Know you want to get something super fun and original for a friend, family or co-worker, but not sure exactly what they want? You can’t go wrong with a gift card from Entrez! Open House. Your card recipient will be psyched to wander around this Oakland wonderland, finding gorgeous housewares, and clever accessories from brands like Alessi, Koziol, and Oakland’s Jenny Hurth. There are items that fit every budget, and the cards are available online in $20, $50, and $100 denominations.

Super cute accent pillows in a variety of colors from Industrielle, the hot urban chic boutique and gallery on Grand near Broadway. Pillows are by local designer Joom! Available for $35 on the Industrielle website.

This is the 22nd year for the Holiday, Kwanzaa & Christmas Gift show, presented by the African-American Business Exchange. Come celebrate family and community while finding unique gifts sold by African American and other vendors! $5 Admission. Dec. 8th and 9th. 11am - 8pm. Oakland Marriott Convention Center, 10th & Broadway. www.kwanzaagiftshow.com

This week’s online buy is from Industrielle, the newest addition to the Oakland Unwrapped! Marketplace. You may remember that we reviewed this ultracool urban boutique and gallery when it first opened just over a year ago. Now they’re online, and they are starting to add products to the site, like these super sexy Boy Shorts ($15) from Oakland designer Evo Noche. Check out the current exhibits, plus housewares, clothing fine art and more for sale online and in the store at 33 Grand Ave. (510) 271-0633. http://www.industriellegallery.com

Nathan & Co. is full of modern treasures for the home and body, including quirky items such as a salt shaker that shakes itself, a bath plug with an origami boat attached to it, and more traditional fare such as great smelling candles and cookbooks from favorite local restaurants like Dona Tomas, Bay Wolf, and Cesar. For anyone wanting to show their Oakland pride, I hella heart Oakland t-shirts run $20 for the men’s version and $24 for the more fitted women’s style. 3820 Piedmont Ave 10:30-7 M-Th 10:30-9 Friday, 10:30-5:30 Saturday 510 428 9638

Rock Paper Scissors Collective is a volunteer-run community arts space with a great gallery, shop, arts lab, and zine library in the Uptown District. Step into the bright space to find fun silkscreened tees, unique handmade clothing, wallets, jewelery, bags, and more. Many items are made of re-used materials, like plastic/foil juice snack bags, bike inner tubes, and even sailboat sails.

While you’re there you can read an independently-published zine in their Zine Library, listen to independently-produced music at their listening station, and take a class! Check out their site to find out about their rotating gallery exhibits (which open every First Friday of the month) and other events. They also offer monthly classes in DJ’ing, screenprinting, bike maintenance, and other fun topics! Part of Art Murmur’s First Friday artwalk.

Rock Paper Scissors Collective: 2278 Telegraph Ave. 510-238-9171. Open 11-7pm everyday except Tuesday, http://rpscollective.com/new.html

One of the East Bay’s premiere galleries and arts organizations, Pro Arts, has a wonderful gift shop at the front of its gallery in the Ironworks neighborhood of Jack London Square. The shop has gorgeous housewares, jewelry, paintings, sculpture, cards, bags, t-shirts and more.

550 Second Street, Jack London Square, (510) 763-4361. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 12 -6pm and Sunday 12 -5pm. http://proartsgallery.org/gallerystore/index.html

Clever and stylish are the best words to describe the collection of home accessories, gifts, and furniture at this wonderful new shop at 17th and Telegraph. Entrez! Open House is the PERFECT store to usher in the Renaissance in Oakland’s uptown. Owner Marie Deleris brings her chic style to the corner, and much energy to the community.

Entrez! offers a wide range of items for the home, including candles, wine pumps, table linens, pillows, home fragrances, greeting cards, tables, chairs, and lots more. Even the office supplies are stylish. Designers carried in the store include local Oakland designers such as Chunks Candles and sitcom furniture, classic European companies such as Alessi and Koziol, and just plain fun companies like Knock Knock.

