Main Street Recommends

We here at Main Street have been busy gift shopping for all of our loved ones and we know that you’ve likely been doing the same. We’ve done extensive research about what the gift giving trends are this year, reached out to some local businesses to share their recommendations with us, and even given you some of our favorites! Happy shopping!

TRENDING

What’s trending? Our sources tell us that popular gifts this season fall under the health and wellness, useful household items, and sustainability.

Rural Center Refillery – Reusable Produce Bags

Help your friends and family skip the plastic on their next trip to the grocery store and invest in a reusable, mesh produce bag.

Purchase here: https://www.ruralcenterrefillery.com/shop-online/p/large-mesh-produce-bag

Rural Center Refillery
2881 Church St, Pine Plains, NY
(845) 867-6557

Red Hook Stationery Co – Composition Notebooks 

Whether you’re gifting it to a coworker or someone who always needs to jot down their thoughts, stationery (especially if it’s cute!) always makes a great gift!

Visit their Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/redhookstationeryco/

Red Hook Stationery Co.
7 W Market St, Red Hook, NY
(845) 835-8232

Demeter Home – Tea Towels

Do you have a friend who just moved? Or one whose kitchen needs some humor? These tea towels are perfect and there are a variety to choose from on the Demeter Home website.

Purchase here: https://demeter-home.com/products/dev-d-co-needs-a-snack-tea-towel

Demeter Home
2980 – 2984 E Church St, Pine Plains, NY
(518) 771-3282

KIDS 

The best gifts we’ve found for kids this year are craft kids, books, and games! Check out some of our favorites below.

Acorn Toys & Goods – DIY Soap Maker 

If you’ve got a crafty kiddo to buy for, DIY kits are always a hit. Try this soap making kit from Acorn Toys & Goods!

Purchase here: https://www.acorntoyshop.com/collections/big-kids/products/nailmatic-soap-maker-kit-bunny

Acorn Toys & Goods
38 Main St, South Egremont, MA
(413) 528-5400

Little Pickles Toy Shop – Discovery Bundle

Little Pickles offers bundles of curated toys tailored to certain interests. Go for the discovery bundle if you’ve got a curious kiddo!

Purchase here: https://ourlittlepickles.com/

Little Pickles Toy Shop
7505 N Broadway, Red Hook, NY
707 Warren St, Hudson, NY
(845) 835-8086

BOOKS 

We reached out to some of our local bookstores to get their recommendations for their favorite books from this year! Oblong Books, Merritt Bookstore, and the Bookloft weigh in below.

Oblong Books – Day by Michael Cunningham 

Oblong Books recommends Day by Michael Cunningham. Suzanna says, “A searing, exquisitely crafted exploration of love and loss, the struggles and limitations of family life—and how we all must learn to live together and apart—from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Hours.” Oblong also has signed copies, so get yours before they’re all gone!

Purchase here: https://www.oblongbooks.com/day-novel-hardcover-signed-michael-cunningham

Oblong Books
26 Main St, Millerton, NY
6422 Montgomery St, Rhinebeck, NY
(518) 789-3797 / (845) 876-0500

 

Merritt Bookstore – The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl

Merritt Bookstore recommends The Comfort of Crows written by Margaret Renkl and illustrated by Bill Renkl. Kira at Merritt says, “With grace and beauty Margaret Renkl gifts us another book that helps us slow down and see the world around us. I’m hoping readers will gift this to themselves and others, and read throughout the year, starting with the first week of winter as this book’s 52 chapters follow the calendar.  Margaret’s brother Billy’s artwork brings even more to the text. Gorgeous and timeless.”

Purchase here: https://www.merrittbooks.com/item/FNxdntz3CzyR_7UzqUqiaQ

Merritt Bookstore
57 Front St, Millbrook, NY
(845) 677- 5857

The Bookloft – All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 

The Bookloft recommends All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. “Doerr’s ‘stunning sense of physical detail and gorgeous metaphors’ are dazzling. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, he illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, All the Light We Cannot See is a magnificent, deeply moving novel from a writer “whose sentences never fail to thrill.”

