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By Mary Boyle

​We've all been there: the panic that sets in when the clock is running out and you still haven't found the right gift, realized you forgot someone on your list, or just couldn't get a moment to get out and shop until the bitter end.  Heading to a big box store may seem like the most convenient option, but there are so many amazing local and independent businesses in Oz just waiting to help you!  Supporting local businesses and organizations is the gift that keeps on giving: the money you spend at these places not only stays in our community, but oftentimes helps to support important organizations that make Ozaukee and the greater Ozaukee area so unique and wonderful.  Read on, and find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list!

For the Foodies

Oz is home to some really great restaurants, and a special dinner out could be a lovely gift.  Try Fork & Tap, The Steerage, Plier's Full Circle Pub & Restaurant, or Twisted Willow in Port; Cedarburg has Brandywine, The Stilt House, The Anvil Pub or The Farmstead.  Messina's in Saukville is a good bet, or try No No's in Newburg.  The Stillery in Grafton is a good option, or head down to Mequon and check out The Highland House, the St. Paul Fish Company, or Cafe 1505. A CSA Subscription is another great idea!  For those looking to find unique products or spice up their entertaining, you simply must visit Frannie's Market in Cedarburg, where you'll find items for a fabulous charcuterie board and so much more!

For the Nature Lovers

Oz is home to two amazing nature preserves:  Riveredge in Newburg in the north and Mequon Nature Preserve in the south.  Memberships to both offer access to trails and programming, but also help support environmental restoration and education in Oz.  Besides memberships, Riveredge has a Visitor's Center full of great gifts for the Outdoorsy person in your life, including the syrup they make onsite each spring.

For the Art Lovers

The art community is strong in Oz, and there are a variety of places where original artwork of all kinds can be purchased.  In Cedarburg, try the Cedarburg Art Museum, Cedarburg Cultural Center, or the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts gift shops, but memberships to these organizations also make great gifts. In downtown Cedarburg, you can find local art in many of the gift shops, including Bohemia, the Pink Llama Gallery, and within the Shops of Cedar Creek Settlement.  In Grafton, look no further than the NSAA Arts Mill, where a wide variety of treasures await.  In Port Washington, try the Purple Turtle Artisan Collective or the brand new Mercantile Plaza.

For the Coffee Lovers

If there is one thing the Land of Oz has aplenty, it's good coffee shops.  Gift Certificates are great, of course, but most also offer t-shirts, mugs, and other fun items to show your coffee shop pride.  In Port, there's Java Dock Cafe or Banjole's Brews inside of Lakeside Music & Naturals; in Grafton, we have AM Coffee, NSeven, and Colectivo (also in Mequon); in Cedarburg, there's the Cedarburg Coffee Roastery and Java House.  There is no lack of caffeine in Oz, people.

For the Pet Lovers (and pets!!)

Oz is home to a bounty of wonderful, independent and local places to shop for the pet or pet lover in your life!  In Port Washington, check out One Wag on the corner of Franklin and Jackson St. downtown, which specializes in natural food and nutritional support for your pets.  In Saukville, there's Dawgs In Motion, which has day camp, training classes, a pool, a shop, grooming and more, or Pet Supply Port, which has been in Oz for over 25 years.  In Mequon, try the Feed Bag, which also offers a pool and grooming, as well as a selection for pets beyond dogs and cats.  In Cedarburg, try Landmark Supply, which has been serving the critters of Oz for over 150 years!

For the Beer & Wine Lovers 

Oz is home to a number of breweries, and there are a few winery options, as well.  In Cedarburg, there is the award-winning Cedar Creek Winery, Sunshine Winery and Chiselled Grape Winery, but Cedarburg has two breweries, as well: Rebellion Brewing and The Fermentorium.  In Port Washington, try Inventors Brewpub or Vines to Cellar.  In Grafton there's Sahale Ale Works, or check out Foxtown Brewing in Mequon.

​For those who love to wander through Gift Shops and be inspired...

