttons and other items at rebelbettyarte.com.

Good Times

1/ Hollow Leg cocktail class

Contrary to popular belief, Hollow Leg is not a store where you can buy a leg lamp a la A Christmas Story, it's a company that offers mixology classes at various venues around the city. Founded by Devin Kidner, Hollow Leg aims to share the art and science behind crafting cocktails so that anyone who attends their events leaves with the knowledge, taste, and skill to finally make a decent drink—and since they offer plenty of non-alcoholic options, everyone can join in on the fun. You can purchase individual tickets or gift certificates to workshops such as Liquid Confidence: Mixology 101, or book them for a holiday shindig so you can give a whole bunch of your friends the gift that keeps on giving (and giving, and giving . . . depending on who you hang out with). Though most classes are hands-on, they also offer tastings, so you and your guests can just sit back, sip, and learn. The best part might be that they'll play "cocktail whisperer," and tailor the menu for their audience, so if, for example, you hate sugary sweet drinks, you won't have to waste your time—or your booze—mixing one. —Jamie Ludwig $60-$95 for gift certificates at hollowleg.com.

2/ Fat Tiger Workshop hat

Streetwear boutique Fat Tiger Workshop first set up in a small Congress Theater storefront four years ago. Founding designers Vic Lloyd, Desmond Owusu, Terrell Jones, and Joe "Freshgoods" Robinson quickly made the space a home for friends, aspiring artists, and established musicians. One day I wandered in to find Chuck Inglish and Sulaiman filming a music video behind the storefront; on another I bought a Save Money shirt during a pop-up helmed by Joey Purp. Fat Tiger has changed locations twice since then, and the owners still make sure its large West Town headquarters is an open-door community space, even as their individual profiles have risen. Robinson has become a streetwear celebrity since he made a one-off clothing line in homage to our previous president, "Thank U Obama" (Chance the Rapper wore one such hoodie while collecting his first Grammy), and he's since been enlisted to make clothes for the Chicago Bears, McDonald's, and the MCA. All four designers make gear for their individual brands, but they also have a run of Fat Tiger clothes. The simple, bold Fat Tiger hat is a great way to show love for all four of these independent, community-driven designers. —Leor Galil $30 for a signature hat at 836 N. Milwaukee, fattigerworkshop.com.

3/ Custom handmade guitar strap from Souldier

In 2004, Chicago musician Jen Tabor started making instrument straps for her friends, and soon began selling them at shows. Nearly 15 years later, her company Souldier, which specializes in hand-cut leather guitar, bass, and banjo straps, has helped support the instruments of artists such as Jeff Tweedy, Tom Petty, and Kim Gordon, and has practically come to have rock-star status of its own. You can find Souldier straps at a number of instrument shops and other retailers throughout the city, or purchase directly through their website, where there's more fun to be had by customizing a strap of your own. Choose between dozens of color and fabric patterns to match anyone's personality and/or artistic aesthetic. And though Souldier is most known for their instrument accessories, their product line also includes camera straps, headbands, wrist cuffs, dog collars, and more, so there are plenty of gift options for your non-musician human and canine friends. —Jamie Ludwig Prices vary at souldier.us.

4/ Fine Prints cassettes

Chicago's rock scene–if you can say there is one single community–is a lot broader than it often gets credited. Local label Fine Prints gets it. Founded by Robby Haynes (who helps run Hermosa studio Strange Magic Recording) and Ziyad Asrar (of Baby Blue, formerly of Whitney), Fine Prints has put out only a handful of cassette releases, but the small catalog shows how weird and wonderful Chicago rock can get. The label launched in August by releasing tapes from prog misfits Mayor Daley, art punks Wage, and synthpop hypnotists Desert Liminal; in October, Haynes and Asrar dropped the second EP by bedroom-pop wizard Adam Schubert, aka Ruins. The acts Fine Prints have worked with don't overlap stylistically, and that's partly why these four cassettes work well as a single package; they're great individual documents, and all together they unintentionally function as a reminder that there's a lot of great music happening in the city beyond the sounds on these tapes. —Leor Galil $7 per cassette at fineprints.bandcamp.com.

