The Eccentric Gift List: For Those Who Don’t Like Gifts But Really Do
You know people who are averse to everything?
Everything but gratitude and the unexpected.
From Jacques Tati to vintage bags and operatic experiences, these cover every unknown wish with a gumdrop of sustainability.
This year, they will know you appreciate them with these eccentric items.
At The Movies
The exacting combination of art and frivolity makes Jacques Tati’s Mon Oncle endearing to all generations. The Criterion Collection’s DVD or Blu-Ray set offers additional Tati films like Playtime and Trafic for limitless movie nights.
Criterion Collection The Complete Jacques Tati
A Night at the Opera
This is not ill-perceived boring stuffy theater. The 2023-2024 Met Opera season includes premiers of Dead Man Walking and The Life and Times of Malcom X, while re-staging The Hours. Tickets for one night or a season makes the perfect gift for your people and to the arts. With new and old stagings conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Met Opera continues its consistency in producing some of the best shows. A single ticket, a curated package or a membership are giftable options.
The BKDWN suggests The Hours (Puts), Orfeo ed Euridice (Gluck), La Rondine (Puccini) in the orchestra section for two for around $1800.
The Met Opera Orchestra Section $1800
“A seasoned opera performer’s mirror neurons are active during singing and emotional acting. Their emotional output under metacognitive control connects with the audience.”
New with Neue
There are art galleries and there is the Neue Galerie. Give the gift of Gustave Klimt’s gold era in a calm environment. With a newly renovated Café Sabarsky, Neue offers an intimate setting for art engagement, including Portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer I (1907). Memberships come with exclusive readings, opening receptions and cocktail nights. Choose from membership levels to suit their interests and your budget.
Neue Galerie Membership $325-$1000
It’s in the Bag
Vintage bags add nonconformity to any UES party. One-of-a-kind pieces can be found at vintage shops, fleas and markets. This bag was found in NYC at an indoor vintage flea. Paired with silk opera gloves readies giftees to use those opera tickets.
The $cientist
The gift of saying who you are without speaking a word. The $ symbolizes personal value and is perfect for anyone who follows their own path. These shirts are made locally in NYC and silk-screen-printed by one of the oldest shops in NYC. This is a woman-owned brand and each purchase supports science communication for public education. The best gift!
$cientist Ts $50-$70
“Pitta doshas are poised by a balance of ambition and generosity. These characteristics prevent inflammatory conditions of the digestive system and dermal tissues.”
Be-jeweled
Treasures found on international excursions make the best one-of-a-kind presents for unique personalities. Our EIC found this cuff in Cairo, Egypt forever ago. Time-constrained for a trip to Africa? De Vera is unrivaled for endless options of objects and jewelry. Bracelets, rings and trinkets can be found for the most peculiar tastes. The Row recently added a few pieces to their 71st St. collection.
The Row x De Vera Objects Galerie
De Vera Gray Diamond Ring $9850
Drink Up
Who doesn’t like drinks by Benedictine monks? Especially when they make champagne. Give the gift of Dom Pérignon for a regular Wednesday night. Dom Pérignon’s 2023 release is a 2013 vintage with citrus, spice and everything nice. Orange blossoms and cardamom round this out for mid-week eccentricity. Add a pair of sweats in the gift package and giftees are ready to toast in 2024.
Dom Pérignon 2013 $200-$300
“Wines with lower alcohol content activate the insula and cerebellum in order to scrutinize the taste and fragrance.”
Eastern Beauty
New woman-owned discoveries Yina and Umm are based on TCM and Ayurveda. These are phenomenal. Yina’s bian stone gua sha is accompanied with sample treatments for the face and body. A few minutes with this relieved our beauty editor’s eye dryness and stiff neck.
Yina Gua Sha Discovery Set $98
“The ability of Gua sha to reduce neck pain has resulted in “fairly positive” but statistically “inconclusive” in research studies.”
Umm offers enchanting products for the skin and mind. Their gold and saffron body elixir transports you to Rajasthan palaces of the royal era. Its enchanting aroma and luxurious feel are a perfect nighttime ritual. Give the gift of Umm’s at-home facial with their radiance mask for immediate smoothing, soothing and brightening. Add their Diya and worries are gone.
Umm Skincare $19-$125
“Saffron is essential for improving skin texture and pigment in all doshas.”
Incense
Black Copal incense from Cedar and Myrrh. This is not regular hippie medium incense. Cedar and Myrrh offers hand-rolled Protium grandifolium, or Mayan Copal, sticks that are reminiscent of bonfires on the beach. The long sticks have a long burn time (45 minutes) and eases the wait for a Montauk summer.
Cedar and Myrrh Black Copal Incense Sticks $15
“A body and mind skincare ritual relives stress and reduces neurodegenerative processes.”
BRAIN Play
Legos delight young and not young. From their new Hocus Pocus house to Star Wars dioramas and NASA shuttles, these fill up time long after holiday breaks. The chess set is a favorite at The BKDWN.
Legos $5-$500
“Building blocks support cognitive health by tapping into executive function. Figuring out a puzzle more complex than a jigsaw decreases some early onset Alzheimer’s Disease symptoms.”
Rhyme Time
Give the gift of banned books. Shel Silverstein’s A Light in the Attic was banned for a short time in Florida (shocker) in the ’80’s. Apparently, mothers thought How Not to Have to Dry the Dishes indoctrinated their kids to messiness. They got over it. Poems like Tired (even from breathing) and What Ifs (sleepless nights) speak to every generation and decade. Find a first edition like our EIC’s copy.
