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Last minute holiday gifts from your local DTLA shops

By Hayley Fox
Published: Wednesday, December 19, 2012, at 08:36AM
Flickr via Muy Yum

Bottega Louie does gift boxes for the holiday including everything from champagne to macarons.

Christmas is next week but no need to panic (or venture west of Figueroa) for last-minute holiday gifts. Downtown's got something for everyone; from the beer nerd to the literary lover. Blogdowntown's put together a list of go-to places for local holiday shopping -- but please add your own suggestions in the comments section.

THE LIBRARY STORE: Located inside the library, this store is the holy grail of everything kitschy and literary. Open every day of the week starting at 10 a.m., this shop has gifts for your favorite reader, writer and general L.A.-lover. Many of the tote bags, socks, posters and mugs cost $25 or less and if purchased online can be automatically gift-wrapped for an extra $2. An added bonus of buying here? All the proceeds go to the L.A. Public Library.

BUZZ WINE BEER SHOP: While this may be your everyday shop for beer and wine, it's also the perfect neighborhood place to pick up a last minute present. Holiday dinners can always use an extra bottle of bubbly and buying your favorite beer aficionado the seasonal release from a local brewery may be just the ticket.

BOTTEGA LOUIE: Macarons, truffles and mints; oh my! This expansive restaurant on Grand Avenue packs up their pastries and desserts for the holidays in their telltale pink gift boxes. The options range from $48 for a sampling of macarons, to $250 for a box that includes a bottle of Moet Champagne and an assortment of caramels, chocolate-covered sunflower seeds and other treats. If you need to scale down your purchase, you can pick and choose a few things from the dessert case in the store and they will still wrap it up in one of their Bottega Louie boxes.

THE LAST BOOKSTORE: The owners of this bookstore published a special appeal on their website to holiday shoppers, encouraging people to buy from their shop and help keep the independent store afloat. They said they're "working extra hard to keep our shelves stocked with the most interesting and affordable books and records out there," and added that between new and used books, they're adding more than 1,000 fresh books a day.

LA PHIL STORE: Who doesn't want a stocking full of piano calculators and playing cards decorated with musical notes? The L.A. Phil Store at the Walt Disney Concert Hall sells a variety of musical gifts from mugs to magnets, vases and glasses cases. For the true classical music devotee, the Phil Store is selling a $148 collection of composer busts crafted in Italy.

HANDSOME COFFEE: This coffee shop and roaster on Mateo Street is selling a line of coffee-related paraphernalia (some online, some in-store) including t-shirts, coffee presses and bags of their own roasted coffee beans. For $40 you can buy a java set that includes a bag of their "comfort" and "adventure" whole beans, wrapped up in the store's telltale brown packaging with a leather Handsome tag.

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Conversation

Kim Cooper on December 19, 2012, at 09:41AM – #1

Caravan Book Store on Grand opposite the library, the last survivor of old Bookseller's Row, is packed with fascinating gems for all budgets--from old southland postcards, maps and prints to centuries-old fine bindings. (And the stories about L.A. history from proprietor Leonard Bernstein are free.)


User_32

Jasmijn on December 19, 2012, at 01:41PM – #2

Clark's Gallery for photos of LA and desert (75% off sale this week!). JANM and MOCA gift shops too. Broadway or Chinatown for kids' toys and fun tchotchkes (and Realm in Chinatown for gorgeous things of good quality). Mr G's in Macys Plaza for toys but also "gifty" items and cards.


User_32

FLEA on December 19, 2012, at 02:17PM – #3

In the Historic Core there are a number of stores. This Thursday night there is the First Annual SHOP WALK. Visit www.shopwalkdtla.com for more info. Stores like FLEA, Round2LA, Buttons and Bows to name a few. Open until 10pm. All stores offering 15% off with additional specials store to store.


Diana Williams on December 19, 2012, at 06:21PM – #4

Your Library Store link goes to the wrong library store, in Illinois. The one that benefits the Los Angeles Public Library is http://www.lfla.org/store


User_32

Hayley Fox on December 20, 2012, at 01:20PM – #5

Thanks for the heads up Diana! It's been corrected.



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