A Few Gift Suggestions

When I was pulling together events yesterday, I noticed plenty of events have different prices for members and non-members. It reminded me that I think that I think museum memberships are a great gift request, especially if you have relatives who want to get stuff, stuff, and more stuff.

If you become a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers, you can get free admission to plenty of other member museums through the Passport Program. We love this! Become a member of, say, CMOST, New York State Museum, or the Schenectady Museum, and you’ll get benefits at museums in Boston, New York City, and plenty of other locations.

I’ve said before that I suggest the Steamer 10 pass, which buys you ten tickets to Steamer 10 shows for $90. You can use them with one huge group at a single show, or break it up and use it for a bunch of shows within a year. They have kids’ shows during the December, February, and spring breaks as well as a variety of other family-friendly shows throughout the year.

We recently started getting New Moon Girls magazine at our house, and I love it. More important, both girls are reading it. Of course I’m a huge fan of their recent Girl-Caught campaign, too.

Of course, if you like to go shopping (which, as you know, I don’t), here are some suggestions:

Head to a local museum. The Albany Institute of History & Art is having their Gift Fair and Family Festival this weekend. The New York State Museum is having its annual Chocolate Expo & Holiday Gift Market next Sunday December 4th.

I love this Better World Shopper that’s been making the rounds on Facebook.

GeekMom has a huge, info-packed post on gift-buying alternatives, local suggestions, and spending guides.

Last year All Over Albany provided a last-minute local shoppers’ guide.  Scroll down to the end, and you’ll see links to several posts about locally-made items for sale on Etsy.

Mamatoga has a holiday and local gift guide.

So, anyone have other gift suggestions? Oh, or here’s a question: for people who have kids younger than yours, what do you wish that you’d gotten years ago? I wish we’d bought a sturdy red wagon. Fun and useful in so many ways.