For the boozehound: Moonshine (well—the legal kind) has become one of the hottest new cocktail ingredients as of late, and the new book, Moonshine Nation by Mark Spivak has married the history of the hooch with old timey and modern recipes for the perfect home-bartender gift (Lyons Press; available at most book retailers) … Huckleberry Market is selling adorable Holiday Gift Boxes, which include sipping chocolate, coffee, an air plant in a clay pot, and pretty napkins all tied with a bow and snuggled within a birch box ($65; huckleberrymarket.com for ordering) … stop by Lincoln Market at 496 Broad St. in SLO for delicious local cheeses, beers, wines, honey, cider, olive oil, and more. With these regional ingredients at your fingertips, you can craft your own SLOcal gift basket that both supports local artisans and delights folks, too.

Chilly happenings

Morro Bay’s Merchant Street Faire is kicking off Dec. 23 featuring fine foodstuffs, arts and crafts, dancing, Santa Claus, and more (Morro Bay Blvd.; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) … On Dec. 19, catch Prez Washington in concert at Asuncion Ridge Vineyards in Paso Robles (no cover charge; visit asuncionridge.com for details) … Paso Robles’ DAOU Vineyards will host a holiday shopping event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 19 with live music, lip-smacking pairings, and holiday wine pricing ($25 to $33 per person; email [email protected]) … On Dec. 29, bring your favorite tot to Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Association’s annual Victorian Teddy Bear Tea, where kids hang with their favorite stuffed animals and dine on juice, cookies, and holiday treats (call 238-4103 for reservations; $7 for kids under 12, and $15 for adults).

Sweet life

Cake or death: Purveyor of local cake-pops, cupcakes, and more, SLO’s Honeybee Cakery is offering hands-on classes throughout December and the new year, including a Dec. 19 Holiday Sugar Cookie Class and a Dec. 20 Grown Up Gingerbread House class (all classes held at The Bunker; 810 Orcutt St., SLO. Check out thecakestress.com for sign-up information) … For your holiday guests: Trader Joe’s shoppers are noticing a new seasonal treat on the shelves, “Cookies Beyond the Pail,” inspired by the Danish town of Solvang. The festive buckets showcase images of windmills, and inside you’ll find a full pound of chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, almond bar, and vanilla pretzel butter cookies. Yum! ($5.99 per pail; limited production, so get and gift yours before they’re gone forever.)

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