Saturday, December 3, 2016
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2 — Saturday, December 3, 2016
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
The Winchester Star
Ideas for ‘those who have it all,’ especially parents By JENNY BAKER The Winchester Star
WINCHESTER — Socks. Towels. A Chia Pet. These items, while practical (or humorous) are probably not at the top of your parent’s wish list. They have ever ything. So sure, it’s practical to give them something, well, practical — something they will use, like towels or socks. But what do parents really want? We decided to ask local residents for gift ideas. Here’s what they suggest.
Photography Sentimental to the core, you can never go wrong with a gift of photography in some sense. Whether it’s a gift certificate for an upcoming family portrait session, a beautifully framed family photo from the summer’s beach vacation, or a thoughtful photo album edited and assembled by you — this most personal gift was the most recommended gift in our unofficial survey. “I know my parents deserve the world, but anything I can afford to buy them they already have, and the things they don’t treat themselves to I can’t afford,” said Julie Napear, owner of Julie Napear Photography. “Great photos of their children and
Photo courtesy of Lauri Bridgeforth
Local photographer Lauri Bridgeforth says that photos of places important to the recipient grandchildren are the one thing that they content, and then designed the groupings to can’t get easily on their own, I know they’ll fit the exact space where they would hang. love, and will be appreciated for years to I then met with him to install the work as come. Often, adult siblings will share the well,” she said. cost of the session to make it an affordable Photography, unlike other forms of art, gift for everyone.” can be sized to fit anywhere, she said. Besides the gift of a photo itself, think “An 11x14 print on a large expanse of outside the frame to a galler y wall inwall will look small and lost, but I can reprostallation — be it a collection of famiduce my imagery to exact size and proporly photos or scenic photos taken by the tions so that it looks great in any location.” photographer. Local photographer Lauri Bridgefor th, owner of Full Frame Pho Favorite restaurants tography in Winchester, recently worked or a weekend away with one client who did just that. The idea of treating your parents to a “I met with the client, measured the walls special outing was another recommended where he wanted artwork, took into account the lighting sources nearby, let him pick the idea. Do they have a favorite restaurant that
make a great gift. they don’t often get to? Buy them a gift card to that restaurant, and if it is a place out of town, have a sibling make a stay at a boutique hotel or bed and breakfast part of the gift. A fun way to give a gift certificates is to put it in a larger box filled with packing peanuts or tissue paper — that way, they won’t be able to initially figure out it’s a gift certificate. Or, print off the menu, get a brochure or rack card of the locations, and package it together in a gift basket with some of their favorite bottles of wine, luxury soaps, gourmet peanuts and snacks, which they could take with them to the hotel.
See Parents, Page 3
The Winchester Star
Parents
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2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
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from Page 2 Spa experience
The productions [at Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre] are outstanding and if you do the season subscription your gift lasts all summer.
Speaking of luxur y — the gift of a spa gift certificate would be well-received. Along with massages, pedicures many spas offer hot stone treatments, facials and mud wraps.
Theater Another idea that was recommended is to get the hard to buy for tickets to an upcoming show or season passes to a theater that they enjoy frequenting, which is what Scott Shendow of Winchester does each year for his parents. “Season passes to Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre makes a great gift for those who are hard to shop for, especially parents who don’t need more stuff,” he said. “The productions are outstanding and if you do the season subscription your gift lasts all summer.”
— Scott Shendow Photo by C. King Photography, courtesy of Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre
helpful. Likewise, if there is a landscaping project that has been on their list for a few years, that would make a great gift. If paying for the ser vice is too costly, round up the family and set aside one weekend in the spring to dedicate to the project. If you go this route, create a handmade or computer-generated “gift certificate” to be cashed in by them whenever they are ready to schedule it. Besides the gift of a beautiful lawn, you would be giving the gift of quality family time as well. This idea can also be used towards a project in the house that they could use help with.
