At this writing, we’re on the threshold of the largest gifting season of the year, but life has many things to celebrate!  And mindful gift-giving occasions happen year-round.

Part One spoke first of some general tips, then themes like Experiences and Personal Services, here we touch on other themes like Entertainment, Books, Learning, and Food.

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Foodies

Go past the usual holiday confections, think of the long game. Recipes on social media have amped up interest in unusual ingredients or tools.

• Gadgets: I’m one of several people I know who gifted themselves with an immersion(stick) blender this year, to marvelous results. A gift card probably best, unless you know the giftee and their kitchen well. Otherwise, a box of small gadgets could include a good knife, a new meat thermometer/baster, parchment paper, pot holders, even a zester!!
• Spices: Sadly my favorite local place Yaranoush will be closing I believe at the end of the year, but they’re there now.  Spice Revolution (Cold Spring, but online only and pop-up locations inc Pleasantville Farmer’s Market), Atlantic Spice wholesalers (Cape Cod), and Penzey’s.

• Coffee/Tea/Specialty Snacks Local is always good, but if you need to go online, try Meadow Ridge.
• Citrus: Have ordered from Alex’s Flamingo Groves for years. Fruit arrives fresh and in good condition, shipping is fairly priced, and packaging is simple; meaning greener, and more fruit than fuss.
• Cookbooks! And not all have to be new, sometimes you get lucky, find a hand-written recipe in a vintage one!

Entertainment

Our area is graced with so many live music and theatrical venues. Gift cards, tickets to specific events and in many cases memberships are available.

• Mostly music:  Capitol Theater/Port Chester, Emlin/Mamaroneck, Jazz Forum Arts/Tarrytown, Music Hall/Tarrytown, Paramount/Peekskill
• Theater  Clocktower Players/Irvington,  The Purchase PAC/SUNY Purchase,  WCT/Ossining, Performing Arts Center/White Plains
• Festival: My fave, the award-winning Pleasantville Music Festival. (Follow here for info on Winter Ticketfest)
• BONUS turn your arts-loving giftee onto the best online local events calendars for live music, and for arts in general.

Lifelong Learning is definitely a thing

• Adult schools with a terrific range of classes and lectures are available in Bronxville, Scarsdale, and WCC SUNY in Valhalla.
• 92Y for lectures and other special events, both in person and streaming
• Music lessons, for voice or instrument 
• Bookstores are good, local independent bookstores are the best. Bookshop.org helps you find these worldwide, here in Westchester they’re in Chappaqua, Croton, Dobbs Ferry*,  Katonah,  Larchmont, Mt. Kisco, Ossining, Peekskill, Pleasantville, Pound Ridge, Rye, Scarsdale, Sleepy Hollow* and Tarrytown.   * geared towards kids

Belonging

Memberships approach the peak of mindful giving, the gift that keeps on giving! Awesome gift for families, or even as a housewarming gift for someone new to the neighborhood.  Beyond free or discounted admission, most have perks like members-only events, extra discounts at the gift shop, and other treats. BONUS: Your giftee isn’t just getting a year of experiences, you’re helping build and support something near and dear to their heart.

Hudson River Museum Membership gets an extra-special mention for being part of a crazy-good ongoing deal: Via the Fairfield Westchester Museum Alliance one HRM membership also gets you into these 7 other local museums, all year-round, for free!

Botanical Gardens/Bronx,  Bronx Zoo/Bronx, Hudson River Museum/Yonkers,  Jacob Burns Film Center/Pleasantville, Pelham Picture House/Pelham, Playland/Rye,  Teatown Nature Preserve/Ossining

For the Already Full Heart

We all know those people who have enough sweaters or scarves, don’t really need or want anything themselves. Donating to a cause or charity dear to them is a great way to show your affection.

There’s no shortage of charities in need, but if you’re looking for inspiration, check out the lovely tradition the NYT’s Opinion columnists have. Starting today, they share leads for change-the-world kind of gifting, both large and small.

But in any case, before making any kind of donation, vet them. Charity Navigator is one of the best independent organizations that rate charities in terms of how efficiently they use your money. They look at how independent is the board of directors, the ratio of money spent on programs vs. overhead, and compensation for the directors.

                                                                               Happy Gifting!