We’re keeping it Coastal this holiday season.
That’s right — Coastal. For our fourth holiday gift guide, we’re looking at objects inspired by our lives along the shore.
What better time to reflect on life in paradise?
With the sand and the surf, who needs snow? And Santa?
He’d be happiest in the pair of swim trunks we found in Delray Beach, and might even want a morsel or two from the alligator snack trays sold in Boynton Beach. Then, he would don the Maui Jim sunglasses he bought in downtown Boca Raton and head out to the beach.
Santa also would be happy knowing we visited locally owned businesses to find these gifts — no muss, no fuss, no lines at the mall. Some items were created locally; some were made elsewhere in the United States.
That’s what it’s all about.
After all, the holidays begin at home.
And what better time to keep that Coastal Star shining bright than at the holidays.
— Scott Simmons
Designed by Scott Simmons
Written by Scott Simmons, with Mary Thurwachter
Photography by Tim Stepien and Scott Simmons
Old World holiday ornaments
How much: $6-$19
Where: Etc. Gift Shop, Seagate Hotel and Spa, 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Phone: 655-4800.
Ornaments at a hotel? Who’d have thought?
But we were hooked the moment we laid eyes on these delicate, blown-glass fish, pelicans, oranges and other tropical themed creatures and objects. These are perfect for expanding your own collection of holiday decor or as a quick, last-minute hostess gift, and at these prices, you can buy several.
Decorated starfish
How much: $12-$35
Where: BeachComber Arts, 212 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Phone: 315-5717.
Shell artist Debbie Brookes lends her touch to these decorated starfish in a variety of hues of blues and greens and lavender to suit our coastal moods.
Feeling more traditional? She also has starfish in reds and whites, plus a line of shell-encrusted chandeliers, sconces and furniture that will remind you of why you live in Florida.
Starfish earrings and necklace
How much: Earrings ($12), necklace ($15)
Where: Mercer-Wenzel, 401 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Phone: 278-2885.
These rhinestone-studded baubles are a bargain at $12, but they also pack a fair amount of style. Mercer-Wenzel also had an array of jewels in sea turtle and other marine motifs. These are a perfect gift for the kids to give Grandma or their teacher. They also are a nice little stocking stuffer for those other special ladies in our lives — a favorite waitress, the housekeeper who goes the extra mile — or a little inexpensive gift for yourself. And they’re made in America.
Iron seahorse bottle opener
How much: $11.50
Where: The Beached Boat, 206 NE Second St., No. 102, Delray Beach. Phone: 278-3130.
This seahorse is pretty and practical. It has the right rustic feel, and a nice heft. It’s also a great stocking stuffer and that we predict will have customers galloping over to the Beached Boat to stock up on them.
Historic tiles
from the Giles House
How much: $35 each
Where: Old Town Hall, Boca Raton Historical Society, 71 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Phone: 395-6766
Buy that special someone a piece of history and help a good cause. These tiles are from the Giles House, that building on East Palmetto Park Road that long was home to La Vieille Maison restaurant.
The building, constructed in 1927, recently was demolished, but the historical society has recovered a number of these tiles from the fireplace surround. The majolica tiles were made by Mensaque Rodriguez, a firm that operated in Seville, Spain, from 1917 to 2006. The purchase price strikes us as a bargain for a little history and a lot of charm, and the perfect gift for that certain someone with an eye to the past.
Mariposa
small alligator sauce dish
How much: $42
Where: Boynton Beach Postal and Gift Center. 562 E. Woolbright Road, Boynton Beach. Phone: 738-6002.
These metal trays are sure to be a hit with the Florida Gators fan on your list. They’re listed as a small sauce dish, but the 8-inch or so dish also is perfect for nuts and such on game day.
The dish is green, too, in the environmental sense.
Mariposa products, made in Mexico, are created from recycled metal.
Lilly Pulitzer neckties
How much: $72
Where: C. Orrico, 1218 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Phone: 278-5353.
Nobody makes casual look stylish or formal look effortless quite like Lilly. These ties are perfect with a rumpled shirt and jeans or with that über-swank Hugo Boss suit, and that’s why these Pulitzers take the prize.
