The ultimate last-minute gift guide

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December 14, 2011 • Lea Whitmer and Alyssa Johns, Senior Writers  
Filed under Student Life, Top Stories

$5-$10

For grandma, obviously. They usually make more than one of these mugs, so there will be others out there buying these for their grandmothers. It’s tough to say whose grandma is actually the world’s best, since there really isn’t any sort of organized ranking system or tournament, but YOUR grandma doesn’t know that, so everything should work out just fine. Grandma’s also love slippers and when you take them to lunch.

 
     For grandpa, clearly. And grandpa’s love to drink coffee, so why not consider getting him a bag of freshly ground coffee? We’re not talking Folgers. Splurge a little bit and get him the good stuff. Giant Eagle has a nice selection, and they even have unground beans if he likes to grind his own.

$10 and up

For anyone who loves deliciously cheap caffeinated and/or sugar-saturated beverages. They also have doughnuts AKA donuts. And tuna salad sandwiches (weird). Or you could go with a Starbucks gift card, because they have cake pops. Gift cards are kind of boring, though, so maybe just stick to buying these for your boss or teacher or someone else who really doesn’t expect a gift from you.

For friends, girlfriends, sisters, nieces and anyone else who wants   to dress like she’s 21, whatever that means. If you’re in the mood to be truly daring, try out a store that isn’t in the Eastwood Mall. Go online to Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, or J Crew. And if you and/or your giftee have a sense of humor, go to Busted Tees for some hilarious t-shirts.

For a BEST FRIEND, as the frame suggests. We’re pretty sure you can find these frames for other people, too. You could also buy this BEST FRIEND frame and put a picture of your dog in it, because you love your dog. But we’re not sure who you would gift that to. So… yeah. Or you could make your own frame. Handmade stuff is way better than store-bought; it’s more meaningful and fun for all involved. Or you could get something from Etsy.com; it’s all handmade stuff, except it’s not made by you, so you’ll save some time.

Let’s face it, there’s a ton of restaurants that are way better than Applebee’s. Even Olive Garden is better than Applebee’s (not by much). In the Youngstown area, try Caffe Capri, Michael Alberini’s, or The Upstairs if you’re looking for a tasty, locally owned restaurant. Check out Charlie Staples for a dad or brother who loves barbeque. Or go with Kravitz’s Deli or Jimmy’s Italian Foods if someone on your list likes quick, homemade sandwiches and authentic local foods.

$25 and up

For your boyfriend. But if you get him a hat, you have to get him a Cleveland Indians hat. You can’t get him one for any lame team like the Yankees, even if he likes the Yankees. And don’t give him the receipt, so he can’t return it for another team’s hat. He’ll have no choice but to wear it all the time. Seriously, though. For a sports fan, check out this Columbus-based vintage store called Homage. Incredible stuff; you’ll want something for yourself.

Who doesn’t love The Muppets? Answer: no one. You can literally buy this for anyone and they’ll love it. It’s like Yo Gabba Gabba. It’s big fun for everyone – mostly for little kids, but also everyone. Buy it for a little brother or sister, and then share some quality time together with Kermit and friends. To make the experience even more memorable, eat grilled cheese.

For your super-masculine little brother, cousin, or nephew who won’t stand for watching those wussy Muppets. It will most likely be cold on Christmas, so you might not want to go outside and play, but just make sure you get this thing dirty when spring rolls around. Tonka trucks are made to haul dirt and sand and mud and gravel, so get out there and do work.

$50 and up

For your boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend or anyone else who appreciates warmth. North Face gear has gotten pretty popular over the past few years, so if you want to be popular, then you should own some North Face gear. Haha, sike! If you want something really warm and awesome, you should check out Aether. It’s the more expensive, better looking version of North Face. You won’t be able to afford it, but it’ll be fun to pretend.

Ummmm, we’re pretty sure anyone who wants this already has it, so you should probably include a gift receipt just to be safe. If you’re buying for someone who already spends too much time playing video games, then don’t feed into their bad habits. Why not get out of the house and treat them to a tropical getaway? Consider Cleveland or Pittsburgh. That’s totally not a joke; both are really great cities. Check out the Coventry and Tremont neighborhoods in Cleveland or go to the Cedar Lee Theatre and see an independent film. In Pittsburgh, go to Southside Works, the Carnegie Science Center, or take a walking tour of Oakland – home of the University of Pittsburgh and The Dirty O.

For anyone who used to love books but now can’t concentrate on anything unless they have some type of electronic device in their hands. This one here is a Nook, but we assume that there isn’t much difference between a Nook and a Kindle or any of the other e-readers out there, so take your pick. Also consider finding out what kinds of books he/she likes to read and pre-load them onto the device, because it’s the thought that counts.

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