Pittsburgh has seen its first official snow, and the holidays are right around the corner.
If you’re still trying to make a dent in your gift-giving list, there are many local spots to shop artisanal, one-of-a-kind goods that will delight friends and family. For Pittsburgh City Paper’s local gift guide, we revisited some of our favorite shops, artists, and craftspeople that we’ve featured over the past year, and built this handy resource using excerpts from our original coverage. Peruse the offerings — from upcycled clothes to a local book subscription box to a handcrafted Arby’s on McKnight Rd. coaster — and read the full stories below.
Pittsburgh-Themed Gifts
Yinzer Brands
For the true-blue Pittsburgher, Yinzer Brands pledged to bring the magic of the holidays to Yinzer Nation with a new collection of Pittsburgh-themed gifts. Kick off the new year with a 2025 Yinzer calendar, a talking Yinzer Elf on A Shelf (complete with a Steelers foam finger), Yinzer Socks, knit caps that say “Jagoff” and “Yinzer” on them, or a deck of Yinzer Playing Cards with local icons including Andy Warhol as the Ace of Spades and Sophie Masloff as the Queen of Hearts.
Items are available exclusively at Pittsburgh-area Giant Eagle and Market District stores. A portion of sales benefit Band Together Pittsburgh, a Blawnox nonprofit that uses music to inspire and enrich the lives of those on the autism spectrum.
Yinzer Brands spun out of Yinzer Cards this year, co-led by Pittsburgh whisperer and Growing Up Yinzer author Dick Roberts.
Heinz History Center Museum Shop
1212 Smallman St., Strip District. shop.heinzhistorycenter.org
A longtime go-to for local gifts, the History Center Museum Shop curates its own holiday gift guide with classics like Mister Rogers dress socks ($12.95) and a Heinz ketchup bottle glass ornament ($19.95). This year, Heinz highlights its special exhibition A Woman’s Place: How Women Shaped Pittsburgh with gift collections featuring Women’s History, Rosie the Riveter, and Nellie Bly (the namesake of City Paper’s mascot). Give the gift of moxie with a “She’s Got Moxie” t-shirt ($19.95), a Rosie the Riveter polka dot mug ($10.95), or Nellie Bly tote bag ($18.95).
Read more: A Woman’s Place is at Heinz History Center with new exhibition
Arts & Crafts
Olive Branch
11160 Perry Hwy., Wexford. olivebranchwexford.org
Started in a church basement nearly 50 years ago, Olive Branch in Wexford helps the greater Pittsburgh community and developing nations by selling fair trade products made by artisans around the globe. Many items like their belts, wallets, and wall hangings are made from recycled materials, such as car parts. A display of beautiful ornaments is crafted from an old engine block, and a key bowl made from recycled keys is one of the more popular items at the store. “Nature socks” benefit U.S. national parks and are made from organic materials. There are even gifts for pets.
Read more: Olive Branch is a cornucopia of global craft and compassion
Clay Pittsburgh
claypittsburgh.org
Pottery is having a moment, and this year nonprofit Clay Pittsburgh sought to break down barriers and connect Pittsburghers to local ceramic artists through studio tours.
The organizations’s most recent tour featured Pittsburgh Pottery in Carnegie, whose Arby’s McKnight Road Coaster ($10) is a CP staff favorite. At the gallery, you can also snag pierogi magnets, Pittsburgh shot glasses, “rad mugs and steins,” teapots, and more. Shop glazed pottery from Fireborn Studios on the South Side (also featured on the Pittsburgh Potters Tour) or bowls, mugs, and planters dotted with birds from Wolf’s Den Pottery in Sewickley. View the full list of local potters online.
Read more: Clay Pittsburgh fires up pottery community with studio tours, big plans for the future
Little Fortunes Pregnancy Gift and Baby Shower Game
The Little Fortunes baby shower game ($29.99) brings holiday fun to expecting parents. Launched by North Sider Del Weinberg through his So Dreamy Media brand, the game invites soon-to-be parents to “predict” their baby’s sex through interactive tests based on pregnancy myths and folklore from around the world. Thirteen tests use common household items and appear on an illustrated panel with folklore- and Tarot-inspired imagery by artist Casey Splinter. Each panel includes a timeline that traces the evolution of each type of pregnancy myth through history.