Yard work If your parents are older and could use some extra help around the house or yard, another recommendation was a gift certificate for landscaping service. Getting their yard in shape for the Spring with fresh mulch, plantings, and edging would be very
Season tickets to the theater is a great gift idea for those who ‘have it all.’
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4 — Saturday, December 3, 2016
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
The Winchester Star
Jewelry tops many gift lists; tips for the gift-giver By JENNY BAKER The Winchester Star
WINCHESTER — Jewelry — it’s a popular choice as a gift, but it’s also a rather personal gift. The question going through the gift-givers mind: Will they like it? When unsure of what to buy, turn to your local jeweler for help. First, state your budget. It’s the best place to start, and when the jeweler knows what you are working with, they can better narrow down their selection. Next, consider the recipient’s style. “We make suggestions — what do they already have? What does he like?” said Pat Kirby, owner of Anna Quinn Jeweler on Valley Avenue in Winchester. Take note of whether she wears mostly silver or gold jewelr y. Do her jewelr y choices trend more traditional and classic, contemporary, or trendy? If she wears one necklace every day that is special to her, you may want to consider another piece instead — like a bracelet or earrings. Bruce Nolan, owner of Silver Cloud Jew-
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We make suggestions — what do they already have? What does he like? — Pat Kirby owner of Anna Quinn Jeweler
elry on the Loudoun Street Mall, says he often sees male customers who are unsure of what to buy. “When folks are not certain what they want, what we do with the guys is we determine what best suits the person they are buying for,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of edgy jewelry,” he said. “It’s something that would suit most people who would come in.” Another idea is to consider jewelry that would remind her of a special time in your life — like the location of your honeymoon or another favorite trip. Christian Caine De-
See Jewelry, Page 5
JENNY BAKER/The Winchester Star
Christian Caine Design in The George Washington Hotel carries travel-inspired jewelry.
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Jewelry
Saturday, December 3, 2016 — 5
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
from Page 4
sign inside The George Washington Hotel designs jewelry inspired by locales, from Capri, Paris, Rome, Venice, and more. Designer Christopher Rankin, who studied under Van Cleef & Arpels’ head designer Robert Ahrens, draws inspiration from architectural details discovered during his travels to Europe, which he then turns into designs for necklaces, earrings, and rings. He also does custom design for a truly unique gift. For more travel-inspired jewelr y, stop into Silver Cloud. They offer a distinctive line, the Southern Gates Collection, inspired by the ornamental ironwork found across the southern United States, Another benefit of shopping with a local
Pat Kirby, owner of Anna Quinn Jeweler, selects a unique ring for a customer. She says that shopping with a local jeweler ensures great service and unique selection. JENNY BAKER/The Winchester Star
New Arrivals!
ABOVE: Silver Cloud Jewelry’s Southern Gates collection is popular. LEFT: Unique design is what you’ll find at Anna Quinn. jeweler, besides excellent ser vice and expert knowledge, is the selection. “You get one-of-a-kind pieces you don’t see in every store in the mall,” Kirby said. “A lot of our vendors come from New York to see us here. They do unique designs and smaller quantities.” When in doubt, go classic. Kirby has a recommendation: “Diamond studs — they go with everything.”
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6 — Saturday, December 3, 2016
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
The Winchester Star
Books for everyone on your gift list By JENNY BAKER The Winchester Star
WINCHESTER — Haven’t gotten started yet on your holiday shopping? We’ve got just the place you can start — your neighborhood bookstore. With thousands of books on every topic imaginable, crossing generations of readers from “one to ninety-two”… you’ll easily be able to find a book for everyone on your list. “Books make great gifts because people tend to save them. After reading, they’ll put them on their bookshelf, remembering the giver each time they pass by,” said Pat Saine, owner of Blue Plate Books on Valley Avenue. “It is very different than our current digital culture where the latest gadget, program, or game is quickly superseded and then tossed or updated,” he said. “Good books don’t undergo planned obsolescence. Some of the prettiest books in our store are our leather-bound classics.” Blue Plate Books only stocks used, vin-
tage and out-of-print books; it has about 6,500 different titles on hand. For new releases, visit the Winchester Book Gallery on the Loudoun Street Mall. We asked both Saine and Christine Michaels, owner of the Winchester Book Galler y, for gift recommendations for friends and family on your list.
