If Virginia is for lovers, attendees will certainly fall for these charming (and delicious) reminders of their visit to the Mid-Atlantic.
The entire inventory of Elayne’s Woodcrafts (252.47.5962; www.elayneswoodcrafts.com) is handmade by Elayne Bush and her husband William. He does the woodwork and she paints each lighthouse replica to resemble its real-life counterpart located along the North Carolina and Virginia coasts. Their inventory includes three Virginia landmark lighthouses: Assateague, Old Cape Henry and New Cape Henry. They are available in three sizes, from 3 to 12 inches tall, and the smaller sizes can be used as ornaments. Elayne can handle group orders with advance notice and will ship the items. Groups should order at least four weeks in advance for 50 or more lighthouses.
Created 70 years ago in Maryland, Old Bay Seasoning (800.632.5847; www.oldbay.com) will tickle attendees’ taste buds and remind them of the fine seafood they sampled in Virginia. Still sold in its charming vintage packaging, the seasoning has a classic bold flavor and pairs beautifully with seafood and shellfish, as well as popcorn, chicken, steamed veggies and pizza. Old Bay is available in a variety of flavors.
Founded in 1986 by two Lexington friends, Virginia Born & Bred (800.437.2452; www.virginiabornandbred.com) is eager to work with groups and will design custom keepsake packages to fit a planner’s budget and taste. The Taste of Virginia gift basket is immensely popular as a corporate gift. The basket mimics the shape of the state’s outline, and it is filled with Virginia Diner peanuts, Wade’s Mill pesto beer bread mix, Blue Crab Bay Norfolk soup and Carriage House cheese straws. Their most popular non-food item is pewter cups, which planners can have engraved with custom logos. Other recommended gifts include pewter spoons from an antique mold and trivets in the shape of a pineapple, the Virginia symbol of hospitality. Another option is the Toast to the Tidewater cookbook, filled with tried and true recipes from the Norfolk-Virginia Beach Junior League.
Showcasing talented regional artists, Appalachian Spring (800.763.4293; www.appalachianspring.com) has been selling American-made crafts since 1968. Virginia-based potter Robin Cage handcrafts earthy pieces that are both functional and beautiful, including bowls, mugs and platters. Left Turn, another Virginia studio, creates elegant ballpoint pens and distinctive cigar pens.
A 10 percent discount is available on group orders. As all items are handmade, two to four weeks should be allowed for delivery.
Dedicated to protecting a historic national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (443.482.2151; www.cbf.org) offers a wide assortment of coastal curios to help your guests remember their time on the Atlantic Coast fondly. Their online store features pewter crab mallets made by the Salisbury Pewter Company and artistic wildlife note cards with images of native wildlife such as crab, fish and ducks. Proceeds go toward restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay.