Sometimes, you just want to wander around and see what might jump out at you, or have someone in the know who has the time to help you find the perfect gift.  If that's you, you could just start at one end of downtown Cedarburg and finish at the other (pay particular attention to Lillies, Weeds, Bohemia, From the Heart and the Cedar Creek Settlement), but Cedarburg isn't your only game!  In Port Washington, try Pear & Simple, Eclectic Avenue, Lakeside Music & Naturals (which has all types of goodies for the musicians in your life, too), Artisan Market (formerly The Shoppes of Port Washington), Port's Cozy Corner, or Locally Inspired.  In Grafton, you must check out Wild & Precious Boutique, and in Mequon you can't go wrong with Creatively Yours.  Finally, in Thiensville, try Frankie's - A Gift Shop.

For the Jewelry Lover

Armbruster Jewelers in Cedarburg has been around since 1884, so you really can't go wrong, there; however, if you're lakeside, check out Sharbuno Jewelers in Port Washington, another family business that has been serving Oz since 1950.  Mequon's East Towne Jewelers boasts over 30 years of business, which is certainly an accomplishment, as well.  Cedarburg has several more unique and boutique shops that may also serve you well, such as Pagoda Fine Jewelry, Wyndrose Fine Jewelry or Jewelry Works.

For the Outdoor Sports Enthusiast

Snowboarding, skiing, cycling, kayaking, skateboarding, and more! Check out Sherper's in Port Washington, or Cedar Creek Outdoors in Cedarburg, Extreme Ski & Bike in Thiensville, or ERIK'S in Grafton.  Surfing on Lake Michigan?  You bet!  Try the Board Shack in Port.

Candy and other Sweet Treats 

On the lookout for candy, the perfect chocolate Santa, or maybe just something to satisfy your holiday sweet tooth?  Oz has you covered!  In Port Washington, you must visit The Chocolate Chisel for some of the best hot chocolate and ice cream in Oz, as well as amazing chocolates.  In Grafton, Sweettrio or Handmade with Love is the place to go for candy, chocolates or caramel apples.  In Cedarburg, you have your choice of Amy's Candy Kitchen, which is known for their caramel apples, or Ashley's Confectionery, which is a great place to find vintage candy and M&M's by the color, as well as chocolates.  No trip to Cedarburg is complete without a stop at Boulangerie du Monde which is, in my humble opinion, the best bakery in the State of Wisconsin. In Mequon, you must visit the Cocoa Tree Confectionery (and, if you have a great sense of humor and aren't easily offended, follow them on Facebook for some weekly laughs;)! 

For the Kids (and Kids at Heart)

When you're shopping for children, to place to buy toys in Ozaukee County has been the Cedarburg Toy Co. for the past 12 years; however, owners Zach and Natasha Loos recently announced that this will be their final holiday season; they closed their doors due to low inventory this past weekend. Word on the street is that there are new owners to take over the business after the holiday season, which I certainly hope is the case.  Cedarburg would not be the same without this delightful little shop.  

If you have a gamer in your life, you'll definitely want to stop at Game N' Repair in Belgium, where you can find new toys and collectibles, game systems and games, or get almost anything repaired, including your mobile phones!

​The important thing to remember about gift giving, especially this time of year, is not to buy stuff just to buy stuff.  Slow down and try to really be present with people.  The gift of your time is one of the best things you can give.  As a theatre lover, I can strongly recommend the gift of a night out at one of the many area theatre companies, which you can find on our #EditorOfOzReviews page.  That being said, when you do want to give something, consider giving a gift that gives back to our community and buy local this holiday season.  

By Mary Boyle
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Once upon a time, most of the fresh food available for purchase at the grocery store or market was produced locally; the systems simply did not exist to transport fresh food economically, so fresh produce was mainly limited to what could be grown nearby. In Wisconsin, with our long, cold winters, this meant that farmers had to know how to extend the growing season, as well as how to store produce properly so that it could be utilized until spring finally arrived. What couldn’t survive fresh was preserved in a variety of ways, either by individuals, the farmers or, as time went on, companies that specialized in canning food. This was why, when my mother was a child in the 1950’s, getting an orange in the toe of your stocking on St. Nick’s at the beginning of a Wisconsin winter was a treasured treat. Were we able to beam ourselves back fifty years to a local grocery store, most of us would be shocked at how little choices were available for fresh produce, especially in the dead of winter.