History lover Visit both shops for the best selection of books for the history lover on your list. In addition to new releases, you may be able to score a unique, out-of-print find. “The oldest book in our store is ‘Origins Juridicales,’ an important law history book from 1671,” Saine said. “Local history always makes a great gift: Winchester author Jerry Holsworth’s book “Stonewall Jackson and Winchester, Virginia” is a favorite. So are the now out-of-print “Virginia Civil War Battles and Leaders Series” that detail the First, the Second, the Third, and the Last Battle of
See Books, Page 7
JENNY BAKER/The Winchester Star
Books on gardening, cooking, dogs in art, beer and cocktails are some of the books you’ll find at The Winchester Book Gallery on the Loudoun Street Mall.
The Winchester Star
Books
from Page 6 Winchester.” Michaels recommends two recent releases: “American Revolutions: A Continental History 1750-1804” by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Alan Taylor, takes a new look at and recasts our thinking about America’s founding period. “Big History” by DK is the first fully integrated visual reference for general readers, placing humans in the context of our universe, from the Big Bang to virtual reality.
The foodie Got a avid chef or foodie in the family? There are many books that will tempt their palate. In “Art of the Pie: A Practical Guide to Homemade Crusts, Fillings, and Life” by Kate McDermott and Andrew Scrivani, you’ll learn to make pies from a renowned teacher of the craft. Also consider “Appetites: A Cookbook”, the first cookbook in more than 10 years from New York Times best-selling author and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain. Another way to go is to look for vintage cookbooks. “Moms especially like our vintage cookbook section: they’ll find an older cookbook
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Fiction lover
A new release the travel bug on your list may appreciate is “Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders” by Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras, and Ella Morton. The tome (481 pages) celebrates unknown and curious destinations around the globe, like the glowworm caves in New Zealand to a baobob tree in South Africa that is so large it houses a pub inside that can seat 15 people. Besides the descriptions, you’ll find hundreds of photographs, charts and maps. Another great travel tome is the newly-re-
Saine has a unique suggestion for the mystery lover. “We’re encouraging people shopping for mystery lovers to pick up a paperback classic by Earle Stanley Gardner of Perry Mason fame,” he recommended. “The titles ‘The Case of the Lucky Legs,’ ‘The Case of the Haunted Husband,’ ‘The Case of the Perjured Parrot’ for example, and the sometimes pulpy covers of these mass market gems are truly fun.” For your mom or sister, consider the new release “Faithful,” by Alice Hoffman. It’s a soul-searching stor y about the journey of
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For the spirits lover, a new book on craft cocktails or beer will be a welcomed find under the tree. They’ll find more than 350 drink recipes in “The Essential New York Times Book of Cocktails” by Steve Reddicliffe. In “Complete IPA: The Guide to Your Favorite Craft Beer” author Joshua M. Bernstein tells them ever ything they need to know about their favorite brew.
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Saturday, December 3, 2016 — 7
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
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leased third edition of “The Travel Book: A Journey Through Ever y Countr y in the World” by Lonely Planet. It features 850 images and details on 230 countries plus a few principalities and dependencies.
Sports (and photography) fan Gail Buckland brings us “Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History, 1843 to the Present,” which features the work of 165 sports photographers, more than 280 images of great action photographs, portraits, athletes off the field and behind the scenes, practicing, working out and more. It is credited as the first book to show the range, cultural importance, and aesthetics of sports photography.
