Creative Gift Giving Along the Corridor

Black Friday is over and so is Cyber Monday, but you surely haven't bought a gift yet for everyone on your holiday list. Let's face it, the pandemic changed everything, even our shopping habits – driving us away from storefronts and toward our screens. For many, online ordering turned into a veritable addiction.

But this year is different. Instead of eschewing seasonal gatherings, many of us will be hosting family reunions. We'll be hugging and kissing and, yes, giving gifts – perhaps in boxes with pretty bows and ribbons or in giant bags stuffed with colorful tissue paper.

So we suggest ditching the urge to let your fingers doing the walking or slipping into a pharmacy to pick up a few gift cards, and getting personal instead. The best gifts are thoughtful and creative, the ones you delightedly hunt for. These are precisely the kinds of things we should be giving to bring back the old-feel holiday spirit we long for.

The Biscayne Corridor is the perfect place to shop until you drop to find those special, unique items for everyone on your list, while supporting the local economy instead of putting more greenbacks in Jeff Bezos’ pocket.

And we’re taking you on a “magical mystery tour” to find that perfect gift.

For Vinyl Afficionados

Serious music lovers know that the resurgence of vinyl seems to be sticking around, and there are several great shops you can visit to seek out records for someone’s turntable.

Technique Records

880 NE 79th St., Miami Shores

786.717.6622; TechniqueRecords.com

Walk into Technique Records and you’re instantly enveloped in rows and rows of records and also cassette tapes, plenty of them. The vinyl makes up the majority of the inventory here and there’s something for every single musical taste, in every price range. It’s also great for vintage magazines as well as serious musical equipment, which is housed toward the back of the store. Set aside some time for shopping here – what’s on offer is impressive and addictive, and the helpful staff make the experience extra fun.

Found Sound Records

1654 NE 123rd St., North Miami

786.360.4934; Found-Sound-Records.com

Nestled in a tiny strip mall just a few blocks off Biscayne Boulevard, Found Sound is a great place to come in and sit a while. Take a load off while holiday shopping, sit on their couch and take in a little reading. Then you will be ready to peruse their extensive boxes and racks of vinyl. They also trade vinyl here and have plenty of good discounts so you can buy the music lover on your list a few great finds, both new and used. Staff here are happy to help you find just the right gift or make suggestions.

Sweat Records

5505 NE 2 Ave., Little Haiti

786.693.9309; SweatRecordsMiami.com

An institution for vinyl lovers, Sweat Records is fixture on Miami’s music scene. The colorful aqua exterior with the business name emblazoned in funky 1970s-inspired design is hard to miss. Step inside this intimate space and find a knowledgeable staff always ready to help you navigate the inventory and point you to their latest acquisitions – there’s always something new coming in at Sweat.

For Wine Lovers

Paradis Books & Bread

12831 W Dixie Hwy., North Miami

Hello@PBB.Cafe; PBB.Cafe

Featured in Biscayne Times last month, Paradis Books & Bread has an extensive wine selection carefully chosen by Bianca Sanon, in-house sommelier and co-founder. Stroll in and marvel at the floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with wine bottles; the natural wines featured here include what Sanon and the café’s other owners are passionate about. They can steer you between their “soft” wines – which they describe as casual wines ready for consumption, a table wine if you will – and selections from their “serious” wine collection, meant to be tucked away and saved for special occasions by the wine connoisseurs in your life.

VinoNueva Fine & Rare Wines

5582 NE 4th Ct., Miami

786.633.6432; VinoNueva.com

Another notable wine store where you can find both affordable and high-end rare wines from around the world is VinoNueva, located in the MiMo District. Here, founders Bernardo Villanueva and Ana Corina Baptista share their passionate collective knowledge with customers and offer an extensive selection of bottles, presented in a beautiful space that also serves as the site of seasonal wine tastings and other vino-slanted events.

For Diehard Fashionistas

Rebel Miami Boutique

7648 Biscayne Blvd., Miami

305.793.4104; Facebook.com/REBEL-MIAMI-92034576831

Browse designer labels in Rebel Miami Boutique’s consignment section for one-of-a-kind finds, or shop their more casual finds like T-shirts, shorts and linen drawstring pants. There’s also a great selection of accessories – from statement necklaces to all types of handbags – and boots and shoes, too. Rebel regularly receives new inventory, so you’re bound to find something special for the fashionista on your list.

The Consignment Bar

5580 NE 4th Ct., Ste. 4A, Miami

305.751.9996; ConsignmentBar.com

Tucked away just off Biscayne Boulevard and marked by its funky pink neon sign, The Consignment Bar is the ideal place to find something for anyone on your list who loves high-end fashion. Here, you’ll discover designer labels including Balenciaga, Hermès, Valentino, Gucci, Fendi, Givenchy, Chanel, Manolo Blahnik, Louis Vuitton and plenty more. Bags, shoes, eyewear and accessories – it’s all here. And it’s just a few doors down from VinoNueva, so you can shop for multiple people on your list while in the area.

Carolina K

7924 NE 2 Ave., Unit #103, Miami

347.525.1809; CarolinaK.com

At the end of Little River and approaching the entrance to the El Portal neighborhood in a simple bare concrete exterior building sits Carolina K. Inside you’ll find sustainable fashions carefully selected by founder Carolina Kleinman. Offerings hail from Latin America and India with a special emphasis on the textiles and embroidery of Peru and Mexico.

For Seekers of Antiques & Unique Treasures

Stroll up and down 125 Street between NE 8th and 9th avenues and you’ll find a row of antique stores with carefully selected items sure to please anyone who appreciates heirloom objets d’arts and rare treasures. Wander through these shops to find antique, mid-century and contemporary jewelry, lamps and lighting, furniture, home accessories and particular pieces of interest, like South African Ardmore ceramic art at Pascoe Gallery.

Gustavo Olivieri

863 NE 125th St., North Miami

305.851.1347, GustavoOlivieriAntiques.com

Stripe Vintage Modern

799 NE 125th St., North Miami

305.893.8085; StripeVintageModern.com

Vermillion

765 NE 125th St., North Miami

305.893.7800; GalleryVermillion.com

Pascoe Gallery

849 NE 125th St., North Miami

800.872.0195; PascoeGallery.com

Martell Gallery

859 NE 125th St., North Miami

786.803.8286; MartellGallery.com

For Foodies & Tea Lovers

MondEpice Spices & Teas Co.

3289 NW 7th Ave., Miami

Contact@Mondepice.com; MondEpice.com

Legion Park: 6601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami

Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Find a colorful and flavorful selection of teas and spices at MondEpice Spices & Teas Co. – the aroma alone will keep you glued to either its booth at the Legion Park Farmers Market or at its brick-and-mortar location on Biscayne Boulevard, where you can pick up orders. Whichever location you choose, the foodies and tea lovers on your list will love you for the handcrafted gift sets that can include mix-and-match teas and spices, curry blends, vegetarian spices, herbal teas and hibiscus blends, like cherry hibiscus.

For Museum Finds & Artsy Gifts

Museum and gallery shops have everything from books and scarves to journals, jewelry, candles and more. Several in particular have a lovely array of choices and all boast an enviable selection of gift ideas – especially books created for specific exhibitions, which make for unique presents and keepsakes.

Pérez Art Museum Miami

1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami

305.375.3000; PAMM.org

Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami

61 NE 41st St., Miami (Design District)

305.901.5272; ICAMiami.org

Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami

770 NE 125th St., North Miami

305.893.6211; MOCANoMi.org