It’s that time of year: the unveiling of the best gift guide in the podcast multiverse (we like to think). Part 1 stars your most charming—and trickiest—partners, parents, and grandparents. Next week, tune in for part 2, and, in the meantime, dig into the ol’ present-paralysis back catalogue.

Husbands and Boyfriends!

42-year-old male. Recently started dating. Lawyer. Dad. World traveler. Cyclist. Just bought a new house. Moved back to the area (Philly) from upstate new york. photographer. reader. avid home cook. knows a Parisian knot. loves a good meal out. linen shirt wearer. loafers/boat shoes with shorts kind of guy. Enjoys wine and cocktails. catholic raised. city dweller. nerdy and thoughtful.

Linoto linen boxers
Artemis loafers
Stranger’s Guide Fellow Travelers Club
Arabica coffee plant
Photodom photography-themed Croc Jibbitz (Or really anything from Photodom—they have a cute gift guide on their site.)
Ghiaia cashmere
La Salumina Amatriciana kit
Rapha cycling backpack
Tiptop cocktails
Depths of Wikipedia tickets—NYC live show on 12/14 or Pittsburgh show on 12/16—or mug
Donation to TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image’s teen photo program in Philly

Husband who thinks he's outdoorsy but hasn't been camping in decades.

Bluefeel Kruca camping fan
Gramicci gadget shorts or pants
Battenwear bouldering pants
1733 duffle
An actual camping weekend for next summer for him—a lot of places book a year or 9 months in advance. Recs: Hither Hills State Park and Assateague Island.
Getaway House gift certificate
Wildsam National Parks or Road Trip guides
Donation to a local preservation organization, like, say, Save the Boundary Waters in MN
REI outdoor skills classes

Husband who owns a ceramics company and has an eye for design.

Courier mag subscription
Dusen Dusen for MoMA Subu slippers
Quark pegboard for his office or studio
Carson Converse small-format quilts
Glass-blowing or leather-working class
Sight Unseen book How to Live With Objects
Donation to People’s Pottery Project

Wives and Girlfriends!

Chronically ill wife with long-covid 2.5 years, doesn't like surprises, and in bed most days. loves sports, her friends, sitting in the park, and a great deal.

Nocs Provisions binoculars—they did a cool collab with the Native artist Amelia Winger-Bearskin that includes a strap
Cliq portable chairs
Vintage Masters golf gear, like this eighties ringer tee or this nineties hat)
WNBA custom jersey
Offhours home coat

Grandparents!

My 90-year-old grandma who refuses hearing aides because we don't visit enough and lives off of chipotle and chips.

My mostly home-bound grandma. Loves her tomato plants, vitamins, and Bob Barker.

Flamingo Estate roma heirloom tomato candle
Nonna’s Grocer tomato famiglia candle set
Bordallo Pinheiro tomate apertifs plate—or lamp!
If you have kids who she can share it with: Tomatoes for Neela by Padma Lakshmi
1986 Price Is Right board game
Come on Down sweatshirt
Chronically Chic pill organizer for her vitamins

Moms, Stepmoms, and Mothers-In-Law!

My mom is my white whale: needs nothing, no guilt in buying herself things she wants. Hates Christmas but derives joy from getting to complain about it. Good cook with a global palette (has all the gadgets she approves of and a long list of gadgets she does not endorse), news junkie, reads a lot. 61, both of my parents are retired, lives in the Pacific Northwest. Has taste but no style, hates clutter. Buys her clothes at Costco. Drinks nice wine that she also buys at Costco. Thinks art is stupid (I am an artist). She's very funny but she really leans into her brand of "antisocial curmudgeon." Successful gifts in the past were an NYtimes subscription and a fancy amaryllis bulb that she can text me about and shame it for blooming the wrong time of year. I try to veer towards consumables. She can also appreciate a handmade ceramic (functional, not decorative).

Masienda tortilla starter kit (with Dona Rosa tortilla press) and the companion Masa cookbook
Diaspora Co. chai kit
Talbott and Arding cheese club subscription
Yun Hai dried fruit—there’s a gift set
Omsom IYKYK shaker set
NYT Spelling Bee hat
Hadley & Bennett apron
Roz Chast books, like What I Hate from A to Z, or Roz Chast wall art
Rachael Pots functional ceramics
Ikebana bowl & bulb from Utility Objects (could pair with fancy Japanese floral scissors)

My mom: She always asks for electronics and then ends up not being able to figure them out - or just doesn't use them. Want to get her something meaningful she will use.

1Password membership
Lomi composter
M0de electric toothbrush
Aarke water purifier

Stepmother-in-law who is a spiritual counselor in Colorado. Obviously vegan.

Mother In Law - has more clothes than Nordstrom. Lives alone but her party line is always ringing.

Bitossi set of 6 wineglasses
Gohar World bottle apron
Casa Velasquez bolero apron
Gossamer Happy Hour hemp pre-rolls
Conserva Culture tinned fish gift set
Snacks for Dinner: Small Bites, Full Plates, Can't Lose by Lukas Volger
McNally Jackson seminar
Custom sweater mending from Repair Shop
“Come Over” hat from Big Night
Dress for Success donation

This one is for my five-foot-tall Italian American mother in law who has the thickest New York accent I've ever heard and could be described as "a tiny tank" in both stature and personality. she lives on Long Island and has access to everything; also tends to buy herself whatever she wants. so she's extremely hard to gift for. Whatever we give should probably be a physical gift vs. an experience. she is very judgmental and critical and not warm and fuzzy - but she has also had the difficult task of being a single parent to two kids, one of whom, my SIL, is living at home with significant physical and intellectual disabilities and who my MIL devotes all her time to - my SIL is so well taken care of. Looking for a gift that somehow recognizes/responds to all of this.

