Local photographer Drazah’s close-up night shot of the Texas State Capitol would delight a history buff or devoted Austinite (Credit: Drazah Photography)
Scratching your head looking for that perfect gift? Searching for a memorable souvenir for out-of-town guests? Our guide to the city’s creative minds will help you find the Austin gifts you need to keep it local.
1/ Drazah Photography
Drazah has a knack for capturing Austin’s personality through his camera lens. His Texas State Capitol photos have been wowing me for years. He has a great nighttime series and an urban exploring series, too.
Canvas prints run $100-200, depending on size. He loves “showing how I see the city of Austin and my day to day life differently through my camera.”
2/ Travel in Style (Special Discount for Austinot Readers)
Kyari bags are perfect for overnight travel (Credit: David Heisler Photography/Kyari)
Dreamy KYARI bags bring class to your adventures. Founder Kaeleen Weiser designs these luxurious bags out of soft Italian leather, in Italy. Our pick, The Manhattan, is the brand’s signature overnight bag for travelers, and has a patent-pending design that includes a separate compartment for cleverly stashing an extra pair of heels or flip-flops.
KYARI is offering an exclusive deal to readers of The Austinot through Dec. 20, 2016. Take a whopping 60% off The Manhattan at checkout with the code austinot60. KYARI will also donate 10% of these profits to Austin Child Guidance Center.
3/ Nina Berenato Jewelry
The Shield necklace by Nina Berenato Jewelry simultaneously conveys strength and delicacy (Credit: Nina Berenato Jewelry)
Channel your inner Wonder Woman with these inspired pieces of jewelry. Designer Nina Berenato draws inspiration from her travels, mythology and nature.
Our pick is the Shield necklace that stands for protection, honor and dignity. Nina Berenato’s team makes each piece by hand in Austin. Statement pieces run from around $48-$120.
4/ Wine for the People Wine Club
Local winemaker and Sommelier Rae Wilson leads a monthly wine club featuring limited release wines. The monthly group meets in Austin to learn about, taste and take home this carefully curated bottle selection.
Wine for the People monthly wine club might appeal to the wine lover in your life (Credit: Texas Wine Lover)
The wine club meets at Aviary Wine + Kitchen. Buy a ticket to just the tasting for $25, or buy a trial membership that includes bottles of wine starting at $177.
5/ Commission Your Own Mural
Surprise your loved ones with a full-scale mural of the most adorable critters ever! Daddy Otis paints these benevolent beasties around the city and Austin loves them. You may have posed with Otis’ friendly monsters at HOPE Outdoor Gallery. He is a master at wielding a chainsaw, too, and works in various mediums. Prices vary.
6/ Killer Queen Designs
Killer Queen Designs makes iconic magnets including the Austin sunset with a little bat
Killer Queen Designs embodies artist Katie Cowden’s endless hustle. Cowden’s laser-cut, etched and sometimes even hand-painted jewelry make the perfect little gifts.
Her Austin magnets, Texas earrings and a series of icon pieces that include David Bowie, Frida Kahlo and Bill Murray are also popular and fun. Art for the People Gallery, I Luv Vintage and Revival Vintage carry her pieces. Killer Queen gifts are a steal at the $8-$25 price point.
7/ Love for Aspiring Writers
“This Word Now” inspires writers to get down to the business of writing (Credit: Joleen Jernigan)
Austin literary supernovas Owen and Jodi Egerton lead writers through the paces in “This Word Now.” Through activities, anecdotes and advice, this book serves as a virtual cattle prod for writers. This is like one of the Egertons’ famous writing workshops, but for the writer on the go.
Owen Egerton, of Master Pancake Theater and One Page Salon, has written novels, short stories, Hollywood screenplays and a horror film, “Follow.” Jodi Egerton regularly conducts writing workshops and composes poetry for the Typewriter Rodeo group. Grab “This Word Now” for the writer in your life and give a bit of the Egertons’ magical fairy dust along with it.
8/ Treats for Craft Beer Lovers
WhichCraft Beer Store offers gift cards, craft beer from all over Austin, and the world and mystery six-packs for the craft beer lover you love (Credit: Joleen Jernigan)
WhichCraft Beer Store has a rocking selection of craft beer in the Mueller development. The friendly, beer-loving staff is always happy to talk shop and make recommendations.
You can actually buy any beer in the store as a single, allowing you to create a custom six-pack for that beer snob in your life. Another fun gift is the mystery six-packs, grouped around a theme or type of beer.
9/ Rita Walker Pottery
Rita Walker Pottery deer heads make fun gifts for the animal lover in your life (Credit: Rita Walker Pottery)
Rita Walker makes vibrant, textured pottery. Her work often incorporates Austin themes such as nature and music. Many Austin stores carry her functional and decorative pieces, like these deer heads.
10/ Criquet Shirts
The founders of Criquet Shirts sport the classic Players Shirt
Criquet Shirts hails back to Bill Murray’s Caddyshack style. Co-founders Billy Nachman and Hobson Brown wanted to reintroduce the comfortable style of a bygone era, while still looking cool.
Criquet Shirts uses organic and locally-sourced materials whenever possible. Prices range from $75-125.
11/ Tourmaline Todd 3D Jewelry
Native Austinite Tourmaline Todd creates intricate pendants, earrings and more with the use of 3D design and 3D printing. His eye for geometric patterns in his jewelry making and painting makes his pieces instantly recognizable.
Nature, architecture and native culture are his inspiration. Todd selects and sets all of the stones himself, and pieces range in price from $100-700.
@theAustinot wants to know:
What is your favorite hyperlocal gift in Austin?
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We always have unique content on the Austinot, and we love to give things away. You know, like CDs, event tickets and other cool stuff. We only send out our Best of the Austinot newsletter two times/month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of the Austinot here!