By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor

The holiday season is officially upon us, as people across America begin their hunt for the perfect gifts for their friends and loved ones.

While the lure of online shopping is ever present, there are many local stores on the Northside that can supply a great, unique gift. Such local shopping also helps out the Northside economy by supporting small business owners in the area.

The Chronicle reached out to three Northside businesses to get their suggestions for great gifts they can offer.

Mustard & Relics

Located in Brighton Heights, Mustard & Relics specializes in antiques and vintage items of all shapes and sizes. One can never expect exactly what they’ll find when they visit this store, except maybe that everything there has a lot of history behind it.

“We have a lot of vintage pottery and artwork,” said Kate Kelley, owner of Mustard & Relics. “We have vintage barware, lots of vintage collectives, books and records.”

Vintage is the name of the game at Mustard & Relics, but when it comes to a great gift idea, Kelley believes one category of her wares stands out above all others.

“Jewelry is always a perfect gift,” she said.

According to Kelley, the costume jewelry available at the store comes from a wide array of decades, dating all the way back to the 1920s and as recently as the 1980s. Better yet, much of the jewelry is custom-made, meaning apparel like it cannot be found elsewhere, providing a truly unique gift.

Kelley frequently runs deals on the various kinds of vintage items available at her store, so be sure to check in often to find the best sales. For example, she is holding a Small Business Saturday open house on Nov. 30, during which the whole store will be 25% off.

As a small business owner, Kelley is greatly looking forward to the holiday season, as it often brings in first-time shoppers. She said this is because many people are visiting from out of town and want to check out the local shops like hers.

“It’s awesome,” she said of the season. “It is definitely the most fun and best for business.”

Mustard & Relics is located at 3596 Brighton Road. It is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, from noon to 5 p.m.

The store can be contacted at (412) 545-3386. For more information, visit mustardandrelicsdotcom.wordpress.com/ In addition, Kelley owns a retail space in Kensington Court Antiques, located at 3464 Babcock Blvd., where even more of her antiques and vintage items are available for sale. Kensington Court is open all days except Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and can be contacted at (412) 367-1404.

A sea eagle which resides at The National Aviary. This bird is one of many at the aviary available for a symbolic adoption through the Adopt-A-Bird program. Photo courtesy of The National Aviary

The National Aviary

While most people may think of The National Aviary only as a location to visit, the United States’ largest aviary also has many knick-knacks and unique services that can make for great gift ideas.

“We have an array of items for different people, from animal lovers, conservation fanatics, people who are into jewelry, kids, families — we’re really running the whole gamut,” said Becca Hansborough, content and communications manager for the Aviary.

For example, new to the 2024 holiday season are the Aviary’s Fahlo Bracelets. These bracelets enable the wearers to track a sloth or penguin tied to each bracelet in the wild.

However, when it comes to picking a best gift, Hansborough believes the Aviary’s Adopt-A-Bird program provides an experience that can’t be beat.

“It’s such a cool idea,” she said. “You get an adoption certificate, you get a really nice photo, it comes with a personalized letter, fact sheet and more.”

Many species at the Aviary are available through the Adopt-A-Bird program, including owls, flamingos, penguins and more. In fact, one doesn’t even need to specifically adopt a bird, as the Aviary’s Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths are also eligible under the program.

Not only does the program give each adopter photos and a fact sheet for their chosen animal, but the proceeds from each adoption support animal care efforts at the Aviary, helping the organization’s conservation efforts.

Visiting the Aviary itself remains a great gift idea, as the bird zoo’s animal encounters can provide a rare chance to get close with exotic animals. Further, as a deal for the holidays, all new and renewed onsite National Aviary memberships starting Nov. 30 will include a small gift of the buyers’ choice and a $15 gift card to participating Atria’s locations.

Hansborough said the holidays are an “exciting time” at the Aviary, with many members bringing their out-of-town friends and family for visits. The locale also sees an uptick in the number of weddings being held during the season, giving workers plenty to do.

“It’s a really all-hands-on-deck kind of feeling,” she said.

The National Aviary is located at 700 Arch St. It is open every day except Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Aviary can be contacted at (412) 323-7235.For more information, visit aviary.org/

Makeshift Bikes

Getting a kid a bicycle is a time-honored Christmas tradition. But what if you could also help ensure your kid knows how to properly take care of their new bike?

That is where Makeshift Bikes comes into play. A bicycle repair store located in Historic Deutschtown, Makeshift doesn’t just fix bikes, but also teaches people how to repair their own bicycles.

Aryn Gaslowitz, owner of Makeshift Bikes, said the classes are made to the requests of attendees, meaning the seminars can touch on everything from basic maintenance to more advanced repairs. Even longtime bicycling enthusiasts can pick up a tip or two from one of the classes.

While her classes have mostly been given to adults, Gaslowitz said they are open to teenagers or younger kids, if they’re interested.

Further, although kids might not get a chance to ride their bikes much in the winter, Gaslowitz said the season is actually the perfect time to learn the basics of bicycle maintenance.

“I think of the colder months as the time of year when there’s more time to prepare,” she said. “It’s better to learn when you’re not trying to use all your time to be riding.”

Classes are offered on Saturdays as long as at least two people are signed up. Further, they’re available for the low price of $25 per person, and last around two hours.

These are not just lectures, either. Class attendees will get hands-on with bike repairs, providing practical experience in maintaining their rides.

Makeshift Bikes also has a few used bicycles available, for anyone looking to get one for their own kids.

Makeshift Bikes is located at 431 E. Ohio St. It is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. To contact the store, call (412) 586-5410.For more information, visit makeshiftbikes.com/