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Each year, Downtown readers come to us asking what might be the best gifts to give this season. We took a look at this year’s greatest products from cooking to dining, fashion to beauty, and tech to culture to give our recommendations for the ultimate gift guide of 2021. Browse on for ideas on what to give each special person in your life this holiday season, from our hearts to yours.
7-Piece Espresso Works All-in-One Set Stainless Steel
Become a barista in your own kitchen with the all-in-one EspressoWorks 15-bar Espresso Machine, offering an electric grinder, portafilter, ceramic cups, and milk frothing pitcher. Craft professional-quality café drinks in less than a minute at home and never spend a dime on take-out coffee again!
Heimat Elderflower Liqueur Heimat New York
A New-York based maker of seasonal, award-winning craft liqueurs, has expanded its portfolio. This small batch is crafted using hand-picked flowers from Greiner Brothers farm. The liqueur is a more fragrant, less sweet alternative to traditional Elderflower liqueur.
Hudson Grace’s Bar Basics: Old Fashioned Kit
This set will have your bar ready to go to prepare an old-fashioned for dad, or that special holiday guest. Includes 13.5 oz bourbon cherries, 8 oz demerara syrup, 1 oz aromatic bitters, and a graduated jigger.
5-Piece Bourbon Street Whiskey Decanter Set
We are in love with this perfect holiday gift, made of diamond wheel cut glass with a beautiful crisscross pattern, this New Orleans-inspired set is engineered to enhance your whiskey drinking experience. Set includes one decanter and four glasses.
LAFCO Reed Diffuser
A lovely mouth-blown glass vessel, large hand-cut reeds fill your home with a steady release of expertly crafted fragrance. Each essential oil-based fragrance is specially blended and highly concentrated to provide a true, natural scent for up to a year.
LAFCO Signature Candle
Fragrant, soy-based candles have been hand-poured into colorful mouth-blown art glass vessels that can be reused in your home décor. Each naturally luxurious essential oil-based fragrance has been specially designed and concentrated to provide a true and natural scent.
Give the Gift of Cruising
CLASSIC HARBOR LINE’S Cocoa and Carols Holiday Cruise is a great way to get into the holiday spirit with coworkers or loved ones and the perfect gift. The 1.5-hour cruise sets sail evenings from Chelsea Piers and will include live musical performances, complimentary house-made cocoa, and cookies, and a selection of beer, wine, and soda will also be available for purchase, plus spectacular views of New York City. Choose one of many city cruises on Classic Harbor line, give the gift of New York City, with some of the best crew and captains in all of NYC.sail-nyc.com
Give New York’s Skyline – Premium Metal Chess Set
These stunning chess sets take distinguished line-ups of notable architecture and transform them into game pieces to create a truly unique statement piece. Each set includes double-weighted pieces featuring soft felt bases, a hand screen-printed wooden hatch board, and a presentation box. Of course, our favorite is the New York Skyline.
Bring France to your table this year with Château de Nalys Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grand Vin 2017
We are thrilled to add to our gift guide this year, the Guigal family’s dream of Châteauneuf-du-Pape with three extraordinary vineyards coming together in an intensely expressive, utterly complete wine. The Grand Vin defines the estate style with a precision of fruit, spice, and minerality and notably, a beautifully composed structure that unfolds and builds (and builds). This wine is deep and dark, with an intense nose of red and blackberries and spice. A beautiful composition, with silky tannins, power, and elegance. Pair with red meats either grilled or cooked in sauces, game birds, or aged cheeses.
Honest Nighttime Self-Care Kit
Refresh from long, hard days out on the town with the Honest Nighttime Self-Care Kit. Complete with a cleanser, mud mask, facial cream, and resurfacing serum, this collection takes away the years this city might wear on you overnight.
Obagi
Obagi skincare products are designed to help minimize the appearance of premature skin aging, skin damage, hyperpigmentation, acne, and sun damage.
Polish + Mask contain an unparalleled level of 30% L-ascorbic acid for brighter more youthful-looking skin and ultra-fine silica-alumina crystals that help shed the most superficial layers of the epidermis, removing built-up surface debris and prepping skin for infusion of Vitamin C. Even better? The infusion of botanical oils minimizes dryness while maximizing glow.
The concentrated Obagi Professional-C Serums offer vitamin C in a rich formula in three concentration levels, perfect for all skin types. Suncare from Obagi contains vitamins B, C, and E to help brighten the skin and promote a healthy, youthful-looking glow. While vitamin C provides added sun protection, it does not take the place of sunblock. Thankfully, this dual-function sunscreen combines broad-spectrum SPF 30 in a 10% L-ascorbic acid formulation—the perfect multitasker to address the appearance of skin aging.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Universe
Glow up with this limited-edition five-pan palette, featuring four new ambient lighting power shades.
