Give the Best Gifts This Holiday Season

The most wonderful time of the year is fast-approaching – have you made your shopping list and checked it twice? If you’re feeling stumped by what to gift this year, you’ve come to the right place. We present to you the 2022 Rev Gift Guide, tied neatly with a bow and full of ready-to-shop links so you can support your favorite local businesses and check one more thing off of your holiday season to-do list.  

For the Foodie 

The stomach is the way to the heart, and Ithaca’s thriving food and ag startup scene makes it easy to show your love through a delicious gift this year. Pick one to stuff a stocking, or choose them all for the ultimate innovative Ithaca food tour.  

From Antithesis Foods, Protos are a unique gluten-free snack that combine the crunch and flavor of a chip with the nutritional value of a chickpea, making them your new favorite better-for-you treat. To continue bringing the flavor, consider a gift card to Dos Amigos, a casual Mexican eatery in Collegetown bringing Cali-Mex style tacos and burritos to Ithaca.      

Whether your giftee is Team Dairy or strictly lactose-free, Rev member startups cater to both sides of the aisle. New Rev member and 2022 Grow-NY finalist, Edenesque is crafting artisanal plant-based milks in flavors like Carob Date Maple and Honey Vanilla. Indian Milk & Honey, based in Freeville, New York, creates lassi and ghee in unique, chef-crafted flavors that are made with pure ingredients and intended to nourish and uplift.  

You can also pick up a gift that supports a Rev member startup during your next grocery trip to Wegmans. Wegmans’ Organic Frozen Acai Chunks, supplied by Madeira Trading, are a delicious and nutritious stocking stuffer sure to take your smoothies and acai bowls to the next level.

For the Happy Couple 

What’s better than date night? Treat your favorite newlyweds to a weekend getaway at Firelight Camps for an unforgettable glamping experience to look back on fondly for years to come. Or, put a double-date on the calendar and catch up with old friends in person over a flight of this season’s offerings at South Hill Cider.  

For the New Parents  

For new parents, energy and sleep are both hot commodities. Copper Horse Coffee’s Sleigh Bells Blend will give them the festive caffeinated boost they need during the day, or consider a Copper Horse Coffee subscription for a monthly pick-me-up. Once the sun has set, Head & Heal’s CBN Sleep Oil will help them catch some blissful zzz’s all night long (or at least until the baby monitor goes off).  

For a more personal touch, consider getting them connected with SimpliFed, a telehealth baby-feeding support service that provides parents with a trusted partner throughout the baby feeding journey — whatever that looks like for their family. 

For the Recent Grad 

For recent grads, the world is their oyster – but the world is also likely an apartment that could use some decoration and love! Turn your favorite new grad’s house into home with the help of Rev member startups.  

Give them the chance to flex their green thumb with a rare tropical plant from Florae Collaborative, or head to the Ithaca Commons to pick up cutesy kitchenware, organic bath towels, or cozy blankets at Home Green Home. 

The Teak Smart Cube, the debut product from Rev Prototyping Hardware Accelerator alumni company ReVert Technologies, is another innovative option to consider for the grad conscious of the climate and their utility bill. This AI-powered smart adapter turns different plugged-in home electronics on and off, saving users energy and reducing their carbon footprint without disruption to lifestyle. 

For the recent grad embarking on their first corporate job, check out FocusFlag. This Manufacturing Hardware Accelerator alumni company creates focus tools than can be stuck onto laptops so that users can maximize productivity (and impress their new boss!).

If that doesn’t sound quite up their alley, check out the selection at Head & Heal — the Raspberry CBD Gummies are a fan favorite — or pick up the 2022 Holiday Cider Box from South Hill Cider for a luxurious upgrade from two buck chuck.  

For the One Who Has It All 

We know them, we love them, but what do we get them? For the special someone who couldn’t possibly have room for another patterned tie or adorable coffee mug, consider a donation in their name to Children’s Reading Connection. This Ithaca-based nonprofit is on a mission to put a “book on every bed” this year, and your generosity can help make it happen.  

No matter what you’re gifting this year, the Rev crew wishes you and your loved ones a joyful and relaxing holiday season.