Bermuda Styles Hybrid shorts/trunks
How much: $68
Where: The Trouser Shop, 439 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Phone: 278-5626
Bruce Gimmy (left) guarantees you’ll walk out of his shop smiling, so why not treat someone to a pair of these tropical shorts? Their lightweight construction is designed so they can be worn on land or in water. And that tropical motif will be a hit wherever your recipient wears them.
Seahorse
tote bag
How much: $45
Where: Bliss Designs, 111 E. Boca Raton Road, Boca Raton.Phone: 395-7048.
Like almost everything in this fun shop, Diane Bliss designed and hand-painted this stylish canvas beach tote. She offers free monogramming and cellophane gift packaging.
Besides the totes, she carries a wide variety of gifts and décor items, from baby clothes to monogrammed towels to beach towels to door signs.
Bliss also is known for her hand-painted wooden Christmas ornaments ($16) that can be personalized with a name. Designs include seahorses, tropical Santas, sea turtles and flamingoes.
Deco Breeze pineapple fan
How much: $94.50
Where: Hand’s Office & Art Supply, 325 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Phone: 276-4194.
This metal fan doubles as sculpture, making it a must-have for any place a tropical breeze needs an electrical assist. Hand’s also offers fans in other shapes, including a funky flamingo.
Silver orchid pin/pendant
How much: $125
Where: Yaacov Heller Gallery 22, Royal Palm Place, 282 Via Naranjas, Suite 53, Boca Raton. Phone: 347-1677.
To us, it’s a no-brainer. Here’s an opportunity to wear something created by an internationally known sculptor.
Yaacov Heller’s silver jewelry comes in an array of floral shapes. This plated piece is a great value at $125. He also offers cast silver brooches and earrings at a higher price, as well as chess sets and sculptures.
Maui Jim ‘Big Beach’ men’s sunglasses
How much: $299
Where: Eye Catchers Optique, 318 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton. Phone: 338-0081.
Let folks take your gift-giving personally with these sunglasses. The gloss black titanium frames are stylish, and the polarized Maui HT lenses will protect that special someone’s eyes from the sun. That man in your life will find them essential for golfing, deep-sea fishing, watching polo or just relaxing on the beach.
Bonanno ‘Flower’ sandals
How much: $129
Where: Gulfstream Pharmacy, 4998 N. Ocean Blvd., Briny Breezes. Phone: 276-4800.
Nothing says Palm Beach like Bonanno sandals, created in Stuart. The “Flower” model, with detachable blossoms, is pretty and practical. And for the guys on your shopping list, rumor has it that the pharmacy will be ordering some of Bonanno’s men’s line.
Hand-painted child’s chair
How much: $125
Where: Details of Delray, 811 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach. Phone: 279-7500.
Artist Barbara Sharp paints an array of furnishings, and is happy to customize pieces. She is from Sebastian but is in Details several times a month lending a deft hand to tables, chests and pieces like this wee chair, which is sure to be an heirloom one day. She also had a lovely child’s table and two chairs decorated with a frog and lily pad theme ($450).
Pink House Mustique swim trunks
How much: $145
Where: Periwinkle, 339 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Phone: 279-9699
These swim trunks and board shorts combine style and comfort. If the coral motif appears to be inspired by the Caribbean, it’s because the clothing line is designed on the isle of Mustique. Also worth checking: polo and print shirts that will coordinate perfectly with the shorts ($60 and up).
Starfish
tunic top
How much: $150
Where: Angela Moore, Plaza del Mar, 248 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan. Phone: 585-7997.
These tunic tops are pretty and coastal-perfect in a pastel that will remind you of the sea and the sky.
This comparatively new boutique has an array of jewelry, including the necklace ($115), and dresses, tops and beaded bags.
But we loved the starfish on this tunic.
As you might have guessed, we are partial to the shellfish.
Does it get any more coastal than that?
Burl wood bowls and sculptures
How much: $250 and up
Where: Forms Gallery, 415 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Phone: 274-3676
Delray Beach artist Tim Carter carves these otherworldly bowls, jars and vases from burl wood, the area where branches joined the tree trunk and have such a wonderful profusion of grains and colors. He also hand-crafts lazy susans and other accessories.