8 — Saturday, December 3, 2016
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
The Winchester Star
1. PUZZLE SCRAMBLE SQUARES, $9.99, Thinker Toys 2. HANDMADE AMETHYST SOAP, $7, Modern Mercantile 3. ’70s and ’80s MUSIC TRIVIA CARDS, $7.50 each, Kimberly’s 4. WOODEN CHOPSTICKS, $4 each, Handworks Gallery 5. SAVANNAH BEE CO. LIP BALM GIFT SET, $23.99, Nibblin’s 6. TEA DROPS, $14.99, Simply Charming 7. CAN’T ADULT TODAY SIGN, $5.99, Simply Charming 8. V-CUBE BURGER CUBE PUZZLE, $19.99, Incredible Flying Objects 9. ZEBRA BOTTLE STOPPER, $10, My Neighbor & Me
The Winchester Star
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
Saturday, December 3, 2016 — 9
1. RECYCLED PLASTIC PLANE, $14.99, Thinker Toys 2. HANDPAINTED LITTLE PEOPLE, $9 each, Tin Top Art & Handmade 3. PASS BACK FOOTBALL, $24.99, Incredible Flying Objects 4. MARK-MAT PLACEMATS, $25, kids@kimberly’s 5. “REGINALD FOX”, $38, Modern Mercantile 6. MAGFORMER’S MAGNETIC CONSTRUCTION SET, $49.99, Thinker Toys 7. FELT PUPPET, $13, My Neighbor & Me 8. PRINCESS AND THE PEA, $52.99, Simply Charming Bonus Stocking Stuffer and Kids’ Gift Ideas in the Online Edition!
Bonus Page — Saturday, December 3, 2016
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
The Winchester Star
1. WHISKEY SOAP, $6.99, Belle Grove Plantation 2. SALVAGE METAL MONEY CLIP, $32-$40, Tin Top Art & Handmade 3. VIRGINIA HEART METAL ORNAMENT, $10, Modern Mercantile 4. DIONI’S HANDCREAM, $3.50, Kimberly’s 5. HAND-EMBROIDERED TOILETRY CASE, $20, Handworks Gallery 6. POO-POURRI, $9.95, Nibblin’s 7. FROZEN SMILES ICE CUBE TRAY, $6.99, Old Town General Store 8. STONEWALL KITCHEN SWEET CHILI JAM, $7.99, Flavour Pourfection
The Winchester Star
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
Saturday, December 3, 2016 — Bonus Page
1. HANDMADE FOX COIN PURSE, $28, Modern Mercantile 2. FINGER KNITTING KIT, $21.99, Thinker Toys 3. PINK PALACE 3-D PUZZLE, $9.99, Old Town General Store 4. FUZZEEZ BUILD YOUR OWN STUFFED ANIMAL, $16.99, Incredible Flying Objects 5. STIKBOT STUDIO, $11.99, Old Town General Store 6. MARIO QUAD COPTER, $109, Incredible Flying Objects 7. TORPEDO BALL, $9, kids@kimberly’s 8. LEGO BRICK CARS AND TRUCKS BOOK, $13.99, Winchester Book Gallery
10 — Saturday, December 3, 2016
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
The Winchester Star
Gifts for the car are practical and appreciated By TOM CROSBY Special to The Winchester Star
WINCHESTER — Felicia Huff of Frederick County has been married for 30 years and she already knows what her husband is going to give her for Christmas this year — a remote starter for her 2012 Honda Odyssey. “It’s the most popular car accessor y in winter by far,” said Harold Schneider who has worked at Winchester Miller Honda in the sales and service departments since 1995. “I want to buy one for her,” said her husband Rodney, a nurse practitioner at Valley Health Cancer Center. He has bought floor mats, trunk liners, prepaid oil changes and other automotive-related gifts because “adults love things they wouldn’t spend money on for themselves.” “I love it,” said Felicia, “I love practical gifts, and I am OK knowing in advance because I think it’s nice to make sure someone gets what they want.” From automotive accessories to brandnew vehicles, Christmas heats up America’s love affair with cars. Kitty Shendow of Winchester had her knee replaced three weeks before Christ-
mas a few years ago and remembers: “I was in pain and in the dumps.” Christmas morning she opened a little gift and it was a key fob, but “I had no idea what it was for,” she said. Her husband, Bill, a former administrator and professor at Shenandoah University, walked her outside in the freezing cold to his car. Driving around the block from their Winchester home, Bill stopped behind a shiny new black 2013 Hyundai Tucson SUV with a gold stripe — the colors of his Wake Forest University alma mater. “I was shocked, and it made my knee feel a lot better,” Kitty said. Not everyone can give or receive the ultimate gift of a new car, but many people are more than satisified with any gift that will make their old vehicle a little more comfortable — such as the remote starter. “When people go outside and have to scrape their windshield before getting into a cold car, they start thinking about a remote starter,” said Bob Kaminski, store manager since 1983 at Winchester Discount Auto. “Almost every phone call we get today is about a remote starter,” he said.
