Community Impact Newspaper • communityimpact.com22

The Austin Visitor Center & Gift Shop has more to offer than typical tourist souvenirs.

The team behind the shop works hard to find the right pieces that appeal to locals and tourists, Retail Manager Erin Bevins said.

“We’re just really looking for that ‘wow’ product that encompasses what Austin is all about and is something the masses would like as well,” Bevins said.

The store is not just a boutique, souvenir shop or bookstore, Bevins said. Instead, it has a little bit of everything.

“You have to rise to the occasion of offering not only a unique product, but in this day and age people are looking for something that’s made locally and handmade,” Bevins said. “We really try hard to go after those kinds of products. It’s very important to us.”

Patrons can find a wide variety of items, including apparel, accessories, books, cups, postcards, home goods, art and cowboy hats. Items cost anywhere from less than $3 to more than $100, with most items costing about $9 to $25, Bevins said.

602 E. Fourth St. 512-478-0098www.austintexas.org/visit/shopaustin

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35Compiled by Jennifer Curington

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Finding the right gift for each person on your holiday shopping list can be difficult. These Austin businesses provide suggestions for gifts small and large with different interests and styles in mind, all while keeping it local. Whether you visit a one-stop shop or are looking for a store with an Austin vibe, this guide can help.

Community Impact Newspaper • communityimpact.com22

Austin Visitor Center & Gift Shop

A snow globe featuring Austin landmarks and bats instead of snow is $29.99, and a bat coffee mug is $11.95.

Guitar pick bracelets featuring local Austin art and music icons are available in a variety of colors for $20.

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HolidayGIFTG U I D E

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Whole Earth Provision Co.2410 San Antonio Street • 512-478-15771014 North Lamar • 512-476-1414Westgate Shopping Center • 512-899-0992

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512-451-2105

Central Austin Edition • November 2015 23Central Austin Edition • November 2015 23

Local artistic talent in a variety of forms can be found on the shelves and racks of Atown.

Store Manager Tara Kiser said the founders wanted to open a store to support and showcase Austin artists.

“There’s so many talented people throughout Austin [that we’re] able to have a little bit of everything for anybody,” Kiser said. “We do strive to be a one-stop shop and to give people the options for any kind of gift need they have.”

The store also emphasizes handmade items. Kiser said it is surprisingly not difficult to find unique items when considering new inventory. However, she seeks to provide something for everyone.

“We have a very eclectic inventory right now. We do that in order to cater to everyone and not just necessarily one group of people or one type of person,” Kiser said. “It allows people of all ages [and] genders to find something here that works for them.”

Atown’s selection includes apparel, accessories, home goods and children’s clothing, with most items ranging from $15 to $30, Kiser said.

Austin Tri-Cyclist originally opened to provide triathlon bikes but expanded its selection beginning in 2001.

The store offers a variety of bikes as well as equipment and accessories for runners and swimmers.

“We have everything for swimming, biking and running,” co-owner Missy Ruthven said.

Austin has one of the largest triathlon communities in the U.S. because of its favorable training weather year-round and community amenities that make training more convenient, Ruthven said.

“Most of the training for triathletes or cyclists is not in the urban side; [it’s] 15 minutes outside of town where you get better roads,” Ruthven said.

The store offers relatively inexpensive items for those just starting out in any of the three sports and is very beginner-friendly, Ruthven said. Those who are more experienced can also find good equipment and advice from those on staff, she said.

Running shoes are typically $120 with running accessories ranging from $5 to $50. Bikes start at $400 and vary in price based on type. Swimming equipment ranges from $15 to $55.

5502 Burnet Road 512-323-2533

www.shopatown.tumblr.com

923 Barton Springs Road 512-494-9252

www.austintricyclist.com

ONE-STOP SHOPPING ONE-STOP SHOPPING

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Local art and landmarks on coasters, $10, mugs, $14, and cutting boards, $27 to $37, can be found at Atown.

Bikes start at $400 and vary in price based on type. The cost of swimming equipment ranges from $15 to $55.

Atown offers women’s, men’s and children’s clothing including this Austin-themed shirt for $32.

Running shoes are typically $120, and running accessories cost between $5 and $50.

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Community Impact Newspaper • communityimpact.com24 Community Impact Newspaper • communityimpact.com24

Cowboy boots are often seen as a Texas staple, but boots of different shapes are also gaining popularity in Austin.

Heritage Boot owner Jerry Ryan creates custom designs found on boots in his shop. He said much of his inspiration comes from vintage boots.

Ryan said Heritage Boot sells a “fancy” boot and not a working cowboy boot. Although the boots are not inexpensive, they are well-priced for the quality patrons receive, he said. A pair of Heritage Boots can range from $400 to $1,300.

Meanwhile, Travis Breinan said growing up in Austin instilled in him a passion for culture and community. He co-founded Teysha, which offers boots and other goods made by people in Guatemala to help educate people about the culture and provide the community with economic help.

Teysha’s mission revolves around many ideas attributed to the Austin attitude, such as supporting small busi-ness, artists and dressing funky, Breinan said.

The items in Teysha are all handmade and are an expression of the artisan who made it, he said.

With the creative atmosphere Austin is known to embrace, many locals turn to jewelry as an art form.

