Gift ideas for the holidays

November 24, 2004 10:36 AM

Holidays are coming. Gifts need to be bought, for friends, colleagues and family. Care to share good ideas in a long wishlist thread here? inspired by this metatalk

To kick this one off; For a pal who likes to read I'm getting this neat box set of Maisonneuve mag. For my SO, I'm hunting desperatly for cool cufflinks - ideas? (web buying would be neat but not req.)
If I'm breaking any rules here, sorry. Am I? I really think this is a good idea, to share gift-ideas I mean.

posted by dabitch to grab bag (22 comments total)

these cufflinks will be on my site soon (elsewares.com). lots of other stuff already there and on the way next week. [/selflink]
posted by subpixel at 11:01 AM on November 24, 2004

I'm not sure i can quantify your cool prerequisite for cufflinks, but Thomas Pink always has a vast (but moderately expensive) selection. You can find his stores in the US, too.
posted by naxosaxur at 11:01 AM on November 24, 2004

The Anthology of American Folk Music is hours of fun for anyone who likes roots music. (Available from Smithsonian Folkways records). Couple with Greil Marcus' Invisible Republic for people also interested in Dylan.
posted by OmieWise at 11:05 AM on November 24, 2004

Contributions to charities! Contributions to charities!

Seriously. Instead of another tie for Dad, why not toss that cash toward the Prostate Cancer Research Institute. And cheer up your left-wing Mom with a gift to the ACLU Foundation. You get the idea.

A nice card, a small but carefully chosen gift (food, stationery, etc.), and a donation in a loved one's name are a fantastic answer, "What do I get for someone who has everything?"
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:10 AM on November 24, 2004

Home Improvement, Season 1 is now out on DVD...in case you missed it looking at the new Seinfeld set.
posted by icontemplate at 11:12 AM on November 24, 2004

answer to the question "What do I get for someone who has everything?"

And if you want cool cufflinks, I like these people's selection.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:12 AM on November 24, 2004

Contributions to charities! Contributions to charities!

Give a donation to Heifer International a wonderful worldwide charitable organization that does much more than put food in the mouths of hungry people. Heifer helps hungry people feed themselves.
posted by lola at 11:36 AM on November 24, 2004

A hearty round of seconds:

Re OmieWise's suggestion: The Anthology of American Folk Music is a good gift for folks who might not already be fans of roots music as well. Do they like old-timey stuff in general? Go for it! While not appropriate for everyone it is worth checking out in a lot of cases. What? they already have it? I've found the Roots N' Blues: Retrospective 1925-1950 box set to be a nice companion.

Big picture gift giving, Sidhedevil is on the money with Charities. It saved our Christmas on one side last year, and will likely do so again this year.
posted by safetyfork at 11:41 AM on November 24, 2004

Googling (or Froogling) "compass cufflinks" will reveal a fine selection of good geeky cufflinks. I got my husband a pair where one's a compass and the other's a clock.

Tateossian.co.uk has some stunning ones.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:51 AM on November 24, 2004

swoon! lovely (and in the uk = closer to me, wee!). Great ideas with the charities too, very good idea.
posted by dabitch at 11:59 AM on November 24, 2004

What should I buy for the ladies I work with? They are all about 45-55 (I'm 22) and I'm looking to spend about $10-15 each.
posted by Coffeemate at 12:29 PM on November 24, 2004

Cook's Illustrated Annuals.

Individual years are nice, but the entire collection is nicer.
posted by skwm at 12:29 PM on November 24, 2004

Vases, from the way the ladies dress you can probably suss out if they like frilly or colorful, minimalistic or classic, and at Ikea you could get very stylish ones for no money. Spice up with flower before giving.

One can never have too many vases see.
posted by dabitch at 12:52 PM on November 24, 2004

A Very Scary Solstice.
posted by homunculus at 1:11 PM on November 24, 2004

Another thing, because I just realized how many are on my list, is a subscription to a magazine that the person might not otherwise get. Some are really cheap (Wired=$10); some get very pricey (The New York Review of Books=$64).
posted by OmieWise at 1:30 PM on November 24, 2004

Coffeemate, that's sweet. My default generic gift is really pretty candles. Check what your coworkers have on their desks and walls already to see what colors they like. I also think coming to work and seeing desks full of fresh flowers for everyone is lovely any time, but especially in winter.

What do I want? Thanks for asking! Kitchen toys. And for all kids to get the toys they want, too.
posted by melissa may at 1:36 PM on November 24, 2004

another friends gift sorted thanks to homunculus link. awesome!
posted by dabitch at 1:48 PM on November 24, 2004

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!
posted by homunculus at 4:16 PM on November 24, 2004

This thread is much better at picking gifts than the GiftMixer 3000 (advergame thing.)
posted by dabitch at 5:39 PM on November 24, 2004

homunculus, that link rocks my socks. May the Old Ones eat you painlessly.
posted by Sidhedevil at 5:57 PM on November 24, 2004

Please don't give me cufflinks or pretty candles for christmas.
Kitchen Toys, oh yes, now you're talking. Vases though, that's the ticket. One truly can never have too many vases. Thank you dabitch.
Magazine subscriptions I have given in the past. It's the gift that keeps on giving, and if they really like the magazine you can renew the subscription next christmas.
posted by Prince Nez at 8:50 PM on November 24, 2004

You can rarely go wrong with a good bottle of single malt to anyone (well, anyone male) over about 20. But do make sure it is single malt... Bell's or Jack Daniels just isn't suitable.
posted by humuhumu at 6:31 AM on November 25, 2004