» Porky the Pod
The iPig ($140, Speakal.com) dock turns that suave status symbol in your pocket into a big joke. We suggest loading your iPod with the proper music, say, the Bacon Brothers.
Pictured above.
» Get Blastered
Of course we're buying the Hasbro Lazer Tag System ($75, Toysrus.com) for a kid! Really. We're not going to have epic inter-office battles between the accounting department and human resources.
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» Digital Digits
Your pal can use his touch-screen phone even in the winter with gloves ($15, Dotsgloves.com) that have tiny scratch-proof metal dots embedded in them. They'll conduct enough current between his fingers and the screen to let him text you all winter.
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» TiVo for Radio
The portable XMp3 from Pioneer ($250, XMRadio.com/xmp3) will record up to five XM stations at once and play back MP3s from portable media. You can listen to Howard Stern and record Oprah for later!
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» Small Favorite
Ditch the bulky tower! If a desktop computer is your thing, try the paperback book-size Eee Box from Asus (in white at Amazon.com), which for only $300 packs a large list of features.
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» Sharp Focus
The Blackbird, fly ($135, Shopping.icp.org/store/) camera hearkens back to the old days of photography, yet it takes regular 35mm film. Plus, you'll look retro cool while shooting.
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» Hot Snapshot
Epson's new all-in-one Artisan 700 printer ($200, Epson.com) features two paper trays (one for photo, one for text), Wi-Fi and a sleek black design that's less than 8 inches tall. Plus, it churns out text pages at an amazing 38 pages per minute!
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» Two for One
Philanthropy can feel good in the wallet, too, not just your heart: For $400, get two XO laptops from One Laptop Per Child (Laptop.org). An underprivileged child overseas gets a kidproof laptop, and then the wee one in your life scores one, too.
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Written by Express contributor Rachel Kaufman
THIS YEAR, small and retro is the new black. OK, so that's a bit of a mouthful, but our picks for 2008's hottest tech gifts seem to have one thing in common: They're teeny. Check out the slim MacBooks, mini (we mean paperback book-size) Eee PCs, the printer that's smaller than a bread box and more. You'll find gizmos here for gearheads and casual tech users alike — Mom can finally get her e-mail on the go, while your brother can turn his commute into a video game with the oddly named PLX Kiwi, which tracks a car's miles per gallon directly from the diagnostic port. Futuristic! Last, it's not a tech guide without some sweet toys, so we rounded up the porkiest iPod dock we could find and a new, updated-for-the-millennium version of the '80s classic Lazer Tag. Get the latter for your favorite kid (or childish adult), and watch the holiday light show fly.
» Range Rover
The Cell Ranger ($150, Getcellranger.com) boosts your signal when you're short on bars. The one here attaches to your car antenna for rural drives; another USB version could work in basement apartments.
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» Mini and Mighty
Teeny Pico D USB drives ($23, Newegg.com) from Super Talent fit on a key chain and hold up to 8 GB of docs and tunes. Just don't lose the itty bitty thing; it's just 1.5 inches tall!
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» Special Delivery
CrackBerry addicts will turn up their noses at the tiny Peek ($79.95 plus $19.95 monthly fee, Getpeek.com), but we bet Mom would love a way to get her e-mail on the go and still keep her pink Razr.
Pictured above.
» In the Quick of Things
Get wireless Internet access without having to hide the router. Linksys' WRT610N ($200, Amazon.com) is easy on the eyes and has dual-band 802.11N frequencies — in English, that means fast ($199.99, Amazon).
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» Gas Perfect
The PLX Kiwi ($300, PLXKiwi.com) plugs into your car's diagnostic computer to track fuel efficiency on a detailed level, making it easier to save the planet.
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» In the Key of Cool
The T-Mobile G1 ($179 with two-year plan, Tmobile.com) sports a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and easy access to all things Google.
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Written by Express contributor Rachel Kaufman
» Buzz With Bite
Mixologists at the likes of Central, EatBar and Rasika are bewitched by Domaine de Canton ($30, Cairo Wine & Liquor, 1618 17th St. NW; 202-387-1500), a not-too-sweet ginger and cognac liqueur. These hip barkeeps are blending the new, crisp potion into highballs. At home, it brings a worldly edge to rum or champagne.
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» Meow Fix
Glam kittens can help save cats with the purchase of Chantecaille's White Tiger pressed powder (pictured, $85, Neiman Marcus) and Le Tigre Bengali bronzer ($85). Both gleaming compacts provide shine-free coverage that's more glowy than glittery. Traffic, an Indian agency that monitors tigers and their habitats, receives 5 percent of the profits. A future in which stripes are solid looks good to us.