Read more: Little Fortunes baby shower game repurposes gendered myths for modern fun
The Artists of Witchburgh
Abby Krick is an illustrator who sells colored pencil-sketched designs as prints, but also in sticker, keychain, and greeting card form. Her illustrations focus on plants, animals and even spooky ghosts, blending technical documentation and childhood whimsy.
Lia de Lyon makes colorful, unique art including prints, a collection of waterproof stickers, spooky key chains, magnets, and tote bags.
Dante Campudoni is an expressionist artist who creates “vibrant artworks that spark meaningful conversation.” Visit his shop for brightly-colored artwork, prints, apparel, stickers, and keychains.
CP spoke with these Pittsburgh-based artists about turning their artistic hobbies into small businesses and selling their artwork at markets and craft fairs like Witchburgh.
Read more: Pittsburgh’s artists are the city’s hardest hustlers (originally reported by: Eddie Trizzino)
Books
For the readers in your life, Pittsburgh has always been a wonderful city for book lovers, but lately it’s become an increasingly great city for a more specific group of book enthusiasts: used book lovers.
Walk into Fungus Books and Records and be immediately fascinated with the shelves of deep cuts; books from edgier publishers that pushed boundaries in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s like Grove, Black Cat, and New Directions, alongside books on cryptids, UFOs, and jazz theory, just to name a few.
Bottom Feeder Books in Point Breeze is the perfect destination for those on the hunt for a specific edition or cover design. The store is well lit and well stocked with walls of vintage literature, as well as plenty of art and photo books. You can also shop their used, rare, and collectible books online.
In Shadyside, The Cozy Corner Bookstore feels something like visiting an old friend’s house. There are tables and shelves full of classic and modern literature with an impressive representation of translated works and specific publishers as well as local authors. The store also offers a Bookish subscription box with tea and treats ($40) and special mystery holiday books ($17) — where buyers can opt to be surprised and select only a book’s genre — wrapped with a candy cane and bookmark. Read more: Pittsburgh’s readers are finding rare collectables, and a sense of community, in used bookstores (originally reported by: Joseph Klammer)
Stay Gold Books, opened in April, is a charming, intimate venue on South Braddock Ave. in the heart of Regent Square’s business district. The family-owned business features new books – concentrating on fiction, with non-fiction and children’s titles also available – and carries gifts made by Marla Kauffman of Pittsburgh Personified.
Read more: Stay Gold adds family-owned bookstore to Regent Square business district (originally reported by: Rege Behe)
For young readers, B is for Books is a free children’s bookstore, opened in Homestead in February. The latest project from Reading Ready Pittsburgh, an early literacy nonprofit, the new bookstore invites children and their families to come in, peruse the shelves, and select three books to take home “absolutely 100 percent free.” The store be wrapping all books if you’re shopping for gifts on Saturdays through Dec. 21.
Read more: B is for Books, a free children’s bookstore, aims to boost literacy and joy for young readers
Clothing
The Closet
10 S. Fremont Ave., Bellevue. theclosetpgh.com
If you’re looking for a truly throwback gift, head to The Closet in Bellevue. This yinzer vintage clothing paradise is known for its inventory featuring local sports teams, though the shop’s TikTok video of a ’90s Cholula Hot Sauce t-shirt stuffed in a fake bottle went viral earlier this year.
Read more: The Closet is a yinzer vintage paradise (originally reported by: Matt Petras)
Flux Bene
fluxbene.com
For a one-of-kind piece, Pittsburgh-based Flux Bene is a gender-neutral, zero-waste clothing line that aims to make a positive change by upcycling used garments and scrap fabric. Their clothes are easily recognized by unique patterns and large pockets and can be purchased online, along with gift cards.
Read more: Flux Bene finds joy in reuse, slow fashion, and big pockets (originally reported by: Alice Crow)
This article appears in Dec 4-10, 2024.
