The “Experience” Gift Guide
They’ll rave about you for months! (maybe)
Welcome to Part 2 of my Christmas Gift Guide!
This Guide is part 2 of 3:
SILKY (gifts you can just buy)
SCRUNCHY (gifts that are experiences)
CRUNCHY (gifts you can make) coming next Friday!
Do you ever feel like when you see your friends, you just catch up on your lives (work, dating, aging parents) without experiencing anything new together? Ok maybe it’s just me. Obviously these are the dearest friends, which is why I’m sitting on their couch, a glass of wine in hand. Christmas might be an opportunity to shake things up. Instead of the gift of another fancy hand cream, how about an “experience” gift that’ll give you both something novel to yap about in the new year?
These recs do require more discretion on your part than hand cream. To evaluate the risk and reward, we’ll leave some hints to guide you along. None take up too much space, all have an element of learning, crafting, or experiencing something fresh—perhaps even together!
Private 1:1 Conversation Class 🧑💻🧑💻
They’re always talking about brushing up on their French
I highly recommend Natakallam, language learning powered by refugee talent and host communities. You get matched with a native speaker based on your interests and topics you wanna yap about, then schedule times to meet over Zoom. Probably best for a recipient who’s already somewhat conversational.
Languages available include Arabic, Armenian, Persian, Russian, Ukrainian, and more! I’ve had conversation classes in Levantine Arabic, but I would love to chit chat with someone in Spanish. You get to support a dignified livelihood, the class times are flexible, and at $16-25/hour, it’s cheaper than therapy.
Mushroom Growing Kit 🍄
For that fun guy in your life, hehe
Did you know that in Korean, Lion’s Mane is actually called Deer Booty Mushroom (노루궁뎅이버섯)? Lol sorry, I just wanted to share a cute pic. Somewhere in between lion’s mane and deer booty is an organic Polar Bear Mushroom Growing Kit ($30)!
A sweet gift for kids or home chefs, and most importantly, once they’ve eaten the mushrooms it won’t clutter up anyone’s home.
A New Board Game 🎲
They wanna play Codenames… again
I discovered Hues and Cues ($20) last month at a birthday party, and it was a hoot! A bit like Codenames for colors, except every round is interactive and you’re not on a team.
When it’s your turn, you pick a card with a color on it, and come up with a word to describe that color. Then each player places their cone on a color square on the board that they think is your color. Once you see their bids, you can use two words to help steer the players closer to the correct square. My first word was “Nerds,” then “grape juice” when I realized some players bid on pinks, haha. It’s every woman for herself, so there’s no anxiety about letting down competitive team members. And the little wooden player pieces are so cute!
On my wishlist: The Gang ($20) is a family-friendly, collaborative twist on Texas Hold’em. I found out about it on the board game newsletter Don’t Eat the Meeples: “Rather than trying to bluff your way toward claiming the strongest hand, you’re trying to work together to figure out the strength of each player’s hand.”
Lastly, my fave lil travel-sized card game, Monopoly Deal ($8), is a fast-paced exercise in capitalism and the landlord class… Nothing says I love you like smirking, “should’ve pulled yourself up by the bootstraps,” as you sweep property from those who can’t pay rent.
Embossing Label Maker 🏷️
They’re always threatening to get organized
My second-hand analog label maker is a prized possession, and whenever friends learn about it, they want a label too! It’s so rewarding to turn the wheel onto a letter, squeeze, and hear that satisfying click. Kids and adults both love it. Some things were just made better back in the day, so the luxe option is to find one second-hand.
This gold chrome model from Etsy is in pristine condition ($119) and most similar to mine. This label maker ($149) (and another ($35) from eBay are similar and look like they’re in great shape! For the collector, this one ($178) has a cursive font. Ugh, this is the kind of thing I would buy if I were rich.
If you can’t find a vintage model you love, DYMO embossing label maker ($15) on Amazon is the contemporary version. Don’t forget to add some embossing tape ($12)!
