Gift in LA

October 29, 2012 4:19 AM

Friends (couple and their gorgeous 2-year-old) are moving from the UK to LA (via NYC for a month or two). Do you have any fabulous gift ideas? I don't want to get them a physical thing to lug around so maybe a pre-paid something, or an experience - something I could buy online and give them a printout tomorrow would be perfect. Thanks!
posted by Carravanquelo to shopping (14 answers total)

What's your budget?
posted by lunasol at 4:58 AM on October 29, 2012

£50ish? Under £100.
posted by Carravanquelo at 5:13 AM on October 29, 2012

Depending on where in LA they are moving to, a family membership to someplace like the LA Zoo or a museum might be nice. Possibly one of the children's museums?
posted by jvilter at 5:32 AM on October 29, 2012 [4 favorites]

Is there any way you could arrange something to make either their short stay in NYC or their first month or so in LA any easier or more convienent? Anything from a laundry service to temporary day care to grocery delivery. (Not in either city myself, so I can't recommend specific stores etc.)
posted by easily confused at 5:33 AM on October 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

amazon.com gift card, so they have lots of things to download.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:36 AM on October 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'd suggest a gift certificate that will make their travels/move easier, if that's not too impersonal. Maybe to a place like Whole Foods. Or maybe a x-month subscription to the LA Times?
posted by lunasol at 5:37 AM on October 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

What about tickets to Disneyland?
posted by Flood at 5:50 AM on October 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Where in NYC are they staying? I would do gift certificates for resturants or supermarkets. Also, what are their favorite foods? Maybe send those items to their place in NYC so it's there when they arrive. You could probably find some British items in NYC, but I have found that it isn't as easy in midtown. I can get more of those items in Chinatown (because of the Chinese people from HK) than anywhere else and if they are not staying downtown, there is a good chance they won't venture there to find their favorite items.
posted by Yellow at 6:19 AM on October 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Family membership to : LA Zoo, KidSpace Museum, Museum of Natural History, Zimmer Children's Museum. Also apply (online) for a (free) kid's membership to LACMA, and then the kid gets to take the parents in for free. Culture!
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:24 AM on October 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Get them three tickets for CMOM, which is the NYC museum/destination most geared towards wee ones. You will have to ring or email them but they will set you up.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:58 AM on October 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

Thank you so much, everyone! All brilliant answers. I think a museum or zoo membership will be perfect - they have a wildlife park membership that I'm sure they'll miss.
posted by Carravanquelo at 8:18 AM on October 29, 2012

A membership to kcrw, which gives discounts to things all over the city.
posted by brujita at 8:26 AM on October 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

The NHM (Natural History Museum) is a cost effective choice in LA, in that it gives access to the Page Museum (La Brea tarpits), the Natural History Museum, and the Hart Museum. Endorsed by me, both as a kid and now a helper-parent.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:01 AM on October 29, 2012

You might also consider giving them (or at least informing them of) the NFT guides to NYC and LA. And despite the ubiquity of smart phones, a new LA transplant might still want a Thomas Guide map book in the car (now part of Rand McNally.)
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:07 AM on October 29, 2012