All Wellness & Good

Queen Alaffia bags & scarves brighten up the world in at least two ways.

It’s always a bonus when gifting goes beyond the giftee to benefit the world. That’s the case with Queen Alaffia bags and scarves, which offer splashes of wearable color and can be found Next Door. They’re an offshoot of Alaffia, the body-care company born in West Africa and headquartered in Olympia, WA. Queen Alaffia employs women who were formerly involved in the sex trade in Togo, and sales from the handmade, one-of-a-kind bags and scarves provide workers with ethical employment and fair wages. (What’s more, Queen Alaffia scarves and purses will be 20 percent off on Wednesday Stag & Doe Nights in Chestnut Hill — which might free you up to contribute some cash to Alaffia empowerment projects. See alaffia.com/donations for info.)

If someone on your list could benefit from a better-smelling environment, consider presenting them with a diffuser from Spa Room, also available Next Door. Models include the Aromafier Classic, the Scentifier and AromaScape. 

Meanwhile, Across the Way has gotten a fresh injection of fun on its shelves thanks to a delivery from Archie McPhee, the novelty kingdom based in Seattle. You can find everything from stocking stuffers like Instant Underpants to goofy ornaments to a unicorn-head squirrel feeder. Less wacky but still fun are games for kids of all ages, including Yamslam, Ring It! and Battle Sheep.

The Deli Dispatch

A chunk of local goodness from the Farm at Doe Run.

‘Tis the season to put out the good stuff for family and friends who visit. Deli Managers Matt Budenstein (Chestnut Hill) and Shawn O’Connell (Mt. Airy) suggest Bathed In Victory Hop Devil, a raw cow’s-milk fromage washed in beer brine from Chester County’s Farm at Doe Run. The beer, by the way, is Victory Hop Devil from Downingtown. Need a second choice? Cheeseheads Matt and Shawn also like Doe Run’s Hummingbird, a sheep-and-cow’s-milk cheese similar to a robiola. It has a thin rind and a buttery, herbaceous, milky-sweet flavor.

Bulk & Beyond

Delectables of the season from Marich. And blends for spicing your cider.

There’s no shortage of chocolate goodness from Marich of Hollister, CA, all year long. But this time of year, there are a couple of extra-special treats that find their way into Incredible Bulk bins in Mt. Airy, including chocolate cranberries and triple chocolate toffee. They bag and ribbon up well, and of course, you’ll want to taste a few yourself to make sure they’re the right thing. Marich uses only Fair Trade cocoa.

With chilly weather hitting us, there are folks yearning for mugfuls of warm beverages, including apple cider. Knudsen, Wildwood and Simply Organic mulling blends are now available in packages upstairs to dress up that drink. With dashes of cinnamon, anise, cloves and citrus peel, they’ll nudge out the Grinchiness and make room inside for a splash of holiday spirit.

Goings on in Grocery

The Hill has a sleighful of sweet treats that are sure to please.

What’s your go-to taste of the season? Eggnog? Gingerbread? Peppermint? Chances are you’ll find it featured in the holiday goodies in either store. Here’s a sampling of stock in the Hill: Oebel stollen, Taza chocolate bars and Mexicano discs, Valentino pumpkin spice panettone (and the original version from Bella Famiglia), dark- and milk-chocolate gelt from Divine and Anthon Berg mini chocolate “bottles” filled with fan-favorite liqueurs. 

There’s plenty more where those came from — for now. Once holiday products are gone, they usually can’t be reordered. So if you see something, pick it up now. Hee haw and Happy Holidays from all of us.