Alternative ideas for unique holiday gifts

The person who has everything.

The person who doesn’t want anything.

The mother-in-law.

It’s December again, and Lagunans have begun their annual holiday scuttle to find the perfect gifts for an ever-increasing list of recipients.

For those who choose to avoid the mall and all its inherent woes, there’s a little something for everybody here, from the pure hedonist to the mom looking to start a charitable tradition in her family, whom we will address first.

YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE

Woody’s at the Beach, 1305 S. Coast Highway, will hold its ninth annual Wreath Auction at 7 p.m. Dec. 4. Proceeds from the wreaths will benefit Shanti Orange County. Opening bids will be as low as $25.

For more information, call (949) 376-8809.

The Boom Boom Room, 1401 S. Coast Highway, will host the AIDS Services Foundation Orange County annual holiday party at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5; the event will benefit the ASF’s food pantry.

The $45 admission fee provides an ASF client with about 15 days’ worth of food; the event will feature gourmet holiday cocktails and food, dancing, cowboy Santas and a Christmas carol singalong with Carol Roth.

For more information, call (949) 809-8765 or e-mail myoung@ocasf.org.

The Laguna Beach Girl Scouts will be collecting coats, jackets and gloves tonight for their “One Warm Coat” drive at a booth on the patio of Laguna Presbyterian Church from 5 to 7:30 p.m. They request that only freshly cleaned items be donated; they will be taken to the Resource Center in Laguna Canyon and Saddleback Valley Outreach.

For more information, call Mary Jo Mancuso at (949) 494-0355.

The Woman’s Club will be accepting donations of good used clothing, household items and used toys from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8 at the club, 286 St. Ann’s Drive, to be given to low-income families at its annual holiday party, held that evening at 5 p.m.

For more information, call (949) 499-5518.

The Laguna Resource Center is seeking people to adopt low-income families who live and work in Laguna Beach; adopters assemble a gift box containing toys and clothing for the children and small gifts for the adults; food and gift certificates are also suggested.

To be matched up with a family, call (949) 497-7121.

LOCAL FLAIR

The Laguna Beach High School Holiday Boutique will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school, 625 Park Ave.; they will offer breakfast and photos with Santa from 9 to 10 a.m.; a fashion show at 10:30 a.m.; live music; crafts for kids; food and refreshments and 60 vendors. Babysitting and gift wrap services will be available. The event will raise money for the school’s technology department.

For more information, call (949) 309-1853 or e-mail lbhsboutique@yahoo.com.

South Coast Medical Center Auxiliary’s Annual Holiday Faire is set for 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6 in the hospital lobby, 31872 S. Coast Highway; it will feature designer costume jewelry, artwork, fused glass and jeweled flatware and home-baked treats. All proceeds benefit the not-for-profit hospital’s medical services. For more information, call (949) 499-7177.

The Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach’s annual “tarnished treasures” sale and silent auction luncheon will be at 11 a.m. today at the club, 286 St. Ann’s Dr.

For ticket information, call (949) 464-3040.

Neighborhood Congregational Church will host an “Alternative Holiday Market” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday; the event will give shoppers the option to purchase gifts in honor of loved ones, such as lunch and transportation for the children of a school in Thailand or educational opportunities for girls in Afghanistan and Africa. Fair Trade coffees, teas and chocolate will also be available.

For more information, call (949) 497-2343.

Chabad Jewish Center’s holiday shop, at 30804 S. Coast Highway, is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, and offers a variety of Judaica items including menorahs, candles, dreidels and gelt. For more information, call (949) 499-0770.

Foodies and fashionistas will love the Laguna Culinary Arts and the Gallery of Wearable Art open house, from 4 to 7 p.m, on Dec. 12 at their shops on Laguna Canyon Road, beside the Sawdust Festival.

They will offer samples of desserts and dessert wines, hot apple cider and sparkling wine, and a fashion show of original Dinah Lee creations from the Gallery of Wearable Art.

During the event, visitors can take 20% off clothing and accessories from GOWA, and 10% off wine & cheese purchases from LCA.

Also for foodies, local restaurants are offering specials. The Pasta Pomodoro chain, with its local branch at 234 Forest Ave., will give a free $10 gift card to anyone who purchases a $60 gift card by Dec. 31.

To purchase gift cards, visit www.pastapomodoro.com/gift.htm. For more information, call (949) 497-8222.

THE ART OF GIVING

For those seeking a unique gift, the next Art Walk on Dec. 7 will be rife with possibilities.

The main event will be the exhibition and sale of works at local galleries by students participating in Laguna College of Art & Design’s Professional Mentoring Program.

The students, many of them first-time gallery exhibitors, will display select works for sale; many will only be available that night. Proceeds will benefit the artist, the college and the Art Walk.

Participating galleries are detailed in the Artcetera column on page B6. For more information, call (949) 683-6871.

Laguna Canyon Artists will also open their studios at 3251 Laguna Canyon Road Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests will be able to watch artists at work in a variety of media and find unique gifts while enjoying refreshments; complimentary parking will be available onsite.

For more information, call (949) 376-6432 or visit www.lagunacanyonartists.com.

Sawdust Art Festival’s Winter Fantasy is open for two more week- ends, with 175 artists and real snow to play in, at 935 Laguna Canyon Rd.

The Artists Benevolence Fund Art Auction will be from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Healy House on the Sawdust grounds; the Artful Wreaths II Auction will be at 1 p.m. Dec. 10.

Hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; admission is $5.75 for adults, $4.75 for seniors 65 and up, $3 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for kids 5 and under. A season pass is $9.

For more information, call (949) 494-3030 or visit www.sawdustartfestival.org.

CHAMPAGNE WISHES

Laguna Art Museum will be teaming up with Cole Haan for a holiday reception from 7 to 9 p.m., Dec. 6, at South Coast Plaza; cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be offered, and a portion of all sales made at the event will benefit Laguna Art Museum. RSVP by Dec. 1 to (323) 993-8662 or visit events@lamag.com.

Bling buffs who also love bargains would be wise to check out the new digs of jeweler Adam Neeley, who opened shop in July.

He will host “Champagne Bubbles and Glamour” receptions from 6 to 9 p.m., Dec. 7, and 2 to 5 p.m., Dec. 10.

The shop will offer a complimentary bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne with every purchase during the month of December.

Neeley will showcase five collections during the receptions, including the eponymous signature piece, “Champagne Bubbles,” which was designed with champagne diamonds.

Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry, 353 N. Coast Highway, is open Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, call (949) 715-0953 or visit www.adamneeley.com.

Now go get ‘em!