As if the anxiety of heading to the Hamptons, Hudson Valley, Berkshires, Jersey Shore or a host of other destinations for a weekend away from normal life weren’t enough, there’s the added excitement of the gift of the lady. And there are about as many gift philosophies as there are gifts. Some arrive with said offer, others gather intellect and send an afterthought. But should this offer be a gift for the house, or something personal for the host?
We did an informal survey and most hosts we interviewed said that decorative objects should be discouraged. “They think they have the ‘perfect’ addition for my house, and they’re always wrong,” revealed one frequent Hamptons host, who asked to remain anonymous. “Host gifts should be for the lord, not the house,” noted another. This revelation threw our gifting strategy into a tailspin. No craft candles, coasters or something ceramic from a local maker who discovered pottery during Covid? Apparently not.
Fortunately there were some (and we suspect more) who would welcome all of the above. These options are included below, as well as some more expensive choices for family or friends you may visit regularly.
This wonderful bottle of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs (a truly delicious creation from the oldest champagne house in the world) is shown as an example for the general category of better spirits than you will buy. If your host is on the bubble, this is a great choice. But if you know they’d rather have a scotch, mezcal or gin, invest in a tasty upgrade to what normally lives in their bar. This Ruinart NV costs about $100, Ruinart.com for stores.
No matter how well equipped your host’s kitchen may be, chances are their cheese presentation will be accompanied by a very odd assortment of cutlery that has nothing to do with cutting or serving the actual cheese. Save them future embarrassment by fitting them with a proper set of cheese knives. They come in every color, shape and material imaginable, and are relatively inexpensive. This very summery rattan treated set is $45 at HomeNature.com, a beautiful mail order store in Flatiron and Southampton.
We’ve noticed an influx of cocktail napkins with a very sharp lining, and we’ve seen them in action at parties in person. They’re always a hit with guests (but if not a hit with your host, minimal investment and very convenient). Hudson Grace has a fun selection, including the ones shown here, as well as other options, including Vodka Is Just Fun Water and I Have Mixed Drinks About Feelings. $19 for 50 napkins at hudsongracesf.com (on Bleecker Street in town and appearing at Sylvester & Co. Modern General in Sag Harbor this summer).
If you draw a blank on a gift for your host, but said host has a dog, your problem is solved. Just buy a (non-edible) but very cute treat for the dog. This, from Mr. Dog New York tends to last a lot longer than any other dog toy we’ve given away—it’s made of thick cotton fabric and features industrial-grade rope, as well as a whimsical illustration by Alessandra Olanow. $24 at MrDogNewYork.com
It’s billed as the “world’s first performance cooler,” and for good reason. Simply put: Tempo runs three times cooler than the competition and lasts longer. No ice. It will fit 36 cold cans of your favorite beverage in an almost entirely aluminum case that is significantly smaller than others for that type of volume. (If your cans are not cold, add their own ice packs. Case will fit 36, with packs). It’s also super lightweight, looks great and keeps hot food hot. There’s a lot of science and a patent or two behind this design. Everything is detailed on their website. From $395 at OysterCooler.com
We have come across many a guest bathroom that was sorely lacking. Examples include an abundance of mismatched mini-bottles of hotel shampoo and shower gel already congealed to the lack of a dryer. If you are a frequent guest who encounters this situation, we suggest that you make it your mission to better equip that space. A nice looking and smelling soap, shampoo or shower gel situation is a great place to start. Extra points for getting resources from their area. We love this particular option from Hudson Made. It contains rosemary and eucalyptus oil, is free of all the nasties and comes in a beautiful letterpress box. Many other flavors are available. $18 at HudsonMadeNY.com
Another gift he doesn’t like is coffee. We like to pick up from a local store or bakery, preferably something that isn’t normally in the host’s rotation. Jazz Hands, featured here, had us at hello. In addition to the cheeky name, it is a blend of five of the best coffee beans and delivers full-bodied flavor with low acidity. We can also attest that it makes a killer cold drink. Best yet, it and about a dozen other options from 2 Queens are baked upstate in Narrowsburg, New York. Not into coffee? Local tea and honey are also available both online and at their Narrowsburg cafe. $16 at 2QueensCoffee.com
There is a certain person who is really into card games, and for that person, deck collecting has apparently become a SOMETHING. In this situation, a gift should improve their everyday life, adding something special that they cannot boast about themselves. Which led us to this set, from Dear Annabelle. It features heavy gold foil cards that feel great in the hand, packaged in a cute box with a satin ribbon pull. Said box contains two custom-designed decks and costs $80 at DearAnnabelle.com
Arrive with this book as a gift for your host’s child, and then enjoy reading it for the rest of the weekend. In it, author Eleanor Spicer Rice reveals exactly why our pets do certain things and what those things mean. So many fun facts. You may know why your dog sniffs everything on a walk. But do you know why he/she drags his/her butt on the ground? Or why cats do that super-slow blinking thing? Or why parrots throw their food everywhere? All of this, and much more, is answered in this fun and funny book, which also features delightful illustrations by NYC’s own Rob Wilson. Our biggest takeaway: contrary to popular belief, goldfish have excellent memory. $17 at Amazon.com
Instead of getting into the “to light or not to light” gift debate, choose nice matches. We are seeing a lot of raider groups and we can get 100% behind them as gifts. These are hand poured concrete with a cork bottom and side impact pad. They come in eight colors, with 70 matches included, and are the brainchild of a cool family in Nashville (where they’re made). $24 at Anthropologie.com
We are told that there is no such thing as too much olive oil and that it is an auspicious gift. It works for foodies, it works for the dude who never turns on the oven, it works for the stealth wealth group (who have people turn on the oven for them). And you, as a guest, can easily make your gift of olive oil a very personal gift. Choose one from a favorite country or region, perhaps made by a friend or relative, and consider a flavored variety (Canaan offers chilli, basil, lemon and garlic) or something in particularly pretty packaging. From $24 at CanaanPalestine.com
Sometimes the conversation flows. Sometimes it’s a little late. And for those moments, decks of cards with specific questions aimed at stimulating conversation can be incredibly helpful and fun. It may take some research to choose the one that is best for the intended recipient because there really are so many options now. We have tried and enjoyed these from Bored Walk. They have different overall themes and, within theme, intensity ranges ranging from light to dark, so you can choose whatever seems appropriate for the crowd you’re with. From $28 at BoredWalk.com
Cocktail cutters, like cheese knives, are items that most hosts don’t own but could probably use. We don’t blame anyone for tossing an olive into a martini glass to get stuck at the bottom, but we’d rather celebrate our garnish of choice and do so in style. Long-ignored cocktail choices now come in a myriad of styles for a multitude of occasions. Best yet, they take up almost no storage space and are extremely re-giftable. West Elm currently has a nice selection, from horse shoes to snakes, leopards, surfers and divers featured here. $28 for a set of four at WestElm.com
Have a great weekend? You can, and probably will, post over and over again. But it is transient and ironically not very social. Give your host an instant camera and see what happens. This is clearly inspired by analogue, from its overall black and silver design to the way the film cartridge is inserted. It takes credit card-sized photos, automatically adjusts to available light, and has the now-necessary selfie mode. There is a box, but it is sold separately. From $99.95 at Amazon.com
#Give #gift #good #perfect #gifts #lady
Image Source : nypost.com