Gift-guide season is officially here — the moment anyone working in media outreach has been gearing up for since, yes, July. (We really do start pitching that early.) It’s one of my favorite stretches of the year: months of PR groundwork finally pay off, all the beautiful creative my clients produced gets its well-deserved spotlight, and I get to share a few of my favorite things — from the brands I work with to the Seattle shops I love.

Ekone Tinned Seafood

Ekone is one of those rare gifts that feels both practical and wildly special, whether here in Seattle or really anywhere else in the world. Harvested and hand-packed on Washington’s coast, their smoked oysters, mussels, scallops, and salmon bring pure Pacific Northwest flavor straight to the table. Whether it’s the lemon pepper smoked oysters and curried mussels, they do all the heavy lifting if you have a stock in the pantry for when the time comes. These tins are beautiful for stocking stuffers, cocktail-hour boards, or that friend who loves a “snack dinner” more than a proper meal. They’re smoky, briny, deeply local — and always a hit with anyone who knows good seafood when they taste it.

Hosting at NEB

Tucked quietly into downtown Seattle, NEB is a tiny restaurant and Negroni bar that deserves far more fanfare than it gets. It’s intimate, warm, and effortlessly stylish — the kind of place that makes a holiday gathering feel curated without being fussy. Whether you’re hosting a company dinner, a friends’ get-together, or a low-key seasonal celebration, NEB delivers strong cocktails, thoughtful food, and that “how did I not know about this place sooner?” charm. It’s one of the city’s most underrated rooms, and a perfect choice for people who want a holiday event that feels personal.