DIY Holiday Heirloom 🐶
They’re a pretty crafty dog person
This Holiday Dachshund Needlepoint ($65) from Greystone Needlepoint could be such a special heirloom, either for the recipient to stitch themselves or finished by you. Jessica Tongel handpaints the mesh so that embroidery is a stitch-by-color. It’s small enough that you could finish it in a few days, and could be framed or turned into an ornament. The Holiday Pug and Greyhound are also adorable.
Tickets to Performing Arts 🎭
They know all the lyrics to all the Hamilton songs
Who doesn’t love watching talented humans sing, leap and dance? Going to the movies is fun, but watching a show together is even more special, don’t you think? My favorite part is the drinks and debrief after.
This year my favorites were Merrily We Roll Along and Hell’s Kitchen. Oh, and I’m looking forward to seeing Oh! Mary with some girlfriends.
Print Subscription to Independent Journalism 📖
They are energized by new ideas
Lux Magazine is that girl. A socialist feminist mag with the most intriguing stories and photography. The print and digital subscription is only $35! The only problem with subscriptions is knowing what the recipient would love, yet isn’t subscribed to already… A fun idea could be to wrap a few physical zines and ask them to choose a subscription. Any recs?
A Bag Of Oysters and Shucking Lessons 🦪
A luxe gift for a festive gathering
Is there anything cooler than shucking oysters with ease? It’s a badass skill! After years of watching Youtube videos and practicing, Nour regularly shares his know-how with friends and family now. There’s something primitive yet so human about using a tool to extract a tasty treat.
Try the best-in-class R. Murphy New Haven shucking knife ($39) or a more affordable kit ($18) that includes steel gloves and a wood-handle knife.
If you don’t have a seafood dealer nearby, the Real Oyster Cult makes it easy to receive fresh oysters at home.
Museum Membership 🖼️
They have a favorite room at the museum
A gift I’ve given and received, being a museum member makes you feel like a patron of arts and culture.
I’d like to see the Flight Into Egypt exhibition at the Met: “Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now examines how Black artists and other cultural figures have engaged with ancient Egypt through visual art, sculpture, literature, music, scholarship, religion, politics, and performance.” It’s showing until February 17th, 2025!
The Met membership ($110) includes a +1, so you can plan to go together ;)
A Reusable Film Camera 📸
They are hopelessly nostalgic
You can buy vintage film cameras on eBay or Etsy that are pre-tested and guaranteed to work, starting at $20. I’ve ordered cameras from the ‘70s to the 2000s.
Some gifters are weird about second-hand gifts though. If you would’ve bought a disposable camera, consider this reusable Ilford Plastic Camera ($20) instead. For a few bucks more, the Kodak Ektar Half Frame Camera ($42) is artsy and takes double the number of photos.
We’re so accustomed to snapping on our phones nowadays, it’ll be kinda poignant to learn what your recipient will photograph on film! (They’ll either use up a roll in one night or take a whole year)
A Ticket to Ninja Warrior Day 🥷
They love competitive fitness shows like American Ninja Warrior or Physical100
This is such a funny thing to do with friends as adults, but it’s a blast every time. I go to Ferox Ninja Park’s Open Play ($27) in Greenpoint. You can go at your own pace and there are challenges for all abilities. Clapping for your gift recipient when they reach the top of the warped wall or jumping on a trampoline together is guaranteed to be a good time.
There’s a small possibility I might make some money if you purchase through clicking some of the links above.
Thanks for reading! Which gift would you be delighted to receive? Are you giving any “experience” gifts this year?
Next week I’ll share Part 3 of the Silky Crunch Gift Guide: gifts you can make! I’ll share three gifts that are truly easy to make at home. Look out for my luxurious flaxseed gel cream recipe and more.
Related:
Hues and Cues has replaced Codenames for me as the game that I want to play with anyone who comes over. It tells you so much about a person and you feel involved the entire time you’re playing. And I love seeing how different people experience color!
I buy vintage Dymo label makers whenever I find them and give them to friends. I am lucky enough to have the elusive cursive plate!