Local Geek Gift Ideas – Movie Edition [Geek The Halls]
Sweet Gorilla of Manilla! I’m running out of time to share local geek gift ideas!
Here’s a last minute list put together at the last minute by yours truly:
For Movie Geeks:
Sacrifice
A locally made low-budget monster movie. My favorite kind.
Give your friends the gift of watching army people (and that one chick from Remember The Titans) talk about going down into a cave and awakening a monster.
The payoff happens when said monster does in fact awaken, and then destroys Phoenix, AZ.
Movie Posters by Victor Moreno
Does your movie-obsessed gift-recipient enjoy movie posters, but you don’t want to get them some standard studio poster?
Victor Moreno has made some pretty sweet posters of some great movies – most of them horror, but not all.
They could definitely spice up the usual movie room.
Harkins Gift Bows
Not a gift, per se, but these bows made from movie reels could be really cool to put on your movie-ish gift to someone.
Plus they use the funds for kids programs.
Membership at The Royale
For cult movies, anime, Japanese films, and otherwise obscure geektastic action, The Royale is your theater.
Get someone a membership if you really love them. Monthly to Yearly options for your budget.
Check out the rest of my locally made geek gift ideas.
And please feel free to share if I missed anything:
Comment, shoot me an email, say something on Facebook, or tweet me on Twitter.
Local Geek Gift Ideas – Steampunk Edition [Geek The Halls]
Gather ’round, chrononauts, for some steampunk gift ideas brewed up right here in our very own wild wild west!
(Okay, that’s as hokey as this post will get, I promise.)
Check out these creators and see if you can find something unique and local to share this year.
Antickquities Steampunk Accessories
Behold this Tucson artisan’s Victorian accessories, which swap out the ubiquitous “gears from clocks” and use clock hands instead.
Her hair picks look pretty snazzy, and I’ve heard her tree ornaments are selling like crazy.
Collage-O-Rama
I’m not sure how to describe these, but I kinda love them.
It’s almost like someone took some LOL Cats, erased the slogans, sent them back in time, printed them out on paper torn from a dictionary, and framed them… kinda.
Oh just check them out, they’re great, and they’re from Tucson.
Mystic Pieces
This Phoenix local makes some very fun clockwork jewelry.
Her little bugs are especially cool, but I do have a slight bias towards the octopi.
She also has some swanky little steampunk cuff links.
Mantecoza
Mantecoza is a locally made steampunk web series. Production may be delayed, but that doesn’t mean their shop is closed.
It’s always a pleasure running into a Mantecoza booth at conventions or art walks, because they tend to share their “villain,” “lady,” “good,” etc, buttons.
Just a smattering of effects on their store right now, but pick something up if you want to support the show.
Spaceboy Robot
You need to check this guy’s stuff out if you like retro steampunk robots of any kind.
Jordan makes loads of them, and they’re all pretty brilliant.
He even made me one a while back.
There doesn’t seem to be anything on his Etsy site right now, but I know he sells them at Red Hot Robot in Phoenix.
And, Of Course, Local Shops
Don’t forget you can keep most of your money local by shopping at the local geek havens around town.
Stay tuned for more locally made geek gift ideas.
And please feel free to share if I missed anything:
Comment, shoot me an email, say something on Facebook, or tweet me on Twitter.
I was also going to mention buying someone tickets to next year’s Wild Wild West Con, but it’s been canceled – though they’re claiming 2013 is a go.
Local Geek Gift Ideas – Gaming Edition [Gifts]
Shall we showcase some more locally made gift ideas? We shall.
This week, I’m sharing what I’ve found that might appease the endless hunger for gaming that your potential gift recipients may enjoy – all made here in The AZ.
Take a few minutes and visit their online stores. You may find something unique, fun, and local to give.
Iconica
One of my favorite things to do after opening presents is to play any new games with family.
Iconica is an indie fantasy card game made here in Arizona that’s easy to learn, inexpensive, gorgeous, and fun.
Swing over to their Etsy store to pick up a starter deck and have fun!
Pixel Paradise
Maybe the person you’re shopping for grew up in the non-HD gaming generation that I did.
If so, they may have the same fond memories that I do of Saturdays wasted on classic 8bit and 16bit action.
Pixel Paradise by “Mel The Office Gamer Girl” has tons and tons of these little things. I ran into her at Devastation and they were selling like crazy.
The MiniBosses
I loved these guys as a teenager, before I even ventured into The AZ. I only found out they were from here a few years ago, and have seen them live since then.
If you’re looking for something for a music junkie that also loves the original NES system, these guys are perfect.
They’re latest album, Brass 2, just launched the other day, and it has one of the greatest album covers ever.
(I’m a Metroid fan.)
Evil Controllers
These guys do custom x-box controllers and what-not. I believe they also mod them, etc.
Some of their jobs look pretty sweet. Check them out if you’re shopping for a big x-box fan.
Orbit Rocket Race 5000
One of my readers let me know that her husband made a board game, described as a “gateway game” to the increasingly popular field of “Euro-style” boardgames.
I don’t know much about it (here’s a review), but it’s for sale at The Game Depot in Tempe, and also online.
And, Of Course, Local Game Shops
And don’t forget you can keep most of your money local by shopping at the local geek havens around town.
Places like Gamers’ Inn & Empire Games (tabletop gaming, etc), and Game Zone in Gilbert (old school video games, Japanese imports), are excellent shopping grounds for geek gaming glory.
Stay tuned for more locally made geek gift ideas.
And please feel free to share if I missed anything:
Comment, shoot me an email, say something on Facebook, or tweet me on Twitter.
