Great Gifts

Shop South Congress for holiday gifts to delight everyone on your list

Check off everyone on your list, all along one street.

Photo by Red Riding Hood Productions

If you're already seeking out holiday lights at The SoCo Stroll, be sure to make a list and check it twice to finish all your shopping at the same time.

You'll find the perfect gift for everyone at the South Congress Avenue Shopping District, from tiny tots to picky parents to that one friend who's impossible to shop for. And to make it even easier, here's a guide to those can't-fail gifts.

For kids
Stocking stuffers get an upgrade from Big Top Candy, "the most amazing candy store the world has ever known." Choose from specialty chocolates and fudge, more than 400 bulk candies, and more than 3,000 wrapped candies, spanning nostalgic favorites to new creations from across the globe.

Little Limbo has witty onesies, unique books, and fun art supplies like sushi and pizza chalk to encourage curiosity and creativity.

Stock up on comic book and pop culture tchotchkes at Monkey See, Monkey Do!, where iconic characters mix with new fan favorites in every form from figurine to book to board game.

Home Slice has more than just terrific pizza — you can also pick up snazzy baseball tees and cheeky child shirts that proclaim "I'm Delicious" or ask "What's Up, Home Slice?"

For Mom and Dad
You're not a true Texan until you've donned a pair of Lucchese, Frye, or Justin boots from Allen's Boots, but pure leather belts and traditional cowboy hats also help make the outfit.

Stock up on smart, cold-weather staples from Billy Reid, whether that means cozy knits, premium denim, or sophisticated outerwear.

Esby is likewise stylish, but in a more bohemian way with men's, women's, and unisex apparel collections.

Used, collectible, vintage, and unique — you'll find all of the above at South Congress Books, which carries a carefully curated selection of first editions and nicely bound volumes for all book lovers (plus original music posters, select artworks, and vinyls).

Four generations are behind Goorin Bros. Hat Shop, known for revolutionizing hat-making. Invest in a fedora or cloche, or get seasonal with beanies and baseball caps.

Stag Provisions for Men is the go-to for classic plaids and timeless corduroy, while Daughters offers apparel essentials for women.

You'll find more gorgeous hats at Maufrais, along with fragrances, jewelry, and home accessories like bowls, blankets, and sculptures.

For your best friend
Parts & Labour is a consignment store featuring handmade work by Texas-based artists, ranging from exclusive apparel to hand-pulled screen prints to artisan jewelry and more.

You won't find chintzy souvenirs in the South Congress Hotel gift shop — instead, choose from exclusive scarf and hat designs or a soy candle made specifically for the hotel by Air Aroma.

Everything from graphic tees to sequin collars awaits at Feathers Boutique Vintage, which also has its own locally made fashion brand.

For that person who has everything
A brass keychain from the Hotel San Jose gift shop is one way to encourage wanderlust, but you can also purchase the duvet covers, kimono robe, and an Eloi collab bandana.

Find Fair Trade and ethically sourced folk art treasures from more than 20 different countries at Tesoros Trading Company.

Triple Z Threadz takes vintage pearl snap shirts and embroiders the heck out of them, along with graphic tees, home decor, fun gifts, and so much more.

One of the largest collections of museum-quality religious and folk art from Latin America can be found at Mi Casa Gallery, guaranteeing a unique addition to their casa.

shopping promoted kids holidays

Willie forever

Willie Nelson receives prestigious honor and inaugural endowment at UT Austin

Photo by Pamela Springsteen

Willie Nelson will receive the LBJ Liberty & Justice for All Award at a gala this spring.

Willie Nelson has earned countless awards for his seven-decade music career, but the legend is also well known for his activism — particularly in the areas of farming and food security. In recognition of his longtime advocacy work, the LBJ Foundation will present its most prestigious honor, the LBJ Liberty & Justice for All Award to Nelson this spring.

The award will be presented at a special gala tribute dinner on Friday, May 12, 2023, which in turn will benefit the newly established Willie Nelson Endowment for Uplifting Rural Communities at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, a part of The University of Texas at Austin.

According to a release, the endowment will fund research and student fellowships focused on sustainable agriculture, eliminating hunger, resilient energy, sustainable water, and natural disaster recovery to benefit rural and farm communities.

Along with Neil Young and John Mellencamp, Nelson organized the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 to raise funds for struggling farmers, which has since raised over $70 million for those who own and operate family farms throughout the United States. He has also helped raise millions around disaster relief, for families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks and for veterans, as well as working toward environmental and animal advocacy, and voting rights. His Luck Family Foundation provides financial grant assistance and other resources to artists, organizations, and programs in need, donating proceeds from Luck Reunion events to Farm Aid and other longtime charity partners like the Texas Food & Wine Alliance.

“Willie Nelson is a national treasure who gained fame through his sheer musical talent and won hearts as someone who truly cares about the lives of his fellow Americans," says Larry Temple, Chairman of the LBJ Foundation Board of Trustees, via release. "A product of rural Texas, Willie has never forgotten where he comes from. His longtime efforts to raise money and awareness for family farmers through Farm Aid and numerous other endeavors to help those in need throughout his career make him a true inspiration.”

The dinner will honor Nelson's lifelong support for rural communities, embodying President Lyndon Baines Johnson's commitment to public service, particularly in the areas of farming and food security. With their similar backgrounds as rural Texans, both President Johnson and Nelson shared a keen awareness of the struggles of those who work in the agricultural industry.

“The bounty of the earth is the foundation of our economy," President Johnson shared in a 1965 Special Message to Congress on Agriculture. "Programs in every aspect of our nation’s life depend on the abundant harvests of our farms.”