See Cars, Page 11
Metro Graphics
A new car is the ultimate gift, but there are plenty more gifts — many of them practical — that make great ideas for anyone responsible for the care and upkeep of a car.
The Winchester Star
Got a java head? Gift ideas for coffee lovers By LEANNE ITALIE Associated Press
NEW YORK — Coffee lovers can also be lovers of other things, clearly, but the true java head surely wouldn’t scoff at a related holiday gift. Some ideas:
Not your average to-go cup A coffee lover AND a tech nerd’s dream come true is rolled into the Ember coffee mug. Smart technology allows it to rapidly cool down your liquid to your desired temperature for up to two hours on the go or hours more when placed on its special coaster. Sleek, black design. Holds 12 ounces. The creation of entrepreneur and coffee lover Clayton Alexander and his Ember team. On pre-order in November. Embertech. com. $149.95.
Little rocket ships Speaking of technology, the 3D-printing loving folks at Shapeways.com offer the Rocket Espresso Cup. By designer Craig S. Kaplan, it’s the little java ship that could in porcelain that’s food, oven and dishwasher safe in a variety of colors, or in white plastic. Hey 1 percenters, you can get one of these
Saturday, December 3, 2016 — 11
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
printed up in platinum for $150,000. For the rest of us, the plastic is $40 and the porcelain versions $33.17. Shapeways.com.
Coffee and espresso combo Higher end and lower end combination machines are out there, so shop around if you’re on a budget or have a truly dedicated coffee fanatic who’s in search of the ultimate pour but looking to combine. Some have steam wands and brew at the same time. Some are compact. Generally, they take up less space than two or more machines. Look to DeLonghi for some nice ones.
Pods with a purpose Oakland Coffee, owned by Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt, offers fairly traded organic beans packaged in plant-based rather than plastic bags. Oakland, based in Oakland, California, has partnered with San Francisco Bay Coffee Co. on fully compostable single-serve soft pods of arabica blends from small farms in Peru and Honduras. The pods contain no plastic. A 10-count costs $12.99 on Amazon but are currently out of stock. Worth waiting for. Details at Oaklandcoffee.com.