The availability of cheap oil gradually changed our local food systems into a global one. More vehicles needed good roads, which went on to replace the trains that were once the only way for food to travel long distances (and only food that could survive the trip). Eventually, even airplanes became an economical option and, with speed like that, we can now find fresh raspberries and tomatoes grown in Mexico or South America in vast produce aisles in the middle of February in Wisconsin. The convenience and availability are so commonplace, we are no longer aware of what a luxury it is…or what the real costs are, not just in the quality of the food, which is often picked long before ripeness, so it travels well (or is even bred to be sturdier for travel), nor in the environmental cost caused by more vehicles on the roads and planes in the air burning more fossil fuels, but also in the gradual loss of local food systems.

The need for redeveloping a year-round market for local food has become more obvious as we witness the disruption in the supply chain caused by environmental, political, and economic upheavals: the farther our food and other products must travel, the more likely it is that the supply will be disrupted.  A community that solely relies on food produced outside its borders will not fare well should those outside systems be disturbed, be it from a pandemic, natural disaster or some other event we haven’t happened upon, yet.  Furthermore, we have already seen how the price of oil affects the cost of goods that must travel long distances to reach us; this isn’t really an issue when the product isn’t something we actually require, such as the latest smart phone or a particular brand of shoes, but it is not impossible to imagine a time when food that must be transported could become too costly.  

Ozaukee and the surrounding area is blessed to have a number of long-running and popular outdoor Farmers Markets between June and October, offering the opportunity to purchase food and other goods straight from the producer, which benefits the consumer because they’re able to know exactly where and how the food is produced, and benefits the producer because it allows them to get more profit for their goods than they can by selling it wholesale to grocery stores, restaurants or other wholesale buyers outside of the community the food is grown in.  The end of October has, in the past, meant the end of the local food season; but now, as demand for local food grows, indoor Farmers Market opportunities have also grown which, in turn, encourages producers to use methods to extend their season and goods, such as using cold frames and hoop houses, or preserving their harvest by freezing, canning, or dehydrating.

For several years, PortFish, Ltd., a local aquaponics outfit in Port Washington, ran the indoor Port Washington Winter Market out of the local Congregational Church, which was then taken over by Jennifer Sapiro and went on to be sponsored by Port Washington Main Street in 2018. During the 2017/18 season, they began to alternate the market between the American Legion/Inventors Brewpub and the church, and quickly learned that the new venue was a huge hit; the Winter Market has been happening there ever since, though it has been outdoors when possible, or order online and purchase pickup when it wasn’t, over the pandemic. This year, the Winter Market runs two Saturdays every month through March.

The Winter Market is no longer the only local food game in Port, however; the DreamPort Harvest Market, a venture by Dream Apple Farm (read the story here), is open every Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. with local food from their farm and other farms throughout Ozaukee and nearby communities.

Another local food option that became available thanks to the pandemic is the Ozaukee Area REKO Ring.  Founded by Venessa Quiñones in April of 2020, the REKO Ring allows local food producers to put their offerings into Facebook posts on the group's site where members can then place their orders.  Pick ups are on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. in Grafton at the Blain's Farm & Fleet parking lot. 

Now is also a great time to consider buying a CSA share (or, consider giving one as a gift for Christmas!).  CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, which is when a person buys a share of the harvest before it is grown or produced so that the farmer has the funds upfront to begin planting, as well as a guaranteed customer. Appleland Farm Market and Willoway Farm (which also offers a fresh flower CSA) in Fredonia, Winterspring Farm (formerly Wellspring) in Newburg and Rare Earth Farm in Belgium are all excellent places to support.

Convenience and availability are hard to ignore, of course, so we are extremely lucky to have a dedicated, year-round grocery store that is committed to local food in Oz, which is the next best thing to buying direct from the farmer: the cooperative Outpost Natural Foods in Mequon.
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Ozaukee Living Local was born out of the local food movement in Ozaukee County to promote local growers and to connect the community with them; we continue to take this part of our mission very seriously. Did we miss someone? Let us know! Most importantly, please commit to buying as much local food as possible, as well as buying other products that are locally made. The money you spend on local food and goods stays local and contributes to the building and strengthening of our local economy – a process called relocalization – which makes our community more resilient, more connected, and less susceptible to the highs and lows of the global market. This is a mission we can all get behind.