Heirloom-Quality Ceramics From Osa Atoe Pottery

Osa Atoe, who lives and works in Sarasota, makes one-of-a-kind pieces that honor the legacy of African ceramicists who created pots for sustenance, ritual and community. Atoe releases work in drops, and her December collection launches tonight at 8 p.m. on her website (talk about great timing). These are pieces you'll have and love forever—just look at this teapot. Prices start at $125, potterybyosa.com

Embracing Our Differences Tote Bag or Beach Bag, Made From Recycled Exhibition Banners

Another unique, you'll-only-find-it-in-Sarasota gift: a tote bag ($40) or beach bag ($75) made from recycled Embracing Our Differences exhibition banners, which appear every January on the downtown Sarasota bayfront. Hand-sewn by Denver's Esperanza Productions, which provides jobs for individuals facing challenges such as addiction, incarceration, homelessness and immigration complications, each piece includes a tag with information about the original artwork and how to learn more about Embracing Our Differences. Get yours by emailing Christina Fraser at [email protected]; the pieces will also be available at Embracing Our Differences' exhibition grand opening on Sunday, Jan. 19.

'Tour De Coffee' From Banyan Coffee Roasters

Got a caffeine-loving friend or family member who'd be happy if coffee was running through their veins? Be their hero with Banyan Coffee's "Tour de Coffee." Each order includes three coffees from different areas of the world, roasted right in Banyan's Bradenton shop. Choose from 5-pound, 2-pound or 12-ounce bags of coffee, pick your preferred grind and select your delivery frequency (one time, monthly or biweekly). From $16, banyancoffeecompany.com

Hilma af Klint Playing Cards From the Sarasota Art Museum Gift Shop

The Sarasota Art Museum gift shop is a gem, especially if you're searching for a unique item. Take this deck of Hilma af Klint playing cards—they're a little stocking stuffer that will make a big impact on the art lover in your life. Klint, a prolific Swedish artist, created abstract, geometric work in bold colors and free-form shapes as visual representations of her spiritual experiences. Now widely considered to be some of the first pieces of the abstract art movement, Klint's forward-thinking, avant-garde works are only just beginning to get the recognition they deserve. $16 at the Sarasota Art Museum gift shop, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 309-4346, sarasotaartmuseum.org

Vegan, Gluten-Free Treats From Grounded Gourmet

The holidays can be hard if you've got food allergies or dietary restrictions, when butter and flour practically become one with the air we breathe. Enter: Nikki Kostyun's Grounded Gourmet, which serves vegan, gluten-free snacks and treats like vegan cheese logs, rice crunch bars, fudge, ice cream, candy bars and more. Best of all: They taste great. Sign up to get menu and ordering info here.

A Native Plant From Florida Native Plants Nursery & Landscaping

Our local vegetation—and the pollinators that rely on it—took a major hit from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Replacing damaged plant life with Florida native wildflowers, shrubs and bushes—like milkweed, goldenrod, ferns, sea grapes or beauty berry—is a show of optimism for our region's resilience and recovery. The team at Florida Native Plants Nursery & Landscaping, which has been in business since 1982, will help you choose exactly the right one for your home. Prices vary by plant, 730 Myakka Road, Sarasota, (941) 322-1915, floridanativeplants.com

Infused Raw Honey Flight From Sarasota Honey Company

Hurricanes Helene and Milton pummeled homes, commercial buildings and cars, and they also caused major damage to bees and their hives. Sarasota Honey Company not only cares for local bee colonies, harvests honey and holds educational classes for the community, it also employs people with special needs to help make its products. This infused honey flight—featuring coffee-infused honey made with Sarasota's O & A coffee, hot honey and cinnamon and vanilla bean infused honey—is perfect for a gourmand who also loves to support a good cause. Find Sarasota Honey Company products inside The Bazaar at Apricot & Lime or order online. $36, 821 Apricot Ave., Sarasota, sarasotahoney.com

Jasmine and Driftwood-Scented Basen Blé Candle From Èbonaiti

It may be December, but we burn tropical-scented candles year-round in Florida—like this one from Èbonaiti, a local company run by mother and daughter Lynn and Laurie Thomas. Èbonaiti combines the words "ebony" and "Haiti," referencing the family's Haitian heritage, and the products aim to invoke the spirit of island life. Basen Blé (blue basin) is named for a popular tourist spot in south Haiti, and it's scented with jasmine, sea salt, rose, coriander and driftwood. We can practically feel the tropical breeze. Find it and other scents in the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition gift shop in the historic Leonard Reid House. From $10, 2529 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota

