The Annual Holiday Gift Guide
Yes, it’s that time of year again. When you promise yourself things will be different, no last minute mad dash to the corner convenience store to get a gift and the only thing you find is a pine tree car freshener and a couple cans of Red Bull. We know you have all good intentions but time flies and before you know it happens again. Well, have no fear The Standard is here to help you take the guess work out of getting that perfect gift for that certain someone with our Annual Holiday Gift Guide. You are sure to find something here. Besides, think about the alternative. At least there is more than one flavor of Red Bull.
Light L16 Camera
Meet the world’s first multi-aperture computational camera. The Light L16 Camera uses breakthrough optics design with the most advanced imaging engine ever created to give you the control of a DSLR with the convenience of a smartphone. www.light.co
Do the Twist
Aerate your favorite vintage as you pour it into the decanter before the guests arrive, then again once you’re all ready to toast! Featuring a stainless steel base, dramatic curves allow up to half a bottle of wine to breathe as it travels in and out of this glass vessel, creating an eye-catching centerpiece for your tabletop.
www.wineenthusiast.com
Time to Get FIT
GPS-enabled fitness trackers are ideal for both cyclists and distance runners. Because GPS can pinpoint your location, you can expect accurate fitness data. Only one Fitbit wearable, the Fitbit Surge, has GPS built in. This is the most expensive Fitbit model available, as it is the most feature-rich. In addition to GPS, the Surge also monitors your heart rate, tells the time, and gives you call and text notifications. www.bestbuy.com
MixBook
Mixbook is the tool for photographers who want to make their own book. It syncs well with Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Photobucket, Picasa and SmugMug. Plus, it comes with a large library of highly appealing clip art. Comes with intelligent and intuitive interface that is easy to master. Great looking finished product every time. www.mixbook.com
Let the Force be with you
This is the Droid™ you’re looking for. Over the years, the magic of Star Wars™ has always lived on screen and in our imaginations. Meet BB-8™—the app-enabled Droid™ that’s as authentic as it is advanced. BB-8 has something unlike any other robot—an adaptive personality that changes as you play. Based on your interactions, BB-8 will show a range of expressions and even perk up when you give voice commands. It’s now possible to explore the galaxy with your own trusty Astromech Droid by your side. BB-8 is more than a toy—it’s your companion. www.amazon.com
Stay Connected to your Best Friend.
The Whistle Wireless Activity Monitor is an on-collar device that measures your dog’s activities, giving you a new perspective on day-to-day behavior and long-term health trends. Check in from your phone, share memorable moments with family and friends, and make informed decisions with your vet. Simply attach Whistle to your dog’s collar, download the Whistle mobile app on your device, and keep a close watch on your best friend. www.thewhistle.com
Molecular Gastronomy Kit
The next-level up from cooking classes—for the progressive friend—this at-home kit allows you to transform solids into liquids, turn fruits into jelly beads, and change solid chocolates into delicate powders. Molecular mixology kit. www.uncommongoods.com
Grapeology
The World’s Only Personalized Wine Club.Each month we’ll make new recommendations for you based on your Palate Profile. Go with our suggestions or make your own selections from our ever-changing assortment. Exceptional wines starting at $13/bottle. A Club W monthly Experience starts at 3 bottles a month for $39 + $6 flat rate shipping. Club W covers shipping on orders of 6 or more bottles! www.clubw.com
One Stop Shop
A Trunk Club gift card is more than just access to great clothes. Every Trunk Club member has a personal stylist who handpicks a selection of premium men’s clothing based on that member’s preferences. Shipping is free both ways, with 10 days to try everything on and make returns. Best part is, there is no extra cost for Trunk Club’s services, and he pays only for what he keeps.
Starting at $100.00 at TrunkClub.com
True Wireless
The Google Nexus Player is like a Chromecast, except it doesn’t need your phone or tablet to work. It includes a simple remote with voice search, a powerful processor and fast wireless networking, all while supporting a wide range of apps and games so you keep your phone in your pocket. www.google.com
Put Your Best Face Forward
The perfect mix to kick-start your skincare routine. Formulated with the finest natural ingredients at high concentrations to deliver visible results.
Kit includes: Ultra Facial Cleanser, Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate Ultra Facial Cream, Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado, Midnight Recovery Concentrate. www.kiehls.com
Modern Bear Travel Guide
“Guide for the Modern Bear” – a pop culture-inspired hybrid guide to the gay Bear community and its characters, as well as a fun, sexy, and hip travel guide focused on the bear lifestyle and modernist community in fourteen cities across the USA and Europe. www.modernbear.net
Wallflower no more!
