Gather round for the next installment of our annual Shopmas tradition. These are some of the more fun or amusing things I managed to stumble across in my travels.
Lots of great feedback about the last lists — you can see part one and part two here — so here is our third round of Shopmas ideas for those of you who have loved ones on your holiday shopping list who have been very, very good.
Go forth and stimulate :
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• Inanimate Stickers $9 (with shipping)
Fun for offices and other dull spaces (perfect if yours does secret santa crap), this is a cute little gift for young kids or the your very bored office staff.
Bonus: Slapping these stickers on printers, coffee brewers and fax machines annoys the hell out of that women in HR you despise.
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• Californication: The Fifth Season $25
This won’t be out until next week (Dec 18), but I so totally adore this wicked, dark series of obsession with truth-telling and self destructive behavior I had to mention it now. The entire alcohol fueled dysfunction is a joy to watch unfold.
Sophisticated and unique, this comedy centers on novelist David Duchovny who tries to pursue his career, raise his 13-year-old daughter, and bed every California hottie, all the while still carrying a torch for his ex-wife.
It uproarious fun. (I just ordered this as well)
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• Velodyne vPulse Black In-Ear Headphones with Inline Microphone $99
WireCutter called the Velodyne vPulses “the best value under $100 earbuds when judged by two central earbud criteria: how comfortable they are to wear and how they sound in the real world, compared to other headphones in this price range.”
Bonus: Wirecutter’s pick for the best Headphones that cost under $30 were these Monoprice 8320 in-ear monitors. A ridiculous $8.38! “These things destroyed our old favorites and the favorites of others, when we tested them side by side”
Yeah, I ordered a pair yesterday.
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• Amazon Gift Cards $50 (Up to $7500)
Long time readers know I am not a fan of Gift Cards (See Yes Virginia, Gift Cards Do Suck)
In a pinch, a real last minute gift idea is Amazon Gift Cards. I normally dislike gift cards, but these never expire and Amazon’s selection of stuff is enormous. And since its over $25, you get free shipping.
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• How Music Works David Byrne 
$21.12
I just started reading this over the weekend, and enjoyed it enough to share it immediately. (you dont hear about 90% of the books I se)
How Music Works is David Byrne’s celebration of a subject he has spent his entire life pursuing. It is apparent that he has thought deeply about what music is, and how it works.
Byrne explores how profoundly music is shaped by its time and place, and how recording technology forever changed our relationship to playing, performing, and listening to music.
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• Pax premium loose leaf vaporizer $250
Now that Weed is becoming quasi-legal, its time some of you learned that smoking ganga actually does cause health issues. The solution is to avoid smoking — and vaporize.
I found this cool looking piece of hardware in this crazy good Wired review here.
The Pax heats but never burns your “tobacco” releasing a delicious vapor. Using Pax is as easy as 1-2-3 (see video).
One of their stoner clients says: “Easy to use, very solid and high quality. Feels right when you have it in your hand. Taste is awesome without the harshness. Extremely satisfied and not disappointed at all.”
For the Rastafarians on your gift list.
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• The Rolling Stones 50 $37
Since the 12/12/12 concert is tonite, how can I not at least give mention to the the Stones?
Since they first went on stage Thursday 12 July 1962 at the Marquee Club in London’s Oxford Street, fifty years have past. Over that period, the Stones have performed live in front of more people than any band… ever.
Curated, introduced and narrated by the band themselves, The Rolling Stones 50 is the only officially authorized book to celebrate this milestone.
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• Deborah Armstrong & Company: $150-3000
This is my 3rd year recommending the work of local NY artisan Deborah Armstrong‘s lovely jewelry. This gift idea seems to always generate a great response.
I had gotten my wife the Petit Fours a few years ago, and she hardly ever takes them off. The Pearls collection is lovely, as is the Celtic Gold.
Prices range from $150 – $1500 — and you can do very well at any end of the price scale.
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• Paramount Caviar ($50-$1500)
Telephone 1-800-99 Caviar
I stumbled across this hidden store front in Long Island City by accident some years ago after a restaurateur buddy turned me on to them. Paramount supplies many major restaurants and hotels their caviar for year round as well as for New Year’s Eve.
Paddlefish $20
Bulgarian Osetra $85 per ounce
Kaluga Caviar 1 Ounce $185.00
Its all topnotch stuff.
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• Sonos All-in-One Wireless Music Player $300 + $500 +$50
I have been using a Sonos system since last year, and its been pretty awesome. It wirelessly streams from my home computer to a pair of the speakers (living room, dining room) but you can put up to in each different room — my full audio catalog, plus Pandora, Napster, and most other audio sources. (I seem to use it mostly with Pandora).
My Sonos is a PLAY:5 and a PLAY:3 plus the wireless Bridge.
The entire system is controlled by either an Android, iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. It works seamlessly:
Reviews are here
Check Sonos or Amazon for a specials of free Wireless Bridge
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• Tom’s Sculptures Metal Sculpture $2000 – $10,000
Tom is a Long Island metalsmith and sculptor, who makes these wonderful and whimsical creatures out of found pieces and parts he has been collecting for 50 years.
The $15,000 Rhino you see to the right stands about 5 feet tall, is 8 feet long, and weighs nearly a ton. Composed mostly of automobile 
parts, each of his works is utterly unique.
The Gremlin (below right) stands about 4 feet tall.
You really need to get over to Glen Head to peruse these in person — the photos do no justice to the scale and whimsy of this artwork.
Appointments suggested
Metal Sculture by Thomas Mallo
30 Station Plaza
Glen Head, NY – 11545
(516) 676-3636
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