Home for the holidays applies just as much to business as it does to households. And there are “great” deals to be had from merchants throughout the Peninsula this year, as usual.
If unique is what you seek, look no further than TD Himalaya at 1919 Cable St. If your tastes run toward the wintery, the mountainous, or Tibet, then this is the place for you. 
“We have different kinds of handmade things, like singing bowls,” said owner Tenpa Gyaltsen of the Himalayan shop that opened in November 2017. The shop also carries items like yoga cushions, statues, homespun bed spreads, jewelry, prayer flags, gongs and more.
Gongs, a spiritual instrument for meditation, are big at TD Himalaya.
“We have gong sticks, ceramic crystal singing bowls and books for meditation,” said Gyaltsen. “We also sell statues of gods and goddesses. We have a big buddha statue of Ganesh, made out of brass.”
Gyaltsen said TD Himalaya also carries a wide selection of tapestries in all sizes. “We also have clothing that is different than you would find in a department store from a Himalayan clothier with Tibetan-designed shirts from India and Nepal,” Gyaltsen said. “Mostly it’s cotton-based clothing. Some are colorful.”
TD Himalaya carries Tibetan prayer flags. “You don’t find them anywhere else in OB,” Gyaltsen said, adding, “We also have yoga cushions and a good selection of shawls, as well as unique, handmade giant bed spreads.”
Botanica Home and Garden at 1909 Cable St. has everything you might need to decorate the home for the holidays, or any other time.
“We sell a lot of live plants, succulents and cacti,” said owner Caitlin Brooks. “We also carry a line of candles and fragrances. We have plant stands, wall decor. We have a lot of artwork, like macrame or handmade baskets, made by OB artists.
“We do have a lot of good gift items during the holidays and we’re really trying to carry stuff that is high quality as far as gifts are concerned, or stuff that is handmade by local makers,” she said. The Black Bead at 5003 Newport Ave. is having a close-out sale with all of the store stock available at half price.
“I carry beads, chains, leather, boots and some craft items,” said owner Lynn Muhlenkord, who has been in business 25 years.
Muhlenkord noted she has beads of every imaginable description made from numerous materials from wood to semiprecious stones. “We have a lot of charms too in sterling and base metals,” she said, adding she has beads “in all different forms and materials including ceramic, glass, clay, wood, horn and bone.”
She also carries sterling and stone pendants. The sale will continue until the inventory is exhausted.
Holiday specials are being offered at Wonderland Ocean Pub at 5083 Santa Monica Ave. Throughout December, Wonderland will be selling Miller Lite bottles for $4, a portion of which will benefit the Big Josh Foundation.
Big Josh was a longtime beach service industry employee who died from cancer. The foundation in his name was created to help those working within service industries and jobs to support the “families” existing there.
Wonderland also has a month-long special going, a Skrewtbeer float, comprised of peanut butter whiskey, butterscotch Schnapps, Half & Half and root beer, noted Rachel Barnes of the Social Syndicate representing numerous beach businesses, including Wonderland and OB Surf Lodge.
A holiday pop-up shop with a few amazing local vendors will take place at Culture Brewing 1 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 8 in Ocean Beach. Conquer all of your Christmas shopping this weekend with the help of: Beautycounter, Marine Street Designs, The Funky Magnolia, Nicole Gergans Surf Art, Phoenix Coverly, and Gems & Baubles.
Visit La Playa Books’ pop-up shop at the Tiki Trader Christmas Market at the Bali Hai from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. There will be Hawaiiana, luscious cocktail recipe books, pulp fiction and ocean-themed kid’s books great for Christmas giving. Find them in the ballroom downstairs with many other vendors featuring Tiki-themed art, crafts, vintage gifts.