Our Favorite Things

'Tis the season to shop new finds, old favorites at Nutcracker Market

When it comes to the Nutcracker Market, there are some universal truths every shopper knows.

The decor and furnishings at Paul Michael Company reminds you that your house is not Chip and Joanna Gaines-approved, the Donna Di Domani marinara sauce always goes fast and the cinnamon-infused air and Christmas carols immediately evokes the holidays — even if it’s still 80 degrees outside.

Every year though, there are new vendors added to the party mix. It’s not easy to become a Nutcracker Market vendor and many wait their turn before getting to stake their claim on the red carpet. Below are some fresh faces to Nutcracker and a couple of favorites that are fun standouts.

Twisted Wares

You can hear the laughter before you ever get to the Twisted Wares booth. Owner Missy Livingston brings her slightly irrelevant and totally humorous take on life and projects them on kitchen towels, makeup bags, T-shirts and banners.

A Seattle transplant, she and her family moved to McKinney, Texas, after losing everything in the recession. What Livingston thought would be a disaster turned into a tremendous opportunity. Her patent-pending Hang Tight Towel loop design allows for a towel to be used and stay put. The sayings like “Cluster Fork,” “Grater Gonna Grate,” and “I Love You More Than Biscuits and Gravy” are punny reminders not to take things so seriously.

French Laundry Home

French Laundry Home from High Point, North Carolina, brings home decor and gifts to the market that are suitable for the holidays and beyond.

Owner Debbie Jones created French Laundry Home after being inspired by an idea to reproduce fabric created more than 100 years ago on hand looms. To prepare for the Nutcracker Market, Jones and her team of local artisans cut, sewed and printed all the items by hand. They got it all done in three weeks.

Paris Texas Apparel Co.

Paris Texas Apparel Co. isn’t new to Houston or lots of other locations in Texas, but it is the company’s first year at the Nutcracker Market. Witty Texas humor and well-made ties, T-shirts and other Lone Star items are available at Paris Texas Apparel Co. and it’s a great place to pick up gifts for guys.

Loredana’s

This Nutcracker Market favorite from Denver was on a slight hiatus the past two years, but has returned with its ridiculously delicious selection of marmalades, tapenades, tapenade-style spreads and vinaigrettes. Do not leave without at least trying the Tartufo spread. The blend of Winter Truffle & Marinated Asiago and Parmesan Hard Cheese is a snack-sized revelation.

Kitty Keller Designs

’Tis the season to decorate the tree, but Kitty Keller Designs ornaments are pretty enough to leave up all year long. The selection of handcrafted cloisonné ornaments ranges from college, sorority and fraternity-themed to destinations like New Orleans and New York City.

The Nutcracker Market runs through Sunday, Nov. 13 at NRG Center. Tickets are $20 at the Nutcracker Market, but only cash is accepted, so either plan in advance or use the on-site ATM. Discount tickets are available at Randall’s stores or online through Ticketmaster.

Kitty Keller Designs ornaments are hand-painted works of art.

Kitty Keller Designs

Kitty Keller Designs ornaments are hand-painted works of art.

shopping

telling stories

Black-owned Houston bookstore opens new home in historic Third Ward space

Kindred Stories bookshore Eldorado Ballroom

Photo by Craig D. Lindsey

Kindred Stories has moved to its new location.

Even though its grand reopening will be held this Saturday, May 17, Third Ward bookstore Kindred Stories has already begun a soft opening at its new location inside the Eldorado Ballroom at 2310 Elgin Street.

Since September 2021, the Black-owned bookstore was located on Stuart St., one of many businesses that came to life thanks to Project Row Houses’ Incubation Program. Last year, the nonprofit informed Kindred and the other business that they had to vacate their premises at the end of this month to allow new businesses to occupy the spaces.

Thankfully, Kindred already had its eye on the Eldorado location, next to neighborhood eatery The Rado Market (which has a collection of cookbooks curated by Kindred). It’s a space previously held by Hogan Brown Gallery, which abruptly closed in December. “I had caught wind that this space might be available,” Kindred founder/owner Terri Hamm tells CultureMap.

Hamm turned the moving process into a fun little event for her and her loyal customers. “Last Tuesday, we invited about 20 of our top community members that, you know, are always in the store and have really supported us all of the year,” she says. “We packed up all the books in the space in an hour and, then, we moved everything in an hour. So it was like the beautiful way to close out that space in the midst of the community that has really supported us throughout three-and-a-half years there. And we spent the last four days kind of unboxing and just getting all set up.”

Hamm says the new location is certainly roomier (around 1200 square feet) than their previous spot, which was only 450 square feet.

“There's more room to just spend time in the store,” she says. “I feel like that's the ideal bookstore experience, when you can go in and really take your time. I feel like in the other space, it was so small, people kind of felt like they were in a rush.”

Although Kindred is open and ready to welcome anyone looking for Black-and-proud literature, Hamm insists they’re only 90 percent done. More light fixtures need to be installed. Plants and furniture have to be brought. They even have custom-made wallpaper that needs to be installed.

“So, we have a few little things that need to happen,” says Hamm, “And, then, I feel like the space will be really, really ready – probably in another six months.”

In the meantime, it’s business as usual. This month’s calendar of events includes various appearances from authors as well as a couple of book clubs. Hamm is looking forward to new bookworms coming in and discovering what Kindred Stories has to offer.

“The bestsellers are selling,” she says, “But I feel like, in this space, people are going to get to discover a lot of under-the-radar titles, just because there's more space to see the books and explore.”

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