Well, that’s right, it’s coming up on 1pm on Christmas Eve and you still need to get working on your gifts. We’re here to help. The following suggestions are just a few places you might be able to score a sweet, unique, cool and local gift before the morning.

Cathedral Gift Shop
One of the best ideas for out-of-town relatives is to get some cool only-in-DC kind of gift. No, not one of those ridiculous “FBI” baseball caps or a “You Don’t Know Me: Federal Witness Protection Program” t-shirts that you can get at CVS and which screams, “I’m a lameass tourist! Pick on me!” I mean a unique and thoughtful gift from one of DC’s many historic attractions.

This year, people on my Christmas list are going to be receiving gifts from the National Cathedral Museum Gift Shop. Scarves and umbrellas are boring gifts… except when the scarf is velvet and is embossed with a pattern based on the Cathedral’s Gothic windows, and when the Rose Window shines through the translucent umbrella fabric. The usual supply of Cathedral Christmas ornaments and postcards are there too, of course, but
give those a pass in favor of the unique gargoyles and and stained glass items. For the loved one who is tired of the noisy, shiny crap of an
over-commercialized religious holiday, there are creches from around the world, most of which are fair trade.

Tickets Now
so you’ve waited til last minute? can’t think of that cool gift that your recipient won’t forget? well, if you’re willing to blow your budget, and want to return to the land of oz, grab some wicked tickets (and i do mean wicked) at the kennedy center.

showing from wed, dec. 21st to jan 15th, tickets are sold-out through the center’s site, but are available through ticketsnow or stubhub. you will pay quite a price, my pretty as tickets run upwards of $250-350 a piece; however, you’ll have “peace” of mind that that you’ve got a chance to see a most amazing musical and find out how the wicked witch of the west and glinda the good witch came to be.

14th and S St., NW

The eclectic shops at the intersection of 14th and S Streets NW have saved me from more than one last minute shopping disaster. With Go Mama Go! stocking stylish Asian drinking/eating sets and other items that seem right out of an Eastern bazaar, modish cook/bar/bathware at Home Rule, and the amazing collection of woodcut printed stationary, divinely scented candles/incense, Thomas Jefferson action figures or Queen/Bitch bath products at Pulp – you will never have a present emergency again! You could even branch out and get a plant at Garden District or
treats for that special feline at Pet Essentials.

Then end it all at Sparky’s with a chocolate chai and relax, confident that you’ve not only finished your holiday shopping in style and ease, but also helped support local DC merchants in the process. All in a half-city block. Brilliant.

Target and Flickr

If you’re looking to add a touch of homemade magic to your gifts, go out and get some digital photos today, and then take advantage of Flickr’s partnership with Target to print out any of your Flickr photos at a Target. Nothing says love quite like framed photographs of you, this is a gift even Wayan could love! Cheap, too, at less than 30¢ a print, it’s a real deal.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs