| Ladies and gents,
This column is for all my fellow procrastinators who are still in need of a little holiday gift giving inspiration. Let me be your shopping muse, as it’s time for my annual love letter to seasonal consumerism! Let’s dive in, shall we?
For the lover of live performance:
Nothing says the magic of the season like the thrill of live theater! My love for drama was recently renewed at the ravishing Broadway production of Jez Butterworth‘s Hills of California, directed by my friend Sam Mendes. Though that masterpiece takes its final bow today, there’s no shortage of breathtaking straight plays to look forward to in the new year. When I sit upon Santa’s lap, I’ll be asking for a pair on the aisle to Othello, Good Night and Good Luck, and Andrew Scott’s spellbinding solo performance in Vanya. If the avid theatergoer in your life prefers a show with a song or two (or twenty), support one of the daring new musicals of the season, like Dead Outlaw, Maybe Happy Ending, Buena Vista Social Club, and Swept Away.
For the do-gooder:
For the concerned citizen in your life, give the gift of philanthropy (and virtue signaling). A donation to the Entertainment Community Fund supports the artists and workers who keep the magic alive on stage and beyond. Or consider a contribution to the New York Public Library’s Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab, a groundbreaking incubator space designed by David Rockwell and dedicated to fostering new voices and visionary stories.
For the dangerously misinformed:
Worried that a chronically online, suddenly vaccine skeptical loved one is absorbing a little too much Russian propaganda? Instead of arguing over eggnog, save your breath and give a yearlong subscription to The Bulwark! Let these sane centrists set the record straight with their daily output of pro-Democracy newsletters and podcasts.
For the overscheduled and under-slept:
Let’s face it, we’re in for a bumpy few years, and we’re all going to need a little R&R in the months ahead. Enthusiastic reviewers of these “Smart Goggles” from TheraBody are better than ketamine for delivering a trancelike state!
For the sugar addict who wants to pick up a few new skills:
Let’s face it: January’s a drag. The parties are over and our resolutions are falling by the wayside. Let’s treat ourselves! Alison Roman’s pitch perfect homage to desserts, Sweet Enough, is just what the doctor ordered. Simple, no-fuss recipes for the most important part of any meal.
For a toast to the new year:
No holiday soirée is complete without champagne—and lots of it! Take inspiration from the fizz-filled revelry of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and send a bottle of good grower champagne. But what’s champagne without the perfect glass? These divine coupe glasses are so chic they’ll even make that cava your cousin brought over taste (almost) like the French stuff!
And now, dear readers, I’m off until January for a little R&R. My itinerary? A ski adventure in St. Moritz, dinner at The White House, and New Year’s Eve at The Ritz in Paris (the canny MJ producer, Lia Vollack, is picking up the bill for the latter!), where I’ll be raising a glass alongside assorted world-champion Dodgers.
As always, a toast of something sparkling to you and yours!
Kisses,
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