- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Hub editor
Our house is full of stuff, as are the homes of most of the members of our family. If you find yourself in a similar situation, here are some suggestions for "stuff-free" holiday gifts from right here in Owen Sound that will always be a good fit – lots with links to make it even easier for you. This is just a start - do you have ideas to share? Email us at [email protected] and we will pass them along.
A great meal out. Or in. Every eatery in town can provide you with gift certificates in varying amounts. An evening of music and moules frites at the Avalon Jazz Lounge, a brunch by the water at Cobble Beach, wings after the game at Boston Pizza or Kelseys. A child can buy hot chocolate and a cookie for himself and a friend with his Bean Cellar gift certificate, and teenagers can decide when it's pizza night with a gift card from their favourite pizzeria.
A membership The Tom Thomson Art Gallery and Grey Roots have reciprocal arrangements with other galleries and museums, so not only do you get special invitations, discounts and perks here in Owen Sound,but on your travels around Ontario too. A Family Y membership means access 7 days a week to exercise equipment or the pool, pickle ball or sauna.
Music, theatre, movies. The Roxy, the Galaxy, the Georgian Bay Symphony. You can buy the tickets for a particular event by checking out their websites – or all three have gift certificates if you want to leave it up to the receiver.
Maybe your friend wants to get into the act. Buy them some time with TheatreKids with the Sandcastle Theatre. Or a membership in the Owen Sound Little Theatre so your friends can work in front or behind the curtain. Music lessons are available all over town - voice or almost any instrument you can imagine! Dozens of other lessons are available in Owen Sound too – skating, yoga, quilting, dancing, painting, martial arts, cartooning, knitting, driving.
Stuff that goes away because it is happily consumed. A hand-picked basket of goodies from Milk Maid - a growler of Kilannan beer or some Coffin Ridge wine or cider. A visit to the Farmers' Market for beeswax candles, a jar of local honey, locally roasted coffee or a bottle of maple syrup. If you are missing that delicious Rallis olive oil, it is still available at the Bleeding Carrot.
Who's to say what is a treat? You know your friends and family best – would they prefer a manicure or facial at their favourite salon, or auto detailing? A spring clean or de-clutter for the house, or someone to plan the garden and turn it over in the spring? Wrap up a gift certificate with some hand cream, ArmourAll, glass cleaner or flower seeds.
One last idea – the one that gives twice. A donation to something dear to the recipient's heart. Whether it's a gift to the library, the hospital, a refugee sponsorship, the arts, the homeless, heritage, scholarships or bursaries – your gift will always be welcome and will never be the wrong size.
