Giving
experience
Gift Guide
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This holiday season, give your loved ones something they can treasure forever—memories that last BY NEW TIMES STAFF
HOLIDAY BONUS This holiday season, every tattoo purchased at True West Tattoo comes with one free item of True West swag.
PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM
PHOTO BY KASEY BUBNASH
T
he Central Coast has no shortage of things to do. Hiking, biking, beach walking, and more are right outside your front door. And there’s also no shortage of all of those “specialty,” “artisan” tchotchkes that so often get thrown into a drawer somewhere after the gift-giving season is over. This year for the New Times’ annual Last-Minute Gift Guide, we propose something that could fit in between. An experience that’s unique to SLO and Santa Barbara counties that a friend or family member might never forget. You can send them sailing, riding, packing, or crafting. There are so many things to do, but we’ve only got a sampling for you. Just a little taste to whet your appetite for giving. —Camillia Lanham
BY KASEY BUBNASH
I
An indelible impression From stick-and-poke sets to sessions with the professionals, tattoos can make great gifts
n need of an out-of-the-box gift idea for your edgy friend or spunky aunt? Get the gift that lasts—like, forever. A tattoo! That’s right y’all—ink. From cheap stick-and-poke tattoo sets to personal tattoo guns to sessions with San Luis Obispo’s professional artists, tattoos of all kinds make for thrilling and customizable gifts. Tattoos are becoming increasingly popular across the globe, and according to a Dalia Research survey conducted in 2018, roughly 38 percent of the 9,054 individuals surveyed in 19 countries said they had at least one tattoo. And it’s not just the young ’uns, according to Eric Jones, tattoo artist and STICKowner of True West Tattoo. AND-POKE “Everyone gets Home stick-andtattooed now,” Jones poke tattoos like this said. “It’s crazy.” one take time and He might be biased, research but are fun to but Jones thinks tattoos give and receive once make for great gifts. you get the hang Large tattoos can cost of it. hundreds of dollars, but he
said the price flexibility inherent to gift cards allows buyers to spend within their means. Some customers go all out and put hundreds on gift cards, he said, and others do $50 or so—money that couldn’t cover an entire tattoo but could definitely contribute to the cause. With True West’s minimum price for a single tattoo set at $80, which is enough to buy what Jones calls a “college Pinterest size” tattoo, he said most customers stay somewhere within the $100 to $150 range. The gift of a tattoo is also a great way to incentivize those on the fence, Jones said of those wary individuals who might want a little ink but are nervous about the pain or bothered by the cost. Better yet, True West is giving out one free item of apparel—shirts, hats, patches, etc.— with every tattoo this holiday season. But, Jones said, this kind of present has to go to the right person. “I’m not buying lingerie for my grandma,” he said. LAST-MINUTE TAT continued page 20
www.newtimesslo.com • December 12 - December 19, 2019 • New Times • 19