Marie is also very involved with the community, hosting pumpkin carving contests and french conversation nights, donating raffle items to good causes, and much more!

To top it off…Marie will gift wrap your items into a masterpiece (check the one in the photo)!

1645 Telegraph Avenue, (510) 268 9101. Holiday hours through December: Mon-Fri: 10 to 8; Weekends: 16th, 17th & 23rd: 12 to 5; Sunday 24th: 9 to 2. The store will be closed on Christmas day.

There are three great gift shows this weekend featuring independent artists and designers! Click the links below for more information about each event.

1) afterglow boutique, in Temescal, will host a dozen designers on Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 7. Oakland Unwrapped! will be there all day on Sunday.

2) I {heart} Independent is hosting its first gift sale at Pro Arts in Jack London Square on Saturday from 11 to 4. Unwrapped will be here on Saturday.
3) Montclair Artists Group’s holiday art sale is Saturday and Sunday from 11-4.

Also see our complete printable list of Oakland holiday gift events this month.

i {heart} independent is a unique shopping event open to the public. Local artists and designers showcase one-of-a-kind apparel, accessories, jewelry, handbags, stationery and more at discount prices. Come shop and enjoy a fabulous time at this premiere Bay Area event!

Pro Arts Gallery www.proartsgallery.org, 550 Second Street @ Jack London Square, Sat. Dec 9, 11-4 pm, Free admission, credit cards accepted. Support independent – buy local!

By Guest Contributor Selma Taylor

Showin’ Out is a hair gallery and boutique located in the Laurel District of Oakland. Lutillian Hudson, owner, has operated the business for 14 years. In 1989, Ms. Hudson — called Tillie by customers and friends — sold 20 pairs of earrings in one day from her car. A friend made her an earring case which held 80 pairs and she sold earrings from the case for 2-3 years until she opened the salon in 1992. Today, she displays the case in the store as a reminder of her beginnings.

Showin’ Out Hair Gallery and Boutique offers unique jewelry, handbags, hats, scarves, greeting cards, bath products, and journals. Tillie travels to Los Angeles and New York to purchase handbags that are different, but moderately priced. The boutique has gifts from $10 and under. Tillie started a $4 bargain basket of jewelry to attract her customers to buy other boutique items. The $4 basket has become so popular, it has become a “must look through it” and a mainstay for her customers.

Tillie is not just a business person; she is a contributor to her community. For four years Tillie was the Events Coordinator for the High Street/MacArthur Avenue - Laurel Merchants Association. In that capacity, Tillie would organize the annual event of activities involving music and community service booths which culminated with bicycle give aways for the youth.

For 10 years, Tillie has hired youth to work in her business. There are at least 2 youths working in her business at any time. She trains them on customer service, responsibility, merchandising, cash management and the like. Showin’ Out Hair Gallery has also been an incubator for many hair stylists, who after a stint with Tillie, open their own businesses.
Tillie’s dream for her boutique business is to “look like the MAC counter at Nordstrom on a Saturday” — full of eager customers. So, if you want to shop in a relaxing environment where you get plenty of customer service, try Showin’ Out Hair Gallery and Boutique. See photos of the merchandise and the salon here!

Showin’ Out Hair Gallery & Boutique
3717 Macarthur Boulevard
Laurel District
510.531.0600

This delightful greeting card collection by Hae Yuon Kim has a warm heart, an Asian flair, and a message for just about everyone. View and purchase on the Chopsticks, Please website.

Carrot and Stick Press offers packs of folded note cards, gift cards, and placecards in crisp, eye-catching designs. They also print custom invitations and announcements for your major events. Check out the Carrot and Stick Press website.

A fun and colorful collection of handmade greeting cards, including origami pieces, and prints of her paintings of cats, giraffes, flowers and more. Blank inside. Limited quantities of these cards are available at Jooyea Place.