Happy holidays, Philly geeks!

Every year, we try to put together a holiday gift guide chock full of local gift suggestions. We’re pretty lucky to live in a city where you don’t have to go far to find something truly special for that special someone.

So read on! We’ve got some great recommendations in here for all your holiday shopping needs. Books by local authors, video games by local developers, and more! Have a suggestion that didn’t make the list? Feel free to leave it in the comments!

ONLINE STORES: Shirts, Accessories, Prints



Gearadelphia: We’re big fans of this lil’ local online store. They specialize in a ton of great products for Philly sports geeks and Philly fans in general. Ever want some sort of Philly parody Punch Out! poster? They’ve got that. It’s Little Maclin! – @mikeyil

SOUTH Fellini: Home to some of the very best local t-shirts. Ever see the “Wawa Jawn” t-shirt? How about the Toynbee Tile one? You can find those here. In my opinion, they have some of the very best tributes to our local culture in their t-shirts, tanks, hoodies and even phone cases. These are all from the multi-talented guys who brought you comics like Moon Girl and D.O.G.S. of Mars and the film Alpha Girls. – @mikeyil

Midnight Galaxy Vintage: For the true vintage connoisseur in your life, this Fishtown-based purveyor has every an incredible mix of atomic starburst motifs, stunning pyrex, mid-century modern furniture, and everything in between. The shop was opened 10 months ago by local couple Maria and John, and they have some of the most well-curated vintage finds in Philadelphia. John even makes custom kidney bean tables if you’re looking for something more personal! – @michemakeswords

ART: Woodcuts, Glassware, & Cowls

Philly Love Note’s Custom Cuts: Recently, the fabulous Emma Fried-Cassorla of Philly Love Notes opened up an Etsy shop to sell her fantastic wood/papercut maps of Philadelphia. The designs detail individual neighborhoods, like South Philly, Center City, and Fishtown, to seriously giant maps of the city. They range from $100 to $350, and are deliverable within the Philadelphia region. – @ericsmithrocks

Philly Themed Art by Britt Miller: This year, Britt Miller opened up an Etsy shop, where you can buy original paintings (which range from $100 to $800) to more affordable prints and replicas, including magnets, postcards, and more. She’s also on Society 6, with mugs and mousepads. – @ericsmithrocks

Spriteborne: An online shop full of gorgeous, handmade merchandise, all made by local crafter Jake Vander Ende. Not only does he have laser-etched glassware and shirts, you can also buy an early access alpha of his board game, Yomi’s Gate. He’s also selling handmade meeples, which are awesome! – @toits

Black Heart Letterpress: We probably mention this crew every year, but they create absolutely gorgeous cards and stationary, right here in Philadelphia. Prices vary, awesomeness does not. Because it’s all fantastic.

Locally Run Etsy Shops: Philly is full of incredibly talented craftspeople, and when it comes to geeky gifts there’s something for just about everyone. Whether you’re looking for a hand-knit Katniss Everdeen cowl for a strong female lead, custom bowties made from fabric printed with superheroes, mutant turtles, and Starfleet captains, or whimsical DIY artwork, great local artists and makers have you covered. – @reverendbink

BOOKS & COMICS: Hackers, Slashers, Giants, Judges

The Silence of Six by E.C. Myers: We featured Myers’ latest Young Adult novel here on the ol’ blog not too long ago, and here it is again. Gift the eBook (it’s only $5 you guys) as a present to your friend with a Kindle, or treat them to a gorgeous hardcover. It’s a thrilling read that you won’t be able to put down, and really, no one is surprised. Myers writes good books. Price: $5 – $20. – @ericsmithrocks

Deadout by Jon McGoran: I’ve been a McGoran fanboy for a while now, and even when he shows up at a Geekadelphia event, I’m a little starstruck. And with good cause. His thrillers with Tor Books, Drift and Deadout (released this year), are absolutely incredible. Pick up the sequel for your friend who missed it, or hey, pick up both books. Price: $5 – $20. – @ericsmithrocks

Judge Dread and/or Deadpool vs. X-Force by Duane Swierczynski: Local comic superstar Duane Swierczynski had the latest volumes in his Judge Dread run come out with IDW, as well as the collected Deadpool vs. X-Force. We highly suggest stopping your local comic book shop, like Brave New Worlds, and picking them up. – @ericsmithrocks

Canary by Duane Swierczynski: Okay, okay, last recommendation mentioning the local comic artist / novelist, I swear. Canary doesn’t come out until 2015, but this is his upcoming mystery / thriller with Mullholand Books… and it looks incredible, and is set in Philadelphia! Give the gift of a pre-order to someone special in your family. Price: Varies. – @ericsmithrocks

