Hill Gift Guide: The Hill Fanatic

Here at The Hill is Home we are all about Hill pride.  Shocker, right?  We are also all about doing our holiday shopping on the Hill.  Sure, you can just shop online and have everything delivered to your house, but why not give some holiday cheer to our local merchants as well?  Online or in the stores, here are my top picks for the Capitol Hill Fanatics in your life.  You have to know at least one or one or two…

Let’s start with the newest and coolest Hill merchandise – The Hill is Home gear!  Mugs, shirts, water bottles, messenger bags, aprons…even shirts for your dog.  Buy one for your roommate to remind him or her where to get the latest local news or restaurant scoop.

How about a Hill t-shirt?  DC Tees, has an awesome t-shirt that we used as our team shirt for last spring’s blogger skeeball tournament.  They sell a great line of DC-themed shirts at the Eastern Market Flea Market on Sundays.  They have shirts for other neighborhoods as well, a really cool map of the DC neighborhoods, and some DC-specific designs.

Another local designer, Jon Wye (who happens to be a Hill native) has this entertaining shirt depicting breakfast at the Capitol…alien style.  He also has a great selection of handmade leather belts, dog collars, wallets, and more.  His designs are really neat and the quality is amazing.

For the Hill-trotting dog, stop by Metro Mutts for a Hill Hounds leash and collar.  Or go to Hill Hounds’ online shop for a range of shirts and bags.  Because a Hill dog is way more bad ass than, say, a Georgetown dog.  All proceeds go to Hill Hounds, a small, volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based on Capitol Hill that is the partner of Kingsman Field Dog Park.

Let’s not forget the Hill baby!  Stop by Dawn Price for a Capitol Hill hat, t-shirt or hoodie for the little one.  Stylish and showing neighborhood pride before she can even walk!  They carry toddler sizes too, so kids of all ages can show off this look.  I think it’s perfect for any playdates in VA, MD, or NW.

We also recommend a THIH onesie, teddy bear or bib for your favorite Hill baby.  We offer a few different logos and designs to choose from, and welcome suggestions for new taglines!

For carrying home your purchases, why not pick up a Capitol Hill tote bag?  This lovely bag, courtesy of CHAMPS, shows off designs from students at our area schools.  You can get one at Monkeys’ Uncle, Hill’s Kitchen, or Frager’s. You can also get one included in your Buy Local campaign membership, which is only $30 now through December 31.  Holiday discounts all around!  What do you get with your Buy Local Card?  Learn more here.

3D Capitol Dome, Assembled by Judy Thomas (Labyrinth employee) and her boyfriend, Christopher Yates. (Ovechkin Bobblehead not included)

How about something that pays tribute to that lovely building that gives our neighborhood our name?  You can get a Christmas ornament from the US Capitol Historical Society, a capitol-shaped cookie cutter from Hill’s Kitchen, or a Capitol Dome Crystal Cake Plate?  And I’ve got to say, the 3-D puzzle of the Capitol Dome (pictured right) from Labyrinth would be a great Christmas Day family project!

So go forth and shop, supporting our great local merchants while showing some Hill pride. And stay tuned for our next set of holiday shopping guides — we have everyone on your list covered, as do our local stores.