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December 2-30
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Cars
from Page 10 Remotes installed after a car has been purchased can start a vehicle three-quarters of a mile away, said Kaminski, and cost between $200 and $400, depending upon the age, type of vehicle and labor required to install it. “And it lets you know the vehicle is running with a blinking light,” he said. The factory-installed remotes in new vehicles only have a range of approximately 150 feet, he said. The Christmas surprise factor comes when husbands — usually — get the starter installed weeks before Christmas and “there is no evidence whatsoever and then they give her the transmitter on Christmas morning,” Kaminski said. Parents may also appreciate DVD players for the back seats to show movies, play music (with headphones) or anything on a DVD. The head restraint is replaced with the new one displaying a 7- or 9-inch screen on the back. Also popular for Christmas giving are vent visors, according to Ryan Emrick, assistant store manager for Auto Zone on Berryville Pike, who has been selling auto accessories for nine years. Attached to a window frame, the visors
are designed to prevent dust, rain or snow entering a slightly raised window and to diminish wind noise. Sales of vents “double, triple easily during Christmas time,” said Emrick, who said buyers need to bring their car in for a proper fitting and many times the vents must be ordered. “A lot of the time when we order, we get a special time and phone number so we don’t end up calling the person getting the gift,” he said. Sometimes the best gift might a way to keep the car clean. “Winter is our busiest time with snow, rock salt and mud,” said Mark Waddell, assistant manager at Peterson’s Soft Cloth Car Wash on Valley Avenue. Black Friday is when sales of gift cards “start selling pretty good and it stays steady right up to Christmas eve,” said Waddell, who has worked at the car wash for three years. “Most of the people (who buy) come here all the time,” he said, buying multiple washes on gift cards for Christmas gifts. And there is always the possible purchase of car wash solvents, brushes and waxes. Although Miller Honda’s Schneider joked: “That’s like buying her a vacuum cleaner.”
12 — Saturday, December 3, 2016
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
The Winchester Star
Chocolate is a great gift for almost everyone By LEANNE ITALIE Associated Press
NEW YORK — For housewarming, hostess or the holidays, really can you go wrong with chocolate? Gifty chocolate treats are an easy thing to track down in advance, throw in a shopping cart while on the go or seek out last minute on your way to the festivities. And if you don’t hit on just the right kind or combination, they’re easy for your recipient to regift. Presentation, after all, is everything. Some ideas with suggested retail prices: Money on Honey: All-natural line of caramels made completely of pure wildflower honey and devoid of corn syrups. Finished with Fair Trade certified Guittard dark chocolate and a sprinkling of French sea salt. Box adorned with festive ornaments for the holidays. Widely available. MoneyOnHoney.com. Portion of proceeds go to Project Apis M., a nonprofit dedicated to enhance the health and vitality of honeybee colonies. $16.95. Dylan’s Candy Bar, the Gold Collection: Wrapped in a clear-and-black box with a gold ribbon, individual bars in brightly colored hues and a range of flavors, including chocolate molten cake, dark chili pepper, dark strawberry and Champagne, milk Madagascar vanilla bean filled and more. Dylanscandybar.com. $72. Heifer International, Ecuadorian Chocolate Covered Sea Salt Caramels: More caramels for a good cause, buy direct from Heifer, which is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty, and the nonprofit’s cacao farmers will benefit
Moonstruck Chocolate via AP
The cute Critter Truffle Collection is made by artisans at Moonstruck Chocolate Co. in Portland, Oregon. There’s a milk chocolate bunny, extra bittersweet cat, ivory toffee mouse and milk chocolate Labrador pup. directly. Heifer name with a luscious photo display on the outside of a gray box. Heifer.org. $30. Fred’s at Barneys New York, Chocolate Mix Tackle Box: A trio of milk chocolate pretzel balls, chocolate toffee almonds and milk chocolate mini graham crackers in a lidded rectangular box with three compartments. Can go
straight on a table. Barneys.com. $25. McCrea’s Caramels with Single Malt Scotch: A tall tube of slow-cooked, handcrafted single malt scotch caramels infused with smoke Ardmore scotch. There’s a splash of the stuff on the front of the cylinder. Barneys.com and elsewhere. A three-tube gift box set of other McCrea’s flavored caramels available McCreascandies.com. $15 for the single tube, $54.95 for the box of three. Mariebelle New York, Luxur y Book Gift Set: Comes in a box that looks like a vintage book. Inside, a maple pecan ganache cake in a smaller book box, along with a 16-piece box of colorful, holiday-themed chocolates, two tins of hot chocolate in different flavors, chocolate bar and container of chocolate-covered almonds. Bases covered. MarieBelle.com. $165. See website for details. Moonstruck Chocolate, Critter Truffle Collection: Artisan and cute box of four hand-formed and hand-decorated animal truffles from this dedicated Portland, Oregon, chocolatier. There’s a milk chocolate bunny, extra bittersweet cat, ivory toffee mouse and milk chocolate Labrador pup. Moonstruckchocolate.com. $16. See website for details. La Maison du Chocolat, Flavored Truffles: These legendary French truffle makers have gone to color with boxes of 30 and 48 pieces in toffee caramel, blackcurrant and citrus fruit. Lamaisonduchocolat.us. $60 for the small box and $96 for the larger one. See website for details.