Andre the Giant by Box Brown: This year, Box took home the Philly Geek Award for his amazing, New York Times bestselling book with First Second. It’s a really beautiful book, with simple, gorgeous illustrations and a story you wouldn’t expect to be so moved by. A must purchase, for yourself and for a family member. – @ericsmithrocks

The Asteroid Belt Almanac: A lovely anthology by local press The Head & the Hand. Full disclosure, I have an essay in this book. But that’s not why you should buy it. Numerous amazing Philly writers contributed to this book, and it really is a joy to read. Maybe skip Chris Wink’s essay though. – @ericsmithrocks

Preserving By the Pint by Marisa McClellan: Hey, we’re not only all about comics and action packed sci-fi here, geeks. Let’s not forget about our favorite local cookbook author, one Marisa McClellan. Her latest cookbook came out earlier this year, and it absolutely gorgeous. – @ericsmithrocks

BOUTIQUES TO VISIT: Vintage in Fishtown, Stationary in Rittenhouse, Geeky Glam in Old City

Omoi: My favorite shop in Philadelphia, several years running. Full of adorable figures, stationary, jewelry, and more. – @ericsmithrocks

Paper on Pine: A recommendation from Karen Gross on Twitter! Just look at these charming, Rocky themed holiday cards. Thanks Karen!

Smak Parlour: The bright pink Old City boutique, Smak Parlour, had one awesome year. Pop up shops around the city, their Fashion Truck making news. Abby and Katie are always up to something, and in addition to plenty of fun fashions, they care a lot of geek chic in their shop. Swing by to browse the necklaces and t-shirts, quirky gifts and more. – @ericsmithrocks

Vix Emporium: Head up Baltimore Ave to this wonderfully charming boutique. They carry a lot of products made by the fabulous Girls Can Tell, as well as other great handmade pieces from Philadelphia artists. – @ericsmithrocks

Scout: This is one of the city’s best resources for eclectic gifts and stocking stuffers, but did you know it also is the home to a plethora of Bill Murray-inspired gifts? From a Thrill Murray coloring book celebrating the actor’s best-loved roles that you can use with Scout’s incredible colored pencils (pictured) to tote bags, door mats and mouse pads emblazoned with an illustration based on Stripes’ movie poster, Scout has the goods necessary to make sure that nobody on your shopping list gets Scrooged this year. – @bionicbigfoots

FOOD: Bake a Cake, Learn to Cook

Image lovingly stolen from Uwishunu

Kermit’s Bake Shoppe: Would you rather buy someone the greatest cake they have ever eaten? Or perhaps you’re just looking for something amazing to wow your friends at a holiday potluck. Look no further than Kermit’s Bake Shoppe at 22nd and Washington. Basically everything they sell is incredible, from their Red Velvet Crumbcake to their Chai Cinnamon Buns. They’re switching out their seasonal Fresh Fruit Tarts for a strawberry rhubarb crumble soon, which means I’m going to overdose on that. They have more than just sweets, too – there’s pizza, soup, and house-made Hot Pockets. YUM. – @toits

Cooking Classes Around Town: If you have a foodie in the family, why not give a gift certificate for a cooking class? There are several local options for the hardcore cook or casual baker. Cook Philly is a unique “collaborative kitchen-classroom” that offers themed classes with many renowned local chefs while Walnut Hill College offers both one-time or several day cooking courses for non-matriculating students. If you have a cake baker in the family then check out Fante’s cake decorating courses. All of the above have gift certificates available now in many denomination to be used toward classes! – @PhillyGeekMary

FUNDRAISING: Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Patreon, & More

Giving Back: Looking to give back, help others realize their dreams, and maybe score some sweet rewards and swag in the process? There are tons of great local Kickstarter and Indiegogo projects out there, many ending soon that are promising rewards by the holidays! Hayley Jane’s album, bison fur socks from United by Blue and books, movies, and games galore. Want to make a lasting impact with a gift that keeps giving through 2015 and beyond? There are great Philly folks looking for support on Patreon, like Geek Award winner Brad Guigar and the Surviving Creativity podcast. – @rperdue

GAMING: Intake & These French Fries Are Terrible Hot Dogs



Video Games Made in Philadelphia: Shopping for that gamer in your life? Philadelphia is home to many brilliant game designers who all deserve your money. Pick up Cipher Prime’s latest game Intake, test your reflexes with Bungle! by Ghost Crab Games, Monsters by QuadraTron, or Orion’s Odyssey by Island Officials. – @toits

Coin Crypt: Looking for even more gaming goodness? Philly Geek Award winner Greg Lobanov’s Coin Crypt recently graduated from Early Access on Steam. The procedurally generated rogue-like has a colorful style and loads pf replayability; guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any gamer on your list. – @rperdue