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.

Thousands of shoppers will deck the halls at the 2016 Nutcracker Market.

Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market 2017 at NRG Center

Photo courtesy of Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market

Thousands of shoppers will deck the halls at the 2016 Nutcracker Market.

shopping

Unhappy holidays

Porch pirates swipe nearly $2B in packages from Texas homes this year

Porch Pirate Person in Glasses Steals Packages

Getty Images

The Grinch isn't the only one stealing Christmas these days.

’Tis the season for porch pirates. If past trends are an indicator, the Grinch will swipe close to $2 billion worth of packages delivered to Texas households this year, with many of those thefts happening ahead of the holiday season.

An analysis of FBI and survey data by ecommerce marketing company Omnisend shows porch pirates stole more than $1.8 billion worth of packages from Texans’ porches last year. Porch pirates hit nearly one-third of the state’s households in 2024, according to the analysis.

Omnisend’s analysis reveals these statistics about porch piracy in Texas:

30.1 million residential package thefts in 2024.
An average household loss of $169 per year.
An annual average of 2.9 package thefts per household.

“Most stolen items are cheap on their own, but add them up, and retailers and consumers are facing an enormous bill,” says Omnisend.

Another data analysis, this one from The Action Network sports betting platform, unwraps different figures regarding porch piracy in Texas.

The platform’s 2025 Porch Pirate Index ranks Texas as the state with the highest volume of residential thefts, based on 2023-24 FBI data.

Researchers at The Action Network uncovered 26,293 reports of personal property thefts at Texas residences during that period. The network’s survey data indicates 5 percent of Texas residents had a package stolen in the three months before the pre-holiday survey.

The Porch Pirate Index calculates a 25.8 percent risk of a Texas household being victimized by porch pirates, putting it in the No. 5 spot among states with the highest risk of porch piracy.

The Action Network included online-search volume for terms like “package stolen” and “porch pirates.” Sustained spikes in these searches suggest that “people are actively looking for guidance after something has happened. Search trends serve as an early warning system, revealing emerging-risk areas well before annual crime statistics are released,” the network says.

Tips to avoid being a victim
So, how do you prevent porch pirates from snatching packages that end up on your porch? Omnisend, The Action Network and Amazon offer these eight tips:

Closely monitor deliveries and quickly retrieve packages.
Schedule deliveries for times when you’ll be home.
Use delivery lockers or in-store pickup when possible.
Ask delivery services to hide packages in out-of-sight spots outside your home.
Install a visible doorbell camera or security camera.
Coordinate deliveries with neighbors or building managers if you’ll be away from your home when packages are supposed to arrive.
Request that delivery services hold your packages if you can’t be home when they’re scheduled to come.
Illuminate the path to your doorstep and keep porch lights on.

holidays porch pirates crime