Gift-giving season is upon us, and with it the existential dread that comes with finding the
perfect present. In our modern age of two-day shipping, free returns, and constant stream of transactions, there’s not much sanctity nor surprise left when it comes to shopping for others. Your best friend is probably browsing the exact same webpages of Nordstrom and Net-a-Porter as you, and your dad’s Costco catalog landed on the exact page of the vacuum you bought him. Instead of buying your gifts from the usual suspects of giant brand retailers, go to a local craft fair to find original presents to keep the mystery alive this holiday season.
Where can you find a local craft fair? Lucky for you,
826CHI, the nonprofit writing and tutoring center, is hosting one this Saturday at the Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Co. store. From 12 to 5pm, 17 local vendors will be selling goods that your loved ones will have never seen beforehand (unless you bring them with you to the fair, which is just poor planning on your part—who shops for a present for someone when actually with them?). Plus, 10% of all proceeds will be donated to 826CHI, which has
writing programs that support more than 2,500 Chicago students. This craft fair will also have vegan truffles, live music, and manicures from 2 to 4pm.
Below is a list of our top picks from the Goods for Good Craft Fair, but we’re sure you’ll find more gems when you’re there:
Vichcraft Prints
From Vichcrafts' website
$15. If your friends don’t appreciate the gift of truth, you should find new friends.
Christi Ahee Ceramics Pacific Mug
From Christi Ahee's website
$34. Did your dad love the
Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up? Did he throw out every single thing he could get his hands on, including all coffee-drinking receptacles? Is he fully a part of the ~minimalist~ aesthetic? This is the gift for him.
Pear Tree Jams & Preserves
From Slow Food Chicago
$14. Pairs perfectly with the
best baguettes of Chicago.
Blake Jones Pins
From Blake Jones' website
$8. Perfect for your mischievous buds just trying to rep their moods.
826CHI’s Goods for Good Craft Fair @ 1276 N. Milwaukee Ave., Saturday, December 9, 12-5pm. You can find more information
here,
