Washington's Best Buys: Holiday Shopping Guide

The Sophisticate

Get Out of a Jam

With this jam sampler from local entrepreneur and Italian chef Stefano Frigerio, all you need are some crisp crackers. This trio contains flavors such as strawberry and vanilla bean, blackberry ginger and orchard fresh apple flavors. ($15 from Copper Pot Food Co.; copperpotfoodco.com)

 

 

Put a Cork in It

What could be better than making your own wine? Not much else, which is why a winemaking excursion is a great gift for your oenophile. Sweeten the deal with a customized label for the bottles. (Gift certificates from $100, Carafe Wine Makers; carafewines.com)

 

 

 

 

History Lessons

Even our founding fathers had to eat, and they show you gourmet spins on the classics in this revolutionary cookbook. Dog-ear the recipes for hot rum toddy and the spicy pumpkin soup. (“The Founding Foodies: How Washington, Jefferson and Franklin Revolutionized American Cuisine,” $16.99, Sourcebooks; source books.com)

 

 

 

 

Hidden Surprise

It holds money and booze—a winning combination for toting his fine liqueur in style. The stainless steel flask fits neatly in the neutral-toned wallet with ease. ($75; The Hour, 1015 King St., Alexandria, Va.; thehour.com)

 

 

 

The Fashionista

Light as Air

An interesting European technique—plating cotton balls in silver—creates a lightweight, unusual necklace from jewelry maker Abra Gorby. A perfect pairing for a little black dress. ($265, The Phoenix; 1514 Wisconsin Ave., NW; thephoenixdc.com)

 

 

Pattern Princess

Make the past part of her future with a handmade ikat coat; a variety of colors hits every styled woman’s wardrobe palette. ($395, The Textile Museum; textilemuseumshop.org)

 

 

 

 

 

The Perfect Link(s)

Is it time for some personality to shine with his starched button-down? Snag a pair of cufflinks from D.C.-based artist Jimmy Mann. Links made of colorful patterns, cartoon characters and real beer caps round out the collection. ($42 for most pairs, Mann Made Designs; mannmadedesigns.com)

 

 

 

Wrap It Up

Cozy up with a knit scarf from local designer de*nada. Our favorite braided-rope style is available in purple and neutral shades (black, white, khaki). ($58, de*nada; denadadesign.com)

 

 

 

 

 

The Techie

Can’t Touch This

The newest iPod Touch came out in September, and those who need an Apple a day will want the improved version, complete with FaceTime video calling to share those perfect moments and HD video recording to share it with the world. ($229 for 8GB, the Apple Store; 1229 Wisconsin Ave., NW; apple.com)

 

 

Lost at Sea

For the adrenaline-obsessed, this waterproof digital camera can withstand, well, pretty much anything. The Cyber-shot is ultra-thin and waterproof up to 10 feet, shockproof up to 5 feet and has a panoramic feature, allowing budding photographers to snap like a pro. ($349.99; sonystyle.com)

 

 

 

Time’s Up

A simple watch can be so boring. Indulge the geek at heart with one that works with PDAs and cell phones, equipped with a radio, currency converter and camera. ($150, The Spy Museum; 800 F St., NW; spymuseum.org)

 

 

 

Connection Help

A Wi-Fi locator will let your giftee stay discreetly connected. We like this one from Canary Wireless that tells the user whether there’s network encryption and displays its signal strength. ($49.95, Canary Wireless; canary wireless.com)

 

 

 

 

Future Filmmaker

Get the 411

When you don’t have time for all the flicks in the world, a book about them will have to do. “Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide 2011” will entertain and inform with more than 17,000 entries. ($16.99, Borders; borders.com)

 

 

 

 

The Grand Tour

Walk the footsteps of Hollywood celebs—really—on a Washington D.C. TV and Movie Tour, taking your giftee through national monuments and a few lesser known sites seen in great flicks such as “The Exorcist” or “Independence Day.” Add a playlist of TV theme songs to the gift basket: Singalongs are a definite on this day trip. (On Location Tours, $38 per ticket; screentours.com)

