LAST MINUTE VALENTINE'S DAY GIFTS

Did Valentine's Day sneak up on you this year? If you're in a pinch for a gift, here are some personable Shop Local favorites that are sure to dazzle your dearest.

FOR THE GENTS:

Cincinnati Tie Clip - Fabricate

The Full Monty Massage - The Spa at 21C

  

Donna's Gourmet Cookies

 

Cincinnati Bow Tie - MiCA 12/v

FOR THE LADIES:  

Pinup Photoshoot - Retrocentric

My glamourous friend Becky's Valentine's photoshoot.

Chocolats Latour - Coffee Emporium

Punny Art by Jesiii- Fabricate

Floral Fascinators - Bella On The Avenue

SUGAR RUSH

Hundreds sank their sweet tooth into candies and baked goods from local confectioners at the third annual Sugar Rush, presented by CityBeat. The event raises funds for the Cincinnati Ballet, and at only $10 a ticket guests could eat as many desserts as they could hold.

Two of my favorite sweeteries were on the ticket for tonight: Holtman's Donuts and Donna's Gourmet Cookies. From frosted sprinkle to red velvet cake, Holtman's delivered their exceptional, best-in-the-city donuts in yet another flavor I had yet to try. Donna's featured her signature chocolate chip cookie that are as sweet as Donna herself.

A third contender took me by surprise: SugarPlums Cupcakery. With a booth positioned right next to the front door, they stole my appetite and exceeded all expectations of the perfect cupcake. Creamy frosting, moist fluffy cake, and some even came with fillings in the center. I tried the Buckeye Cupcake, Apple Pie Cupcake, Red Velvet Cupcake, Cherry Cheesecake Cupcake, and Cotton Candy Cupcake. While the cherry cheesecake was bursting with fresh fruit, the cotton candy took the cake... er, cupcake. It was full of flavor, but not overly sweet. A perfect medley of baked good and childhood treats!

Red Velvet cupcakes arranged as a cake

Cotton Candy Cupcake

1215 Wine Bar served up dessert wines, both a red and white, while neighboring booth Camp Washington Chili handed out their famous cheese conies. Camp Washington cheese conies are my favorite out of all the chili parlors, and I was elated to come across their booth.

I lost count of how many samples I tasted throughout the evening, although I'm certain that numbed exceeded ten. Fortuantely, when our stomachs got full, vendors came prepared. Holtman's and SugarPlum handed out takeaway bags for our leftovers, or to put samples in that we wanted to taste, but just didn't have room for.

 

A delightful evening in a setting reminiscent of Candy Land and a Katy Perry music video,  Sugar Rush was a decadent time.

VALENTINE'S GIFTS FOR FINE FELLOWS

Roses, hearts, and diamonds. Sure, Valentine's Day is geared towards women, but what does one get the man in our life? Certainly, he deserves something more than a greeting card, gift certificate, or the most awkward gift of love: a personal trimmer.

Never fear! If you're still having trouble finding the perfect gift for your mister, here are a few suggestions that may strike inspiration:

1.) Cincinnati Letterpress Book

Whether list-making, sketching, or jotting down a journal, these pocket-sized custom notebooks by Steamwhistle Letterpress are a great way for a guy to take note on the go.


2.) Beer Scented Soap

Lather up with your favorite ale using an all-natural bar soap from Orange Fuzz. Each comes in a variety of manly scents like sage, bay rum, or cedarwood. Select your fellow's favorite brew ranging from regional craft beers to imports, like Guinness. Not a beer drinker? Then froth him with a bar of their coffee soap.



3.) Cincinnati Tie

It wouldn't be a holiday without acknowledgement of the go-to man gift: the tie. Not just your ordinary neckware, this statement piece found at MiCA 12/V features a stylish map of the Queen City or a simplistic Ohio River.



4.) Cincinnati Tie Clip

Of course, your necktie ensemble wouldn't be complete without a snazzy Cincinnati tie clip! Featured on The Lovely Teaspoon, each tie clip can be custom made with the city of your choosing: Cincinnati, Paris, New York, Rabbit Hash...whatever you fancy. The shop also features an assortment of non-map tie clips with designs from dinosaurs to Lego pieces to circuit boards. If you have a hobby, it can be fashioned to your tie.


 5.) Donna's Gourmet Cookies

 
If your honey has yet to sample the delights of Donna, step aside and let her work her savory magic on him. Each gigantic cookie has chocolate in every bite and is baked to perfection. With flavors from classic chocolate chip and her famous Reese's Pieces cookies, to specialty flavors like The Turtle (pictured), Donna is one woman you won't mind sharing Valentine's Day with.


6.) JackBacks

 
What's more manly than a gadget made of wood? JackBacks in Northside has handcrafted iPhone cases from real wood - not a sticker or "looks like wood" aesthetic. You can also have custom designs etched into it. The options are endless: photographs, your favorite quote, a name, a cartoon... if you can dream it, it can be JackBacked! 


7.) The Full Monty Massage

 
Treat your fellow to a luxurious, relaxing massage at The Spa at 21C. Located in Downtown's newest contemporary hotel, the spa offers a menu of treatments created specifically for men. Focusing around stress reduction and tension relief, these sessions are ideal for the hard working man looking to escape and unwind.



8.)   Cincinnati Bow Tie

 
Just when you thought we were done with ties, up popped this fashionable accessory: the bow tie. Designed by VisualLingual, these colorful layouts of Cincinnati will fit right in to the wardrobe of your trendy urban explorer.


9.) Camera Lens Mug

For your lover behind the lens, here's a picture perfect present: the Canon Camera Lens Mug from Photojojo. Complete with rubber-grip focus rings and an auto-focus switch, this lens doppelgänger come with a insulated liner, perfect for carrying a photographer's best friend: coffee.


10.) Lindt Chocolates 

 
There's nothing sweeter than a giant sack of chocolates for the gift that keeps on giving. One of the newest additions to the Cincinnati Premium Outlets in Monroe, the Lindt Chocolate shop offers dozens of creme filled truffles which you can mix-and-match, or gather a bouquet of gourmet chocolate bars from their wall-to-wall display.