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» A Wheel Menagerie
Plopping onto a wet bicycle seat is about as fun — and hygienic — as pulling on a sopping swimsuit. Shield your Schwinn from rain or snow (or just give it a zoo-like vibe) with one of Tito Ahmels' nylon seat covers ($15, Greenergrassdesign.com). Floppy-eared styles include a cow (shown), a wolf and, our fave, a cheerful goat. But don't leave your animal-charmed bike in a public space: You'll soon be posting "lost pet" notices.
Pictured above.
» The Bone Wars
Fighting over the Thanksgiving wishbone may be your family's annual tradition. But don't feel too bad if you can't wrestle it away from your sister this year. A backup plan: Buy this delicate charm necklace from local jewelry line Mija ($62, Mijajewelry.com). The 18-karat gold-plated, fingernail-sized charm and chain, also available in silver, is infinitely prettier than a gross turkey bone anyway.
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» Sweater Setup
Designer collaborations with big-box stores pop up faster than you can say, "Comme des Garcons for H&M. "But we're still excited that New York's luxe knitwear line Lutz & Patmos — known for fashionable cashmere and wool sweaters — has teamed up with West Elm to create a line of chunky hand-knit throws and pillow covers ($39-$89, Westelm.com) perfect for cold-night snuggling. Pass the cocoa, please.
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PLANE RIDES TO Madrid's Barajas Airport from D.C. top a grand. But foodies eager for a taste of the cuisine of the moment can harvest three new cook books from bold-face names eager to transport diners. We pored through the stack, and now dream only of blood-red Tempranillo, a tumble of Aragon olives and Garrotxa cheese.
JOSE ANDRES
» Book: "Made in Spain: Spanish Dishes for an American Kitchen" by Jose Andres ($35, Clarkson Potter)
» Local Hero:
Co-author Richard Wolffe, Newsweek's White House reporter and a close friend of the chef, keeps this endeavor at home in D.C.
» The Scoop: In a companion to his PBS series, Andres emphasizes regional classics (100 recipes) but OKs New World substitutions. Phew!
» We'll Be Fixing: Olive oil pancakes; beef tenderloin with Picon cheese; cherries cured as olives. Consume it with a shot of sherry.
» Most Daunting Dish: Squid fried with its ink turns calamari the off-putting color of a crow.
» Author Over-share: Andres claims to mix "the best gin and tonics in America."
» Great Gift For: Home cooks dreaming of trading backyard burger spatulas for paella pans or foodies hungry for a taste of new Europe
» Food Porn Rating: R for Reservations. Make one for Cafe Atlantico or the six-seat Minibar for an immediate taste of Andres' vittles. Jaleo, his casual trio of tapas bars, are walk-in only. A few recipes are conceptually challenging (making foams, reviving salt cod), so how-to photos would be great, but that's why he made the TV show.
A NICELY BROWNED Butterball may spell Turkey Day bliss for many Americans. But for vegetarians and vegans, a long-cooked gobbler isn't an option. So, how do you whip up a feast (or a dish or two, at least) that'll please pals who shun giblets et al? We got tips from give-up-the-flesh crusaders Isa Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, whose public-access TV show "The Post Punk Kitchen" and cookbook ("Veganomicon") — demonstrate that creamy cupcakes, decadent Italian food and hearty casseroles can kick butt even sans butter.
» EXPRESS:Is there a quintessential holiday dish for those who don't eat meat?
» ROMERO:A beautiful, savory pot pie decorated with pastry leaves will knock your socks off and be a beautiful centerpiece.
» MOSKOWITZ:The stuffing. I start with my own corn bread and make my own vegan sausages. You could do apples, pears, toasted pecans or walnuts and fresh herbs.
» EXPRESS:Any dish you miss at the holidays?
» MOSCOWITZ: I never miss meat. It's funny when people think that vegans are deprived. I don't like the look of a big bird on a table, and I wouldn't think of adding cream to my potatoes. I make mashed potatoes with olive oil and roasted garlic.
Continue Reading "Tofurkey: A Vegan's Guide to Thanksgiving" »
WHEN THE NATIONAL Museum of American History reopens Friday, we don't advocate breaking the glass and trying on the 1930s ruby slippers Judy Garland wore to play Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz." But one glance at the sequined babies drives home how glamorous shoes from past decades can be.
And while Dorothy's sparkly pair might fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction, you can often score a pair of slouchy 1980s boots, 1960s mod flats or another piece of wearable history for less than it would cost to buy a DVD of the yellow brick road-walking classic.
"Shoes are an untapped part of the resale market, so they can often be quite cheap to buy," says Caroline Cox, professor of cultural history at the University of the Arts London and author of the new "Vintage Shoes: Collecting and Wearing 20th-Century Designer Footwear" ($40, Collins Design).