Give that special someone the gift of dance with a gift certificate from Step By Step Dance Studio. Receive personalized and specialized teaching that is necessary to achieve your dancing goals stressing the importance of technique and style of dances. Private lessons available by appointment. www.stepbystepps.com
Putting on The Ritz
The zig zags will secure your spot as best dressed this holiday season. The Barney Blazer features a high spirited graphic black and white jacquard with a bit of metallic for extra shine. www.mrturk.com
Alexa is Here
With the smartphone and Wi-Fi integration, the Amazon Echo is the perfect Christmas gift for the techy people on your list who can’t put their smartphones down. With Alexa at their disposal, they can detach from their phones while still maintaining control over their environments. They can change the playlist without leaving the kitchen. They can set a timer before washing their hands. They can ask for cooking tips without looking at a screen. They can text their friends, lock their doors, adjust their thermostat and dim their lights. All from their bed. All with nothing more than their voice. www.amazon.com
Ease on Down the Road
Some are pleased to call the DreamWalker a real-life equivalent of Marty McFly’s hoverboard from the “Back to the Future” movies. It certainly has that look and feel, and you may feel like you’re zipping around the streets of Hill Valley once you learn how to use it. However, it doesn’t operate like a hoverboard or even a skateboard. It’s probably best described as a Segway without the handlebars. No matter what you call it, the DreamWalker is a great idea for the gadget head on your Christmas gift list. www.amazon.com
Hanging Candleholders
Light up the season with these hand-blown glass candleholders. Hang them alone or group several together for a shimmering chandelier effect. www.cb2.com
Whiskey Carafe
These carafes are great for the person who likes a stiff drink at the end of a long day. Looking for a gift for a teetotaler, the smaller versions are perfect for olive oil and vinegar. www.westelm.com
Sip Local, Brew Global
Explore a world of flavor without ever leaving the comfort of your favorite chair. Your passport is this international set of ten, single-estate, loose leaf teas. Both a great introduction for the tea novice and a journey off the beaten path for the connoisseur, the assortment offers a taste of the wide variety that tea has to offer. From the chestnut aroma of Long Jing green tea, to the mix of bancha tea and roasted rice found in Genmaicha, there are plenty of delights to explore. The set comes with 10 tubes of tea, each with enough leaves to brew a 6-8 cup pot, as well has an informative book full of background information and brewing tips. www.uncommongoods.com
These Glasses Really Sing
Our Musical Wine Glasses have saved many a flagging party. They turn the sophisticated pleasures of wine drinking into an experience that’s musical, memorable, and above all, fun. Just fill our goblet to the desired note, and run your moistened finger around the rim of the glass. Soon, like a bow on the strings of a violin, your finger will cause the glass to vibrate, and a crystal-clear note will sound. Soon everyone will be trying it, and if you have enough glasses, you may be in for a real concerto.
Resting Those Baby Blues
The Wireless Eye Massager with Soothing Sounds uses a combination of intelligent air pressure, vibration massage, point massage and gentle infrared heat to soothe away stress, strain and aches. Just slip it on after a hard day… it rubs, presses, warms and massages your entire ocular region, to rejuvenate tired eyes. It even has built-in speakers and prerecorded nature sounds to help you relax. The unique 180 degree foldable design gives you a great fit and easy storage. www.sharperimage.com
Underwater Adventure on your Tabletop
This set comes with everything you need for a jellyfish habitat: the tank, air pump and valves, hydrometer, substrate, feeding pipette, and even a color-changing LED with remote control so your Squishy looks super cool.
The one thing it doesn’t come with right away? The jellyfish. So what you’ll get in your kit is a voucher. Go to the jellyfish website listed, pop in your voucher code, and one very special Moon Jellyfish will be shipped to your door overnight for no additional charge. (An Arrive Alive Guarantee also backs it.) www.wethinkgeek.com
Blow Up Your Phone
Watching the neighbors’ vacation slides on the walls of their wood paneled basement just got a high tech upgrade. This retro projector accommodates any phone up to 3 x 5.5 inches and displays your videos, photos, or text on the wall for all to see.
Explore the Magic of Chocolate
The human enjoyment of chocolate dates from before the time of the Olmecs, Mayans, Aztecs, and Incans. More than 3000 years ago, folks in Mexico, Central, and South America discovered the joyous and healthful properties of the cacao plant. Alas, though, most of the things we know as chocolate today are processed so much with sugar and chemicals, that much of the healthy (and delicious) goodness of cacao is lost. Time to return to the past – the true roots of chocolate; time to taste chocolate as it was when Christopher Columbus (one of the first Europeans to every sample the stuff) first had a sip of Aztec liquid chocolate. Get ready to take a journey through all-natural chemistry to a time when chocolate was chocolate. Get ready for The Chocolution Exploration Kits. www.thestore.com
Pen Sized Scanner
This is the ballpoint pen that laser-scans documents as easily as it scribes notes. A high-precision auto-focus lens and 5-megapixel sensor built into the pen scan letters, recipes, or important documents as crisp, clear 2048 x 1536 pixel images. Pressing the shutter button halfway projects a visible red laser frame onto a document, and the pen automatically focuses the image just before the picture is taken. Captures up to 300 images after a one-hour charge via USB. Compatible with Mac OS X, Windows 7, Vista, and XP. www.hammacher.com
Fighter Pilot for a Day
Make their Top Gun dreams a reality! They’ll be doing dog fighting, rolls, and soaring through the air. Our flight instructors are almost all ex-military, and several hail from some of the most prestigious flight training schools in the armed forces. www.cloudnineliving.com
iSketchnote
Get the artist in your life the iSketchnote and they’ll be able to sketch on paper and have their sketches instantly transferred to a digital medium. Great for sketches on the go, or for those important projects that you want to keep a record of on a computer or other device. www.iskn.co
