Hostess Gifts with a Local Spin

by Stephanie Hrutkay

No good guest shows up empty-handed, but who says you have to show up to the holiday party with a bottle of wine or tin of cookies? While no one would turn those gifts away, it can also be fun to treat a friend or loved one to something a bit more memorable and outside of the box. Here, we’re sharing 8 unique and affordable hostess gifts that you can purchase locally, whether you’re in the market for something consumable, decorative, or entertaining-related.

1. Bottle Opener – $49

These aren’t your average bottle openers! Pair one of these pretties from Shop Made in VA in Old Town with a six-pack of their favorite beer for a unique twist on a classic hostess gift.

2. Dish Towel – $22.50

Most people aren’t buying novelty dish towels for themselves (but they’ll definitely appreciate this beautiful Old Town Alexandra-themed one). Available in both blue and black, this towel from Red Barn Mercantile in Old Town will add personality to their kitchen in no time!

3. Candle – starts at $28

Available in both small and large sizes, these candles from Crème de la Crème in Old Town are a crowd-pleaser. Best of all, the vessel is chic enough to repurpose when empty—your recipient can use it to stash pens, makeup brushes, and more.

4. Cocktail Napkins – $68

While in Georgetown, pop over to gift shop A Mano to snag some of these festive cocktail napkins that come as a set of four. Your host will be thrilled to display these all holiday season long.

5. Chocolate bar – $14

If you’re looking to pick up something consumable, you can’t go wrong with a couple of these special chocolate bars, available at Salt & Sundry in Union Market. The wrapping is practically too pretty to remove.

6. Serving bowl – $34

Pop by the Terrain store in Bethesda (Terrain is one of Anthropologie’s sister brands, if you didn’t know) and pick up a gorgeous evergreen serving bowl like this one. Since the design isn’t too Christmas-like, your host can enjoy using it all winter long.

7. Christmas Cheer Paintable Notecards by Emily Lex Studio – $18

Vintage lovers will delight in wldwst, which is located in Leesburg and boasts plenty of stocking stuffers and more substantial gifts alike. In the market for a gift for the creative host in your life? Pick up a pack of these paintable notecards, which they can then send out to friends and family members to enjoy—it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving!

8. Swiss Style Drinking Chocolate – $18

No one can resist a rich cup of cocoa this time of year. Present Swiss Style Drinking Chocolate from Federal & Black in Middleburg to your host in lieu of something alcoholic. They can share with the whole family while curled up by the fire.

Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9