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

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

Soulful Oasis offers a rich and sensous collection of furniture, housewares and fabrics from local to international artisans, designers and manufacturers. More than just a store, though, Soulful Oasis is a full service Design Studio, offering consultations to help you create the room that you want. Open Monday By Appointment, and Tue - Sat. 9:30am - 5pm. Located at 2006 MacArthur Blvd. in the Dimond District. 510.531.3680.

You’ve seen his beautiful platform bed on our website header for months, and now his furniture is in the November issue of Better Homes and Gardens. The issue shows how well his modern designs can complement a craftsman bungalow. From his studio in Oakland’s Glenview neighborhood, Jason has created an exquisite collection of standard items and he also does custom pieces. You have to check out his elegant tables, shelves, beds, and more on his website at: http://www.jasonleesdesign.com. 1577 East 38th Street, 510-482-4321, info@jasonleesdesign.com. Showroom hours: Monday thru Saturday by appointment.

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.

In August 4, 2006, the doors opened to Oakland’s newest treasure in home décor and artistic expression: Industrielle. This urban space in the heart of the Uptown Gallery District is a tribute to all things art. Colorful original paintings, ceramic cupcake holders, punk-inspired clothing, books, notecards, candles, blow-up dolls(!) and so much more await you. Eye catching window displays and progressive French provincial ambiance provide a warm welcome.

Owner Dana Taylor is a native Oaklander and an artist in her own right. Her line of greeting cards, distributed by A Little Piece of Art ®, has been carried by Barney’s New York, Barney’s Tokyo, and in boutiques throughout the country. Don’t forget to check out Dana’s own artwork on the walls while you’re there.

While Industrielle’s focus is local artists, Dana also attempts to include merchandise that will benefit under-developed or struggling markets/countries, as well as items with a social purpose. For example clocks from New Orleans to help rejuvenate the Louisiana economy, Tooksie candles from South Africa, and “statement clothing” from Downtown Democracy out of Brooklyn, New York. Plans for the store also include an artist studio in the rear, where Dana will offer art classes to children and the local public. 33 Grand Ave., Open Tues.- Fri., 10am to 6pm, Sat 11am to 4pm.

Holiday Art Sale by Montclair Artists Group at Montclair Elementary School Auditorium, 1757 Mountain Blvd.; Dec 9 & 10; 11 am - 4 pm.

Rockridge had its first annual Holiday Tree Lighting on November 29th to kick off the holidays. Now the shops are open till 8pm every Friday night during the season! Fridays till 8pm, College Ave. http://www.rockridgedistrict.com/

One-of-a-Kind, Modern Handcrafted Candles
by Creighton Hurt
$30
These gorgeous candles are the work of Oakand artist Creighton Hurt. Creighton hand makes a wide variety of candles in various colors and scents, from Mango to Jasmine to Eucalyptus. You can find him and his works of art at Jack London Square Market on Sundays, at www.chunkscandles.com, and soon…on Oakland Unwrapped!

Phyllis Williams fuses glass of varying colors and textures into absolutely gorgeous pendants, plates and even kitchen tiles. See her creations in person at the Oakland Artisan Marketplace, Fridays - Sundays. See the Oakland Artisan Marketplace website for times and locations.

OUT: Styrofoam & Plastic
IN: Corn?

Oakland Councilwoman Jean Quan is proposing an ordinance that will (finally!) ban styrofoam disposable food service ware and require that all disposable service ware is biodegradable, when it’s affordable. You can find out more and get involved by checking out her website: http://www.jeanquan.org.

In the meantime, we thought you might be interested in seeing a water bottle biodegrade. One company that uses corn to make water bottles, Biota, has a video of the biodegradation process. According to their site, it takes 75-80 days for these to completely biodegrade — a plastic bottle will NEVER biodegrade! Very cool technology. Click here for the movie.

Turning Heads Wearable Art is a unique and stylish women’s boutique on Lakeshore Avenue. Owner Marie Renfro has put together a collection that includes cute little numbers for a night on the town, gorgeous African ensembles, colorful scarves, jewelry, and more. You can find scarves and belts for under $10; shirts, dresses, and evening ensembles from $39 to $200; jewelry from $5 to $200; and a tasteful collection of artwork and housewares.

Things change frequently in here because Marie is always finding something new to add. Check out some PHOTOS of what I found in the store one day… This store was recommended to us by an Oaklander who said, “You get lots of personal attention. Because it’s small, there’s often conversation among the shoppers, and you can get some opinions on how things look on you. Shopping there feels like a community experience.” Hours, address, and more details available on the Turning Heads page on ShopOakland.com.