SRQ editors hit the ground running to pull together a mixed bag of feel-good goodies to hygge out at home if you’ve become accustomed to a socially distanced lifestyle. If not, flip through to our picks for outdoorsy adventure gear to enjoy a quintessential Gulf Coast outing. Or, dive into some ticketed activities and local excursions we stumbled upon for more experiential gift ideas. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t feature a cellar’s-worth of celebratory bubbles to manifest a holly jolly good time upon the end of an historic year of pandemonium. This holiday season, you deserve more than ever to “treat yourself” and your loved ones. 2020, it’s been real, but it’s time to let loose, pop a little champagne and recoup on some missed merrymaking.
DECK THE YARDS SunDry Afternoons Reverse Clamshell Brim River Guide Hat Chaparral, $50; GreenThumb Bypass Pruner 8”, $11; GreenThumb 7-Pattern Real Trigger Hose Nozzle, $16; Botanical Interests Herb Packets, $2 each; Border Concepts Iron Garden Hanger, $3, Dotchi Garden cultivator, $8, Dotchi Gardening trowel, $8, Your Farm & Garden, 735 South Beneva Rd., Sarasota, 941-366-4954, yourfarmandgarden.com. Cacti/Succulent varieties, from $2; Garden Genie Gardening Gloves, $5; Terra-cotta Clay Pot Varieties, from $3; Albritton’s Nursery, 4151 Proctor Rd., Sarasota, 941-925-0344, albrittonsnursery.com, @albrittonsnursery.
BABY, IT’S SUNNY OUTSIDE SlowTide Huahine Multi Beach Towel, $30; YETI Sage Daytrip Lunch Box Cooler, $80; Rue Ames Solid Red 9.75’ Greendough Surf Fin, $83; The Florida Flavor “High Tide” Flat-Brim Hat, $30; Flynn Mt Back Mirror Shades, $150; Salty Crew UV Face Gaiter, $20; Nautilus XL Reel 6/7wt in Custom Green, $445; Enrico Puglisi Black Treuse Lure and Sand Ghost Minnow Two-Pack, $8.50 each; 16-Ounce Compound Silipint, $12; Compound Boardshop, 3604 South Osprey Ave., Sarasota, 941-552-9805, compoundboardshop.com, @compoundboardshop. Chaco Chillos Slide Fossil, $50; NRS Tuff Sack 15-Liter Dry Bag in Blue, $26; GILI Stand-Up Paddle Coiled Leash, $25; Economy Tackle/Dolphin Powersports, 6018 South Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-922-9671, floridakayak.com, @economy_tackle.
ROCKIN’ AROUND THE BATHTUB LemonLavender Microfiber Turbo Hair Towel, $12; Jane Unc. Eyestea Tea Bags, $5; Sheabrand CBD 25-mg Bath Bomb Set, $25; Sheabrand Transdermal Soothing CBD Patches, $20 each; Sheabrand Multifunction 50-mg CBD Body Butter, $30; Bomb Cosmetics Handmade Essential Oil Soaps, $8 each; The Jade Roller Stone Massager, $24; Molly’s: A Chic & Unique Boutique, 1874 Stickney Point Rd., Sarasota, 941-921-1221, mollyssarasota.com, @mollys_srq. Musee Therapy DreamWeaver Lavender Flowers & Lime Epsom Salts, $22; MU Rubber Duckie Blue Bath Balm, $7; Gidgets Coastal Provisions, 5242 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key, 941-343-7646, gidgetssiestakey.com, @gidgetssiestakey.
JINGLE BELL CORK Whether you’re looking for an affordable bottle of bubbly to simply cheers and get the job done or a top-shelf showstopper to impress your Secret Santa or dinner guests, these robust local bottleshops and wine bars’ retail walls are worth stopping at this holiday season. Pick up a gift that means “unwrapping” the fancy foil off the cork and collerette.
BUBBLY BOTTLES Conundrum Sparkling Rosé, $26, Siesta Key Wine Bar, 5138 Ocean Blvd., Ste. C, Sarasota, siestakeywinebar.com; Vilmart & Cie Coeur de Cuvée Premier Cru Brut Champagne, $124, Sea Grape Wine Co., 4333 South Tamiami Trl., Unit F, Sarasota, sgwineco.com; Belstar Prosecco Brut DOC, $14; 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop, 1445 2nd St., Sarasota, 99bottles.net; Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne, $60, Grand Cru Wine Bar, 1528 Main St., Sarasota, gcwinebar.com; Dom Pérignon Brut, $170; Venice Fine Wine & Spirits, 421 South Tamiami Trl., Venice, venicewineandspirits.com; Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Brut Rosé Champagne, $69, Fine Wine & Tastings on Main LWR, 8111 Lakewood Main St., Unit J105, Lakewood Ranch, finewineandtastings.com; Vino Loco Brachetto-Italy (Private Label), Vino Loco Wine Bar, Tapas & Bottle Shop, 420 West Dearborn St., Englewood, vinolocowines.com; Collet Champagne Brut Esprit Couture, $100, Magnum Wine and Tastings, 2300 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota, magnumwinesrq.com; Champagne Collet Brut ‘Art Deco’ Premier Cru, $49, Rumours Wine Bar, 1807 Englewood Rd., Englewood, rumourswine.com.
