Holiday shopping is well underway, but there's still plenty of time to find the perfect treat for your loved ones (or yourself).

This year, the long-awaited Dayton's Project opened with 35 vendors including Great Grandmother Mary Lyons and her ribbon skirts; Winona LaDuke and her CBD and hemp products; and Rocky Robinson and its body products for Black and Brown girls. Online shoppers should try Urban Rooster Shop, a new site aggregating Minnesota brands, or Sovereign Collective, which brings international goods curated by St. Paul local Molly Hanten and celebrity Kelly Rutherford.

We also got the scoop on tried-and-true favorites from Twin Cities musicians Bad Bad Hats, Kiss the Tiger, jeremy messersmith, Miloe, and DJ Abilities (we forgive him for moving to Milwaukee).

And if you still don't have ideas? There's always Mall of America.

For thrifting, clothing, or otherwise

Bad Bad Hats members are fans of Succotash, which focuses on mid-century modern finds, and the Mall of St. Paul, which has antique kitsch (drummer Connor Davison alluded to a mermaid lamp). Meghan Kreidler, lead vocalist of Kiss the Tiger, recommends the upscale June, Legacy, and B. Resale, as well as Savers.

"I love shopping secondhand for several reasons," Kreidler says. "One, it's a more environmentally friendly way to shop. Two, it's like treasure hunting, and I love that feeling of finding something really special amidst a sea of stuff. Three, all of these stores are curated (except for Savers), so each of them has a unique personality."

Messersmith also thrifts, but when he does buy new, he makes sure the items are well made, such as his Red Wing boots from BlackBlue. "I will die before those shoes die," he says. "I save up and get two or three pieces a year, and after a decade or so, you've got a pretty good collection of well-made stuff."

For the music

The Twin Cities are bursting with record shops like Electric Fetus, Down in the Valley, Urban Lights, Hymie’s, and Cheapo Discs. As Bad Bad Hats multi-instrumentalist Chris Hoge says, "I like getting music. Gift cards to the Fetus — something that lets me explore music." To that end, messersmith's suggestion of a personalized playlist is fitting, too.

For music hardware, check out Twin Town Guitars. "I feel like when I'm in there, someone comes in looking to buy their first guitar or for their child, or someone's going for a lesson, but I also always run into our friends in the music scene there picking up fresh strings or checking out a synth or something," Bad Bad Hats lead vocalist Kerry Alexander says. "It does a good job at catering to musicians at all levels."

Other gift ideas include handmade guitar straps from El Diablo Amps & Guitars, wacky instruments, a recording microphone for an aspiring artist, and concert tickets.

For something unique

When you don't know exactly what you're looking for, meander to I Like You or Rock Paper Scissors Goods. The former has a bounty of items from independent artists and includes KFAI's MinneCulture Mixed Tape, irreverent cross-stitch prints, and Minnesota-themed shirts. Rock Paper Scissors has a similar vibe and also features music records and art classes.

For more whimsy, Kreidler recommends Kari Lee; Lee's delights include bright blob ornaments, felt Cheez Itz, and cartoon shrimp earrings. If you're looking for jewelry with a minimalist aesthetic, try Larissa Loden, another of Kreidler's favorites. Etsy, of course, has a bit of everything, and is one of Miloe's go-tos if he's not making something himself.

Shop for bibliophiles at Magers & Quinn — messersmith's recent reading list includes the climate-focused "Ministry for the Future" by sci-fi writer Kim Stanley Robinson, "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" by Ocean Vuong, "Goldenrod" by the poet Maggie Smith, and the Tao Te Ching. Gifts for comic lovers, on the other hand, can be found at the Source, as can tabletop games like Relic and Talisman, two of DJ Abilities' favorites.

And don't knock contributing toward a larger item: Abilities, for instance, is dreaming up his next ink at Uptown Tattoo.

For the food

Even though DJ Abilities has lived in Milwaukee for the past decade and a half to be with family, his enthusiasm is overflowing for our local and regional food scene. Think pizza from Young Joni, Cosetta, Carbone's, and Davanni's; the nostalgia of Grand Ole Creamy; Martina's lobster pasta; and Parlour's mac and cheese. (There may have been extra affinity for Parlour because the menu's design was the design of his and Eyedeas' "First Born" record.)

While Abilities explores eateries with his friends, for the holidays, you can also give a gift card. "The only way those types of places succeed is if everyone relies on each other," Abilities says. "If we want quirky places, we have to support quirky places."

For beyond the holidays

In line with the holiday spirit, consider supporting a cause through finances, service, or advocacy. Miloe is passionate for People Serving People, which serves those experiencing housing insecurity, and messersmith brought up the similarly focused Simpson House.

Miloe says, "It's getting really cold, and more and more people are left without housing as we continue to experience the economic fallout of the pandemic and increasing wealth inequality. Giving to programs like this [People Serving People] helps increase the amount of resources people have access to this winter."

Arts organizations such as Juxtaposition Arts and Theater Mu, Pangea World Theater, and Pillsbury House Theatre were also top of mind for Current artists, and national organizations such as Meals on Wheels can provide both sustenance and holiday cheer for those who cannot leave their homes.

This feature is part of The Current’s 89 Days of Winter series, helping you enjoy the best of the season with weekly guides to events, entertainment, and recreation in the Twin Cities.