What's a good US naturalization present?

July 23, 2015 11:15 AM

My brother-in-law got naturalized on Tuesday and my wife and I want to get him a present. I'm thinking something tied to America, nice quality and perhaps something he can hang or display, though I'm flexible on that last requirement.

So far I had a few ideas:

• My original idea was to have a flag flown above the Capitol on his naturalization day but we only found out the exact date of his naturalization on the day-of due to some poor communication at which point it was too late. We could still have a flag flown on, say, his birthday ("first birthday as an American citizen!"), but I think I'd rather get him something soon.
• A handmade or nicely printed US map suitable for hanging. I found this one on etsy but I'm not sure he would like the salvaged materials-look as much as I would. I think he might prefer something with a clean and classy look.
• A letterpress or nicely designed poster of the preamble of the Constitution. I haven't found any of these.

I'd love other ideas or better versions of the above.

Thanks!

posted by adrianb to Shopping (15 answers total)

I've always liked this woodcut print of the US, from a printshop in Pittsburgh.
posted by the_blizz at 11:27 AM on July 23, 2015 [4 favorites]

This printing press in Boston makes lovely letterpress prints of all sorts of historical U.S. documents, all using colonial methods. It's very high quality and printed on lovely thick paper (which I think is also authentic to what they would have used in the colonial period). I'm not sure whether they make a printing of the Constitution, but I know for sure they do the Declaration of Independence as I've seen them do it. :) Their website doesn't say anything about shipping, but when I was there the printer seemed very friendly and accomodating, so you might contact them and see if they could work something out (or maybe you are in the Boston area and could go in person -- it's a very cool shop!). If they don't ship, the printer might be able to suggest something local to you -- we chatted and he seemed to be part of a network of printers using historical letterpress methods.
posted by rainbowbrite at 11:31 AM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

Is this too feminine? I really like it.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:34 AM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

Naturalized Canadian citizens get two years of free admission to 1000+ museums and galleries across the country. The idea is that it's an opportunity to really be exposed to history and culture of Canada.

I realize that such a pass, if it existed for purchase in the US would be ridiculously expensive, but I wonder if there's something along those lines you can do. Does your state have some kind of tourist-all-access museum pass that you could get?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:38 AM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: A nice or personalized passport wallet, perhaps.
posted by carsonb at 11:49 AM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

In terms of a map, you could get him David Imus' map of the US, which won an award for its aesthetics and clarity.
posted by theartandsound at 12:07 PM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

What kind of things does he like? For instance, I like jigsaw puzzles and think a massive detailed puzzle map of the USA would be fantastic for this kind of thing. Or I'd enjoy an Annual National Parks Pass, along the lines of the Canadian museum pass above.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 12:16 PM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

Tickets to a baseball game.

If he has a kid, a pair of mitts and a ball to throw around.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 12:35 PM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

Where's he from? I ask because a book by a similarly Elsewhere-American may work.
posted by Etrigan at 12:45 PM on July 23, 2015

Response by poster: Where's he from? I ask because a book by a similarly Elsewhere-American may work.

Good suggestion.

He's a Greek Cypriot. I think Greek-American authors might be easy to find, but he definitely identifies with Cypress and not just with Greece. I don't know any Greek Cypriot-American authors, but if anyone has suggestions, let me know!
posted by adrianb at 1:33 PM on July 23, 2015

Unless you know that he actually likes tchochkes, I'd avoid decorative crap that has no real use that they feel obligated to display or haul out when you visit. Instead, an implement to do something that you know he enjoys doing, but with lots of MERICA smeared on it. A barbecue apron that looks like Uncle Sam's suit, or red white and blue drumsticks, etc.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:47 PM on July 23, 2015 [5 favorites]

What about experiences instead of things? You could do an American Activities day/weekend: go to a baseball game, gun range, diner that serves apple pie, etc. All while wearing red, white, and blue, of course.
posted by Jacqueline at 4:04 PM on July 23, 2015 [2 favorites]

I don't know if this is touching or just weird, but it popped into my head: Find someone who can translate the Declaration of Independence into Greek (if that's his native language) and then have that calligraphied or otherwise artistically printed as a poster.
posted by lakeroon at 5:57 PM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

Where's he from? I ask because a book by a similarly Elsewhere-American may work.

He's a Greek Cypriot.

I personally would not be able to resist moving heaven and earth to get him a copy of I Keek a Touchdown: The Garo Yepremian Story, but I love Garo Yepremian independent of his Cypriotitude, so I may not be the best recommender at this point.
posted by Etrigan at 5:32 AM on July 24, 2015

Response by poster: Great suggestions, everyone. Thanks so much.

I really liked the suggestions of American activities and National Parks pass. We might get him and my sister-in-law some things along those lines for Christmas. I like experience-based gifts in general but we're constrained in our time to plan such things right now.

In the meantime we're going with a personalized passport wallet. This one on etsy looks gorgeous and I think we'll order it.
posted by adrianb at 7:19 AM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]