Erie Reader

11/29/2025

Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide 2025 🎁

Next up, The History Buff! 📖

Erie has a rich and fascinating history with a strategic military spot on our Great Lake, our industry and manufacturing, our colorful tapestry of immigrant neighborhoods, and our natural resources like Presque Isle State Park. For local history buffs, the Carriage House Visitor Center and Gift Shop at the Hagen History Center, nestled into the former Carriage House of the Watson Curtze Mansion stocks local history books and publications (like their annual magazine, The Triangle), maps, flags, art, and collectibles (there are even options for the history-loving kiddo on your list). Or give a membership, so your loved one can visit the inspiring museum whenever they feel that itch for the past.

Additionally, visit the Maritime Museum gift shop located within the lobby area of the Maritime Museum in the Blasco Library building for some local seafaring historical merchandise or check out Presque Isle Gallery and Gifts in the Tom Ridge Environmental Center for a book or art piece celebrating our natural history.

Full gift guide by Erin Phillips at the link below ⬇️

11/29/2025

Tommy in Toon: November 2025
by Tommy Link

Erie Reader is Erie PA's weekly newspaper & features in-depth coverage of news, arts, & entertainment while exploring & discussing issues of our city.

11/28/2025

If you’re heading to the Festival of Trees this weekend, come find the Erie Reader’s tree! 🎄📰✨

Thanks for reading, Erie - and if you feel like voting, we’re #63!

11/26/2025

Erie's holiday season just got brighter. Blitzen's at The Brewerie Erie Pop Up Christmas Bar opens Friday, November 28, transforming the downtown brewpub into a festive pop-up bar with over-the-top décor, themed cocktails, and a touch of holiday magic.

More by Jessica Hunter at the link below ⬇️

11/26/2025

Album Reviews // Tame Impala // Deadbeat

Erie Reader is Erie PA's weekly newspaper & features in-depth coverage of news, arts, & entertainment while exploring & discussing issues of our city.

11/26/2025

2025 Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide 🎁

The Gamer! 🎮

While many gamers these days self-define as the "video" variety, the subculture got its start through people collectively playing physical games in rooms together – D&D, Magic the Gathering, Warhammer, and the like. To get the gamer on your list kicking it old school, check out local spots like Gateway Games, Books Galore, or Griffin's Lair for supplies, dice, strategy games, miniatures, guidebooks, merch, and more.

If you're looking for something local to give the die-hard video gamer in your life, check out the products created by Whitethorn Games. Or give them a day of non-stop arcade gaming fun with friends at Play Port.

Full guide by Erin Phillips at the link below ⬇️

11/25/2025

Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide 2025 🎁

Whether your loved one is a reader, a gardener, an athlete, a homebody, or maybe all of those things, we've got plenty of suggestions for locally sourced goods, businesses, and makers to support this year.

Next up, The Sports fan! ⚾️

Licensed national sports team apparel is largely available through well-established corporate outfits but if you're looking for something a little more local and a little more subtle – Erie Apparel has got your fandom covered. You can find Erie Otters and Erie SeaWolves gear and stickers at Erie Apparel, along with vintage Erie teams like the Cardinals, Sailors, or the Blades.

If you're looking for more than a t-shirt, stop by the Erie Insurance Arena or the SeaWolves clubhouse (or online at their individual websites) for merch of all sorts (including some of that elusive, collectible, perfectly purple Moon Mammoths gear).

In a more niche way, a stop into Turn 2 Sports Cards and Collectibles located in Village West reveals items that span the athletic world – perfect for any sports memorabilia collector's shelf.

More gift ideas by Erin Phillips at the link below ⬇️

11/25/2025

Local brewer Jeff McCullor takes his beer along for a walk as he goes from the City's westernmost limit eastward and finds a number of spots to shop local, including The 6 Pack House of Beer, Stefanelli's Candies, the Greengarden Plaza businesses, and more.

More at the link below. ⬇️

11/24/2025

Fish That Talk: November 2025
by John Bavaro

11/24/2025

Album Review // The Last Dinner Party // From the Pyre

Erie Reader is Erie PA's weekly newspaper & features in-depth coverage of news, arts, & entertainment while exploring & discussing issues of our city.

11/24/2025

It's that time of year again – our city sidewalks are starting to be dressed in holiday style. Do you feel that in the air? It's a feeling of Christmas… And we're here, your helpful little local-loving Erie Reader elves, to bring you the always-anticipated 2025 Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide. It is our hope that the following suggestions, grouped this year by personal interest archetypes, will give you a starting off point for creative, thoughtful, appreciated, and most importantly, LOCAL gift giving.

First up, The Bookworm! 📚🐛

The obvious direction here is to support a local bookstore, but things get tricky in terms of what to get – does your giftee enjoy mysteries, romance, historical fiction? Have they read that book already? Accessories are always a fun way to go and local bookstores like Werner Books and Coffee or Pressed carry plenty of literary-themed accessories like candles that smell like old books, reading lights, journals, bookish apparel, or handmade bookmarks.

One off-the-beaten-path shelf to stop and shop is the Local Authors section, for a hyper-local Erie gift experience. Taking a moment to shamelessly plug some books published by our Erie Reader contributors, we recommend Can I Change the World With a Doodle? by Anthony Carson and Living in the Moment by Tommy Link (both Erie Reader comic artists). Cover art contributor and 40 Under 40 alum Brenna Thummler has a fun and touching graphic novel series called The Sheets Collection, a great gift for bookworms of all ages.

Full guide by Erin Phillips at the link below! ⬇️

11/21/2025

Win four tickets to an Erie Otter's game!
🎟️🎟️🎟️🎟️

Tickets are valid for any home game during the 2025-2026 season. 🏒🥅

To enter you must
* Like this post
* Tag a friend in the comments
* Fill out the contest link below

https://www.eriereader.com/contest

Winner will be announced on Wednesday Nov. 26 at 12:00PM.

GOOD LUCK!
Note: You MUST do all three actions to be entered.

Update: We have uncovered a few scam profiles. Winners will be notified via email directly from an Erie Reader staff.