Unspun gift kit
Ipsa, depending on part of Long Island
House cleaning from We Can Do It! – Si Se Puede Women's Cooperative (only operates in the five boroughs)
Missoni Home blanket
Roscioli Italian wine club
Marcella’s favorites gift set from Gustiamo

Mom and her husband just bought a boat. So something nautical or for small space living.

Year of Knots by Windy Chien
Malaika hand-printed beach towels
Personalized life saver buoy (U.S. Coast Guard-approved!)
Salty Home tide clock
Framed nautical flags
Haptic Lab sailing ship kite
Petit Kouraj x SVNR tote fishnet seashell tote
Issimo inflatable mini terrycloth pillow
Ingredients for a session dark ‘n stormy
Donation to The Ocean Cleanup

Mother-in-law who is the solo living grandparent to our 4-year-old and Buddhist priest who wants nothing but time with us. However, she is always a generous and thoughtful gift-giver so I can't just give her time. She is a tea lover but you can imagine how much tea I've already given her. She has a dog, loves the color periwinkle, and spends a lot of time on Zoom with her Sangha. She's forever 'writing a book' and loves getting on board with a system (for writing, for organizing, whatever). Help!

Joyoung soy milk machine
Daruma doll holding a dog
Dog ball launcher
MQuan Bell
Rice xax candles for meditation
Mountain Valley Seed Company seed starter kit medicinal & herbal tea
Books to read with the grandkid: Jon J. Muth’s The Three Questions and Zen Shorts and Thich Nat Hanh’s Where is the Buddha? and A Handful of Quiet
Lena Corwin peace towel + matching kid-size one for the grandkid
Scrivener subscription

Dads, Step-Dads, and Fathers-in-Law!

My dad, who is a retired chef (he still has knives from 40 years ago that he painstakingly cares for and finds most home kitchens to be very pretentious), can build/fix anything, loves to read non-fiction, and was suspended from Twitter frequently for tweeting insults at Donald Trump

The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow
Peeko oysters
Sitka Salmon Share
Cabi original trio
Vintage RAADVAD bread slicer
Manufacture de Digoin vinegar jar to make his own vinegar
Milk Street Turkish közmatik
Donation to his local food bank

Mid 60's Frenchman who lives in Alsace with his wife and they travel a lot in their RV. they are also coming to the states next spring on a cross-country RV trip so I really think it should revolve around that. but more about him- he doesn't drink or smoke (some Frenchman he is) when we would drive to Florida once a year he would always be so excited to get to put on Latin American music on the radio. last year we got him a record player and records that I am 100% sure he doesn't use. he loves scrabble and card games, and he builds these badass card holders out of wood that he then does wood-burning personalized deco on. he has everything he wants and he wears lee jeans.

Neepa Hut food tent
Camping chair from Cliq, Woods, or Blue Ridge Chair Works
Penco box tote
Papier travel journal
National Parks pass
Personalized leatherbound America: National Parks Atlas (from PBS shop)

Dad who enjoys perfecting logistics and explaining credit card point strategy.

Former CIA and green beret but loves appletinis and bubble baths.

Straightaway Cocktails
Bathing Culture body wash
Sophie Lou Jacobsen martini glasses
Esker bath board
Avec x Atelier Saucier bundle of cocktail napkins + drink mixers + garnishes + recipes

I need help finding a gift for my picky and hard-working lawyer Dad. He loves outdoor adventures, Neil Young, doing puzzles with my Mom, and reading. My parents recently became part-time New Yorkers and keep buying art museum memberships. He loves to do research before purchasing anything and tends to buy whatever he wants. My Mom is a chronic shopper, so he usually has multiples of whatever he confesses to liking - Ugg slippers, Jack Black face wash, William Henry knives. He is a big guy and doesn’t fit into standard S-L sizes. He also doesn’t drink alcohol or coffee. In the past, he has disliked gifts that involve more labor (i.e. a smoker, a drone). I am not opposed to making a donation in his name, but my family’s love language is gifts and I would need to accompany a donation with something for him to unwrap. Per Claire’s request for dental records, he lost his front teeth as a kid playing Pee Wee football. He broke his fake set in a fight the day of his junior prom and attended the dance sans front teeth. He is so fun and deserves a great gift. Last year, I got him a Storyworth membership and he loved it (thanks for the recommendation!) I am hoping for a repeat success. Also, he is a January birthday, so I could use multiple ideas. Please help!

Birding Bob walk in Central Park, plus a donation or membership to Wild Bird Fund
Tickets to a Happy Medium art class
Day at the spa at Governor’s Island
Joyce Gold tour
Fancy pajamas from P. Le Moult
Todd Snyder x New Era nubby Yankees cap (see also:Dodgers, Cubs, and Red Sox hats)
MoMA Design Store has great puzzle selection. Also: this Neil Young jigsaw puzzle and Different Puzzles, which are fun and *challenging*

Wisconsin Father in Law who likes sports. End of list.

Lambeau Field stadium tours
Depending on his teams, gear from a previous stadium—signs and even seats that go up for sale
ChamberlainMade keyboard sticker
Wisconsin hoodie ornament
MLB Validation Pass-Port
Wisconsin tri logo tee/sweatshirt
Donation to Special Olympics Wisconsin

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Gift Guide Part 1: Partners, Parents, and Grandparents

A Thing or Two with Claire and Erica