The 2014 CityScene Magazine Gift Guide
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Power Station
Everybody knows someone – or, more likely, several someones – with more portable electronic devices than he or she knows what to do with. This portable tech station from GreatUsefulStuff.com has space for a tablet, laptop computer, power strip and as many as three cell phones, all of which can then be charged at once. $50. www.greatusefulstuff.com
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Irish Eyes Are Smiling
There are a lot of people in central Ohio with Irish roots, and even more who like to think they do. For those folks, there’s Dublin-based Ha’penny Bridge Imports, which offers a plethora of Irish and Celtic merchandise, such as this reversible shamrock jacket with matching hat. $50 jacket, $15 hat. www.hapennybridgeimports.com
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Beyond Polaroid
Need a photo taken and printed in a hurry? Look no further than the Smartphone Photo Cube Printer from Sharper Image, which easily prints waterproof, borderless color photos. $159.99. www.sharperimage.com
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Brewer’s Boon
Home brewing sounds like a good idea to a lot of people, but they don’t know where to start. If you know one of those people, consider the West Coast IPA Beer Brewing Kit from Uncommon Goods, which includes 100 percent malt extract, specialty grains, fresh hops and high-quality yeast. $45. www.uncommongoods.com
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Capital Compact
An easy addition to a holiday make-up bag, this electric refillable compact from Jane Iredale is designed to accommodate a range of Jane Iredale pressed mineral powders. $20. www.janeiredale.com
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Sparkling Clean
Keeping jewelry looking good can be tricky business, but the Ultrasonic Jewelry and DVD Cleaner from Brookstone makes it decidedly easier. The cleaner uses tap water, not chemicals, in conjunction with sound wave technology to keep jewelry, glasses and watches clean without damaging them. $49.99. www.brookstone.com
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Mightier than the Sword
3D printing is all the rage in the technology realm, but here’s a unique twist on it: the World’s First 3D Printing Pen from Hammacher Schlemmer. Its “ink” is a warm, thermoplastic substance that hardens in seconds and can work with various colors and two degrees of line thickness. $99.95. www.hammacher.com
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The Audacity of A&A
Alex and Ani bracelets are enjoying enormous popularity, and if you know someone who wants one, Audacious Boutique in Dublin is a good place to look. The shop carries many of the jewelry company’s new styles. $28-$58. www.audaciousboutique.com
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Czar of the Bar
Know someone who likes to play bartender? Consider the Bar10der from Quench Products, which packs 10 bar tools – including a muddler, a jigger, a knife, a strainer and a corkscrew – into one item. $29.99. www.quenchproducts.com
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Baby Got Backgammon
Now here’s something that will grab the attention of anyone who walks into the room: a leather-and-steel backgammon set from York Street Studio. The company’s products have a definite following in the luxury lifestyle community, and this set is no exception. $1,800. www.yorkstreet.com
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That's What Blends Are For
The Blendtec Designer 725 is an all-in-one blender. It has six pre-programmed cycles, including juice, salsa and ice cream; a digital readout for recipes and nutrition tips; and a 1,725-watt motor, allowing the motor to do most of the work, rather than the blade. $649.95. www.blendtec.com
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... And small
Big cyclists start out as little cyclists, and for the preschooler looking to make the transition from tricycle to bicycle, there’s the BMXie from Chillafish. It sports a BMX-style frame with oversized tubing, as well as fiberglass-reinforced material and a detachable front number plate with stickers for personalization. $89. www.chillafish.com
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Bohemian Rhapsody
A musically inclined friend or family member might appreciate one of the Boho Series guitars from Bohemian Guitars. The instruments are made from upcycled oil cans, with each model designed to match the sound it produces. $299. www.bohemianguitars.com
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Waisting Time
Nexbelt’s no-holes design is intended to be the next phase in belt evolution. The belts – available in 100 different color and buckle combinations for both sexes – use a hidden ratcheting system that’s adjustable to 15 sizes. Starting at $34.99. www.nexbelt.com
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Ace of Race
Available in any denomination, a gift card to Scioto Downs Racino in south Columbus gives its recipient a boost at the gift shop, restaurants, café and ice cream parlor. The cards cannot be used for gaming or alcohol. Prices vary. www.sciotodowns.com
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Here Comes the Sun
Winter doldrums don’t stand a chance against the Verilux Happylight Deluxe Sunshine Simulator. The portable, glare-free simulator is a good defense against jet lag and holiday exhaustion. $139.99. www.verilux.com
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Festive Flavor
The Christmas-themed cakes at Mrs. Goodman’s Baking Co. in Worthington are a marvel for both the eyes and the taste buds. And they’re not the bakery’s only holiday items; it also makes seasonal cupcakes, cutout cookies and pies. $24.95-$150. www.mrsgoodmans.com
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Easy Listening
An earbud falling out and a cord getting tangled are two quick ways a workout can be derailed. To correct that problem, there’s this 1 Voice headband, which has connected earbuds and a built-in Bluetooth receiver. $59. www.1voicenyc.com
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All Bikes Are Great ...
Electra Bicycle Company’s line of Loft city bikes features lightweight diamond-frame structures, foot-forward positioning and upright riding positions. The 7i seen here is a seven-speed model. $709.99. www.electrabike.com
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Sound and Light
Ever heard a lamp play a tune? Well, you can now. Pulse by Sengled, available on Amazon, is a pair of LED lights, which can be plugged into any standard light socket, that also have speakers and Bluetooth connectivity so they can enlighten ears as well as eyes. $169.99. www.sengledplus.com
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Give 'em the Boot
We’re heading into snow season, but spring is never too far away, and these pink rain boots from Case IH for girls and women will come in handy soon enough for someone on your list. They offer adjustable buckles and reflective black seams for safety. $32.95-$44.95. www.shopcaseih.com
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Crafting All The Way
More than 60 artists statewide will have their work available at Ohio Designer Craftsmen’s annual Gifts of the Craftsmen holiday sale, running Nov. 9-Dec. 23 at the Ohio Craft Museum in Grandview Heights. Prints – such as this one by Judith Vierow, titled Red Chair – are among the show’s many highlights. $120 with frame. www.ohiocraft.org
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Reputable Robes
Chagrin Falls-based SoffiaB is known for its luxury robes. The Daphne collection is lined with double-napped cotton, making it ideal for cooler climates. $995. www.soffiab.com
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This! Is! Spartina!
This Stoddard Push Lock Hipster handbag from Spartina 449 is just one in a world of unique accessories available at Carlisle Gifts. Carlisle is located in Plain City, right next to Der Dutchman Restaurant & Bakery. $123. www.carlislegifts.com
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Pick Up the Slack(line)
Offering outdoor entertainment as well as balance improvement and core strength, the Backyard Slackline from the KaBOOM! Go Out and Play Collection gives kids another option for play. Slacklining is a fairly simple sport in which participants walk across a length of suspended nylon webbing. $79.95. www.kaboom.org
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Pizza Power
This terra cotta pizza stone from Ten Thousand Villages is more than just a pizza stone. It’s also a way to give back – all of the company’s fair trade products are made by skilled artisans in other countries, in this case Bangladesh. $39. www.tenthousandvillages.com
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In The Midnight Hour
Vera Bradley bags and accessories are always a hit around the holidays, and Simply Rr’s, located in the Mall at Tuttle Crossing, has them in plentiful supply. The Midnight Paisley bag here, available toward the end of November, is just one example. Starting at $45. www.simplyrrs.com
