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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Gifts to please everyone from style mavens to gourmets and techies.
December 2005

Published in ::

WORDS BY JENN PLUM


It’s that time of year—festive family gettogethers coupled with the frustration of packed shops and last-minute gift buying. We’ve compiled a list of some of this season’s greatest hits to help you spread some holiday cheer.

Kids
(AGES 3–6)

Splurge

Kids will use their motor skills and creative thinking to assemble the pieces and get the cool Automoblox ($32) cars rolling. The Automoblox line includes a sports car, a sedan and many more cool models, which makes it hard to buy just one. Splurge on a few cars—all of the parts are interchangeable, which makes for more playtime.

Stocking stuffer

Both little ones and hip parents will groove to the funky, folky songs on Dan Zanes’ live DVD, All Around the Kitchen ($19.95). Zanes, a wild-haired rock star for the kindergarten set, uses his musical talents from his days in the Del Fuegos to create family-friendly music.

Kids

(AGES 7-12)

Splurge

Viking Fortress against the Fafnir Dragon ($70) is a 1,019-piece Lego masterwork including a dragon, a working catapult and six characters. Other sets in the Viking line range in price from $7 to $50 and explore the mythology of the Vikings with enough characters and villains to keep the kids occupied until the New Year and way beyond.

Stocking stuffer

Leave it to Nickelodeon to find a way to make learning fun. The Nick Dictionary defines important vocabulary words using illustrations and examples featuring favorite Nick characters including SpongeBob, Rugrats and Jimmy Neutron. The book is bigger than your average stocking but at $14.95 the price is perfect.

Mom/wife

Splurge

There are jewelry box staples that every woman should have—a good watch, a string of pearls and something with diamonds. A charm bracelet is another essential that carries a high sentimental value. Start a new tradition with a chunky charm bracelet, like one from Links of London ($120 and up), then have fun picking out the perfect charm to start the collection.

Stocking stuffer

Cozy hats, scarves and gloves are cold-weather essentials, the winter equivalent of new notebooks and pencils for the start of school each fall. Pick up a set in downy cashmere or angora, like these perfectly fuzzy sets from Gap (from $14.50).

Dad/husband

Splurge

Vineyard Vines ties ($65) are the perfect blend of class, quality and good humor. There is a tie for every taste and occasion, including lacrosse sticks and sailboats, hermit crabs and monkeys, and even Christmas bulbs and candy canes for the holidays.

Stocking stuffer

Sudoku is a crossword-type puzzle with numbers that’s perfect for killing time on a morning commute, cross-country flight or lazy breakfast. The Book of Sudoku by Michael Mepham ($9.95) or Sudoku Easy Presented by Will Shortz Volume 1: 100 Wordless Crossword Puzzles ($6.95) are both great books for beginners.

Best friend/boyfriend/brother

Splurge

Sony and Microsoft will be facing off in another battle of the gaming wars with the release of Microsoft Xbox 360 [9] ($299.99–$399.99). What makes the latest version a champion? For starters, the Xbox 360 has killer games with great sound and graphics. Then there are the entertainment capabilities. This console is a media center that can be used to watch DVDs and to stream music and pictures from MP3 players and digital cameras. Now just add the online competitive factor and it’s possible you won’t see this gift recipient again until next year’s holiday celebration.

Stocking stuffer

Break him of his no-frills grooming regimen with some manly bath and body products from Anthony Logistics for Men. The special holiday Body Cleansing Gel Duo ($50) smells like the season with peppermint and eucalyptus blends while the Picture Perfect box set ($50) with facial cleanser, scrub, shave cream and aftershave balm, will make him look like a million dollars.

Best friend/girlfriend/sister

Splurge

Relief is ahead on the fashion scene this holiday season as trendsetters trade in furry boots and mini-skirts for fancy cowboy boots. The hardest part might be lassoing in a pair of Frye’s Daisy Duke boots ($305–$479.99) for your favorite urban cowgirl—these boots are selling fast. Giddyup!

Stocking stuffer

The bohemian look made popular by Sienna Miller is still going strong. The good news is that this year’s baubles don’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Scope out department stores and chains in the local mall for long beaded necklaces, thick wooden bangles and dangly earrings. Very mellow.

Film fanatic

Splurge

One of this year’s most anticipated DVD box sets is Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection (Universal Studios, $95), which includes 14 of the master’s hits. The beauty of this collection is the variety, ranging from classics like Psycho and Rear Window to slightly lesser known flicks like Saboteur and Rope.

Stocking stuffer

Now is the time to catch up on all of the summer’s blockbuster hits. War of the Worlds ($39.99), Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith ($29.98) or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ($30.97) are all hot titles this holiday season.

Pet lover

Splurge

Globalpetfinder ($349.99) is a pet gift with a mission. This GPS tracking system uses wireless technology to alert pet owners when their pampered pooch has wandered a little too far from home. Once the dog crosses over the preset boundaries, a message is sent to the owner’s cell phone giving the missing pup’s location.

Stocking stuffer

Does your favorite pooch have enough designer pet clothes and fancy doggie dishes? Upgrade the basic dog or cat collar with a stylish and practical identification tag ($18) from pet-friendly company George. These lightweight zinc tags come in a variety of designs and hold up to three lines of text.

Techie

Splurge

Oakley sunglasses are already cool, but when you add a built-in music system, they are off the charts. The THUMP 2 glasses ($299–$449) provide shade from the sun, set to a soundtrack. Tiny speakers are attached to the stem of the glasses and can be adjusted without the hassle of dangling cords or uncomfortable earphones.

Stocking stuffer

The newest gear and gadgets make for great gifts, but they often come with a hefty price tag. If that’s a problem, you could order a zCover gloveOne case ($34.95), which provides great protection for your Treo. The case allows the user excellent grip—plus you can even type through the keyboard cover. It has a sturdy removable rotating belt clip and an integrated cable port cover (www.zcover.com).

Favorite foodie

Splurge

Foodies really do believe that a way to a person’s heart is through the stomach. Let the party continue a little longer with a nontraditional gift of a favorite food treat. Send a dozen steamed hard-shell crabs from Harbour House Crabs (www.ilovecrabs.com) or a basket of unique cheeses from Artisanal Premium Cheese (www.artisanalcheese.com).

Stocking stuffer

A good bottle of premium olive oil can be a luxury when you look beyond the stock on supermarket shelves. Tie a bright bow around a bottle of Stonehouse Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($15) or other gourmet olive oil for a stocking stuffer with style and great flavor, too.

Cocktail king or queen

Splurge

Wine tasting can be fun for both wine sophisticates and grape-challenged neophytes. Take the experience up a notch with black glasses especially created for blind tastings. Riedel Sommelier Black Stemless Tumblers ($26–$39 a glass) conceal the color of the wine to prevent early judgments on color and clarity.

Stocking stuffer

The Holiday Cocktails Deck (Chronicle Books, $13.95) is perfect for any friend who likes to entertain. This deck of recipe cards highlights 50 festive drinks to brighten up the holiday season. Traditionalists will be pleased with recipes for classics like eggnog and glögg, while the more adventurous might try a bright-green “Grinch”!

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