Though there’s still the Thanksgiving meal to prepare and fall foliage lingering around Boston, it’s officially November, which means holiday shopping season has begun. Get a head start on your loved ones’ wish lists with these products from local Black-owned businesses.
Holiday Gift Boxes from Black Owned Bos.
There are so many
incredible Black-owned businesses here in Boston, the greatest challenge
is choosing among them for holiday shopping. Black Owned Bos. solves
that problem with a series of holiday gift boxes featuring anywhere from
four to eight items sourced from local Black-owned shops. The boxes
have goodies like chocolate, tea, candles, bath bombs and other
indulgences perfect for holiday pampering.
blackownedbos.com
Handcrafted earrings from AIRI Jewelry & Gallery
Local artist Maya Alia handcrafts the earrings at AIRI Jewelry & Gallery, focusing on minimal, artistic and femme silhouettes. Available in silver (stainless steel) and gold (tarnish-resistant bronze), these wearable art pieces are both bold and delicate. If you’d prefer to hang art on your walls, AIRI also showcases a series of art prints celebrating diversity and feminine energy.
shopairi.com
Boozy Ice Cream from Crème de Liqueur
Combine
two beloved holiday traditions this year: dessert and cocktails. Crème
de Liqueur makes liquor-infused ice cream with up to 2% ABV. Founders
Nisreen Galloway and Elizabeth Nash are passionate about all things
local, so these small-batch pints are infused with regional liquors like
Bully Boy. Spoon-toast the holidays with their seasonal flavor Twisted
Apple Pie, featuring cinnamon vanilla ice cream infused with cinnamon
whiskey and loaded with real apple chunks.
cremedeliqueur.com
Crème de Liqueur founders Nisreen Galloway and Elizabeth Nash
Jamaican Jerk Marinade from Hillside Harvest
Hillside Harvest owner Kamaal Jarrett celebrates both his Jamaican heritage and his Boston home in the craft sauces he produces. The Jamaican Jerk Marinade is one of his best-selling products, folding hints of ginger, thyme and pineapple into the mild but tangy hot pepper marinade. If you’re having trouble choosing between flavors, the Hot Sauce Variety Pack is another popular choice, including Pineapple Fresno, Sun Kissed Tomato and Original Hot Pepper sauces to spice up your next dish.
hillsidesauce.com
Cookie Sampler from Clarke’s Cookies & Cakes
The
delicacies created by this woman-owned, family backed bakery will have
your sweet tooth singing for joy. Karen Clarke created the business
while searching for healthier treats for her family. The Clarke’s
goodies are plant-based, vegan and delicious. The six-pack of cookies is
a perfect starter sampler, offering chocolate chip, gluten free oatmeal
raisin and peanut butter to the discerning snacker.
clarkescakesandcookies.com
Tickets to a holiday show
“Black Nativity”
Quality
time together often makes the best gift and during the holiday season
there are lots of classic, festive performances to attend with family
and friends. “Black Nativity” and “Urban Nutcracker” are unique,
community-based theater experiences celebrating the Black experience in
Boston and ringing in holiday cheer. You may even recognize your
neighbors in the cast! Dress up, make dinner plans and create a lasting
holiday memory.
blacknativity.org
A new read from Frugal Bookstore
For
the bibliophiles in your life, head to Frugal Bookstore in Nubian
Square, a community shop run by two dedicated booklovers, Leonard and
Clarrissa Egerton. The bookstore offers a vast selection of volumes
highlighting diverse stories, and they will happily order you anything
you can’t find in the store. If you have a few titles in mind, go wild —
and if you don’t, the Egertons can help you find the perfect book for
everyone on your list.
frugalbookstore.net