Not done Christmas shopping yet? A last-minute local gift guide for Modesto, valley
Look, the calendar doesn’t lie. You’ve left your holiday shopping to the last minute again.
But, fear not, this is the Central Valley and we have an abundance of great products grown, manufactured and created right here. So here is a quick gift guide for great locally made products and the places you can go to save your holiday season and be a hero to your friends and family come Christmas morning.
For the foodie
We live in the nation’s bread — and fruit and nut — basket. So take advantage of everything that grows out of Central Valley soil. Some of the major growers in the area have set up gift shops and are selling pre-made gift baskets overflowing with local products. For stone fruit and nut lovers (or just nuts, no judgment) in your life you can check out the Rodin Ranch Farmers’ Market in downtown Modesto’s Tenth Street Plaza, Stewart & Jasper Orchards in Modesto’s McHenry Village and the Blue Diamond Almonds Gift Shop next door to its Salida processing plant on Sisk Road.
There is also Modesto’s own Sciabica’s California Olive Oil, which has its headquarters and gift shop/tasting room on Yosemite Boulevard. They offer single bottles and gift sets, as well as other related items, in the shop. Or for the dairy lover in your life, you can check out Oakdale Cheese or Hilmar Cheese, which both have extensive gift shops, and you can also sample while you shop. So that’s a little gift for you.
With all that cheese and other goodness, you will obviously want some great bread. So why not gift a monthly subscription to Alchemy Bread from Modesto artisan baker Bonnie Ohara. You get a fresh loaf of Alchemy’s signature wheat sourdough bread every week of January starting Jan. 9, 2020, for $32.
For the artsy type
Good news, there are plenty of options to give the art lover in your life something unique and locally made. Bad news, there are so many options it might be difficult to choose. So why not pick a few to give this year?
For theater lovers, give the gift of season or individual show tickets. Modesto’s Prospect Theatre Project has season passes for $100 for its upcoming shows in 2020. Opera Modesto will present the United States premiere of the orchestrated version of author Jane Austen’s novel “Mansfield Park” Jan. 11 and 12 with tickets ranging from $25 to $30. And the Gallo Center for the Arts has a slew of shows scheduled in January from Broadway to comedy and dance.
For movie lovers, you can’t beat a membership to downtown Modesto’s State Theatre. The historic movie palace turns 85 this Christmas, and in celebration will open a new second screen for the first time in its history. The Jewel is a micro-theater with 25 seats that will help expand the nonprofit theater’s cinematic offerings. Annual memberships to the State run from Fan level ($50) all the way to Movie Mogul ($5,000) and include free movie passes, free popcorn vouchers and other discounts.
Or, if your loved one is more of the hands-on type, there are classes being offered by a number of area arts organizations. The Central California Arts Association at Mistlin Gallery has a Winter Sculpture Class for Kids that runs Jan. 6 to 10 each day for $95. For adults, the classes this winter are Magnolia Blossoms in Watercolor (Jan. 18 to 19 for $270) or Screenprinting Basics (March 14 to 15 for $150, open to ages 12 and up).
The nearby Chartreuse Muse has a number of classes this winter for both children and adults as well, from painting to drawing to working with clay and more. Classes run from around $200 to $400 and start in mid-January. And, of course, both Chartreuse Muse and Mistlin Gallery have pieces by local artists for sale in their gallery and gift shop.
For the outdoor adventurer
You have a one-stop shop for gear and more for the camper or hunter in your life at one of Modesto’s longest-running family owned retail businesses. Crescent Supply is back in its McHenry Avenue digs after a fire last year destroyed its previous downtown location. The grandparents of current brother-and-sister owners Craig and Tiffani Stott opened Crescent in 1946.
Besides selling outdoor wear, camping gear and other accessories, the store carries two Modesto-born brands catering to law enforcement and other active professions, 5.11 Tactical and First Tactical, both started by Modesto entrepreneur Dan Costa.
For another Modesto-born brand offering quality outdoor wear, you can also check out the Royal Robbins store in the McHenry Village. The brand was started by rock climbing legends Royal and Liz Robbins of Modesto as Mountain Paraphernalia in 1968, before becoming Royal Robbins in 1982. The brand has since been sold, and is now owned by a Swedish company. But the Modesto shop remains open.
For the homebody
Nothing is cozier than a warm, inviting home during the holidays. So why not help make someone else’s even cozier, too? Several locally owned shops offer home decor and more. I suggest taking a stroll through some of the city’s most popular shopping centers like the McHenry Village or Roseburg Square, which are both are brimming with boutiques.
In Roseburg Square, Mobaak Aromatherapy Shoppe opened about a year ago and has become a popular stop for handmade soaps, candles, lotions and sprays. You can find many gifts under $10, and leave smelling like a rose — or lavender or sandalwood or eucalyptus or, well, you get the point.
For Christmas lovers, you can find a wide selection of special ornaments and other decor at the McHenry Mansion Gift Shop in downtown Modesto or Morris Nursery in Riverbank, which both have large holiday displays.
For the hard to shop for
So we all have that one person, or more, who is just impossible to shop for at Christmas. Well, there’s even something for them. The Downtown Modesto Partnership is offering the Discover DoMo Pass, which gives you free access to area attractions and movies, and discounts to area restaurants.
The $30 pass grants people a one-time, all-day pass to any session at Modesto on Ice, as well as admission to a movie of your choice at both Brenden Theatres and the State Theatre. The passes also offer a 10 to 20 percent discounts at more than a dozen downtown restaurants.
And, if all else fails, everyone needs to eat. Most locally owned restaurants offer gift certificates for dining. So figure out their favorite place for dining out, and buy them a gift card for a meal on you. So yes, Modesto, there is such thing as a free lunch — if you buy it for someone you love for Christmas.
This story was originally published December 21, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
