Thanksgiving has come and gone, which means two things: 1) I’ll officially allow Christmas music to be played in my house, and 2) it’s holiday gift-shopping season! We recommend spending your Black Friday drinking specialty beers, and waiting until Shop Small Saturday to dive into the shopping rat-race.
Short on ideas? Luckily, the little elves at The Squeaky Curd have rounded up a handful of Milwaukee’s best stocking stuffer ideas for you and yours this holiday season (in addition to the ones we featured back in 2017, 2016, and 2015, which are all still available). Even Santa shops local.
Any Item from The Bronzeville Collective MKE
All photos and videos by Joe Powell for The Squeaky Curd.
There’s no shortage of quality crafters and makers in Milwaukee, but there was a dearth of black, brown, and queer representation in that space. Enter The Bronzeville Collective MKE, a successful continuation of Pop Up MKE, to fill the city’s (and our gift-basket’s) gap.
Four anchor businesses, as well as another 15+ supporting makers, fill the permanent storefront on Vel R. Phillips Ave and North. Each vendor offers handmade wares as diverse as their creators. Make sure to stop by during their BuyBlackFriday event today, or any time this holiday season. Check out these items from the store:
Tiffany Miller is a one-woman show, making and selling her flowery and fabric-y goods straight from this “handmade adornment company”. Perfect accessories for anyone of any age.
Flower headband part of our giveaway.
Approachable high fashion is Tomira’s game, with handmade clothing pieces you won’t find anywhere else in the city; they’re bound to turns heads wherever you go.
Bracelet part of our giveaway.
Originally a Jamaican poet/singer/author by trade, Lilo Allen sinks her heart and soul deep into each “culturally conscious handcrafted good” she makes.
Earrings part of our giveaway.
BeElegant and Barmore Creative
If you haven’t seen Jasmine Barmore’s African American-focused artwork around Milwaukee yet, you will soon. It impacts each viewer differently, but without fail.
Print part of our giveaway.
Woolly Bar Felted Soap from Shovel and Spade
Woolly Bar part of our giveaway.
Audrey Renée’s “fiber art for sustainable living” is all about zero-waste and up-cycled products. Her wool-formed beer koozies have always caught our eye, but it’s her collaboration with Square One Soapworks for the cute little Woolly Bars that we recommend as affordable and adorable gifts.
Their plant-based soap bars are hand-wrapped in the softest, locally-sourced wool, ready for be used to lather on in the shower or tub. Besides her Etsy shop, make sure to catch Shovel and Spade in person this weekend at The Domes for the Urban Garage Sale.
Beer Grain Dog Treats from Leashless Lab
Gift bag part of our giveaway.
Dog treats. Made with beer grain. We truly live in the best future.
Besides featuring spent-grains from local breweries (Black Husky, Lakefront, Raised Grain, and Third Space), there are only 3 other ingredients in Nikki & Kevin’s (and dog Tonka’s) home-baked dog treats: all-natural flour, organic peanut butter, and locally-sourced eggs. They’re wholesome, recycled, and non-alcoholic snacks every Brew City pooch will love.
10% of every sale goes towards “various pet organizations across the country”, including the Wisconsin Humane Society. Pick up a bag at 25+ Milwaukee shops, or order via their website and get the shipment in a custom burlap bag. Plus: be on the lookout for their holiday gift bag pictured above, which includes an additional pint glass for each dog’s human treats.
Maple Bourbon Popcorn from Lush Popcorn
There’s nothing more “lush” than liquor-infused popcorn, and the Lush Popcorn company is not afraid to take their decadent snacks to the next level. I’m talking Maple Bourbon Bacon popcorn, Vegan Chili Lime Margarita popcorn, and Cookies & Cream popcorn, to name a few. It’s a step past what the normal salty-snack aficionado is used to. Don’t ask me how they infuse their popped goodies with liquid courage, but also don’t ask me to share.
Milwaukee’s been getting a small taste of Lush Popcorn over the last few years, but this month CEO Marcia opens up their first storefront in the impressive Sherman Phoenix incubator space. Pop in on Shop Small Saturday for their soft opening, or after the doors officially swing out on November 30th.
2-Person “Bust-N” Session at Bust-N-Stuff
2-person visit and 2 hats part of our giveaway.
What do you get when you combine a teacher of 20+ years, a Japanese game show, and an broken old TV? An idea for bringing fun destruction to Bay View.
Gene and Kristina Trotter have outfitted two rooms in the maze-like Lincoln Warehouse to be what they dub a “Bustaporeum”. By appointment only, individuals or groups can rent these rooms to destroy glass objects to their hearts’ content. Wine bottles, beer glasses, cooking ware: it’s all scrounged, rummaged, or donated locally (and easily bust-able).
After donning some safety equipment, I took the sledge hammer, lead pipe, and bed-post for a spin myself. Christina got the Beastie Boys bumping, and I swung for the fences. It’s extremely safe, and unbelievably exhilarating for being such a simple concept. Gene is even devising a number of games of skill for those who are looking for something beyond wanton destruction.
You have beef with a bud? Bust some stuff.
You organizing an office holiday outing? Bust some stuff.
You like busting stuff? Bust. Some. Stuff.
We highly recommend each of the above businesses for your patronage and gift-shopping this holiday season, as well as the innumerable other Milwaukee-area small businesses. As an added bonus, we gave away each of the above featured gifts to different followers of our Facebook page! Congrats to Anna, Stephanie, Sarah, Apryl, Kristyn, Maria, Jodi, and Danielle for winning. Happy Holidays!
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