A Tiki Mug From the Bahi Hut

The Bahi Hut is a Sarasota institution, known for its legendary (and insanely strong) mai tais and beloved by everyone from CEOs of multimillion-dollar companies to college students. While a 2019 renovation cleaned up the formerly smoky bar, its appeal is still as strong as ever, and now you can even buy Bahi Hut merch: Hawaiian shirts, postcards and—our pick—tiki mugs and coconut cups. Limited-edition mugs from the bar's 2024 Tiki Fever festival, which took place right between Hurricanes Helene and Milton, are available for $125 and make a one-of-a-kind gift for the Bahi lover in your life. A Sneaky Tiki mug, meanwhile, is based on another popular Bahi Hut beverage and is on sale for $19. Cheers! 4675 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 355-5141, bahihut.com

A Surfboard from Compound Board Shop 

A big gift for the surfer in your life, who'll love you forever if you surprise them with a board from Sarasota's Compound Board Shop. Compound carries handcrafted, American-made boards from brands like Bing, Catch Surf, FireWire, Seafarer, Slater Designs, Sharpeye, Tomo and Odysea, plus all the accessories and gear you could ever need. The knowledgeable, friendly team is happy to walk you through your purchase—and while you're there, ask if they've got any more of their limited-edition hurricane relief T-shirts in stock, which support local recovery efforts. Prices vary, 3604 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota, (941) 552-9805, compoundboardshop.com 

Have you heard of the Icelandic tradition of  jólabókaflóðið? The word translates to "Christmas book flood," and it gained traction after World War II, when paper was one of the few items not rationed in Iceland, creating an uptick in book-giving that continues to this day. We love the idea of giving books as gifts and especially supporting local bookstores like Bookstore1, Shelf Indulgence, Sarasota County's Friends of the Library store at Selby Library or A. Parker's Books and Book Bazaar. Pick a favorite title, wrap up a banned book or buy a gift card and let the recipient loose in the stacks.

Striped Reclaimed Fabric Napkins From Rabbit Rabbit

These cheerful striped cocktail napkins by Atelier Saucier, available at Rabbit Rabbit in the Rosemary District, are a classy upgrade for a linen drawer or a great start to a new collection. Made in small batches in Los Angeles from 100 percent premium reclaimed fabric, we love them as a hostess gift or a little treat for yourself for making it through 2024. $32 for a set of four, 1361 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, rabbitrabbitsrq.com

A 40-Minute Infrared Sauna Session at Perspire

We can all agree it's been a stressful year, right? Between back-to-back hurricanes, a contentious election season and the general stress of being a human in the world, we deserve a break. So why not give the gift of a 40-minute infrared sauna session? Unlike ultraviolet rays, which have shorter wavelengths that can damage the skin, infrared radiation is a safe and beneficial way to generate warmth from within and de-stress in a calm, quiet environment. You'll sweat, you'll relax and hopefully some of that stress will melt away, too. Pricing starts at $20 for new members, with single sessions and membership packages available. 4924 S. Tamiami Trail, (941) 413-1174, or 309 N. Cattlemen Road, Unit 2, (941) 413-3331, perspiresaunastudio.com

A Bottle of Bubbly From Michael's Wine Cellar

What's more festive during the holidays than a bottle of Champagne? Whether you're a wine newbie or a grape aficionado, the team at Michael's Wine Cellar can help you select a bottle that fits your taste and your budget. You'll find big-name (and big-price) bottles like Veuve Cliquot and Dom Perignon alongside lesser-known producers—and no matter what, you'll leave with something that'll make your soirée sparkle. 1283 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 955-2675, shop.michaelswinecellar.com 

A Membership to One of Our Local Museums or Attractions, Plus an Item From Its Gift Shop

Our beloved arts and cultural institutions have had a rough year. Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in funding for the arts in June, and the Sarasota County commission nixed grants to three arts organizations a month later. Then, of course, came the hurricanes, which caused damage and flooding to The Ringling, Mote, the Van Wezel and more, forcing them to close for costly repairs and miss out on even more revenue. In a city known for its arts and culture, we love the idea of giving day passes or memberships to the institution of your choice as a present, along with an item from its gift shop. (Think: an orchid from Selby Gardens, an exhibition catalog from The Ringling or an otter plush toy from Mote.)