Room It Up
golf set
How much: $13-$185
Where: Lifestyles of Lynne, Royal Palm Place, 284 Esplanade, Suite 52B, Boca Raton. Phone: 347-2933.
Buying this golf ensemble for Mom or Grandma could be a family affair. Yes, the golf bag is $185, but the shoe bag is only $20, the cosmetics bag, $13, perfect for the kids to have something budget-friendly to give. Add in an umbrella ($40), tennis bag ($60) or the duffel ($60), and that special lady will be ready to hit the clubhouse in style.
Green figure garden seat
How much: $179
Where: Excentricities, 117 NE Fifth Ave., Delray Beach. Phone: 278-0886.
When finding a place to sit comes to a head, check out these cool garden stools at Excentricities. They’re in tropical hues of greens and blues, and would be great for seating or as occasional tables, indoors or out. For that person who has everything, or who needs something cool.
Shell tree
How much: $200
Where: Art-Sea Living, 1628 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Phone: 737-2600
The pearly luster of oyster shells lights up this tabletop tree, perfect for the hostess who has everything. It was created by Boynton Beach artist Barbara Webb, who also designs mirrors, sconces and lamps in elegant coquillage, or shell work.
Also worthy of note: An amazing half-inch-to-the-foot scale model of a cottage, complete with steaks on the grill ($1,395), that was designed by Delray Beach artist Pamela O’Brien. Bring her your idea and she will create a custom miniature space.
Shell tree
How much: $200
Where: Art-Sea Living, 1628 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Phone: 737-2600
The pearly luster of oyster shells lights up this tabletop tree, perfect for the hostess who has everything. It was created by Boynton Beach artist Barbara Webb, who also designs mirrors, sconces and lamps in elegant coquillage, or shell work.
Also worthy of note: An amazing half-inch-to-the-foot scale model of a cottage, complete with steaks on the grill ($1,395), that was designed by Delray Beach artist Pamela O’Brien. Bring her your idea and she will create a custom miniature space.
Rocking horses
How much: $250
Where: The Heart Painter Inc., Royal Palm Place, 310 Esplanade, Suite 50A, Boca Raton. Phone: 544-8158
Here is a keepsake that will gallop into a child’s memory in decades to come.
We were partial to the tropically themed pink and aqua horses, replete with beading, but Evelyn Ballin, the Heart Painter herself, will customize these horses to match any decor.
Pink Electra Townie bike
How much: $450
Where: Richwagen’s Delray Bike and Sport, 298 NE Sixth Ave., Delray Beach. Phone: 276-4234.
Remember that flush of excitement at the sight of a shiny new Schwinn or Western Flyer under the tree on Christmas morning? Who says that feeling is just for kids? This pink Townie, complete with chartreuse wheels, hits a perfect tropical note for comfortable cruising along the coast. There are optional fancy fenders with matching grips for those who want to personalize a bike.
Want to go more tropical? Check out the fancy pineapple motif Electra bikes ($620) also built for cruising in style.
Sea turtle table
How much: $395
Where: Gumbo Limbo, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton. Phone: 338-1473.
This mahogany sea turtle table would be perfect in any coastal decor, from classic to contemporary. It is beautifully carved in Indonesia, and its purchase benefits a good cause. Also available: a large carved sea turtle ($150).
Bone Appetit dog seat
How much: $950-$1,250
Where: Quigley-Maguire Collection, 301 Pineapple Grove Way, Delray Beach. Phone: 450-7471
A dog’s every meal will be worth the climb in these canine highchairs. The back opens to reveal a ladder, and there are convenient openings in the tray into which a dog’s humans can set food and water dishes. No muss, no fuss, and great tropical styling.
If this is a dog’s life, we’d say they have it good.
Gold shell cuff bracelet
How much: $6,800
Where: Private Jewelers, 900 E. Atlantic Ave., No. 21, Delray Beach. Phone: 272-8900.
Call us off the cuff, but who wouldn’t want to be seen wearing this custom 18 karat gold bracelet with its 10-point diamond? It offers sparkle without bling, perfect for evenings out on the avenue. And because it is one of a kind, you aren’t likely to run into someone else wearing one.
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