Elm City’s holiday buzz is ON! And the boutiques lining Chapel Street and Broadway are stocked and ready. It’s easy to make a day of  it with weekend parking only $3 at the Temple Street and Crown Street Garages.  We shopped the town and here are a few ideas to twinkle your gifting fancy!

p.s. For lunch or a pick-me-up? The Juice Box, The Ordinary, Caseus, Meat & Co., here’s a whole list of New Haven restaurants.

Dwell – For Beautiful Homebodies
Fans of Idiom (and there are many, including us!) should race right over to Kim’s new shop, just a few doors down. Dwell is Kim’s answer to lifestyle and home decor, and this gem is chock-a-block with goodies for gifting. You’ll find spirited items for imbibers, from shakers and jiggers to hand-crafted mixers (turning any amateur into a mixologist). Jack Rudy’s Bitters, a concoction of burnt cane sugar with a nuance of citrus and winter spices will shake up any Old Fashioned. Make sure to check out the handmade embroidered throw pillows, ceramic stocking stuffers with sweet messages, and a serious stock of Rifle Paper Co.’s cards, journals, and their eagerly anticipated 2018 agendas and calendars.    dwellnewhaven.com     1022 Chapel Street, New Haven

Atticus Books – Inspiration for Scribes of Every Kind
Smack in the middle of Chapel Street makes Atticus Books the perfect spot for scooping up some gifty things while defrosting with a warming bowl of soup and panini, or cappuccino and a croissant (or revive with housemade Kombucha!). There’s no shortage of inspiration when shopping for scribes: mixed and mingled between bestsellers and literary classics are greeting cards, sketch pads, cards and notebooks of every kind — even for the kiddos.   www.atticusbookstorecafe.com     1082 Chapel Street, New Haven

J. Crew – Stocking Stuffers for Him/Her
Tokyo based, CHUP, an acronym for “Classical Human’s Univeral Peace” (a lovely holiday sentiment) has collaborated with J. Crew for a limited edition collection of socks with intricate intarsias inspired by folk art and the spirit world. And if apres-ski in Gstaad is on someone’s bucket list, gift them these vintage-inspired cotton Skiers Set pajamas with colorful snowbirds on classic stripes. Plenty of sweet stocking stuffers for men and women, here, too.      29 Broadway, New Haven

Derek Simpson Goldsmith – Custom Elegance
On the hunt for a one-of-a-kind work? Since 1971, jeweler Derek Simpson has been turning out unusual fine jewelry, from classic to contemporary. You’ll also find choice pieces from select designers, too, working in everything from gold and silver, to semi-precious and precious stones, at a wide price point. And it’s New Haven’s destination for handmade wedding and engagement rings. If you’re looking to customize something for that certain someone, you’re in the right place.   Find Derek Simpson on Facebook here.
1094 Chapel Street, New Haven

Raggs Mens Fashion – Practical Chic Head to Toe
Raggs is a new-school men’s haberdashery with old-school service. This is head-to-toe wardrobing, with on-site (and overnight if need be) alterations, featuring cult lines like Rodd & Gunn and Sand of Denmark, to updated classics like Hugo Boss and Theory. Sure, there are plenty of options for the fashionable guy, but everyone needs practical, too. This Waterville quilted vest works just as well over a sweater or under a blazer when you need an extra layer.  After you finish poring over the Bellroy wallets and French-cuffed shirts for your guy, have a look at the super sophisticated, recently introduced women’s selections, too.

raggsnewhaven.com     1020 Chapel Street, New Haven

Odeon Boutique – For Fashionable Gals
Fashionable meets practical at this little boutique in Westville and this season, it’s all about the vest. Find your favorite from on-trend faux fur, to dressed up and dotted, and a genius reversible number (two outfits in one – score!), plus a faux leather with plush lining that you can rock right through til spring. Easy sizing makes these babies eminently giftable but you might want to add them to your own list for Santa.

www.odeonboutique.com   918 Whalley Ave, New Haven (Westville)

The Museum of British Art – Proper Gifting
Imagine cozy winter nights in front of the fire with a cup of tea and the family absorbed in a board game. I know it’s more like cozy nights around our various gadgets but, hey, a girl can dream. Make it a reality and pop into the shop at the Museum of British Art for a plethora of pots to please any Downton Abbey freak, plus a selection of vintage board games, British-themed gifts, and books, plus kids crafts and wrapping paper. Brit or not, this place is a find!

britishart.yale.edu        1080 Chapel Street, New Haven

Ten Thousand Villages – The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Every product at Ten Thousand Villages is eco-friendly and sustainable and supports artisans and communities from all over the world. It’s the gift that keeps on giving for places like Cambodia, Haiti, Bangladesh and Burkina Faso (I don’t know where that is, either). Mindfulness is the buzz word of the moment, and for friends who could use a bit (and who couldn’t?) this zen/relaxation kit from Nepal, complete with a singing bowl and prayer flags, is a perfect starter kit.

www.tenthousandvillages.com/newhaven     1054 Chapel Street, New Haven

Wave Gallery – Gifty Heaven 
Wave, for those in the know, is gift heaven. We spotted these glam Snow globes with ‘chillingly beautiful’ glass orbs that house gold buddhas, a partridge in a pear tree, zen balancing rocks and more. Speaking of glass, Henrietta Glass has designed a series of Robins that bring hope and good luck. Who couldn’t use that? And no sweat if you are looking for the perfect hostess gift. You won’t know what NOT to buy!

www.wave-gallery-gifts.com     1046 Chapel Street, New Haven

Trailblazer/Denali – Big and Small Gear For the Outdoorsy Set
On the hunt for the outdoorsy set? Denali is THE answer. Consider the AETHER AG™ 85 mountaineering-slash-hiking bag with Anti-Gravity™ technology. This baby converts easily from a functional day to a summit pack for the serious. For the rest of us, Yeti, the Maserati of soft pack coolers, are good for either trekking or Tanglewood (I vote Tanglewood). Also spotted was the Marm0t Exum Guide Undercuff Glove with pro-minded features aimed at the serious alpinist. All that plus an endless amount of stocking stuffing accessories from hiking to glamping and cooking gear.

www.denalioutdoor.com       296 Elm Street, New Haven (across from the Apple Store)

The Foundry Music Company – Where the Pros Go
Ever wonder where musicians get their gear? And where people who love musicians get their gifts? Since 1972 it’s been The Foundry. For budding artists, they have simple music books and pint-size instruments. For the pros they have sheet music for every genre, strings, reeds, rosin, metronomes, and music stands galore. And if the score you’re after isn’t on hand, they’ll order it for you. In case you think the place sounds too serious, they sell puppy shaped resin for violinists. It’s a place for those in the know – and now you know!

www.foundrymusicco.com        102 Audubon Street, New Haven (2nd floor)