Eating, Drinking, & Doing All Things Merry in SoCal
I recognize how lucky I am to live in such proximity to incredibly creative people.
The culture I have been blessed to grow up in is saturated with serious talent. Food, crafts, and community is made great by the hands of those who run these local businesses.
I took the leisure to share some of my personal favorite local businesses in the hopes that I could encourage you to support the work they’re putting out and enjoy their seasonal offerings.
After all, this list is compiled of our neighbors. In the spirit of the season, what better way to practice generosity than with those right around us!
Eating:
Rye Goods puts the spirit in festive baking. Cookies, pies, cakes, and loaves available for local pickup in Costa Mesa. Keep up with their Instagram so you don’t miss out on any of their holiday offerings! These bakers are top notch.
AWG Bakery is a gluten-free almond flour bread, available in both an everyday or a rosemary flavor. Good news: they also just opened a store-front in south county. Pay Hanna a visit and pick up some rosemary goodness or have it delivered!
Pop-Up Brunch at TASTE in Long Beach
A three course brunch and live jazz music. Gifting a fun experience like this is a great way to celebrate the holiday season and support the reopening of one of my favorite local restaurants, Restauration!
December 15th or 16th, 10a-2p
Drinking:
Rich Elixirs offers locally made kombucha and ginger beer. They’re currently selling an apple cranberry cinnamon booch flavor… yes you do need it.
Hopper & Burr is taking cozy drinks to a formerly unreached level. They have a “campfire cappuccino” that’s sweetened with a maple infused vanilla and topped with hickory smoked sea salt. Tell me that description alone doesn’t warm your soul.
Neat Coffee is home to house-made syrups, almond milk, and seasonal food offerings galore! One of their seasonal drink was the Butternut Pie latte. Butternut puree, spices, coconut cream… wow. They’ll carry this until this Sunday, December 1st. After that, they’re planning on knocking our socks off with their Peppermint Mocha and Peanut Butter Cookie Latte.
& Doing All Things Merry…
Shopping Small:
Maker’s Mart LB is having their 7th annual pop-up artisan market in Long Beach. Celebrate Small Business Saturday by shopping local!
November 30th, 10a-5p in downtown LB
Erin Vaughan is an artist whose niche is in the outdoors. She does rad paintings and illustrations of parks, forests, lakes, and beaches all over the West Coast. She even says it herself, shopping her work in person gets you a better deal than buying online. Below are some OC locations where you can score a deal and meet the maker!
Find her here:
November 30th, 10a-4p at REI in Bella Terra
December 1st at Dear Handmade Life’s Patchwork Show in Santa Ana
Luna Reece Ceramics is based in Costa Mesa but sets up shop at different markets and festivals all around town. If you’ve been in any local boutiques, I can guarantee you’ve seen Andrea’s work. She has the cutest plant pots, ring dishes, kitchenware, and all kinds of other home decor!
Find her here:
December 1st, 11a-5p at Patchwork (the same show Erin Vaughan will be at! Two birds with one stone!)
December 14th at Madewell in South Coast Plaza
At Coast Modern, a couple-owned and curated shop on Main Street in Seal. Andrea and Coast Modern just released a T-shirt collaboration that would be a great Christmas gift!
May Martin Inc. is a handmade jewelry company from right here in Southern California. They also sell cute trinkets like enamel pins and keychains right out of their little trailer at the LAB in Costa Mesa.
8th Annual Falliday Art Sale in Fullerton
December 7th, 5p-10
This little holiday market will be a perfect spot to shop for some holiday gifts! (Erin Vaughan, Orange Pail ceramics, Wild Flower Roots jewelry, and Nordic Fox Design Co. candles and prints are some features to look out for!)
SavySoul has some handmade offerings that would be a great gift or addition to your own home. Keep up with her Instagram to see what holiday goods are in store!
Festive Fun:
Ugly Christmas Sweater Making Party in Costa Mesa
December 5th, 6:30p-8:30
Crocheted Garland Making Party in Costa Mesa
December 11th, 6:30p-8:30p
Holiday Card Making Workshop in Costa Mesa
December 19th, 6:30p-8:30
Grab a friend, a seasonal pie, and a cozy drink. Support local artisans and knock out some holiday shopping.
Whatever you eat, drink or do… be merry while doing it!