I went Christmas shopping this weekend. I’m pretty jaded about the whole thing, but I did it. I tried to find very “classic” stuff, things that will last a long time. An old hardcover book. A bottle of whiskey. A simple knit hat. A vase. etc. What I like about these classic gifts (as opposed to, say, a DVD) is that they will last longer, they’re not much more expensive, and they may come to represent a place and time for the recipient. They’ll gain both monetary and sentimental value over time.

Anyway, here are some interesting products I’ve seen while out and about, not all of which are “classic”:
The JavaLog, made from spent coffee grounds. Brilliant.
Method Home revamped dish soap and going up against P&G in the grocery store.
Mighty Leaf tea company. They’ve redone the packaging and it’s good: each teabag is cloth, not paper. The label is swen on, not stapled. Very expensive, very “natural” feeling. Nice.
Nigella Lawson Bowls and Canisters. Thoughtful design, and good looking— a difficult combo.
Dr. Glide 6x17cm panoramic medium format camera. Wow. Out of my price range, but I would love to go on a long trip with one of these.
Star Alliance round-the-world plane tickets, with as many stops as you want. They are supposedly reasonably priced, and you can spread your ticket out over a whole year. Very little notice required before flights.
Klockworks clocks. Nothing more needs to be said.
French clothing: Agnes B. and A.P.C. Simple and not much more pricey than Banana Republic.