Pete's Last-Minute Holiday Giving Guide

Inspired in part by 10 Good Reasons to Choose Vintage Gifts, here are my picks for gifts you can purchase in [[Charlottetown]] over the next 48 hours should you be of the last-minute shopping persuasion:

• The aforementioned Funkfactory Drums at 211 Euston Street. They’re open tonight and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Amiel says “I’ll probably be open later”). Drums and musical thingies from $5 to $500; everything’s so beautiful that even non-musical-type recipients are eligible. And don’t forget the huge collection of hot sauce on the “wall of fire.”
• Kim Dormaar will be at the [[Charlottetown Farmer’s Market]] on Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. I suspect they’ll be a strong demand for his smoked fish products, so go early. His products are, literally, world-class.
• Once you’re done at Kim’s, turn 180 degrees and buy some of Lynne Douglas’s hand-knit slippers, hats, mits and other gear. My father’s warm feet are a product of Lynne’s handiwork.
• The Formosa Tea House, in addition to its usual selection of paintings and tea pots, has an intriguing selection of furniture arranged down the middle of their restaurant: benches, little tables, and so on. Very simple designs, and lots available for under $100. The tea house is open daily until Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and then from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (they may close earlier in the evening if business is slow).
• City Cinema, open today and Friday but closed on Saturday, sells memberships for $20/year ($16 for students). They also sell “single ticket vouchers.” Is there a better gift for movie lovers? (disclaimer: client)
• Luna Eclectic Crafts & Gifts on Victoria Row (138 Richmond Street) is the less-soapy outlet of Moonsail Soapworks. They have a fascinating array of gifty things, from Japanese paper to books make out of recycled album covers. They’re open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day until Christmas Eve.
• Make a donation to CHANCES Family Resource Centre in someone’s name and help support their excellent work helping parents and children. We would not have survived parenthood without them. You can donate online at CanadaHelps.org (which takes a 3% fee off the top), or send a donation by mail to 16 Brighton Road. They’re a registered charity.

If you have other suggestions, feel free to post them as comments; include details if you have them (hours, location, etc.).