Down to the wire for Christmas Day giving and just remember someone you can’t believe you forgot? No worries! Not only is a slew of options available right at your fingertips through the glorious Internet (thanks, Hedy Lamarr!), but they’re the kind of gift we love best- experiences rather than objects. Check out these memory-making selections, and tell the recipients how happy you are to finally be able to share these gifts with them now, and share these times with them later!
In addition to the farmstands of fresh produce we love to shop from in the warmer months, Grow Pittsburgh offers a wealth of activities year round, from online workshops to hands-on activities to social events. We would be delighted if our virtual stocking included a ticket for Urban Chicken Keeping, a January 21st in-person session at their Garden Dreams Urban Farm & Nursery, sharing everything you need to know to rock out with your bok out!
Phipps Conservatory is an oasis of warmth and greenery in the often blah winter months, and this winter’s offerings are a welcome burst of exceptional color that will brighten up the whole day and then some for the lucky recipient. We’d love to visit most between January 11th and 19th and enjoy the overlap of Tropical Forest Hawai’i, closing January 19th, and the Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show, opening January 11th and running through March 9.
Preserving food can be a simple, easy process, and one that offers so much. It extends the life of your garden’s output, gives limitless opportunity to play with texture and flavor, creates delicious foods, beverages, condiments that are great for you. Community Cultures is a stellar source to get your ferment on, with an Intro To Miso coming up next on February 4th at the East End Food Co-op. Private one-on-one or group instruction is another option; inquire on their website on how to gift the gang!
Bloom Cafe at Quality Gardens brings healthy and amazing food to their Valencia community, and starts the new year by branching out beyond their incredible breakfast and lunch menu with Rooted: A Farm to Table Dining Experience on January 18th. Share their secret indoor garden with your favorite foodie to enjoy culinary gems featuring fruits and vegetables from Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus’ Food and Farm program.
Your coffee-loving friend will adore Latte Art School, a beginners’ workshop led by the java geniuses of Commonplace Coffee. Elementary espresso, proper milk steaming technique, and creative expression through foam will all be covered on January 23rd at their Garfield location on Penn Avenue. Small bites and sparkling water are included!
If you’d prefer to gift some joe to go, the New Brighton Coffee Crawl is made just the way you like it. On January 25th, pop-up coffee shops and bakeries enhance exploring the New Brighton Business District with hot pours and sweet treats, offering a warm and tasty way for residents and visitors to check out the community.
A cuppa more to your giftee’s liking? Blue Monkey Tea Company leaves nothing out of their Tea Class and Tea Tasting. This January 12th event welcomes every level of sipper, whether their experience is limited to Bigelow bags or has reached oolong expertise. Six types of tea will be savored while investigating history, growing regions, health benefits, proper steeping, and the plant itself.