The Winchester Star
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
Saturday, December 3, 2016 — 13
Three travelers offer gift ideas and inspiration inside that can be worn as a lighter coat. Either the Spiewak Heron snorkel parka or the bomber with detachable jacket would be really amazing fancy gifts to get. A good rain coat is also much needed, and this all-season rain coat by Filson looks quite nice! I hope my wife is reading this. TO GIVE: One thing I think it is really nice to give for a trip is a travel watercolor set. You can get a simple one or a fancy one and along with a set of watercolor postcards it is a really nice travel gift.
By BETH J. HARPAZ AP Travel Editor
NEW YORK — What’s the perfect gift for someone planning a trip? We asked three people who make their living in the travel industry to tell us what they always bring with them on trips. We also asked what they’d like to receive as a gift to take on trips, and what they’d give to someone planning a trip. Here are ideas and inspiration for your travels:
Dylan Thuras co-founder of Atlas Obscura MUST HAVES: One great backpack that fits in an overhead but can also fit all your stuff, with a laptop pocket for easy access on the security line. I am obsessed with not checking bags — I have a strange vendetta against the rolling bag, it feels like a defeat of the adventurer’s soul. One bag forces you to shed needless items. I love the one I have now by d’emploi, It can stand up to serious wear and tear, I have stuffed a hundred pounds worth of camera gear into it and it held up no problem. It is simple, utilitarian, and really beautiful. I also always travel with a camera or two, currently a Canon EOS 70D, which is a nice sturdy workhorse of a camera. I also often bring an old Nimslo 3D camera, which is a
Edie Rodriguez CEO OF Crystal Cruises d’emploi via AP
This $380 backpack is made by d’emploi, a Brooklyn, N.Y., company. The company’s products are handcrafted from materials such as sailcloth sourced from boatyards and hardware from Army surplus supplies. camera that shoots on film using four lenses to make those 3D postcards you have seen in gift shops. COULD USE: A great coat. I have worn my two-piece Spiewak jacket to tatters and am in need of a great new coat. Coats are one of those things it is worth spending a bit on, and make a good “big gift” as you should be able to get years out of a good coat. I love the winter coats that have a detachable shell
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MUST HAVES: I always travel with two passports with extra pages and my international electrical plug converter that works in any country. As a “mobile” CEO I must travel with both of my iPhones — yes I have two — chargers for those phones, and my make-up. My favorite things to travel with are quite simple: healthy snacks to stay nourished, bottled water to stay hydrated and moisturizer because traveling especially on planes and at sea can really dr y out your skin. COULD USE: I would love a new carry-on suitcase. My current one has traveled with me to many destinations and is now very worn and I just haven’t had time to find
a worthy replacement. TO GIVE: I would definitely give any traveler an iPad complete with a charger and converter. I would probably also throw in a fabulous carry-on suitcase.
JOHN TANZANELLA CEO Of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association MUST-HAVES: Space-saver roll-up storage bags are essential for packing when I have to combine business and leisure travel or back-to-back trips in a variety of climates. Look for the ones that don’t require a vacuum. There’s also a great app I use when I travel abroad, CityMaps2Go. Before you leave home, you download the map of the destination. The app doesn’t require Wi-Fi or data roaming for access, but you can still see where you are on the map at all times via your phone’s GPS. COULD USE: Dress clothes that don’t wrinkle! TO GIVE: A Flytographer photo shoot. The company uses local photographers all over the world. While you explore, they capture the moments in an informal way. Much better than taking 1,000 selfies!