Denali Green Sabah’s
Sabah’s in Denali Green is the perfect leather shoe to complement your fall outfit this season.
Give the gift of beauty and grooming this year with Dr. Amy B. Lewis
Dr. Amy B. Lewis is a nationally renowned medical expert and consultant in the field of cosmetic dermatology, and one of Downtown’s newest board members. From Cosmetic anti-aging procedures to specialized products, she is our go-to expert. Choose a gift certificate, make gift-giving simpler by giving the recipient the choice. Stocking stuffers are our favorite, choose from Colorscience Mineral Correction Palette, Crystal Peel Lavender Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Soap, Alastin Regenerating Skin Nectar, Emepelle Eye Cream, Colorscience Lip Shine, Clinicians ComplexLIP Enhancer Clear & Red, Colorscience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face shield, ISDIN Si-Nails, Photozyme Vitamin C+E, and ISDIB K-Ox Eyes.
For Her give full-size beauty products, Alastin Procedure Enhancement system with TriHex Technology, Emepelle Night Cream, DefenAge Clinical Power Trio, ISDIN Uradin Lotion, and Hylastra®Gold.
For Him get him started out on the right foot with anti-aging products, DefenAge Men’s Kit, Photozyme Omega 36 DNA Complex, ISDIN Isdinceutics Malatonik™, Neocutis Bio-Gel, Photozyme Ultra-Rich Cream, and Alchime Skin Repair Gel.
To purchase products in time for the holidays call her office 212-288-6133 or email [email protected]
Click to follow Dr. Amy B. Lewis on IG
Exquisite Holiday Wine Gifts from E. Guigal & Juve & Camps
Since it was first made in 1972, Gran Juvé has always been an emblematic Cava, representing the best of Juvé & Camps. Categorized as “Brut” with just 5g/l of dosage, it is only produced in exceptional vintages and is made using the best quality grapes from select vineyard plots. Aged in the bottle for about 42 months, it showcases the intensity and complexity that Cava can achieve. Hints of white flowers and stone fruit are followed by notes of a long-aged cava: brioche, toasted flavors, spices, and honey. Chardonnay contributes to the creamy mouthfeel and the Xarel.lo to the elegance and long finish. Exquisitely balanced, this dry cava is expressive, intense, complex, and fresh, a harmony of endless sensations.
Juvé & Camps Reserva de la Familia Gran Reserva 2017
A winegrowing family for over 200 years, Juvé first started producing sparkling wines under their name in 1921. This family-owned, 100% estate-based producer is revered in Spain for its painstaking focus on quality and sustainability.“Reserva de la Familia” (translating to ‘Reserve of the Family’) is the leading Gran Reserva in the world, always vintage-dated, and all the more notable because of the quality needed to produce it without dosage (‘Brut Nature’ designation). Deep, intense and elegant, initially evokes notes of ripe white fruits followed by hints of fennel, toast, and citrus to complete its distinguished aroma. Its creamy mousse is perfectly integrated in the palate, making its texture in the mouth simultaneously fresh, rounded, and evocative.
Tea Forte’s Warming Joy Collection
Tea is our office staple. Some love their coffee, for Downtown we prefer tea. A much more relaxing way to wake up or unwind. It’s more of an experience, a ritual, far more than just brewing. Many prepare just the perfect cup of tea individually, for some it’s the rich cream and the perfect amount of raw sugar first then the pour-in Tea Forte’s steeped tea. While others go all-natural, with lemon, and honey, regardless of your process, be sure to ask for Tea Forte this holiday season, or this could be added to your very own list!
This holiday season, be sure to open the lid to reveal a tea menu and a collection of 20 pyramid infusers in five blends, including Raspberry Ganache, Harvest Apple Spice, Winter Chai, Rum Raisin Biscotti, Spiced Ginger Plum, or our Publisher’s favorite the classics, like English Breakfast, Earl Gray, or Estate Darjeeling.
The Scrumptious Side Sleeper Pillow
Every person is unique, we each sleep in different positions. Are you a side or back sleeper? Have you heard that traditional rectangular pillows aren’t designed to support our neck and shoulders perfectly no matter what position we happen to sleep in? We’ve heard this from both our physical therapist and medical doctors, there is more and more research about having the best pillow to match your body. This unique curve from the side sleeper pillow by Honeydew does just that, it supports your neck and shoulders whether you are on your side or your back and offers proper neck alignment and support. Give yourself the gift of healthy sleep, or if you are feeling generous, get one for the entire family!
