For the art snob
Girls — Broken Dreams Club EP Vinyl
($14.99 at Sonic Boom, 512 Bloor St. West)
This San Francisco indie pop band, led by the enigmatic former cult member Christopher Owens, isn’t wasting anytime basking in the critical success of their 2009 debut and has instead released a collection of six memorable new tracks that sees Girls expand their palette and break a few more hearts while they’re at it. Buy this on vinyl — way cooler than getting this shit on iTunes.
P-Sharan SQ-35 Pinhole Camera
($30 at Lomography, 536 Queen St. West)
When it comes to photography, you can’t get more lo-fi than this. This camera takes 35mm film and uses a pinhole as a camera lens, guaranteeing some serious art snob street cred. Great for long exposures on snowy days or foot photography when you’re feeling vain or kinky.
Drawing for Architecture, by Leon Krier
($24.95 at TYPE Books, 883 Queen St. West)
Leon Krier takes an illustrative approach to describing architectural theory in this book of sketches and doodles. What do you mean you don’t get it? What better way to understand architecture than through flaccid and not-so-flaccid penises?
Peller Estates Icewine Private Reserve
($25.99 at LCBO, 55 Bloor St. West)
If you’re gifting liquor, you can’t go wrong with Icewine. This bottle is beautifully produced and features an irresistible sweetness produced by frozen Vidal Blanc grapes. Perfect for the hipster on your list, they’ll be able to claim they liked this before anyone else did.
For the overachiever:
Snuggie
($20 at Showcase, Eaton Centre)
How many nights have you spent huddled under a blanket in Robarts, wishing you could turn the pages of that computational neuroscience volume without disrupting your perfectly distributed body heat? The solution is simple. The Snuggie’s lush folds ensure thermal ecstasy, while its sleeves allow for superior agility for the page-turning ninja in all of us. All-nighters will never be the same.
iPad
($549 at Apple Store, Eaton Centre)
Okay, the iPad might no longer be the hottest new thing, but it’s still pretty damn cool. With this baby, all of those readings on Portal start to seem a lot less daunting. Late nights at Robarts will never be the same — no need to lug your laptop and cable home in the early a.m. in an academic walk of shame. Plus, it’s made by Apple, so you have to have it, right?
Never Learn Anything from History, by Kate Beaton
($19.95 at The Beguiling, 601 Markham St.)
We know you’ve been to all the classes, so you’ll totally get Kate Beaton’s digs at history and literature. The book — strips from Beaton’s Hark! A Vagrant webcomic, essentially — will provide something to chuckle to as you wait for Robarts to open on Sundays. Just pretentious enough to almost justify getting a C when your McGill friends are getting an A doing half the work.
SportBand
($80 at the Nike Store, Eaton Centre)
Our Sports Editor said we needed a sporty gift, so here it is. This SportBand pairs with an iPod Nano to track your pace, distance, time, and calories burned. If you talk to it softly it might even do your taxes. Pre-emptively get rid of the holiday weight. God knows that sweater your granny’s knitting for you won’t fit otherwise.
For the nester:
Pilates Multi-Gym Resistance Workout Bar
($19.95 at Varsity Sports Store, 55 Harbord St.)
This is about as cool as living at home. Turn your mother’s spare bedroom into the gym of your dreams. Yoga, Pilates, and any other body contortion will become a dream. The best part? Never again will you face creepy stares in the Hart House locker room.
“Honey I Washed the Kids” Soap
($12 at Lush, Eaton Centre)
Indulge yourself in the sensuously sweet scent of honey, now in a coarse cube of cleanser. No bees were harmed during the making of this soap.
Impulse Silver Bullets
($20 at Come As You Are, 701 Queen St. West)
When you’re armed with a vibrating silver bullet, it technically only takes one to tango. But then again, two can play at that game. This double-bullet combo comes with two vibrators that can be controlled for speed independently. Gives you at least two more reasons to stay inside all day when the winter winds are a’ blowing.
Betsey Johnson “Zipper Stripe” Bra and Panties
($57 (bra) and $27 (panties) at Beestung Lingerie, 2504 Yonge St.)
Just because you are hanging out at home doesn’t mean you can’t look cute! Dress to impress for that “slumber party” when your parents are gone for the night. Trimmed with lace, this bra gives you more support than a TA during midterms.
