Take in our 2012 Holiday Gift Guide:  Local, Artistic, and Fun

We are in it.  It’s the countdown of the holiday shopping dash.  You are breaking out in cold sweats just thinking about moving through crowds on Michigan Avenue, or even just a simple food pickup at Jewel.  It’s a dance to get through the crowds, and even harder to be civil.  Okay, it’s simple…don’t go out.  Seriously, stay at home, wait for the storm to pass, and emerge victorious with your gifts that give experiences to all without the headache of fighting the crowds. 

Here are some great holiday gifts that give the gift of experience, support local artists, and allow you to hibernate for just a few more days before emerging to a beautiful surprise. 

In no particular order, we present TUTA’s 2011 Holiday Gift Guide Round-Up:

Crafty Broads is a resourceful business spawned by a couple of stage manager/costumer designer types that put all of their crafty and creative theatre skills to great use.  They specialize in two things:  Custom Clothing and Stage Managing your wedding (also known as wedding planning/coordination).  Here’s the best part, as a special holiday gift to TUTA’s supporters, they are offering a 5% discount on any custom clothing order (exludes material costs) OR a free, 90-minute Budget Strategy session (regularly priced at $75).  Just mention TUTA when you contact them!  You can check out more about these crafty ladies at www.craftybroads.com.

TUTA Theatre Chicago is not only celebrating our 10^th Anniversary season, we are writing and creating our own show for the first time.  Fulton Street Sessions is going to be a truly dark, twisted, musical, and truthful production that could only be cooked up by the same folks that have brought you creative shows like Tracks and Rules for Good Manners.  Opening on February 23^rd, gift certificates are now available for this wild ride.  You can also make a donation in someone’s name to help TUTA reach our year-end goal before December 31^st, 2012.  We’ve got just 30% more to go! 

Urban Orchard has a simple slogan:  Eat Fresh, Live Healthy.  Pretty smart stuff coming from a place that is dedicated to having fresh, high quality food available every day.  This exciting new addition to Andersonville boasts a large selection of farm fresh produce and homemade products from local and dedicated artisans of the Midwest.  Not only do they bring in top quality food, but they also serve up Metropolis coffee in a no nonsense café that always has free wi-fi.  Some of TUTA’s favorite items include B True Bakery treats, Milo’s Farm free-range eggs, and Rare Bird Preserves.  For more information go to myurbanorchard.com.

Happy Holidays from all of us at TUTA!