 

 

 

 

On the Spot

Even starlets need practice, and what better environment is there than an improv class? Whether beginner or expert, these techniques are hard to learn anywhere else. ($150 to $400, depending on session’s length, DC Improv; dcimprov.com/school)

 

 

 

Film IQ

Think your movie critic is up to snuff? Find out by zeroing in on the entertainment side of Trivial Pursuit—the only category worth knowing about. ($8.99, Hasbro; hasbro.com)

 

 

 

 

 

The Artist

Warhol Wine

Worlds collide when famous artist Andy Warhol meets famous bubbly Dom Perignon. It’s a match made in heaven with a three-piece collection of tribute bottles—it’s almost too pretty to drink. ($150, Dupont Circle Wine & Liquor; 2012 P St., NW) 

 

Artful Tidings

What art lover isn’t a Leonardo da Vinci fan? This 24K gold ornament is based on his popular knot design. ($16.99; National Gallery of Art; 4th and Constitution Ave., NW; nga.gov)

 

 

 

Picture Perfect

D.C. artist Claude Taylor has two store locations, making it easy to find prints such as this colorful image of Buddhist flags, available in four sizes. ($20–$100, Claude Taylor Photography Galleries; 1627 Connecticut Ave., NW, and 1500 Wisconsin Ave., NW)

 

 

 

Waterproof Art

They’ll flip over a set of watercolor pencils—but be sure to give the best with a set from Prismacolor. The 12-color set will cover a masterpiece from beginning to end. ($13; prismacolor.com)

 

 

 

 

 

Nice ‘n’ Cozy

It’s easy to curl up by a winter fire with an heirloom blanket from the National Museum of the American Indian. Each one mimics images painted on buffalo hides in the 1800s. ($230; Fourth Street and Independence Avenue, SW; nmai.si.edu) 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fitness Buff

Ring My Bell

These kettle bells eliminate strain on a gym buff’s forearm, allowing for fast and easy toning plus fat-burning cardio. The new set from GoFit is complemented by a 30-minute workout DVD from Bob Harper, co-host of “The Biggest Loser.” (Starts at $24.99 for 7-pound weights, GoFit; gofit.net)

 

 

 

Friendly Competition

About two-thirds the size of a regulation table, this mid-size ping-pong table from Rockville-based JOOLA is a surefire hit. Check the site for customized paddles to really spice up the game. ($249.95; joolausa.com)

 

 

 

Spa Bliss

Every hardcore athlete deserves a bit of relaxation. Give yours one with a spa package from D.C.’s MINT—we like The Weekender for a 50-minute facial or Swedish massage ($119, Spa at MINT; 1724 California St., NW; mintdc.com)

 

 

 

 

Gearing Up

The adiShape jacket provides a splash of color, plus soft fabric to wick away moisture during workouts. Available in powder blue and black, too. ($65; Adidas; shopadidas.com)

 

 

 

 

Starter Kit

Ask for the “Trainer in a Bag,” and get three sessions plus a Fitness Together duffle bag filled with all they’ll need to get pumped (T-shirt, heart-rate monitor, towel and water bottle). Available at all D.C., Virginia and Maryland spots. ($199, fitnesstogether.com)

 

 

 

The Young'uns

Easy Listening

Perfect to pop in for long car rides, children can sing along with Elizabeth Mitchell on her new album, with performances from Mitchell’s family and friends. The styles range from folk to Asian nursery songs and fresh takes on classics, such as “School Days.” (“Sunny Day,” Smithsonian Folkways, $12; youaremyflower.org)

 

 

 

Snuggle Up

These blankies are soft as butta’ and the friendly faces will erase any sour puss. Take your pick of the litter—the animals run the gamut. ($13, Dawn Price Baby; 3112 M St., NW; dawnpricebaby.com)

 

 

 

 

 

Bug Off

Their new mobile friend is powered by a tiny motor and uses its 12 legs for proper agility. Lots of colors available for the young at heart to start their own robobug family. ($9.99; hexbug.com) 

