The Gift-Giver's Guide

Mull over these gift ideas from local stores for your family and friends this holiday season — and don’t worry about including the gift receipt.

Photos: Collage photos by Gary Rohman

Danby's tabletop beverage dispenser is the perfect gift for an entertaining enthusiast. Convenient to use by the pool, on a boat or watching a game, it chills mini beer kegs but also comes with a removable 5L plastic bottle that can be filled with mixed drinks, wine, iced tea, juice or whatever else you want.
A chilled bottle of wine or champagne is always good to have on hand in case of spontaneous celebration. Danby's 8-bottle thermo-electric wine cooler is ready, with a thermostat for setting the temperature between 50 and 64 degrees.

As America prepares to switch to digital TV,  replacing the old tube may not just be a good idea, it will be downright necessary! Upgrade to Sony's 40-inch Bravia LCD HDTV, with 1080p resolution for the highest-quality picture available. Test it out with the latest movie releases: Journey to the Center of the Earth, released Oct. 28, Wall-E, out Nov. 18, and Kung Fu Panda, out Nov. 19.

Nebraska Furniture Mart
1601 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66111
800.407.5000  l  www.nfm.com

 

 

1. The Lux candle, hand-decorated wooden picture frame and special wall mirror embossed with crosses — all products decorated with Swarovski crystals — will add some subtle “bling” to a friend's table or wall.

2. This iron-colored concrete statue could answer a friend's prayers for a new garden ornament. 3. An 18K white gold necklace with a green tourmaline pendant surrounded by diamonds will keep you on her good side for quite a while.

4. Esque candle bowls smell refreshing and double as a stunning accessory piece. They come in two sizes and a cinnamon and olive color palette accented with gold. 5. The hematite bracelet and necklace set, along with the south sea cultured pearl strand that has one 18K yellow gold diamond cut bead in between each pearl and matching pearl-and-diamond earrings, are jaw-droppers that will dress any lady in beauty.

1. KC Surroundings
12730 State Line Road, Leawood, KS 66209
913.378.1690
www.kcsurroundings.com

2. Van Liew's Home & Garden
7347 Prospect,
Kansas City, MO 64132
816.523.1760
www.vanliews.com 3. Jewelry Arts
8221 Corinth Square,
Prairie Village, KS 66208
913.381.8444

4. One Stop Decorating Center
12611 W. 62nd Terrace, Shawnee, KS 66216
(Check the website for other locations)
913.631.0088
www.onestopdecorating.com  5. Meierotto Midwest Jewelers
4311 NE Vivion Road, Kansas City, MO 64119
816.453.1111
www.mjewelry.com

 

1. Dazzle your Secret Santa with these bejeweled ornaments that will make any tree sparkle with a little extra glitz and glamour.

2. Feather your nest (or a family member's) with this display terrarium, including a leaf-covered candle holder for tea lights, nest with eggs and a      concrete bird. 3. With more than 90 stores and restaurants, it can be tough choosing a gift from Town Center Plaza. Make it easy on yourself — if you can't settle on one item, try a gift card instead.

4. The wannabe chef that lacks time can get started at the stove with Ruthie Wornall's Three-Ingredient cookbooks, with three volumes and 175 recipes each. The ceramic plate is one of four with inspirational words everyone can enjoy. 5. For under $30, an iron cookbook stand, with bookmarks to hold pages in place, is a practical and pretty addition to any kitchen.

6. Give the gift of warmth with this soft, cuddly throw or help a friend keep books in   line with frog bookends — put papa frog's glasses on him for an added ‘aww' factor.

7. The Mangiacotti Florals line is a crowd favorite, including hand soap, lotion and room spray, with other scents of lavender, clementine, pomegranate, lemon verbena and Eden, the gardener's line.

1. Edgevale Interiors
6116 Johnson Drive,
Mission, KS 66202
913.403.8136
www.edgevaleinteriors.com

2. The Yellow Barn
11272 S. Ridgeview,
Olathe, KS 66061
913.888.8976

3. Town Center Plaza
119th Street and Roe Avenue, Leawood, KS 66209
913.498.1111
www.towncenterplaza.net 4. Chic-A-Dees Trophy & Engraving
10544 Metcalf,
Overland Park, KS 66212
913.341.6242
www.chicadeestrophy.com

5. Revival Home Furnishings
9001 Metcalf,
Overland Park, KS 66212
913.901.0081 6. Keeping Good Company
16082 Metcalf,
Overland Park, KS 66085
913.685.4300
www.keepinggoodcompany.com

7. Serendipity Accents
233 S. Cherry St.,
Olathe, KS 66061
913.768.1818
www.serendipityaccents.com

 

1. Part of the Classic European Christmas Collection, Santa's rich browns and neutral color palette of his bag and cloak are accented with fur and leather. He's made to casually sit on a mantel, counter or shelf.