All Body by Honeydew Pillow
Are you like most people, rolling up a towel, or placing an extra pillow between your knees? Sleeping with a pillow between your knees dramatically improves spinal alignment and promotes sleeping on your side, which helps to lessen tossing and turning throughout the night and significantly improves breathing. This can greatly reduce or even eliminate snoring, and also provides tremendous relief for those who suffer from sleep apnea. Also, hugging has been found to release oxytocin and serotonin in your body. Simply put, snuggling up with a body pillow at night can lower your heart rate and reduce stress levels. This promotes a sense of comfort and peace that will improve the quality of sleep.
Have you ever wanted to remove some stuffing from your pillow? Honeydew’s fill is the most important part of your new pillow. It literally took years of prototypes and testing before they found that oh-so-perfect blend of materials, in just the right ratio, allowing for the perfect combination of support and softness. All Honeydew pillows have a discreetly hidden zipper that lets you add or remove fill to make sure your new pillow is the perfect height for your body.
Wagz Freedom Smart Dog Collar
This no-shock system uses sound and vibration instead, to redirect your dog, and also provides daily health insights. Knows your dog’s location using real-time GPS tracking. Use the collar together with the Wagz app.
BodyBoss 2.0 System
This is New York City, so space is a premium. Grab this all-in-one home gym and maximize space while you max out your routine.
Hydrating hair care essentials are all bundled up in a neoprene pouch, perfect for anyone on your list.
Now, don’t think that this scrumptious Bali Body tanning oil is for eating because it smells just like watermelon. But you can achieve a deep natural tan with this hydrating, natural oil. It’s one of the best we have ever tried. Enriched with watermelon seed extract to naturally enhance melanin while leaving you smelling fruity fresh. Say hello to the ultimate summer essential!
Simply one of Downtown’s favorite brands. Try this lovely Bali Body self-tanning kit. This brand never uses drying and damaging sulfates, phthalates or parabens, (unlike 98.9% of beauty products!). They love all furry friends, which makes Bali Body 100% vegan and cruelty-free. These are just some of our editor’s favorites.
Old Fashioned 6 Quart Vintage Wood Bucket Electric Maker Machine
Take summer into the school year (or anywhere) with this premium ice cream maker from Elite Gourmet.
Brio Ultra HD Pro Business Webcam
If we’ve learned anything about our jobs this last year and a half, it’s the importance of a reliable webcam. The Brio Ultra has what you need for a simple, clear look.
Philips NeoPix Easy 2+, True HD Projector with Built-in Media Player
With streaming services taking the movies to your home, the Philips NeoPix takes your home to the movies. Sit back and relax with hi-def visuals and enjoy your homemade popcorn.
iON Wireless Duo Fast Charging Stand + Pad
Bedside cords be gone! Clean up your tables, counters, and desks with a wireless charging stand for family and friend devices.
Wawona P6
The insulated, spacious built-in vestibule makes it feel more like a home than a tent, perfect for family adventures.
An American Renaissance
Celebrate the beauty of New York City with a book full of big apple architecture associated with the Gilded Age.
Royalty Candles
Tom Dixon’s Eclectic family of scents make for a stunning impression in Brass, Copper, and Stainless Steel hand-spun vessels.
19 Crimes Snoop Cali Red
Bring Snoop Dog home for the holidays with this delicious red or rose. These delicious wines are bold and strong in character, full body. Cali Rose is ever so ripe with strawberry notes along with delicate floral and rose petal aromas. Fruit-forward notes of fresh raspberry, strawberry, and red cherry.
Their Chardonnay is filled with stone fruit aromas and a sweet textured palate. On the nose, notes of peaches & cream and spicy oak are carried onto the palate and supported by a creamy and criminally intense backbone. This full-bodied, powerful wine finishes with rich notes of butterscotch and spice.
It would be a crime not to add to one’s holiday list!
Grey Goose Lunar Eclipse Cocktail Kit
Bring some extra cheer to the holidays with the ultimate in elegant cocktail kits created in partnership with Italian design factory Alessi.
EVOLVh Smartcurl
Pick up on one of the fastest-growing hair-care brands with EVOLVh, a pioneer in clean haircare products for that perfect look, free from guilt and chemical additives.
Sensate 2
Find relaxation at the speed of sound with specially composed sessions and soundscapes to fit your daily need.
