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Overview
Started making those Christmas pressie lists yet? If it seems like a hectic task, remember where you live, y'lucky thing. All throughout December, you can head to one of Sydney’s many village centres, grab a coffee from your favourite barista and mosey around a bunch of local independent shops, scoping out beautiful, handmade and bespoke presents.
Whether your local hangout is Paddo or Pyrmont, Glebe or Green Square, you’ll discover all sorts of unique, interesting treasures. In Paddo, for example, there are books galore at Ariel and Berkelouw, gorgeous millinery at Neil Grigg and Hatmaker, and items dreamt up by Australian designers at The Intersection — think Ellery, Josh Goot and Rachel Gilbert.
Meanwhile, head to Glebe for a rummage at the Saturday morning markets, to Sappho for books (and a glass of vino shopping break!) and artwork at the Glass Artists’ Gallery or the Inner City Clayworkers Gallery.
While you’re at it, you’ll have a chance to win a $2000 shopping voucher. The City of Sydney is running its annual Best Window Competition again, all you have to do is photograph the best-dressed shop window you see on your travels and post it on Instagram, using the tags #sydxmas and #bestwindow. A judging panel, made up of Megan Morton, Jules Sebastian and a City of Sydney Business Precincts rep, will decide the winning photo, the criteria being creativity, photography quality and authenticity. Meanwhile, the business with the best window will score a $2500 voucher courtesy of Red Balloon.
Entries close at midnight on Tuesday 22 December, so get shopping.