 

 

Into the Castle

Teens will love the story of John Hench, a dedicated former Disney worker whose contributions to the overall design of the beloved theme park and its characters have helped pioneer the magic of Disney through the ages. (“Designing Disney: Imagineering and the Art of the Show,” $12, Disney Press) 

 

 

 

 

Small Treasures

She’ll be thrilled with one of these cute, grown-up boxes for her favorite keepsake. Stick to a simple design, such as the Peony to make it kid-appropriate. ($33, Only Trinket Boxes; onlytrinketboxes.com) 

 

 

The Frequent Flyer

Tune Out

Help them avoid the constant chatter of fellow travelers with noise-isolation headphones. We like the Klipsch brand with a single-button mic allowing for a quick change between music and phone time once off the plane. ($59.99, Klipsch; klipsch.com) 

 

 

Travel Tree

No matter where they’ll wind up this holiday, commemorate it with a fun decoration. We love these suitcase ornaments—just package carefully if they’re being shipped! (Suitcase Ornaments, $7.95 and up from The Christmas Attic; 125 S. Union St., Alexandria, Va.; christmasattic.com) 

 

Compact Cosmetics

The makeup case masquerades as an evening clutch, with seven essential makeup brushes inside for perfect on-the-go touch-ups. Consider it her essential beauty solution when running from baggage claim to a night on the town. ($24.99, Sonia Kashuk for Target; target.com) 

 

 

 

It’s Game Time

Everyone knows the game of Chinese checkers, and it’s even easier in a travel case. If you need more options, Go Games has tons of travel-friendly classics to keep even the most distracted flyer happy. ($9.99, Go Games; magneticpoetry.com)

 

 

Airport Finds  

Reagan National

 

Red White and Blue

The 2010 White House ornament is a great patriotic gift for visitors or locals. It’s been the leading holiday gift at America! for more than two decades. ($25; America!; National Hall, Terminal B near Gate 20) 

 

Write On

Lamy pens are a real treat for any aspiring writer. The metallic colors stick out in a bag full of necessities. ($27; Pen & Prose; National Hall)

 

 

Early Birds

For your loved ones who aren’t morning people, this alarm clock comes with a built-in lamp that mimics a natural sunrise, accompanied by either radio or nature sounds. ($99; Brookstone; National Hall)

 

 

 

Class Act

He’ll love a silk tie from Brooks Brothers to go with his formalwear. Comes in a variety of colors and patterns. ($75; Brooks Brothers; National Hall)

 

 

 

 

New Look

Vera Bradley’s fall and holiday lines are full of vibrancy. The medium-sized handbag will fit all her overnight needs. ($68; Touch of Color; National Hall)

 

 

 

 

Dulles International

 Liquid Cool

A bottle of red or white certainly beats eggnog. The new restaurant holds tons of possible gifts for loved ones. (Prices vary; Vino Volo; Concourse B, Aerotrain Atrium)

 

 

 

Bowled Over

Though you could stash appetizers to nosh in it, this bowl from artist Mark Rosenbaum seems far too pretty to cover up. Dramatic colors will add to any room in their house. ($395; Appalachian Spring; Concourse B near Gate B67) 

 

 

Chocolate Fever

Who turns down candy? No one, which is why they’ll love this best-selling chocolate tin in a cute D.C.-themed package. ($14.99, Stellar News; Main Terminal, Ticketing East, West and South Finger; Baggage Claim East, Concourse B, Aerotrain Atrium) 

 

Take Flight

All you need is a rocket ship—or a really good imagination—to go with this space suit, complete with official NASA patches. It even comes with a snazzy hat. ($44.99; The Smithsonian Museum Store; Concourse A/B Center) 

 

 

Acting Shady

He’ll be stylin’ in the latest Hugo Boss polarized sunglasses. The suave look is sure to be a hit among the holiday party crowds. ($150 and up; Sunglass Solstice; Concourse B, Gate B67)