I’m an expert gift giver. The secret here is to just be a great listener and remember the things people tell you about themselves and what they want.
Don’t be the person waiting for your turn to talk, which happens to the best of us. (This is why I can never remember anybody’s name — I’m too worried about my performance, trying not to look stupid, during this ritual.) Which brings me to the second best thing you can do as a gift giver: Just think about yourself, what you want, and where interests may collide. So that’s what we’ll do here. I’m plucking my bookmarks for awesome Texas brands and items that are on my wishlist. Get in loser, we’re going shopping!
Velvet Pearlsnap Shirt from Wythe
Founded by Peter Middleton, Wythe is a fascinating brand because it’s exactly what you think you’d get from an Austin-raised, New York-dwelling dude who did fabric research for Ralph Lauren. Wythe’s threads are steeped in Americana with a concrete jungle sensibility and outrageously great quality. I originally wanted to put this gorgeous Mustang Fringe Leather Jacket on this list, but I opted for sensibility instead. What’s the likelihood that anyone is going to wear leather for more than a week in Texas? Their beautiful Velvet Pearlsnap will suffice though. It can be dressed up or down, as an overshirt or by its lonesome, and can get a bit more mileage throughout the year.
Membership Card from the Texas Theatre
The Texas Theatre is a Dallas landmark, and its biggest claim to infamy is as the place Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested on November 22, 1963 for assassinating John F. Kennedy. You can walk in the theatre and see one-sheets from the films that played that day too. However, that’s just history — the distant past. Today, The Texas Theatre is one of the most exciting places to catch a movie I’ve ever been to. When people flood the lobby bar after a showing, sometimes it feels like you’re actually in a dive that just happens to host a film festival, play first showings, screen classic films, and occasionally feature filmmakers for Q&As. The best of the theatre’s programming is CinéWilde (who claim to be America’s longest-running monthly LGBTQ film series), which has recently screened “The Matrix,” “Pink Flamingos,” and “Paris is Burning.”
Texas is known for its whiskey drinkers, not its whiskey. However, since Waco-based Balcones started distilling the spirit in 2009, the Lone Star State has been pumping out barrels of high-quality juice. A lot of the offerings from Balcones are young with minimal aging — as it’s a young company — which lets a lot of the ingredients in the whiskey shine. The best bang for your buck here is the rye, made with an 100% rye mashbill. This stuff tastes like chocolate. I kid you not. So delicious, it’s a little dangerous.
I’m not a suburbs guy. I find them and the very concept of them boring, but out in the Dallas suburb The Colony, something very exciting is happening. COSM is a 65,000-square-foot venue that screens events on an 87-foot diameter, 12K-plus LED dome. The idea is that the space is so immersive it feels like you’re there in the flesh — maybe even better. For the time being, COSM plays mostly sports and has a few Cirque du Soleil showings on the docket, but the possibilities are endless. Ticketmaster, you better watch your back.
Malin + Goetz Cannabis Candle from Stag
There’s no weed in it, and it doesn’t actually smell like weed. The Cannabis namesake just comes from the deep earthy sillage, so thankfully it won’t make anybody’s house smell like Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, and Willie Nelson did a world tour in their living room. Pricey, yes, but this is the best candle ever made. And the thick glass containers make for great recycled drinking glasses. It’s basically a two-for-one deal.
Be weary of perfumes from fancy designers who rip the runway at fashion weeks around the globe. Those scents aren’t all that interesting, and the trick is to get you to buy them just because they say Givenchy, Gucci, or YSL on them. Not everybody can afford Margiela Tabis, but a bottle of cologne is much more feasible. The exception to this rule is of course anything from the most stylish Texan of all time Tom Ford — and specifically Chanel Bleu De Chanel. Otherwise niche houses are the way to go. Boyds of Texas, based in San Antonio, sells high quality natural fragrances that speak to the Texas terrain. My favorite is Cuero, which has notes of citrus, leather, smoke and vetiver. (While we’re talking about Tom Ford, I just want to bring up the fact that I don’t think his accent is real. I think he made it up, nobody sounds like that! Okay, now let’s move on.)
Infinity Ring from Mondo Mondo
Houston-born and bred designer Natasha Ghosn’s Mondo Mondo is a haven for bold designs inspired by her Mexican heritage and the art her grandfather made and collected. The company sells earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and fine jewelry crafted from precious metals. The rings, in my opinion, are the best place to start, and the Infinity Ring is the perfect mix of out-there and traditional style that would impress just about anybody.
‘Selena’ Print from Dead Prey Gallery
Chicago company Dead Prey Gallery commissions movie poster art from Ghanaian artists, and the results are the most bizarre and surreal pieces of art you’ll ever lay your eyes on. I’ll recommend “Selena,” the biopic about the Tejano legend, which makes it look like a campy 80s action flick, a common theme in the interpretations the artists make. But they get much, much weirder. And quite frankly pretty horny. Only for the boldest movie buffs. Look up the one for “Boogie Nights” with caution.
It’s hard to point out a single book, so the suggestion here is to get any book from Black Pearl Books, a Black-owned store based in Austin. They’ve got everything from Percival Everett’s new novel from the perspective of Huckleberry’s friend, Jim, to an autobiography written by Angela Davis, to the works of our state’s hottest mystery and thriller writer, Attica Locke.
Barbs B Q has garnered the attention of Eater, Bon Appétit, and even the Michelin Guide. It’s for good reason: The female-owned joint is shaking things up in the Hill Country’s barbecue capitol, Lockhart. I have a rule that you shouldn’t judge one of these places by the meat — everyone except Dickey’s is doing just fine with the meat. Chuck Charnichart, Barbs B Q’s pitmaster knows her way around a smoker for sure. But what separates the good barbecue spots from the great ones are the fixins, and Barbs B Q’s green spaghetti, a creamy poblano-based pasta, is already becoming a thing of legend.
Stetson Open Road from Maufrais
Can anybody call themselves a Texan if they don’t have a big ass hat? Not fully. A Texan without a big ass hat is at most a 9.9/10 Texan. There are plenty of options all over the state, but the Open Road is a classic for good reason. Head to Maufrais for dozens of customization options, including bands to throw on for flair.
Cowboy Boots from Full Circle Vintage
You also can’t fully be a Texan without some boots. Listen, I would work for any company or person that would give me the privilege to order custom boots from Graham Ebner (without blinking… on the condition that the work won’t send me to prison). Halliburton? Let’s do it. My email is open. Donald Trump? Nah, remember my condition. However, since boots are sturdy and made to last a lifetime if cared for, vintage is never a bad option. Full Circle Vintage, which has a showroom in Lockhart and pops up on South Congress on the weekends has a wide array of options, from flashy to classy.
Cursive Sweatshort from A Ma Maniére
Luxury streetwear brand A Ma Maniére became a sensation due to its Jordan collaborations, which exude clean comfort and style. The sweatshorts do too. They’re a perfect gift for anyone who knows that casual doesn’t necessarily mean frumpy.
Another two-for-one here. The Dallas-based company Nomad sells highly portable grills that double as smokers. For apartment dwellers, it can be thrown in the closet when not in use. Home renters and owners can have it proudly displayed in the backyard. It can easily be thrown in the trunk for trips to the outdoors. And listen, with the dual die-cast aluminum and baby blue accents, this is just about the coolest looking grill on the market.
A Pet from Your Local Shelter
Adopt, don’t shop! Though don’t surprise your loved one. You don’t want them to return the puppy and you too.
