There aren’t too many shopping days left until Christmas. You might be looking at the few remaining names on your list, wondering just what gift would please.
We’ve compiled a collection of last minute gift ideas that should fit the bill for just about anyone on your list. You will find a listing of various last minute gifts, big and small and at prices to fit every budget.
We are sure you will be inspired by some gift idea in the collection. Happy Holidays and good luck with your last minute shopping.
Wooden puzzle boxes are a perfect choice for just about anyone on your list. Each box opens up to reveal a secret compartment. Great for hiding an extra little something — cuff links, jewelry or guitar picks. Other shapes available, including hearts, shells and a violin. From $48 to $95 at Eclectic Galleries, Jacksonville Beach. www.eclecticgalleries.com
At the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens Store: Add sparkle to your holidays with these lightweight, jeweled glass ornaments from Department 56. $13 each. www.cummer.org.
Dazzle her with diamonds and emeralds this holiday season. This 4-karat Emerald, has an 18-karat white gold band, with 2.3 karats total weight Princess and Round Cut Diamonds. At Pavlos Jewelers. www.pavlosjewelrydesign.com.
No wine cellar? No problem! The EuroCave SoWine is a home wine bar that enables wine lovers to preserve their bottle of wine at the perfect temperature for up to 10 days. The air-tight refrigerated storage unit has two separate compartments that are each temperature-controlled to suit the type of wine you are storing. The unit is mainly for home use but it would be ideal to use to transport wine to a restaurant. If there’s any wine remaining your wine lover can take it home, particularly if it has been plucked from the valuable section of his cellar. You don’t want to leave the remnants of that bottle of Romanée Conti for the waiters to quaff! $395. www.wineenthusiast.com/eurocave_sowine.
Claude’s Chocolate in St. Augustine is featuring its exquisite hand-crafted bon bons for the Holidays. With 28 flavors and designs, a sampling of the most popular this year are chewy caramel with sea salt, passion fruit, Champagne and Cognac. They are sold: 6 pieces, $6.50; 12 pieces, $12.50; 24 pieces, $24; 48 pieces, $46. www.claudeschocolate.com.
Here’s a last minute gift for the music lover on your list: Bonnie Raitt concert tickets. Raitt will be in concert with special guest Ryan Shaw at the St. Augustine Amphitheater on March 13, 2009. Tickets are on sale now.
Raitt is more then a best selling artist, respected guitarist and accomplished songwriter. She has become an institution in American Music. Raitt’s bluesy folk rock style is best heard in her songs such as "Something to Talk About", "I Can’t Make You Love Me" and "Nick of Time". Tickets are $44.50, $54.50, $74.50. www.staugamphitheatre.com.
If the music lover in your life prefers the sounds of Chicago, you are in luck. Chicago will be in concert at the St. Augustine Amphitheater on Sunday, April 5, 2009. Tickets are on sale now, just in time for holiday giving.
Chicago is one of the longest running and most successful U.S. rock and roll groups. Over the last 40 years, Chicago has produced 20 top 10 hits, has sold over 120 million records and has won several Gammy Awards. Chicago’s hits include "Searchin’ So Long", "If You Leave Me Now", "25 or 6 to 4" and "Beginnings". Tickets are $46, $51, $66. www.staugamphitheatre.com.
The kid-friendly Quick Switch Microscope is the perfect gift for your little scientist. This microscope switches from a microscope to a viewer, and features three magnification levels, 150x, 300x, and 600x. Promote learning with your little one with this fun, interactive microscope, available now in the MOSH Gift Shop. www.themosh.org.
Scarves are the perfect accessory and an easy gift to give anyone. 5 Sisters has great new colors and patters in lightweight fabrics you can wear all year long. www.5sistersboutique.com.
At the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens Store: This pillow is entirely hand embroidered on a light tea-color cotton cover that buttons off for cleaning. Accented with red velvet piping, it measures 19 inches x 19 inches square. $138. www.cummer.org.
Here’s a gift that will delight your youngster and help a worth organization.
Late last year, Heather Surface and her children wrote a children’s book called "Jacksonville from A to Z." Patients from Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Nemours Children’s Clinic provided the illustrations. The book will benefit the Art with a Heart for Children, a nonprofit organization that provides personalized fine art experiences that enhance the healing process for patients and their families. The book was sponsored in part by Lewis Obi and Myra Bairstow, and Fogle Fine Art.
The hardback book is 32 pages, full-color with a glossy dust-jacket. The book is educational in nature— each page describes a Jacksonville landmark, historical figure or characteristic beginning with each letter of the alphabet, and there is a quiz at the end.
The book is available locally at Cowford Traders in Avondale, Shore Things at the Beaches, Fogle gallery in St. Nicholas. $19.95/www.jacksonvillefromatoz.com.
A gal can never have enough funky jewelry. Wolfgang in Five Points has a wide variety of fun necklaces, including these record and champagne bottle ones. 358-7288
The R. Roberts Gallery in Avondale has all sorts of art pieces for purchase. This holiday season, try something different and buy your loved ones a gift that will last forever. This Doctor Seuss exhibit includes unique pieces of art featuring all of your favorite characters. Pick up a piece of art with a whimsical Dr. Seuss touch and everyone will love it.
Daily tickets to the 2009 PLAYERS Championship are now on sale, just in time for the holiday gift-giving season. And as an added incentive, tournament officials have announced a new benefit to fans who purchase early. For every four daily grounds admission tickets purchased for the same day, fans will receive one on-site daily parking pass for that day
Daily Ticket pricing remains the same as 2008: Monday-Wednesday, $30 (good for all three days); Thursday-Sunday, $75 each day. Tickets can be purchased at www.pgatour.com/theplayers, or by calling 904-285-7888. The Players takes place May 4-10, 2009, on The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.
