People can debate whether it’s better to give than to receive, but the worst option is inarguably planning to give and then realizing you forgot to get anything. Fortunately, procrastinators at the George Washington University have plenty of options. If you’re not going to be able to paint your mom’s portrait or knit your baby nephew a sweater on the plane, read on for a small selection of gift-shopping possibilities on and near campus.
GW Bookstore
801 21st Ave., NW
Open Mondays to Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and weekends, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
$5 and up
Parents and grandparents generally appreciate a new way to brag about you, so GW attire, mugs, stickers and holiday ornaments are a safe bet for stuffing family stockings. But you may not realize just how many gift options are available on the lower level of the University Student Center, from Hydroflasks and Lululemon for the friend who’s always in athleisure to gender-neutral “Be Kind” gear from the Phluid Project for the comfy pal who thinks outside the binary. (Or for the Harry Styles fan, if you don’t have time to wait for that life-size cutout to be delivered.)
George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum
701 21st St., NW
$25 and up
The museum’s newly revamped Artisans Gallery is more than your basic gift shop. Featuring six textile traditions from around the world, in some ways the Gallery is a conceptual extension of Textiles 101, the museum’s lower-level interactive exhibition on the basics of textile construction and decoration. Visitors can weave a chunk of thick yarn on a giant-size loom, then walk up one flight and see what a master craftsman can do with the same essential technique.
Educational merit aside, the Gallery offers gorgeous home goods, clothing and art books—plus every item is certified fair trade, sustainable, handmade and culturally authentic. At the higher end, moms and mentors will be gaga for Indonesian silk batik scarves and bright fabric necklaces (designed in partnership with the museum's Director of Retail Operations Chabrina Williams, herself an artist). But there are also options for sophisticated givers on a lower budget, like a set of four block-printed napkins from India that’s an under-$30 knockout for the dinner-party host on your list. Plus, GWorld cardholders get 15 percent off all items.
Western Market
2000 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
$5 and up
You know what everyone likes? Food. If your giftee lives on campus, they can probably find a cuisine to suit them at Western Market. Many of the food hall’s dozens of vendors offer gift cards, including Arepa Zone, Duke's Grocery, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, Capo Deli and PAUL. (We’ll take one for Roaming Rooster, thanks.)
White House History Shop
1610 H St., NW
Open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$5 and up
The White House Historical Association’s official retail outlet is just a few blocks from campus and is a one-stop shop for history buffs and political junkies. Of particular interest to collectors are the annual ornaments, which each year are designed to honor either an individual president or a significant White House anniversary.
Renwick Gallery Store
Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street, NW
Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
$10 and up
Like the Artisans Gallery, the Smithsonian’s Renwick offers unique goods that marry artistic cachet and popular appeal. We love this vibrant Kira Nam Greene print ($24) for anyone with wall space.
Georgetown
OK, this one might be cheating. But there are just too many good reasons to hop on the Circulator—or the D6, if you’re coming from the Vern—and take the 10-minute ride to D.C.’s most distinguished neighborhood for destination retail. Reliable chains offer plenty of options for a last-minute Secret Santa or White Elephant, including Paper Source (3019 M St., NW), Nike (3040 M St., NW), Anthropologie (3222 M St., NW) and Sephora (3241 M St., NW). For big-ticket items that won’t look last-minute, wow your special someone with a soft and sustainable cashmere piece from NAADAM (3003 M St., NW) or high-end skincare from Aesop (3275 M St., NW).
But for seriously special gifts at a range of price points, it’s hard to beat Made In D.C. (1304 Wisconsin Ave., NW), which features talented local makers of everything from baby onesies to beard oil. There’s nothing amateur here— the featured jewelers, ceramicists, beauty gurus, painters, candlemakers, chefs and many, many more are stylish masters of their various crafts. You can even learn from them: A gift certificate for one of Made in D.C.’s many classes is a great gift for artsy locals.
For the would-be art collector, an upstairs gallery at the Georgetown location also features one-of-a-kind pieces by local creators, including this one by Made in D.C. instructor and Corcoran School of the Arts and Design alumna Beth Hansen.
