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SHOP SOHO for Unique Holiday Gifts
December 2016
By Bobbie Bagel, Dean Glass, and Teresa Morrison
 Let's start with shopping for men. Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to get the men in your life, but SOHO makes it easier. We've found special items with historical roots, artisanal appeal, and contemporary flair. You'll find well-priced and smartly packaged gifts in our Whaley House Museum Shop, Marston House Museum Shop and the Santa Ysabel Store. From the practical to the fanciful, here are some SOHO staff favorites:
Mixology, anyone? Many men get a kick out of tending bar for friends and family, while millennials have brought trendy cocktails back in a big way. Not since the late 1950s have cocktails been so popular, or imaginative. All-natural infusion kits from Vena's Fizz House bring a fresh twist to craft cocktails. Just add alcohol to the freeze-dried ingredients, and presto … you have a delicious drink. Try one or several of the interesting combos to choose from. The Shipwreck includes strawberry, mango, banana, pineapple, citrus, and bitters. Just add rum. Tomato, celery seaweed, horseradish, black peppercorns, lemon, bitters, and spices make up the Rocky Coast Bloody Mary. Just add vodka. Sweet Heat Tequila blends strawberry, jalapeño, citrus and organic sugar. Add tequila. Other tempting flavors are available. $13.95 per kit.
Two-ounce tins of sugar cubes infused with bitters make a good stocking stuffer. They are a perfect accent to cocktails, mocktails, or even tea. Among the appealing flavors from Vena's Fizz House are vanilla chai and bitter orange. $8
The Waiter's Friend, a versatile corkscrew, is sure to prompt an Ah ha! moment followed by thanks for your thoughtfulness. Its clever design also incorporates a beer bottle opener and a retractable blade for slicing foil. The corkscrew comes packaged in a vintage kraft box, ready to wrap. $14.95
 Speaking of imbibing, if you're looking for a stylish yet practical gift for a dapper, mustachioed gentleman who usually reaches for a mug, the Bucardo Moustache Mug is just what he needs. The 13-oz. mug features original artwork by Southern California artist Jeff McMillan depicting Turn-of-the-Century-Man, and is a modern take on the classic Victorian mustache cup. Its guard spans the rim of the mug, and will help protect a gentlemen's stache whilst he drinks his coffee or other beverage of choice. $24.95
Or consider one of the imaginative, convenient multi-tools from Gentlemen's Hardware. Designed for hikers, fishermen, cyclists, and handymen, they contain a variety of implements from knives and saws to screwdrivers and pliers. They come packaged neatly in vintage collectible tins or in kraft boxes. From $12.95 to $34.95
If that guy on your list doesn't hike, bike, fish, or tinker, don't worry. There is also a diverse collection of personal grooming products that will do the trick. Create a handsome ensemble by pairing a tube of scented shave cream ($12.95), with a bottle of hair and body wash ($13.95), or a large bar of brick soap ($14.95). They all have a subtle sandalwood fragrance and come packaged in matching elegant black and white vintage style boxes.
The Iron Society is a barbershop in Portland, Oregon, that focuses on the clean, classic, yet modern look of today's well-groomed man. Old Fashioned Men's Grooming Aid is a petroleum-based pomade designed to keep his hair under control for that neat freshly combed look. Each jar of pomade is handmade at The Iron Society so there's no question of quality or craftsmanship. The vintage-look labels will look great in any bathroom or on a Steampunk collector's shelf. Available in Regular, Firm Hold, and Water Soluble. 3.75 oz., $15.95
By the way, our Steampunk-themed items in the Whaley House Museum Shop are especially popular. Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction/fantasy that incorporates the theme of 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Our collection of Steampunk hats, jewelry, goggles, books, and more will make it easy to buy for that adventurous dreamer in your life. We call your attention to two captivating books by Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett:
 Frank Reade: Adventures in the Age of Invention
This beautiful book features the globetrotting adventurer Frank Reade, Steampunk star of late 19th-century dime novels. Combining stories and illustrations from the original books with new adventures and altered photographs, many in full color, this "lost legacy of Americana" relates the story of the fictional Reade family, inventors of robots, airships, and submarines, and imaginatively intertwines history, fiction, and fantasy with stunning artwork. A must-have for the Steampunk enthusiast. Hardcover, 176 pages, $24.95
Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel
Ideal for Steampunk and Victorian era lovers, but also enchanting for those fascinated by historical fiction, this book is the perfect gift to transport readers into fantasy and to delight them with the history of the world's first robot soldier, Boilerplate. Developed by Professor Archibald Campion during the 1880s, Boilerplate was first presented at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Immerse yourself in the robot's history, learn about its worldwide expeditions and contributions, and wonder about its mysterious disappearance. Hardcover, 160 pages, $24.95
Nikola Tesla, a prominent figure in the Steampunk universe, was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, and futurist. He is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system. Edison, Marconi, and others may have gotten all the glory, but recently Tesla's star has been ascendant, especially now that science and the public are catching up to the once-eccentric ideas of this visionary, mad scientist, and natty dresser. We have him in surprising doll form from the series called Little Thinkers from the Unemployed Philosophers Guild. Now a 12-inch tall Tesla can keep you company in an intense-yet-cuddly version. And he's still a smart dresser. We also carry the Frida Kahlo and Edgar Allan Poe dolls. $18.95
For the younger set, we offer The Jolly Post Office. Time travel back to the pre-digital 1950s with this special and entertaining vintage game. The Jolly Post Office gives you and your young loved ones some quality time pouring over this set. It includes everything you need for hours of happy, creative play, to say nothing of encouraging hand-written thank-you notes and even secret love letters. You'll find writing paper, play stamps, stampers, postcards, envelopes, and more. This game helps develop writing and reading skills while having fun, and is perfect for boys and girls. $19.95
We invite you to SHOP SOHO and support historic preservation throughout the San Diego region. Our attractive museum shops are always a source for special and unusual gifts that will bring plenty of holiday cheer. And, remember, SOHO members receive a 10% discount. Happy Holidays!
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