Dress to the nines and head out for a night sipping sparkles on a downtown rooftop or intimate lounge. This fleet of flute-filled varietals can be found at local restaurants and bars with an impressive bubbles menu to order either by the glass or popped by the bottle. Raise a toast to the end of a year that has made us especially appreciative of the social sound of clinking glassware.
GLASSES OF NOTE Sea Smoke Sea Spray Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine, Central Coast, CA, $160/btl, Ophelia’s on the Bay, 9105 Midnight Pass Rd., Sarasota, opheliasonthebay.net; Rose d’Or Crémant de Brut Rosé, Bordeaux, FR, $14/gls, $46/btl, Burns Court Bistro and Wine Bar, 401 South Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, theburnscourtcafe.com; Domaine Spiropoulos Ode Panos Brut Certified Organic, Mantinia, GR, $55/btl, Blu Kouzina, 25 North Blvd. of the Presidents, Sarasota, blukouzina.com; Castello di Gabbiano Cavalier d’Oro Brut Prosecco, Veneto, IT, $15/gls, Summer House, 149 Avenida Messina, Siesta Key, summerhousesiestakey.com; Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV, Reims, FR, $92/btl, Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Marina, 1968 Tarpon Center Dr., Venice, crowsnest-venice.com; Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé, Alsace, IT, $55/btl, GROVE Restaurant, Patio and Ballroom, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch, grovelwr.com; Domaine Carneros Champagne Taittinger, Napa Valley, CA, $54/btl, PIER 22 Restaurant, Patio and Catering, 1200 1st Ave. W, Bradenton, pier22dining.com; Graham Beck Brut Rosé NV, Coastal Region, SA, $14/gls, $48/btl, Michael’s On East, 1212 East Ave. S, Sarasota, bestfood.com; Bellavista Franciacorta Alma Cuvée Brut, Lombardy, IT, $63/btl, Café Baci, 4001 South Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, cafebacisarasota.com; Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne, Épernay, FR, $20/gls, $80/btl, Clásico Italian Chophouse, 1341 Main St., Sarasota, clasicosrq.com.
A HOLLY JOLLY NIGHT IN MudPie Throw Blanket in Gray, $36; Katie Loxton Sweet Dreams Luxury Silky Sleep Mask, $20; Faceplant Dreams Terry Spa Wrap, $40; BIA Jasmine Magnolia Soy Candle, $28; Molly’s: A Chic & Unique Boutique, 1874 Stickney Point Rd., Sarasota, 941-921-1221, mollyssarasota.com, @mollys_srq. Kitsch Beauty Satin Pillowcase Standard, $23.50 each; Faceplant Dreams Fluffy Slippers, $29.50; Thymes Goldleaf Home Fragrance Mist, $21; Thymes Goldleaf Lotion, $17.50; Garden Argosy Gift Shop, 361 St. Armands Cir., Sarasota, 941-388-6402, gardenargosy.com, @garden.argosy. 14-Ounce OM Swig Wine Marble Slab, $28; Gidgets Coastal Provisions, 5242 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key, 941-343-7646, gidgetssiestakey.com, @gidgetssiestakey.
THE WET-NOSED REINDEER Huggle Hounds Holiday Red Fleece Super Squeaker Bone, $39; Tall Tails Travel Bowl (1.4L), $13; Nerf Dog LED Glow Tennis Ball, $13; Earth Animal No Hide The Feast Turkey/Pumpkin/Cranberry Medium Dog Chew, $15; Bocce’s Bakery Lumps of Coal All-Natural Charcoal Treats, $7; DogLine Biothane Collar Black (L), $14; West Paw Glow Zisc with Zogoflex (L), $18; Tall Tails Plush Buoy Toy, $13; Tall Tails Leash Rope Red (5”), $22; Puppia Soft Harness Grey (M), $16; Zippy Paws Waterproof Treat Bag Forest Green, $9; Jax + Bones Good Karma Rope Toy Cactus, $15; PoochieBells Signature Tracks Print Doggie Doorbell Training Method, $17.50; DogGoneSmart Chenille Rectangle Bed Green (26 x 34), $85; DOGPerfect, 4820 South Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-564-0094; 11605 FL-70 E, Lakewood Ranch, 941-803-4496; 5419 University Pkwy., 941-803-4464, dogperfect.com, @officialdogperfect.
TOY TO THE WORLD Djeco Rainbow Tigers 1,000-Piece Puzzle, $16; Djeco Origami Facile Dinosaurs, $7; Djeco Dinosaur Mosaics, $8; Plus Plus Mermaid 3-D Puzzle, $9; Crazy Aarons Hypercolor Thinking Putty, $12; Eeboo Scratch Paper Stickers Space Adventure, $12; Eeboo Double-Sided 24 Color Pencils, $9; Kinsmart Toy Space Shuttle and Toy Cars, $9-$10 each; Schleich Dinosaur Figurines, $9-$21 each; Wild Republic Rainforest Frog Slap Watch, $7; Crocodile Creek Shark Throw Football, $16; Toy Lab, 1529 Main St., Sarasota, 941-363-0064, toylabsarasota.com, @toylabsarasota.