Jamie Batiste said she created Austin-based Rejected Hearts Club after a self-dis-covery journey following a breakup. She creates pieces for men and women, includ-ing earrings, necklaces and cufflinks.

For a gift, she suggests a bracelet for any women or men on a gift list. Her personal line includes beaded bracelets as well as leather bracelets, with pieces ranging from $23 to $67.

Elizabeth Gibson started Eliza Page in 2004 because she said she felt Austin needed a design-focused and fashion-oriented jewelry store.

Gibson said she enjoys being able to offer one-of-a-kind pieces, and the store’s jewelry line is made of handmade goods using recycled gold that is ethically sourced.

Pieces found in the store typi-cally range from $200 to $500, but customers can also find items for less than $100, Gibson said.

For many, holidays are all about good eats and sweet treats.

Olivia O’Neal said she opened Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop seven years ago because of her passion for baking. The business has also provided a way for her to give back to the community through donations.

O’Neal knows it is also a busy time for those cele-brating, so she suggests picking up her frosted sugar cookies at $2.95 per cookie or pies at $27 per pie.

Kit Seay said she also knows just how much people love pie. She co-owns Tiny Pies and got the business idea from her grandson’s love of pie and desire to have it in his school lunch.

Now, Tiny Pies are served individually and in variety packs with full-size pies or not-so-tiny pies. Seay recommends the 12-pack for $48 so everyone can enjoy his or her favorite flavor.

Teysha1801 S. First St. 512-650-1020www.teysha.is

Heritage Boot1200 S. Congress Ave. 512-326-8577www.heritageboot.com Rejected Hearts Club

www.rejectedheartsclub.com

Eliza Page229 W. Second St.

512-474-6500www.elizapage.com

Tiny Pies5053 Burnet Road

512-916-0184www.tinypies.com

Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop2406 Manor Road 512-912-6628

Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop1905 S. First St.

512-448-3727www.sugarmamasbakeshop.com

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A pair of Heritage Boots can range from $400 to $1,300.

Jamie Batiste’s line includes beaded bracelets as well as leather bracelets.

Sugar Mama owner Olivia O’Neal recommends frosted sugar cookies.

Teysha boots range in cost from $250 to $350.

Most pieces at Eliza Page cost between $200 and $500.

Tiny Pies recommends buying the 12-pack to satisfy every taste.

Eliza Page

Tiny Pies

Teysha

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1ST between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.Located at the Mueller Tower near Berkman Drive and Manor Road

Enjoy live performances by local talent, delicious treats and fun for the entire family. Council Member Ora Houston will help us honor this holiday tradition dating back to the 1960s by turning on the NOEL lights atop the historic control tower.

Central Austin Edition • November 2015 25Central Austin Edition • November 2015 25

Austin continues to be known for its food offer-ings, and sometimes it is what tops the dish that helps make it.

A downtown tamale shop converted into Tears of Joy Hot Sauce Shop in 2000 and offers hot sauces and salsas made in-house, in Austin and from throughout the world.

The store’s selection ranges from mild to hot sauces, and items are available individually or in gift sets. Owner Brian Rush said August in Austin is the most popular hot sauce in the shop’s small-batch line.

Austin-born wing eatery Pluckers started when two friends went away to school at The Univer-sity of Texas but missed chicken wings that were common back home.

Co-owner Dave Paul said the team is always looking for new sauce recipes to create some-thing unique. Nine of the 20 sauces regularly offered are bottled for sale at $4.99.

Paul recommends Baker’s Gold as a popular flavor for gifting.

In addition to Austin being branded as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” the city is also home to legendary music stores.

Antone’s Record Shop was founded in 1987 and has been an institution for local music and blues ever since. Co-owner Eve Mon-sees said the shop tries to carry items shoppers would not find anywhere else, such as records from obscure blues and local acts.

Although the Antone’s selection can range from $1 to more than $100, most customers spend about $20, Monsees said.

Fiddler’s Green Music Shop is where shoppers can find the right gift to make music instead of listen to music.

The store offers a variety of acoustic string instruments, including banjos, ukeleles, guitars, violins and, of course, fiddles. Manager Ben Hodges said the store has many high-end items made in Austin but also makes sure to keep a selection that is friendly for beginners. Instru-ments range from $50 to $15,000, he said.

Fiddler’s Green Music Shop 1809 W. 35th St.

512-452-3900www.fiddlersgreenmusicshop.com

Pluckers9070 Research Blvd.,

Ste. 201C512-533-9646

Pluckers3909 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. B

512-443-9646www.pluckers.com

Pluckers 2222 Rio Grande St.512-469-9646

Tears of Joy618 E. Sixth St. 512-499-0766 www.tearsofjoysauces.com

Antone’s Record Shop2928 Guadalupe St. 512-322-0660www.antonesrecordshop.com

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Nine of the 20 wing sauces sold at Plucker’s are bottled for sale at $4.99 each. Baker’s Gold is one of the most popular flavors.

Antone’s Record Shop’s selection can range from $1 to more than $100, but most custom-ers spend about $20, according to ownership.

Tears of Joy’s line of sauces ranges from $4 to $8 depending on type and bottle size. The specialty shop is located on Historic Sixth Street in downtown Austin.

Most instruments sold at Fiddler’s Green Music Shop cost between $50 and $15,000.

Fiddler’s Green Music Shop

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