Special Edition: Holiday Season in Hamden*

Beautiful. Diverse. Community.

A guide to the holiday season in Hamden, divided into 5 sections:

1. Great Holiday Gifts @ Hamden Small Biz - Shop Local!

2. *Local* Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Poinsettias, Egg Nog, etc.

3. Hamden’s Specialty Food & Beverage Markets

4. Hamden Bakeries

5. Holiday Season Activities & Events

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Great Holiday Gifts @ Hamden Small Biz

Unique, original, local, community. Take a look at our locally-owned shops offering great gift-giving possibilities. Check out the links below for unique, original, local gift options right here in our community.

• Toys: Evan’s Toy Shoppe, This Toy Life

• Fashion: Hello Boutique, The Barn Boutique, La Moda Fashions, Flirt Boutique, Shoebox by Elsada, SKSupply

• Gourmet Foods & Treats: Bon Appetite, Moon Rock Gourmet Cookies, Sweet Seidner’s Bakery

• Fine Wine & Spirits: Wine 101, Mt. Caramel Wine & Spirits, Cork & Barrel

• Jewelry: Rumanoff’s Fine Jewelry, Conte Jewelers, Ruby’s Jewelers

• Specialty Retail: Books & Co., The Blue Dodo, The Fat Robin, Framed, Mike Ross Photography Shop, Hamden Sport Center, Eastern Pulse, Cheshire Cycle

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*Local* Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Poinsettias, Egg Nog, etc.

No need to go to the “Big Box” stores. Hamden farms and nurseries offer locally-grown, locally-made, locally-harvested holiday options. Click the links below for 7 different locally-owned small business options.

1. Broken Arrow Nursery.

   • 76 years of home-grown Hamden trees. 2 locations/farms in Hamden. Includes the option to cut down your own tree with tools provided/available at the farm. A wide variety of tree types to choose from, plus wreaths & garlands.

2. Joseph’s Tree Farm.

   • Over 25 years of home-grown Hamden trees, including pre-cut trees or the option to cut down your own tree on the farm. Several varieties of trees to choose from.

3. Hindinger Farm

   • Wreaths and farm fresh local Egg Nog

4. Paradise Nursery

   • Trees, wreaths, and home-grown Hamden poinsettias

5. Flowers from the Farm - Schulze Farm

   • Wreaths, garlands, and poinsettias

6. Boy Scout Troop 608 @ Spring Glen Church

7. Boy Scout Troop 600 @ Mount Caramel Congregational Church

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Hamden’s Specialty Food & Beverage Markets

Check out the list of local epicurean markets and boutique shops for specialty foods, groceries, desserts, wines, spirits, craft beers, etc. Each one unique and offering/serving an array of interesting specialty items - local and imported from around the globe. Ideal for those in Hamden who will be hosting (or attending) holiday gatherings, parties, feasts, and celebrations in the weeks ahead. Some unique gift possibilities, too.

1. Number One Fish Market

   • New England seafood direct from the docks. Live lobsters & crabs. Fresh fish & shellfish. Prepared/cooked seafood.

2. Bon Appetite (European)

   • An array of European gourmet specialty foods, cheeses, chocolates, candies, and treats. Freshly-prepared charcuterie and cheese boards and gift baskets. French, Belgian, Swiss, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, Portuguese, British, Greek, and more. A culinary tour of Europe in one boutique shop. Plus fresh-baked goods and desserts from NYC.

3. Lina’s Place (Russian & Eastern European)

   • A variety of imported Russian & Eastern European foods and treats, plus a small deli and selection of prepared foods.

4. Country Food Market (Greek)

   • Imported Greek specialty food products. Homemade Greek baked goods and desserts. Plus a deli and convenience store.

5. Food Star Asian Market (Asian)

   • Sells a wide variety of products and ingredients that originate from different parts of Asia, including from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, or the Philippines.

6. Liuzzi Gourmet Food Market (Italian)

   • Technically the market is a few feet across the border on State Street, but its cheese manufacturing home is right here in Hamden. Imported meats, cheeses, and more from Italy. Plus a huge selection of prepared foods made fresh daily, and an on-site butcher.

7. Sapori D’Italia (Italian)

   • Prepared foods, pizza, deli, baked goods and desserts. Plus some Italian import products.

8. Thyme & Season

   • Celebrating 25 years in Hamden. Local, independently-owned health food store that also offers naturopathic supplements, organic produce, local-made products and fresh, store-made hot entrees & soups.

9. Whitneyville Food Center

   • Neighborhood market with locally-sourced products everywhere. Fresh produce, fancy cheeses, daily desserts, prepared foods, on-site butcher, local bread loaves, and so much more.

10. Local boutique merchants with curated offerings of fine wines, distinctive spirits, and local craft beers: Cork & Barrel, Wine 101, and Mt. Caramel Wine & Spirits

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Hamden Bakeries

With so many holiday parties, gatherings, feasts, and celebrations approaching, here is a look at Hamden’s incredible array of local bakeries. Fresh and famous. Old and new. Diversity abound: Swedish, Colombian, Greek, Italian, American, and more. Pastries, pies, cakes, cookies, donuts, scones, cannolis, fritters, muffins, breads, stuffed breads, etc. Some of them offer gift baskets and delivery as well. Click the links below for more info and menus.

1. The Bread Basket (Swedish)

2. Delicias el Paisa (Colombian)

3. Bread & Chocolate

4. Whitney Donut

5. Country Food Market (Greek)

6. DiSorbo’s Bakery (Italian)

7. Venice Bakery (Italian)

8. Whitneyville Food Center

9. Moon Rock Gourmet Cookies

10. Sweet Seidner’s Bake Shop

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Holiday Season Activities & Events:

In chronological order. Click on any image for more details about each event.

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*Please confirm event details before attending any events listed in this newsletter. Some events require registration prior to attending. Some programs have limited enrollment.

*Community event submissions: thisweekinhamden@gmail.com