Purchase here: https://www.thebookloft.com/book/9781668017340

The Bookloft
63 State Rd, Great Barrington, MA
(413) 645-3256

EXPERIENCES 

Another trending gift idea this year is gifting experiences rather than physical gifts. Here are a handful of picks for experience gifts.

Catamount Mountain Resort

Whether you’re giving a gift to a skier, snowboarder or zipliner, Catamount Mountain Resort has you covered. Purchase a gift card at their website for different activities.

Purchase a gift card here: https://catamount.connectintouch.com/gift-cards?_ga=2.93119256.42412645.1701187050-1958203178.1701187050

Catamount Mountain Resort
78 Catamount Rd, Hillsdale, NY
(413) 528-1262

Saratoga Performing Arts Center 

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is home to a variety of festivals, concerts, and events throughout the year. Visit their website for the full schedule.

Visit their website here: https://spac.org/concerts-and-events/

Saratoga Performing Arts Center
108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs, NY
(518) 584-9330

Culinary Institute of America

For the people in your life who love to cook, give them the gift of a cooking class at the Culinary Institute of America. Visit their website to see the full schedule of classes.

Visit their website here: https://www.ciafoodies.com/single-day-classes/

Culinary Institute of America
1946 Campus Dr, Hyde Park, NY
(845) 452-9600

GIFT CARDS 

Gift cards are always a good go-to when you’re purchasing a gift for someone that you don’t know very well or when you’re trying to get creative to get a gift for the person who seemingly has everything.

The Moviehouse 

The Moviehouse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been celebrating film and bringing the community together since 1978.

Purchase a gift card here: https://www.themoviehouse.net/gift-card-options

The Moviehouse
48 Main St, Millerton, NY
(518) 789-0022

Rebelle

Rebelle is a woman-owned cannabis dispensary located in Great Barrington that focuses on the intersection of cannabis with wellness and luxury.

Purchase a gift card here: https://letsrebelle.com/?product=1350069

Rebelle
783 S Main St, Great Barrington, MA
(413) 258-3958

Hammertown 

Hammertown Barn is a lifestyle store and interior design service with locations in Pine Plains, NY, Rhinebeck, NY, and Great Barrington, MA.

Purchase a gift card here: https://shop.hammertown.com/collections/gift-cards

Hammertown
3201 Route 199, Pine Plains, NY
6420 Montgomery St, Rhinebeck, NY
15 Bridge St, Great Barrington, MA
(845) 640-4453 / (845) 876- 1450 / (413) 528-7766

OUR FAVORITES 

Lastly, we wanted to present you with a few of our favorite holiday gifts! Here’s our recommendations:

Thorunn Recommends: Harney Tea Sampler 

A great choice for someone if you know they drink tea, but aren’t quite sure what their favorite flavor is, or if someone is foraying into the tea scene and needs some help discovering what’s best for their palate.

Purchase from Harney Tea here: https://www.harney.com/products/wrapped-sachet-honey-sampler

Harney & Sons Fine Tea
13 Main St, Millerton, NY
(518) 789-2121

 

Ashley Recommends: Candles from One Mercantile 

Ashley is a big candle lover and constantly has one burning in the office. If you’re not exactly sure what scents are your person’s favorites, she recommends buying a classic, clean scent. Eucalyptus mint scent from One Mercantile is light and airy – perfect for burning while you work in your office.

Purchase here: https://sett.onemercantile.com/products/eucalyptus-mint-candle-limited-edition?_pos=3&_sid=166c0f3bc&_ss=r

One Mercantile
8 Castle St, Great Barrington, MA
(413) 528-1718

Abby Recommends: Plants + Flowers 

Abby is a plant lover and she loves receiving plants as a gift. If you have someone in your life who loves their plants like they are their children, then consider purchasing another one to add to the mix. It’s a more unusual gift choice, typically reserved for things like housewarmings, but will be appreciated by the plant lover in your life nonetheless.

Order from Country Gardener’s Florist here: https://countrygardenersflorist.com/

Country Gardener’s Florist
5 Railroad Plaza, Millerton, NY
(518) 789-6440