2. This Persian rug is a semi-antique, one-of-a-kind gift just looking for someone's hardwood floor to cover. 3. Gift cards come in handy at Crown Center, where your giftee will enjoy spending it at one or several of the 60 stores and restaurants, including Halls, Naturally Salon & Day Spa, Holiday Magic and the Crayola Store, among many others. 4. Tuileries Plaza has a roster of unique and popular shops and restaurants that will help you cross off items on your holiday list, from yummy goodies at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory to adorable Santa accessories at La-de-da to the pretty practicality of an iron business card holder from Enix.

5. Bob Smith's Raku pottery is a dazzling piece of art with mesmerizing glazes and designs. This aesthetically pleasing artwork is the only one of its kind. 

1. St. James Design
14870 Metcalf,
Overland Park, KS 66223
913.851.9274

2. Knotty Rug
4510 State Line Road,
Kansas City, KS 66103
913.677.1877
www.knottyrug.com 3. Crown Center
2450 Grand Blvd.,
Kansas City, MO 64108
816.274.8444
www.crowncenter.com 4. Tuileries Plaza
6109 NW 63rd St.,
Kansas City, MO
816.505.2384
www.tuileriesplaza.com

5. Leawood Fine Art
11843 Roe Ave.,
Leawood, KS
913.338.4999
www.leawoodfineart.com
 

 

1. Lauren Lachance's collection of large-scale plant art comes in a range of plant impressions, with leaves found as the artist travels the world.

2. The Megatouch Gametime is a flat screen o' fun featuring more than 100 popular games and is a great addition to anyone's game room. For added entertainment, the Brunswick Centennial game table transforms into a dining top with storage area underneath for game pieces. 3. Oak Park Mall features more than 185 stores for shoppers, including Macy's, Nordstrom and Dillard's. If you can't decide on one gift, purchase a gift card that's good to use at any store in the mall.

4. Kitty Critter's porcelain frog accessories are made by an American artist and come in 35 different styles and colors, each with its own name (this one is Goodbyes). 5. The pet lover in your life will go dog-wild for Mud Pie's picture frame and Petstudio's houndstooth treat jar. You can also find beds, clothes, pet accessories and even dogs to take home for the holiday.

6. Not sure what to get a special someone? A gift card from Zona Rosa, with more than 60 stores, including favorites like Forever 21, Ann Taylor LOFT and Victoria's Secret, might solve that problem.

1. Delaware Interiors
3848 W. 75th St.,
Prairie Village, KS 66208
913.384.0330
www.delawareinteriors.com

2. Amini's Galleria
10595 Metcalf,
Overland Park, KS 66212
(Check the website for other locations)
913.381.0222
www.aminisgalleria.com 3. Oak Park Mall
11149 W. 95th St.,
Overland Park, KS 66214
913.888.4400
www.thenewoakparkmall.com

4. Bearden's Stained Glass
7600 Metcalf,
Overland Park, KS 66204
913.381.4527
www.beardensglass.com 5. Land of Paws
4021 Somerset Drive,
Prairie Village, KS 66208
(Check the website for other locations)
913.341.1011
www.landofpaws.com

6. Zona Rosa
8640 N. Dixson Ave.,
Kansas City, MO 64153
816.587.8180
www.zonarosa.com

 

1.  From Keil + Co., shoppers will find an array of contemporary women's clothing and accessories, which includes the likes of these cashmere slippers and rouge cashmere wrap by White + Warren. Shop Beautiful is a store with gifts, jewelry and accessories like the Pandora bracelet, Mary Frances heart-shaped handbag and all-silk jeweled scarf, Michal Golan cross necklace with Swarovski crystals, and a holiday platter by Peggy Karr. 2.  Some much-needed pampering from Sopra Salon & Spa will be a welcomed gift, along with a charm necklace from EJ's Boutique, Andre's     chocolates from Mely's Ice Cream & Yogurt, and a fresh bag of Sumatra grounds from Hattie's Coffee. 3.  You can't go wrong when buying trendy and fashionable accessories for friends or family. Take a fur jacket from Tulip Boutique and pair it with the Frilly Feet Magnette Gems. The  peacock belt from Haught Style is just right when put with the Kooba bag. And after the holidays,   Vera Wang Stationery from RSVP is the perfect way to say thank you.

1. Hawthorne Plaza
SW corner of 119th Street and Roe Avenue,
Leawood, KS 66209
www.hawthorneplazashopping.com		 2. Corinth Square
83rd Street and Mission Road,
Prairie Village, KS 66208
www.corinthsquare.com		 3. Prairie Village Shops
71st Street and Mission Road,
Prairie Village, KS 66208
www.prairievillageshops.com