Presidio Motel Makes It Easy to Shop Local

For most, the holiday season comes with its fair share of stresses, from figuring out how to shop smart to navigating the bar at your annual office party. And while we can’t hold your hand (or your hair) through the latter, we’ve definitely got a solution to the former: the Presidio Motel’s first-ever Deck the Halls holiday pop-up shop. The ultra-hip State Street stopover has made a name for itself in recent years, first launching its annual summertime craft and vintage fair, Jill of All Trades, then unveiling its own awesome year-round boutique, the Supply Room. For Deck the Halls, though, proprietors Kenny Osehan and Chris Sewell are going one step further.

For one night only, the Presidio will turn all of its 17 rooms into mini pop-up shops, featuring S.B. artists, vendors, and musicians, as well as a small handful of independent designers. All the fun starts this Saturday, December 4, at 5 p.m. For info, call 963-1355 or visit thepresidiomotel.com/blog, and for some holiday goodie highlights, read on below.

1. Shop Local: If you’re looking for potential presents, Deck the Halls is your one-stop shop. Need super-cute clothes for your lady? Selections from Jennifer Phillips’s new line, Lavender Sky, will be available for purchase. How about some handmade leather goods for your man? Santa Barbara’s Make.Smith will be unveiling his latest collection of wallets, luggage, and pouches. Also up for grabs: Golden Path Alchemy’s locally grown and produced skin care line, Kat Trajano and Stephanie Mansolf’s custom-made wall decals, and Laura Devendorf’s amazing hand-drawn greeting cards. And that’s just for starters.

2. Get Your Groove On: If music’s on your wish list, then you’re in luck. Inside the motel, S.B. newbies Warbler Records & Goods will be selling (and spinning!) vinyl, and Simone Rubi (of Rubies fame) will be peddling handmade lamps and bumping the tunes. And outside, resident rockers Paper Swords and Gardens and Villa will providing the live-action amplification.

3. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: No good shopping party is complete without libations, and Deck the Halls has got ’em in droves. For starters, organic-minded caterer Om Sweet Mama will have delectable treats up for grabs. In the beverage department, State Street coffee gurus the French Press will be on hand to dish up custom caffeinated creations in one room, while our beloved Mercury Lounge ’tenders concoct some scrumptious signature cocktails a few doors down. We’ll cheer to that!