Neat SHOPS
Your local, feel-good holiday shopping guide
Gifts that give back are the only way to go this holiday shopping season. Creative Portland shops and businesses have dreamed up so many inspiring and generous ways to help others this year, we can’t help but want to shop local and spend money on things that will benefit people in need, children, pets – even chimpanzees and baby raccoons!
Here’s a look at the city’s best benefit shopping (clothing, jewelry, art and gifts) so we can all feel good giving and receiving this year.
Mabel and Zora – This trendsetting Pearl District boutique will donate a percentage of all December sales to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Shop for jackets from Trina Turk (right), party dresses from LA Made and Sweet Pea, jewelry and more to benefit the children’s wish-granting organization. 748 N.W. 11th Ave.; 503-241-5696. www.mabelandzora.com
Lizard Lounge – House label Horny Toad Clothing invites customers to donate gently used clothing at Goodwill locations nationwide (or to Lizard Lounge ?in the Pearl) throughout December, then leave a comment about the experience at hornytoad.com and save 15 percent on new Horny Toad clothing, including cute cotton dresses. 1323 N.W. Irving St.; 503-416-7476. www.lizardloungepdx.com
Crave Portland – Shop the Holiday Cravings party for fashion and gifts, and 50 percent of proceeds from $20 VIP ticket sales will benefit the American Cancer Society. 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 9? at the Bison Building, 419 N.E. Tenth Ave.; 504-747-3681. ?www.craveportland.com
Sole – Save on Portland’s hottest shoes, jewelry and accessories throughout December when you bring in cans of food for Oregon Food Bank. Donate five cans and save 10 percent on any single item, or donate 10 cans to save 20 percent. 1033 N.W. Couch St.; 503-222-SOLE. www.4mysole.com
Saks Fifth Avenue – Shop in store or online with Saks Gifts for a Cause and proceeds from select items will benefit select charities. For example, $2 from every sale of children’s book Twinkle Twinkle Little Flake will benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. 850 S.W. Fifth Ave.; 503-226-3200. www.saks.com
Grand Central Bakery Cafes – Grand Central is decking the walls of its six Portland bakery cafes with colorful artwork and handmade tapestries by women of rural Weya in eastern Zimbabwe, Africa. All of the art is for sale, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the Zimbabwe Artists Project (ZAP), a life-saving nonprofit organization founded by Portlander Dick Adams, a retired Lewis and Clark College professor of sociology. www.grandcentralbakery.com
Cupcake Jones – Every Tuesday, this sweet bake shop will donate 10 percent of proceeds from cupcake sales and orders to a different charity, including DePaul Industries, Metropolitan Family Service and more. 307 N.W. Tenth Ave.; 503-222-4404. www.cupcakejones.net
Buffalo Exchange Coats for Cubs – Come to any Buffalo Exchange now through Earth Day (Thursday, April 22), and bring any real or faux fur clothing or accessories to benefit The Humane Society of the United States. Donations of fur apparel, trim and accessories (hats & gloves) will be used as bedding to provide comfort for orphaned and injured wildlife. ?1036 W. Burnside, 503-222-3418; ?and 1420 S.E. 37th Ave., 503-234-1302. Read The Neat Sheet’s Coast for Cubs article here.
Michael Allen Harrison Benefit Concert – Popular Portland pianist Harrison will perform a benefit concert at The Old Church to benefit DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital, 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. 1422 S.W. Eleventh Ave. Order your DoveLewis + Michael Allen Harrison benefit concert tickets here.
Santa Paws – Fetching pet photos make a fantastic gift, especially for pet-crazy Portlanders! Bring your pet to sit for a photo with Santa, and proceeds will benefit DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 5 at ASA Flats Lobby, 1200 N.W. Marshall St.; or 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9 and Wednesday, Dec. 16. at Bridgeport Village, 7455 S.W. Bridgeport Rd., Tigard. www.bridgeport-village.com
Hotel Fifty and H5O bistro & bar – Purchase handmade ornaments from the tree in the lobby of Hotel 50 through Thursday, Dec. 31, and $5 from every purchase will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon. The ornaments were made by students from The Goddard School and Prune Hill Elementary, both in Camas, Wash. Also, H5O bistro & bar (inside the hotel), will hold a canned food drive now through Monday, Dec. 30 to benefit the Oregon Food Bank. Patrons will receive a $5 dining credit for every five non-perishable food items donated, including canned meats, vegetables and fruit, canned or boxed meals, peanut butter, canned or dried beans, pasta, rice, cereal and 100 percent fruit juice. 50 S.W. Morrison St.; 503-221-0711. www.hotelfifty.com
Laughing Planet Cafe Endangered Chimpanzee Benefit – Dr. Sheri Speede, a former Beaverton veterinarian, will speak about her work rescuing chimpanzees at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, which she founded in Africa’s Republic of Cameroon in 1999. Benefits from December sales of chimp T-shirts, hats and beer (yes, you heard right, BEER!) will benefit the rescue center. The event is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16 at Laughing Planet, 4110 S.E Woodstock Blvd.; 503-788-2921. Read more Laughing Planet Chimpanzee Benefit coverage on The Neat Sheet.
Kiehls Handcare for the Cure – In support of AIDS awareness, the renowned New York City apothecary and its Portland location will donate 100 percent of sales of its limited edition Hand Care for a Cure hand salve to amfAR to help fight HIV/AIDS. 712 N.W. 23rd Ave.; 503-223-7676. www.kiehls.com
Russell Street Holiday Festival – Portland’s ever stylish Icon Tattoo will host a day-long festival and benefit shopping party on Saturday, Dec. 5 from noon to 8 p.m. Shop the handmade bazaar, enjoy Gingered Mint cocktails, music and more, plus free goodie bags for the first 50 guests, courtesy of The Neat Sheet and generous local merchants. 100 percent of sale and drink proceeds will benefit p:ear, Portland’s homeless and transitional youth. www.icontattoo.net
Our little bulldog, Tulip, will be getting her photo taken with Santa this Saturday! We’ve got our holiday outfit all picked out!