2020 Holiday Gift Guide

FOOD AND DRINK

Socially Distanced and Satisfied: The Yeti V Series Hard Cooler makes sure that outdoor dinner party guests remain hydrated—and that the beer stays cold. This stainless-steel cooler holds up to 46 cans (with ice) and features a deep-seal plug that renders it both leakproof and easy to drain. It will also come in handy to store food from the freezer if a snowstorm knocks out power lines. $800 at yeti.com

Bubbly Break: “Please serve yourself” takes on new meaning with this Moët & Chandon champagne vending machine, which you can stock with 360 chilled mini-bottles of bubbly and personalize with the lucky recipient’s name. $35,000 at horchow.com

Fresh Pasta Makes It All Better: Book Luca and Lorenzo for a private online cooking class for up to 100 people. Everyone will have a blast learning how to make ravioli and four other pasta shapes from two Italian brothers’ nonna’s recipe. You can also make southern lasagna or tiramisù. From $390 at airbnb.com/experiences  

No More Wine-ing: Let’s be honest: COVID has taken a toll on our wine reserves, and a fully stocked wine fridge will likely come in handy for some time. The Ivation 46-bottle dual-zone glass and stainless-steel wine cooler will look sleek in any room and will keep reds and whites at just the right temperature. $700 at amazon.com

Global Nosh: For the foodie in your life: Snack Crate will deliver a monthly box of nibbles filled to the brim with treats from all over the world. Past boxes have included selections from Russia, Hawaii, and Korea. Your gift recipients may not be able to read the labels, but they’ll love the contents. About $40/month at snackcrate.com

Honey Bee: Savannah Bee Company aims to change the way people view honey by educating about the crucial importance of honeybees—while providing some of the tastiest products around. The honey flute classic is a good starter gift for that sweet someone in your life. $28 at savannahbee.com

CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES

Bling Box: Know someone who keeps dozens of precious jewelry trinkets stacked in little boxes on various shelves and dressers? The Caroline extra-large jewelry case by Wolf offers an elegant place to store them all. It has 43 compartments lined with specially treated fabric to protect contents against tarnishing. It also comes with two travel cases to make it easy to safely take favorite baubles on the road. $755 at wolf1834.com

Puff Ball: If the word “Woolrich” makes you think of your grandfather, you haven’t seen the company’s latest offerings, which include clothing and outerwear that is now as chic as it is durable. This Birch down jacket comes in four colors and will keep your chilliest friends warm and cozy—even when the temperature drops below zero. $695/month at woolrich.com

Cash Counts: Luxury lovers will appreciate the beautiful lines of Louis Vuitton’s Brazza leather wallet. It comes with five compartments to keep cash currencies sorted, 17 card slots, and a large zipped coin pocket. $850 at louisvuitton.com

It’s About Time: This elegant, lockable leather case by Bey-Berk can wind four watches while storing five more, guaranteeing that the watch lover in your life will always be right on time. About $420 at saksoff5th.com

TECHNOLOGY

Ever Efficient: Who needs cables? Belkin’s three-in-one wireless charging station will keep an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods powered up. And it will charge right through most phone cases. $113 at amazon.com

Good Morning: The Philips SmartSleep alarm clock will wake sleepers gently and leave them feeling refreshed. A built-in tracker measures bedroom light, noise, and humidity levels and gives recommendations for improving sleep, and the alarm clock doubles as a light therapy lamp that mimics a gentle sunrise. $170 at amazon.com

Knots No More: Don’t knock a portable massage mat until you’ve tried it. We love the Zyllion Shiatsu back and neck massager, which fits perfectly on most chairs, has three speeds and heat, and does the trick almost as well as the real thing. $190 atzyllion.com

‘Hi, It’s Rosie O’Donnell.’: Cameo allows you to commission a personalized video message for that someone in your life who is a fan of a particular actor, politician, model, sports figure, or other celebrity. Most of them are C-list or below, but we spotted at least a few whose video shout-outs would make us smile. From about $50 at cameo.com

Lights On: Keep a city-slicker cyclist safe with the Street helmet by Lumos. It offers 360-degree lighted visibility and features built-in turn signals and brake lights. $200 at lumoshelmet.co

KID STUFF

Smart Baby: Dozens of monthly box subscriptions are available for kids, but many that we’ve tried arrive filled with junk. What a delight, then, to discover Lovevery for our little ones. The thoughtfully curated boxes—meant for children up to age three—are filled with beautiful learning toys made of wood and organic cotton and are designed to inspire young and developing minds. Starting at $120/kit at lovevery.com

Dino-Mite: Looking for a gift that will brighten up rainy days in quarantine? Check out the six-piece dinosaur modeling set by AllwaySmart. It includes plastic molds and ample clay, giving kids the freedom to create a purple T-Rex with blue and red spots or whatever their imaginations dream up. $22 at amazon.com

Bizarro Cacti!: Succulents are great starter plants for kids because they’re prehistoric looking and easy to care for. We recommend Succulents Box, which even has a selection called “weirdos.” You can order plants with names like “Paper Spine Cactus Tephrocactus” and “Crassula Red Pagoda Shark Tooth.” Say that five times fast! From $6/plant atsucculentsbox.com

Sashimi Starter: Get your kids to crave spicy tuna rolls as much as you do with this 24-piece wooden set by Melissa & Doug. About $20 at nordstrom.com

Metamorphosis: Children of all ages will enjoy watching the day-to-day process of caterpillars turning into butterflies via the Insect Lore Butterfly Garden. The kit arrives with five live baby caterpillars, food, and a pop-up clear habitat for easy observation. $36 at amazon.com

HOME DECOR

Iridescent Sculpture: This irregularly shaped vase from the Museum of Modern Art makes a perfect gift for anyone on your list. It comes in two sizes and will add a stunning touch to any home, with or without flowers. $30 (small) or $70 (large) atstore.moma.org

Link: https://store.moma.org/for-the-home/home/vases/irregular-crystal-vase/200490-200490.html

Petal Power: A customized monthly flower delivery will brighten up a loved one’s day long after the holiday season has passed, and we adore Bouqs’s direct-from-the-farm selections. Starts at $36/month at bouqs.com

Give ’Em the World: If you think the world of your friends, why not give ’em the world? A Mova globe, which sits on a plastic base, rotates on its axis, powered solely by the light in a room—no batteries or wires needed. It looks like magic, and it’s available in five sizes and with more than 40 designs. From $160 at movaglobes.com