It is that time of year again - time to fill out your Wish List and let us do the rest. Here is how it works: you come into either store (you can make a list at both The Hive and The Shoe Hive or just one) and let us know who might be shopping for you, and we will take it from there. If there is a man in your life (dad, brother, husband, boyfriend, or whoever) who might be shopping for you and needs a little nudge, we will make sure they know about our Annual Men’s Night which is December 14 this year from 6pm to 9pm.

This is our 9th year for Men’s Night, and each year it gets bigger and better! I wish I could take credit for Men’s Night, but it was Chris Campagna’s idea. He always brings the keg, and he was the first one to help bring the men to shop. Every year we have a new customer or three who come to the event and are so happy they have found a way to make shopping easy for them. Most men don’t even come inside.

It’s so simple.

We set up a fire pit and a bar in our courtyard. The men stand by the fire, have a draft craft beer or a bourbon and maybe a bratwurst and a cigar while we wrap up some items on your list. My favorite line ever was once I asked someone if he wanted to see what his wife and daughter had picked out. He quickly replied, “No, because someone should be surprised on Christmas morning.” Still makes me laugh when I think about it.

It really is a fun night and a great way to make sure you get what you want. The one problem is men don’t really read Alexandria Stylebook or The Shoe Hive emails, so we need you to help us get the word out or let us know who to contact to come to the event. I decided to ask all the women on my side of the family to give some of their gift ideas for this holiday season. We have from age six to seventy-five, so really, we have something for everyone!