14 — Saturday, December 3, 2016
The Winchester Star
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
How much to spend on holiday gifts By JONNELLE MARTE © 2016, The Washington Post
The No. 1 r ule for holiday shopping should be to stay out of debt. So before you hit the stores, make your list and check it twice. Once you’ve narrowed your list, base your budget on how much money you have to work with, not on what other people are giving you, says Leah Ingram, a blogger who writes about consumer spending. A surgeon earning six figures will have a different budget than an elementary school teacher, she added. Guidelines on how much to spend may not be much help when it comes to your family. You know better than anyone what your child needs or what you can afford. And for a spouse or a significant other, the amount you spend doesn’t matter as much as the arrangement you have agreed on, says Lizzie Post, co-president of the Emily Post Institute and co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast. “Stick to whatever you decide,” says Post, adding that if you agreed not to exchange gifts, you shouldn’t go out and buy something. “Don’t go above and beyond and then make the other person feel lousy.” There are no hard and fast rules for ex-
actly how much you should spend on each present, but here are some general guidelines from etiquette experts:
Siblings and cousins $20 and up — The first step is to decide if you even want to exchange gifts. “Have the conversation,” Smith says. “Don’t presume that because you’ve always given each other gifts that that’s how it’s going to be going forward.” Adult siblings who still want to give presents may want to do a gift swap, where each person only has to buy one item, Smith says. The same goes with cousins.
relatives can split the costs for a big gift or buy several presents that go together. (Say, a few people split the cost of a bike and another person buys the helmet.)
Parents and in-laws $20 and up — If there are grandchildren in the picture, the sentimental value of the gift may be more important than the dollar amount you spend, Ingram says. For example, she has given her in-laws framed copies of the kids’ school photos, or aprons marked with the children’s hand prints.
See Spend, Page 15
Nieces and nephews $25 and up — Save the big bucks for when your nieces and nephews are older and are more likely to appreciate the effort you put into the gift, Smith says. However, you shouldn’t rule out more expensive presents for younger kids if the gift may help out the parents. For instance, you can ask the parents about making a contribution to the child’s college fund. Or you can set up a savings account that the child can use someday. Another strategy is to coordinate with the parents, as well as other aunts and uncles, on which gifts to buy. The parents can fill you in on their children’s wish list, while
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The Winchester Star
Spend
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
from Page 14 You can also treat your parents or your in-laws to something they might otherwise purchase for themselves. Ingram says she often buys her mother an annual subscription for a magazine she likes to read.
Close friends $15 and up — One rule of thumb for a close friend is to spend as much as you would on a typical night out, Smith says. For example, if your usual Friday night activity is a trip to the movie theater where you only spend $15 on a ticket and snacks, then that’s about how much you should spend. But if you spend hundreds of dollars to go to the theater or eat at a nice steakhouse, then your budget for gifts should be more in that range.
Teacher $10 to $25 — Figuring out how much to spend per teacher will depend on how many children, and how many teachers, you’re shopping for. If your child has only one teacher, it’s a much simpler scenario than for middle school or high school students who have six or seven teachers each. Smith recommends spending roughly $15 to $20
per teacher, if you can. Ingram recommends spending about $25. But some parents who live in wealthy neighborhoods or who send their children to a pricey private school may want to spend more. Others with tighter budgets may want to spend less.
Co-workers $10 to $15 — Before you buy anything, you need to understand the culture and the rules of your office. In some workplaces, colleagues always exchange gifts while in others, they never do. You should also be cautious about buying something for your boss, since it may look bad if you buy a present for your boss and no one else does, Smith says.
Saturday, December 3, 2016 — 15
16 — Saturday, December 3, 2016
The Winchester Star
2016 Last-Minute Gift Guide
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