We know that special day is oh so close, so who couldn’t use a few more suggestions? Gloves, cool shades, hotel stays, and restaurants. They’re all still available, but you better fire up that credit card and Internet, like, now, peeps.
All You Need Are Gloves
Southern Californians, Pasadenans included, are funny about cold weather. They think 67 degrees is really cold, and yet they look for any excuse to pile on the down puffer jacket, a lovely and warm scarf, and of course, gloves. So, if your giftmate is like that, here is a warm and stylish answer to their gift question.
These Battenkill® cashmere-lined leather gloves from Orvis will make you forget the weather, even as you yank them off in Starbucks to make sure not a drop of hot cocoa ever touches their beautiful finish. Subtly accented with Battenkill dark green, these full-grain leather, cashmere-lined gloves are finished with an antiqued brass snap along the cuff, and feature a decadently luxurious cashmere lining for warmth and comfort.
Let it snow! Just kidding.
More information is available here.
And While We’re on the Subject of Gloves…
Since we’re all getting cozy here, Overland also makes gloves that will make your gift person want to walk around holding your hand until the spring, and maybe beyond.
Overland’s Noble Shearling Australian sheepskin lining will keep all of your winter outdoor auction—even if it’s only sitting in the stands at the Rose Parade—warm and comfortable.
Stitched pleat details across the top complement the sleek lines, and the smooth lambskin leather is equally at home with a long, dramatic tailored coat or a favorite fleece-lined jean jacket.
Find out more right here.
Represent on Christmas Morning
When you go out on Christmas Day afternoon, you’re basically repping your holiday bounty. Make the coolest impression of the day with Warby Parker’s Fletcher sunglasses.
These frames are stylish in the most subtle way with classic lines and a hand-polished cellulose acetate, translucent finish that dresses up (or down) the classiest or simple outfits.
Going to an afternoon outdoor bash? Show up in these. Making the scene at your favorite relative’s crib on Boxing Day? Light up the driveway with these babies.
There’s a Warby Parker store right there in Old Pasadena on Colorado Boulevard, and they’ve opened a new store out in Topanga if you’re headed out that way to visit your Valley peeps.
Check it all out right here.
A Holiday Getaway? Why, of course!
We understand that it might be heresy to even think about spending the holidays anywhere but in Pasadena. But if you’re thinking about spending the holidays anywhere but in Pasadena, what about the desert? Perhaps a last-minute splurge for you and your special gifty?
We recently spent a couple evenings at the Marriott Renaissance Esmerelda Indian Wells Resort, and it was just as fabulous as you might think.
It was decked out for the holidays of course, which makes a hotel like this just a little more magnificent during this magical season.
A spacious, luxurious, king-size room with two large flat-screen TV, and beaucoup USB chargers, overlooking the largest swimming pool in greater Palm Springs could be just the ticket for a “Welcome back to the Post-Covid world” celebration/holiday bash/wing ding thing, for you and yours.
Along with a palatial resort, Indian Wells is also holding its inaugural Indian Wells winterfest, through the end of the year, featuring an ice-skating rink, oversized holiday tree, live entertainment, holiday décor, daily activities, and more at locations including Indian Wells Golf Resort, Hyatt Indian Wells, Renaissance Esmeralda, Indian Wells Resort, and the Miramonte Resort.
Or how about an evening at the wildlights event at the Living Desert just down Highway 111 from the hotel? Feel free to wish the giraffes a happy holiday season.
And you have to eat, right? Eight4nine Restaurant and Lounge has been offering serving as a hub for its desert community since 2015.
Housed in a former US post office, the varied rooms help create just the right atmosphere for everything from intimate dinners for two to a banquet option for 100.
We began a recent dinner with a glass of Prosecco and a Pom-Tini with a warming corn and crab chowder served with generous chunks of crab meat and applewood bacon accompanied by a light, refreshing winter salad with crisp Asian pear, creamy burrata cheese, and watercress, with a balsamic reduction dressing, both served with fresh warm bread and creamy butter.
The pan-seared Allan Brothers Beef filet mignon was served with a delightful Parmesan and goat cheese au gratin, crisp carrots and haricot verts nestled alongside crispy fried onions. The miso marinated Chilean sea bass hinted at its Asian influences with the addition of jasmine rice, baby bok choy served in a soy lime ginger glaze.
The deconstructed s’mores, served here in an homage to fondue, were a fun way to cap off the meal with addition of locally-made Brandini toffee atop the house made marshmallows. As fetching a plate as the s’mores were, the real stunner was the “carrot cake sandwich” layered with cream cheese semifreddo and topped with Chantilly, orange chips, and salted caramel.
Peep it at eight4nine.com or (760) 325-8490.
Go With the Go City Guide
As long as you’re thinking about traveling, think about this—The Go City App. Giving the gift of experiences means the gift always fits. You can make your peeps’ holidays merry with a Los Angeles pass from Go City that features more than three dozen attractions and experiences from Los Angeles to San Diego.
Just choose between an all-inclusive pass or two-to-seven choice pass and you’ll have instantly brightened your person’s 2023 with an exploration of everywhere cool in Southern California.
Visit GoCity.com and go see it all.
How about Cute and Clever?
Asked to describe her store in just so many words, Scarlett Rose Patterson, co-owner of Altadena’s Tac-tile Mountain, was at a loss. That’s likely because the unique, eclectic store is a lot of things.
“Cute and clever,” she agreed, finally.
“Our shop is interested in our relationship to the objects we surround ourselves with in our everyday lives,” she said, recently.
“We want to provide things to people that enrich their daily experiences, and hopefully encourage people to be more present,” added second co-owner Nico Yaryan.
“It’s a lot of things that we like,” he said. “Apothecary, candles and incense, or whimsical kitchen accessories; or independent magazines and art books; or homewares and ceramics, and illustrated books and toys for children.”
“We call it Tac-tile Mountain because we sell objects for all of the senses,” added Scarlett.
You should probably go there, like, right about now, since it’s very close to Christmas, but this is a store that’s always fun to visit. Ask them about Swedish fish candy.
1353 North Hill Avenue, Pasadena, CA. (626) 314–2134. www.tac-tilemountain.com.
