Coming up with the perfect gift for your loved ones can be difficult, but one option that Princetonians might tend to overlook is the Princeton-themed gift. With its remarkable history, Princeton lends cache to a gift by its name alone. If you’re stuck for ideas this holiday season, consider these uncommon items.
The easiest place to start is probably the Princeton University Store at 114-116 Nassau St. and online at pustore.com. The U-Store has university-themed and colored clothes of all kinds, from golf shirts to exercise gear to toddler sweatpants, not to mention accessories like wallets and umbrellas, phone cases and dog leashes and a wide variety of Christmas ornaments. How about an orange leather-covered flask with university crest ($50)?
Next door to the U-Store, Labyrinth Books (122 Nassau St.; labyrinthbooks.com) has a section of books about Princeton. The attentive staff can help you find what you’re looking for. And make sure to flip to the title page of any book written by a Princeton-area author. Many of them have done readings over the years, and some have left behind signed copies.
A few doors down, Landau’s (102 Nassau St.; landauprinceton.com) is known for its clothing, but don’t forget that you can find Einstein-themed gifts at the Einstein Museum inside the store. Landau’s also has a selection of Princeton-themed books, like Legendary Locals of Princeton by Richard D. Smith. And perhaps you know someone who has everything in his wardrobe except a tiger-striped tie ($45).
Hamilton Jewelers (92 Nassau St.) tempts window shoppers from the sidewalk with its Princeton-themed gifts like a decoupaged wood bar tray with Princeton motifs by artist Annie Modica ($255). A porcelain bowl with illustrations of iconic Princeton buildings on the outside and the Battle of Princeton on the inside is $450. Items are available in the store or online at hamiltonjewelers.com.
Down at 14 Witherspoon St., Small World Coffee has a few shelves of caffeinated gift ideas, including a Small World baby onesie ($17.95), not to mention bags of freshly roasted coffee for the Princeton expats in your life.
Jane Consignment (7 Spring St.; janeconsignment.com) features the works of local artist Jay McPhillips (a framed painting depicting Labyrinth Books is $355) and Princeton scarves by Pamela Kogen ($125). Among Jane’s more whimsical items is a vintage P.U.-themed Budweiser can ($15).
If your special someone loves coffee (but is too old for a Small World onesie), visit The Papery (15 Palmer Square; thepapery.com) for a selection of Princeton mugs (13.95) and coasters ($5.95).
And of course a few doors down at The Farmhouse Store (43 Hulfish St.; thefarmhousestore.com), you will find a variety of Princeton-themed gifts, including artfully designed signs to hang on the wall of your home. One sign in which PRINCETON and UNIVERSITY are spelled out using letters cut out from old license plates is $92.99.
So many Princeton gift ideas are university themed that you might be surprised to learn that one place you can find a non-university gift is at the Princeton University Art Museum, where specially designed Michael Graves coffee mugs, made in Italy, are $75. The architects in your life might like to honor the recently deceased Princeton design icon.
Online at blacksquirrelco.com you’ll find a selection of gifts featuring the town’s (in)famous dark-tinted furries. T-shirts are $24; mugs are $15.
And if nothing on this list strikes your fancy, you can always stop by Sauce for the Goose, the Arts Council of Princeton’s annual art sale, where the work of local artists and crafters is on display. Princeton-themed or not, the items for sale there are sure to be one of a kind. Dec. 5–20 from 10–5:30 (4 on Saturdays). artscouncilofprinceton.org.
The Farmhouse Store in Palmer Square has a variety of Princeton-themed signs available for purchase.,
