What's a nice thank-you trinket for a former Angeleno?

February 19, 2013 10:15 AM

My friend, a former Los Angeles resident, was kind enough to have me stay at her place in New York City for several days recently, while I was visiting. As a token of my gratitude, I want to send along some kind of LA-specific trinket - you know, something you'd put on your desk at work or your bureau or fridge or whatever, that says, "Hey: Los Angeles" to someone who knows the place. Ten bucks or less is the range. What would you get, if you were in my position?
posted by kensington314 to shopping (16 answers total)

Consumables. Someone else's tchotchke (one I didn't even pick out!) that I'm obliged to keep around indefinitely is far less preferable to something I can eat/drink/enjoy and be finished with.
posted by vegartanipla at 10:19 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]

Thanks, vegartanipla, that's a great point. Suggestions for (vegetarian) consumables too, please!
posted by kensington314 at 10:21 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]

My sister used to send me notebooks purchased at Swingers and I loved them. I'm a stationery geek admittedly.
posted by BibiRose at 10:23 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]

See's candy
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:28 AM on February 19 [4 favorites]

Nice olive oil or balsamic or coffee or tea.
posted by barnone at 10:34 AM on February 19

Marmalade from E. Waldo Ward, of course.
posted by Scram at 10:35 AM on February 19 [2 favorites]

You're here in L.A.? Go to one of the local farmer's markets and buy something that's local but easy to mail: nuts, honey, candies, locally-roasted coffee, flavored salts & sugars, etc. (Choose something that'll fit inside the post office's flat rate box to spare yourself a large shipping fee.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:11 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]

Trader Joe's or See's candy if you're going with consumables. I hear it's a nightmare to get into the TJs in NYC.
posted by Sophie1 at 11:40 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]

Depending on your tolerance for kitsch, palm trees are about as LA as you can get. The Hollywood Bowl and the library downtown also tend to have fun little trinkets, as does Olvera Street.

Food (feasibility of these may vary): In n Out, Sprinkles cupcakes, and yeah, Trader Joes.
posted by eponym at 11:48 AM on February 19 [1 favorite]

I'm going to jump on the See's Candy bandwagon.
posted by Arbac at 12:04 PM on February 19

Ooh, See's lollipops!
posted by Room 641-A at 12:09 PM on February 19 [1 favorite]

Agreed with See's candy or another CA-centric consumable. Someone gave me Temecula Olive Oil once and it was a great gift - I think it was the basil flavor.
posted by radioamy at 1:33 PM on February 19

TJ's cracked wheat sourdough (sent by overnight mail)
posted by brujita at 2:49 PM on February 19 [1 favorite]

There are 4-5 locations of TJ's now in NYC. It's not a huge hassle to shop there any more. The Chelsea store is pretty pleasant.

There's a Sprinkles here now as well, and lots of places to get coffee, honey, chocolate, olive oil, etc.

As a former Californian, I miss See's Candies more.
posted by kathryn at 5:41 PM on February 19

TJ's does NOT carry cracked wheat sourdough outside of the west.
posted by brujita at 6:48 PM on February 19

"L.A.'s Original Farmers Market Cookbook: Meet Me at 3rd and Fairfax"
posted by kmennie at 4:43 AM on February 20