5/ Sharkula T-shirt

Can you really claim to be a Chicagoan if you've never met Sharkula? For the past couple decades, the oddball rapper who also answers to Thigahmahjigggee and Dirty Gilligan has roamed around the city's streets, selling his wares hand-to-hand: usually that means CD-Rs of his unpredictable raps housed in a photocopied sheet of paper littered with his drawings. He recently started making his own T-shirts, and his detailed, gritty graffiti style gives his pieces a lived-in quality. Sharkula designs each shirt by hand and no two are identical, which means this is the most unique gift you can give the Chicago hip-hop fan in your life. And, since buying a shirt requires that you call Sharkula, this also gives anyone who has never met him before the opportunity to finally meet a local legend. —Leor Galil Starting at $30 at 773-647-4995.

6/ Experimental Sound Studio tickets

Experimental Sound Studio, founded in 1986 and based in Edgewater since 2006, is one of the city's great incubators of avant-garde and experimental music. The nonprofit's facility houses a full-service recording studio, of course, as well as a small public gallery that hosts exhibitions, workshops, and other events. ESS also provides a home for the Creative Audio Archive, which it describes as "an invaluable collection of recordings, print, and visual ephemera related to avant-garde and exploratory sound and music"—including a trove of Sun Ra material dating back to the 1950s and thousands of improvised and underground shows captured between 1981 and 2006 by Chicago sound recordist Malachi Ritscher. The concert series that ESS presents in its cozy live room, including Option and Oscillations, feature internationally celebrated Chicagoans—drummer Hamid Drake, sound artist Olivia Block, visionary multi-instrumentalists Ben Lamar Gay and Douglas Ewart—as well as renowned out-of-towners such as trumpeter Greg Kelley, saxophonist Don Dietrich, and pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn. —Philip Montoro $40 for a pack of five tickets good for any concerts, which usually cost $10 apiece—and if you e-mail info@ess.org in advance to make a reservation, they'll even get you into one of the handful each year that sell out, 5925 N. Ravenswood, 773-998-1069, ess.org.

7/ Ninja Zombie DVD

In 1992, aspiring writer-director Mark Bessenger and a small crew filmed a low-budget Super-8 horror comedy in Chicago, the exurbs, and Wisconsin. No distributor wanted to touch his movie, Ninja Zombie, though I have a little trouble understanding why; the sight of a green, shirtless zombie adeptly fighting off a small army of ninjas would've sold me in 1992, but I was also seven at the time. Bessenger made a few VHS copies for friends, but the film otherwise disappeared. More than two decades later a copy wound up in the hands of cinema fanatic Zack Carlson, who helps run Bleeding Skull, a site and film distributor that documents obscure horror pictures. In 2014, Carlson brought the VHS to his Bleeding Skull collaborators (writer Annie Choi and site founder Joseph Ziemba, an Illinois native) who were so charmed by the goofy, light-footed picture they decided to find a way to release it. Last month, Bleeding Skull and Austin-based nonprofit the American Genre Film Archive co-released Ninja Zombie on DVD. I just hope with this wide release it may soon become a midnight staple. —Leor Galil $13.99 at americangenrefilm.com/releases/ninja-zombie.

About the artists

To accompany our gift guide, we commissioned two local artists to create the gift wrap featured on our two variant covers. To take full advantage of the festivities, pick up a paper copy of this week's Reader.

Justin Clemons from Chicago Lawn is also the Production Manager at Magnolia Printing. His gift wrap features hands spelling "C-H-I-C-A-G-O" in American Sign Language. The piece started as a hand study he painted at age 17 in the program After School Matters, and his instructor noted that it evoked the feeling of people being deaf to the youth of Chicago and their issues. Years later, Justin completed the painting in acrylics. It was featured in Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition hosted at the Museum of Science+Industry Chicago 2014.

Laura Berger is an artist living in Chicago who paints, sculpts and also animates. Her beautifully minimalistic work often focuses on themes of nature, dreams, or travel. Sometimes, her images feature a host of culturally diverse naked bodies—as appear on one of our variant covers. She is interested in how people create meaning and a sense of belonging to a greater whole.

For more info on Justin's work: justinianart.com. For more info on Laura's work: lauraberger.com.   v

Source: https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/chicago-reader-2018-holiday-gift-guide/Content?oid=63481605