Smart Home Diffuser
The cutting edge in sensory experience is brought to life through the collaboration of two high-profile Italian luxury companies.
Looking for something new and different this year? Try this one-of-a-kind, portable, and unbreakable barrel that keeps NEFT cold for up to 6 hours in any season.
While the barrel may be the hook, it’s the extremely smooth taste that sets NEFT apart from any other vodka. Perfect for holiday gifting or anyone who wants to up their spirits game, NEFT will make an unexpected and luxurious gift to nearly everyone on your list.
NEFT’s exceptionally pure taste is created using the cleanest, all-natural ingredients: oxygen rich-spring water that has been filtered for 50 years far beneath the Rhaetian Alps of Austria, and four non-GMO rye grains farmed in Lower Saxony, Amato, Askari, Pollino, and Rasant. Inherently low in dissolved salts and ions, the naturally filtered water and ancient rye grains were carefully selected to develop a vodka where the ingredients are meant to be tasted.
The LARQ Bottle
The LARQ Bottle is the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle and water purification system. It uses UV-C LED light to eliminate up to 99.9999% of bio-contaminants from your water and bottle.
Cadanz by Kerbedanz 41mm
Combining a high level of detail, geometry, and unexpected aesthetics, this line is the perfect accessory for setting the pace of your everyday life.
Dewar’s
Dewar’s Discovery Pack shines a light on their signature double aging process, resulting in an extra smooth taste.
The pack is comprised of Dewar’s 12, 15, and 18-year bottles, perfect for intimate tastings or getting creative with cocktails.
Santa Teresa 1796
From the oldest Venezuelan rum brand, Santa Teresa 1796 is one of the first super-premium rums to employ the Solera Method, an artisanal processing method featuring a blend of light, heavy, and pot still rums aged 4 to 35 years. Santa Teresa 1796 features a palate that hearkens back to scotch and whisky, with notes of tobacco, leather, molasses, and dark chocolate. Packaged in a stylish value pack accompanied by the limited-edition Cantinero Coffee Bitters created by renowned bartender Julio Cabrera.
Holiday Dreams Candle & Diffuser Combo
Holiday Dreams’ a perfect gift for someone special on your list. The scent evokes your fondest holiday memories, a lovely balance of freshly cut evergreen and sweet spiced cider simmering on the stove. The beautiful gold jars for both the candle and the diffuser are a Limited Edition treat that adds a kiss of luxury to your holiday décor.
This year it’s all about Sicily for wines. Sicily is the perfect region for growing grapes with high-quality potential. Through ancestral rituals, refined from generation to generation, Sicilian winemakers have increasingly developed a culture of excellence through the enhancement of the island’s indigenous varieties. To date, more than 60 varieties are grown in Sicily, of which about 20 are indigenous. Assovini Sicilia is an association of Sicilian winemakers that brings together over 91 wine companies to promote the quality of Sicilian wine around the world.
The Scent of ORVEDA
This Holiday season, infuse your home with The Scent of ORVEDA. The leader in Biotec is a brand that is kind to the skin, kind to society, and kind to the environment. The candle trio is sweet, yet tart, woody notes derived from petitgrain bigarade add an initial crisp feel, with middle notes of green cardamom erupting before a fresh and earthy base. Hand-crafted and hand-poured in Italy by the finest artisans, this candle set is vegan and 100% compostable.
Maison Ladurée
Maison Ladurée presents its new advent calendar containing a selection of irresistible treats for everyone to enjoy counting the days to Christmas with something sweet.
Keebos
Made for those who love to combine style with functionality. Ever misplaced, lost, or dropped your phone? Just place your iPhone into the sleek crossbody phone case and start wearing your phone crossbody or as a necklace.
Ben Ryé 2019 offers an extraordinary rich bouquet with outstanding aromas obtained from dried grapes: apricots and candied orange peel. On the palate, it offers countless sensations that sweep from fruity scents to delicate hints of scrub Mediterranean offering an extraordinary freshness that balances the sweetness. Its complexity is enriched by a savory and very persistent finish.
https://www.instagram.com/assovinisicilia/
Pantelleria has been inscribed with UNESCO.
Cerasuolo Di Vittoria D.O.C.G Classico
Aroma: ripe hints of red fruits, blackberries, raspberries, and cherries, hints of spices including vanilla, licorice, and cocoa. Flavor: soft, full, velvety tannins, persistent and aromatic. Best paired with: aged DOP Ragusano cheese, complicated and spiced dishes like chicken curry, game pâté, lamb, and rabbit.