"Buying vintage shoes is a way of standing out and getting something that's better quality than you could find at the mall," says Katerina Herodotou, whose Listopad pop-up store at Mercedes Bien (2423 18th St. NW) traffics in 1960s saddle pumps, disco-era knee boots and the occasional pair of 1980s high tops. "There's a demand for the stuff, boots in particular."
JUST CALL IT the anti-Zappos. Every season, Kassie Rempel combs through the options to build a perfectly pared-down selection of shoes for her SimplySoles catalog, online store and — as of this month — new eco-friendly Columbia Heights shop (1438 Park Road NW, 800-909-3679). The mom of two dishes on her sole passion.
» EXPRESS: How did you get so into shoes?
» REMPEL: I'm a CPA by trade, so in my former professional career, I was surrounded by a lot of black, gray and navy suits. My interest in fashion really came from my inability to express myself. In the accounting field, even color was a little risque. It became a running joke over how many pairs of black shoes I owned.
» EXPRESS: How many did you own?
» REMPEL: At least 25 pairs. It was a little ridiculous, but it helped develop this incredible passion/obsession with shoes.
» EXPRESS: How did you make the move from major shopper to store owner?
» REMPEL: In 2003, I started thinking about opening a shoe boutique but decided I'd prefer to do it online and in a catalog, because that's how I shopped. I was still working, and I just didn't have the time to get in my car, fight traffic and figure out parking to go shopping. I knew I didn't want to create something that I didn't want to shop from.
Continue Reading "Call Her the Anti-Zappos: Kassie Rempel" »
ON OCT. 18, ALIYA ALTAFULLAH and Justin Rinaldi, both 24, had the fusion wedding of their dreams. In a formal nikkah ceremony in front of 260 guests at the Westfields Marriott hotel in Chantilly, the bride and groom celebrated their union. Aliya wore a handmade gold lehnga that she designed with her mother, and walked down the aisle to traditional Indian sitar music. The bridesmaids wore purple lehngas with gold embossing. Western elements were also incorporated into the celebration, including a ring exchange and a bridal party.
They've been together since they were freshmen at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va. After meeting in a public speaking class, they realized that they had grown up in Northern Virginia, attended rival high schools and even had mutual friends.
For their honeymoon, the newlyweds went on a cruise through Italy, Greece and Turkey. Justin is a business analyst for Mobile Satellite Ventures, and Aliya is a producer for the Discovery Channel. They live in Arlington.
Written by Express' Tamar Hallerman
Shannon, 27, works in physical therapy at a nursing and rehabilitation center. Anthony, 25, works in sales for Ferguson. They live in Woodbridge, Va.
» The Main Event: A formal ceremony on Nov. 22 at Anthony's home church in D.C.
» How They Met: As undergrads at Elon University in North Carolina. Shannon helped Anthony find his way when he was lost in the student center.
» First Date: As struggling college students, they went to McDonald's and even paid Dutch.
» How He Proposed: Anthony discussed his plan with Shannon's dad a few days before his proposal. Then, on Christmas Day, her dad captured the whole proposal on video after they opened presents.
» Most Hated Clothing Item: Anthony's "small butt jeans."
» Honeymoon: A cruise in the Eastern Caribbean, with stops in the Bahamas, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.
» Mmm, Cake: A four-tier yellow cake with butter-rum pineapple filling and buttercream frosting.
Written by Express' Tamar Hallerman
Steve, 31 is a project controls consultant. Kristin, 30, is a communications director. They live in the District.
» The Main Event: A Nov. 22 semi-formal ceremony in the planetarium at the Franklin Institute Museum in Philadelphia. The reception will be held in Franklin Hall, where guests will be free to walk through the giant human heart biology exhibit during cocktail hour, and dance next to a large marble statue of Benjamin Franklin after dinner.
» How They Met: Via mutual friends during happy hour at Capitol Lounge.
» First Date: Dinner at Sweetwater Tavern in Merrifield, Va.
» How He Proposed: During a weekend getaway at an inn in Maryland, Steve coordinated an unforgettable evening. After a sunset boat cruise and romantic dinner, Steve took Kristin to a gazebo decorated with torches and containing champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. Kristin recalls, "We admired the lovely full moon over the water. As we were laughing about one of our memories, Steve got on one knee and asked me if I was ready to be with him forever. … I, of course, said yes!"
» Celebrating Heritage: Gift bags will include Philly treats such as Tastykakes and Bucks County Coffee Co. samples. At the reception, the waiters will be serving mini-Philly cheesesteaks.
Written by Express' Tamar Hallerman
Addison Road