This year has been one full of both triumphs and challenges. I still haven’t gotten the hang of this hazy pandemic hellscape. I still haven’t mastered the elusive “work-life balance,” but I’m very grateful to be living and working at this paper, in this city. December always serves as a time for recalibration, but also a chance to think about those who have made this year meaningful and bright. 


This is the first of what I hope will be a yearly tradition: the Baltimore Beat Holiday Gift Guide is here to offer you suggestions about what to purchase for yourself and those that you love. The guide is broken down by category.

Table of contents

For your boo:

A photograph of three black women.

Keystone Korner Baltimore

1350 Lancaster Street
Baltimore, MD 21231

For more information call: 410-946-6726 or go to: keystonekornerbaltimore.com.

How about a holiday date night at Keystone Korner to see The String Queens (TSQ) on December 8? (You can buy a streaming pass to watch at home for $10 or tickets for $25-$30).

Schola

916 North Charles Street 
Baltimore, MD 21201

For more information, call: 443-714-7516 or go to: scholacooks.com.

Or what about a cooking class at Schola? You can make cookies on December 17, or this holiday wine dinner on December 8 as part of their Holiday Class collection. ($59-$95)

A photograph of a holiday tablescape.
A photograph of an espresso martini

CookHouse

1501 Bolton Street
Baltimore, MD 21217

For more information, call: 410-225-9964 or go to: cookhousecafebar.com.

I would recommend taking anyone that you’re trying to impress to CookHouse. They have gift cards available, and their steak and wine special on Wednesdays is perfect for date night. (And they have the best espresso martinis in town.)

For Self-Care Sunday:

Mount Royal Soap Co.

2740 Huntingdon Avenue, Suite A
Baltimore, MD 21211

For more information, call: 443-388-8185 or go to:
mountroyalsoaps.com

How about this balsam-scented soap ($8) at Mount Royal Soap Co., or this vanilla moisturizing body scrub ($16.99)?  

Calmar Skin
(Available at Full Moon Apothecary)
3408 Chestnut Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21211

And available online at: calmarskin.com.

You deserve something nice for yourself. How about this face oil ($44) from Calmar Skin?

For your foodie friend:

An illustration of a two bottles of wine.

Off the Rox Wine & Beer
3232 Eastern Avenue, Suite A 
Baltimore, MD 21224

For more information, call: 443-388-8925 or go to: offtheroxwine.com. 

How about a monthly wine club subscription ($100) from Off the Rox? 

Pure Chocolate by Jinji

529 East Belvedere Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21212

For more information, call: 410-394-9901 or go to: jinjichocolate.com.


Or this dark chocolate hazelnut spread ($20) from Jinji Chocolate?

Jars of chocolate on display.

For your bestie:

A photograph of a handmade recipe book.

The Paper Herald

702 Saint Paul Street 
Baltimore, MD 21202

For more information, call: 443-835-1402 or go to: paperherald.com.

How about this handmade recipe book with a hand-illustrated cover ($25) from Paper Herald? You could pair it with this elegant fountain pen ($39) — it comes in a crystal box.

Knit Soy Metal

3600 Clipper Mill Road 
123 Baltimore, MD 21211

For more information, call: 443-672-5130 or go to: ksmcandleco.net. 


Or this bundle of soy candles ($60) from KSM? They can try their hand at making their own candles as well with this kit ($35).

Jars of candles on display.

For your friend who is very creative:

A photograph of a sign announcing a clay workshop.

Cahoots Brothers

300 W 29th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211

For more information, go to: the-cahoots-brothers.square.site.

How about a pottery workshop ($50) at Cahoots Brothers? This framed artwork by Webster Phillips ($80) is also available at Cahoots Brothers.

Drama Mama Bookshop 

Inside School 33

1427 Light Street Studio #202

Baltimore, MD 21230

For more information, call: 443-873-0749 or go to: dramamamabookshop.com.

What about this hardback journal ($25) available at Drama Mama Bookshop? It features some classic Baltimore architecture and is available in a few different colorways. 

A photograph of a journal.
A photograph of a book.

Baltimore Museum of Art Gift Shop

10 Art Museum Drive
Baltimore, MD 21218

For more information, call: 443-573-1844 or go to: shop.artbma.org.

What about this catalogue for A Movement in Every Direction: Legacies of the Great Migration ($45), available at the Baltimore Museum of Art gift shop? They also have this note card set ($7.98) which features African American art.  

Good Neighbor 

3827 Falls Road
Baltimore, MD 21211

For more information, call: 443-627-8919 or go to: goodneighborshop.com

How about this book about Romare Bearden ($40) available at Good Neighbor? They have a lot of other beautiful offerings in the space as well, including this woven throw ($250).

For your most stylish friend:

Yele Stitches
yelestitches.com

For more information, email: yele@yelestitches.com or go to: yelestitches.com.

What about this elegant arike satin-lined fur headband from Yele Stitches ($45)?

A woman is sitting on a stool wearing a fur headband.

A photograph of a silver handmade bracelet

Tracey Beale Jewelry
traceybeale.com

Or this beautiful Zeit bracelet from Tracey Beale ($245)?

Keepers Vintage

805 W 36th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211

For more information, call: 443-421-3757 or go to: keepersvintage.com.

Keepers Vintage has some amazing offerings, including this T-shirt ($28) available for pre-order.

Photograph of a woman with brown skin wearing a tshirt that says "teach black history all year long"
A photograph of a man on a runway wearing a red leather suit.

Different Regard

825 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

For more information, call: 410-225-3777 or go to: differentregard.com.

What about this red vegan leather sleeveless suit ($700) at Different Regard.

City of Gods

1118 Hollins Street
Baltimore, MD 21223

For more information, call: 410-317-4888 or go to: cityofgodsonline.com.

How about this jacket  ($100) from City of Gods? 

A green and blue jacket.

For your friend who is a new parent:

a book cover

Red Emma’s 
3128 Greenmount Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21218

For more information, call: 410-601-3072 or go to: redemmas.org

How about this book “A is for Activist” by Innosanto Nagara ($17.95), available at your favorite radical bookstore and coffee shop?  

Greedy Reads Remington

320 West 29th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211

For more information, call: 410-878-0184 or go to: greedyreads.com.

Or how about this curated kids activity bag ($50) from the folks at Greedy Reads? It’s sure to keep your nieces and nephews busy.

The logo of greedy reads.

For the caffeine addict in your life:

A glass teacup.

Cuples Tea House

409 North Howard Street 
Baltimore, MD 21201

For more information, call: 667-930-3930 or go to: cuplesteahouse.com/

What about this beautiful cup with a spoon ($27) to accompany this tea from Cuples Tea House ($16)? 

Black Acres Coffee 

1400 Greenmount Ave
Baltimore, MD 21202

For more information call 410-497-7553 or go to: blackacrescoffee.com.

Or, for the coffee lover, how about a subscription service with Black Acres Coffee ($20)?

Three bags of coffee on display.

Teri Henderson is the Arts and Culture Editor of Baltimore Beat. She is the author of the 2021 book Black Collagists. Previously, she was a staff writer for BmoreArt, gallery coordinator for Connect +...