Have yourself a merry local Christmas

Why not fill your loved ones' stockings with gifts from small, locally-owned businesses?

As of Wednesday, December 12, 2012 -2:02 p.m.

Want to get the people on your gift list something unique this year? Why not try something from one of Central New York’s many locally-owned businesses? To get you started, here’s an A-to-Z primer, with descriptions and suggestions. Got your own favorites? Feel free to share on our Facebook page.

All in the Kitchen

Info: Sugarwood Plaza, 7575 Buckley Road, North Syracuse; 218-6218; allinthekitchenonline.com

Gift certificates? Yes

As you might have guessed from the name, All in the Kitchen carries everything you could possibly need for your kitchen — baking pans, linens, small appliances, utensils and more. The shop also carries goods for commercial kitchens, plus items for kids and baby. If that doesn’t convince you to shop here for the cook/baker on your list, owner Christine Cameron, for whom opening the store was a lifelong dream, often runs special promotions where she donates a portion of the store’s proceeds for a given day to a particular charity. The store will also do special orders if it doesn’t stock a particular item you’re looking for.

Basic Baby Education Center and Shop

Info: Shoppingtown Mall, 3649 Erie Boulevard, DeWitt; 632-6110; basicbabyshop.com

Gift certificates? Yes

This “natural baby shop,” which opened two years ago, is dedicated to training parents in the use of cloth diapers. As such, it sells products associated with cloth diapering, including the diapers themselves, covers, swim diapers, ointments and balms and more. The store, owned by Josh and Colleen Fox, also sells carriers, car seats and more for babies, including products from eight local vendors. Recommended by Cicero Parks and Rec employee Julie Raddell, Basic Baby also offers a number of products for mothers.

Café at 407

Info: 407 Tulip St., Liverpool; 451-8555; opheliasplace.org/café

Gift certificates? Yes

The Café at 407 opened in 2009 as a joint venture with Ophelia’s Place, a center for those struggling with eating disorders and their families. The café not only supports the mission of Ophelia’s Place; it also offers fantastic food, including soups, sandwiches and coffee, plus live music on weekends. The yummy meals are made with fresh local produce; the café has a partnership with a church in Camillus to grow veggies in its own community garden, and it uses local food whenever possible. Freshly ground coffee, mugs and Ophelia’s Place merchandise are also for sale.

The Eagle CNY