'Bear' with me
Where the Bears Are: Season 2 ( wherethebearsare.tv ) hilariously picks up from where the first season ( an Internet hit ) ended—except this time, it's a political figure who's murdered. Rick Copp ( The Brady Bunch Movie ), Joe Dietl ( The Thin Pink Line ), Ben Zook ( Jack and Jill ) and Ian Parks again star—but there are some nice guest-star turns by Margaret Cho and Chris Lavoie, among others.
Home improvements
The lifestyle brand soireehome ( soireehome.com ) has a variety of innovative products that promise to make your life easier. For example, tempour ( $49.99 ) is a modular system for ultimate beverage control, and includes a stainless steel pourer, sediment filter, detachable gel-filled chiller, and silicon bottle stopper. Then, there's my favorite: tilt ( $34.99 for two ), a chilling innovation that's iceless and flavorless—so it won't interfere with your martini.
All images viewable at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/photospreadthumbs.php .
Sweet relief
You'll practically want to eat yourself after trying be Delectable from Cake Beauty ( www.be-delectable.com; $14.99 ). There's a hair and body-mist set as well as a hand-cream set—and they come in coconut & cream, strawberry & cream, lemon & cream, and vanilla & cream.
Brownie points
"Delicious" doesn't even begin to describe the items Fairytale Brownies ( www.brownies.com ) offers. Send someone you adore the Season Deluxe Bar, Sprite and Cookie Combo ( $49.95 ), and that person will probably love you for life. The combo includes items in flavors such as toffee chocolate chip, peanut butter, mint chocolate and cheesecake swirl.
Picture it...
Tequila Partida ( www.tequilapartida.com ) has a unique approach to marketing its products: Compare its bottles to TV's Golden Girls. For instance, Partida Reposado is called the "Blanche" of the group because it's "smooth and utterly elegant"—not to mention that it probably gets around. By contrast, Partida Elegante is labelled the "Sophia" of the bunch, as it's an extra anejo tequila aged to perfection for 40 months in American oak.
Judy, Judy, Judy
Yes, we know how much gays love Judy Garland and The Wizard of Oz. Well, Cafe Press ( www.cafepress.com/+thewizardofozmovie+gifts ) has a whole list of attractive items. Somewhere Over the Rainbow wall clock? Check. Ruby-slipper iPhone case? Check. Wizard of Oz Who'sGot the Red Shoes Now Flip Flops? Double check.
Beer and far
It's not hard to guess what the focus is on Beerables ( www.beerables.net ), but what could be surprising is the wide variety of products available. Steins, corkscrews, apparel and even a Rolling Rock gay pride matchbook are among the things you'll find. ( I was going to use a bad pun but I'll ab-stein—OK, I couldn't resist. )
Stand Up
If you want to give a gift that essentially gives back, Stand Up to Cancer ( www.standup2cancer.org ) is certainly a worthy cause. Products range from teddy bears to blankets to bangles to watches.
A Plumm find
Bistro/chocolatier Sugar and Plumm ( www.sugarandplumm.com ) has created specialty handmade, chocolate treats—and they're unlike anything else you're likely to see. Where else are you apt to find handbags and heeled shoes ( starting at $25 ) made of pure chocolate? It's where fashion meets dessert.
Gem dandy
20th-Century Jewelry & the Icons of Style ( www.thamesandhudson.com ) is a coffee-table book that analyzes how the worlds of fashion and art have brilliantly collided in the new millennium. From catwalk shows to fashion photography to dazzling new retail spaces, this book explores the evolution of "art as fashion" and "fashion as art," with more than 350 illustrations. Sashay, shante!
Doll face
Another option for kids—or boy-band fans of any age, I guess—would be the singing 12-inch 1D ( One Direction ) dolls ( $19.97 ). Each doll comes with a mike and an outfit. I assume kids could put these dolls against their parents' New Kids on the Block dolls in a sing-off.
Prop to it
Keyprop ( integrald.com/keyprop.html; $12.95 ) solves the problem of not having a smartphone stand. Keyprop rests against the front panel to prop up your phone—and for the iPhone5, the bottom prong can also fit right into the Lightning dock. However, it fits virtually every smartphone—meaning you can watch your Rihanna video while multitasking.
Pro and 'Don'
Capitalizing on the recent controversy regarding Hallmark Cards removing the word "gay" from "Deck the Halls," Rocco Shirts ( roccoshirts.com/store/feature/don-we-now-our-gay-apparell/; $24.99 ) is selling sweatshirts with wording such as "Don We Now Our Gay/Bi/Straight Apparel." Wearers will certainly get attention.
Just 'Shoot' me
She Shoots Men ( www.schifferbooks.com; $50 ) may not be quite what you think—it features images of male nudes as taken by Vivienne Maricevic. Included in this compendium are more than 150 images from three of Maricevic's most distinct periods. However, no matter what the era, the images are rather, um, compelling.
Kitt and caboodle
Kitt Shapiro, the daughter of the legendary Eartha Kitt, has introduced Simply Eartha ( www.SimplyEartha.com ), a lifestyle brand of coasters, plates, wall art, mugs, pillows, throws and paperweights featuring the witticisms and images of her iconic late mother. "Kitt-isms" include such statements as "What I do today is how I am interpreted tomorrow." ( So true... ) By the way, part of the proceeds benefit The Colon Cancer Alliance.
LUSH for life
LUSH ( www.lush.com ) has some unique products for your face, body and hair. Tops on my list is Santa's Lip Scrub ( $8.95 ), a cola-flavored concoction that leads to soft, kissable Christmas lips. ( Is that mistletoe I see? ) Then there's SNAP!! ( $45.95 ), a collection of items like fruity-smelling Red Fun and Mr. Punch that will wake you faster than coffee.
Frends zone
Frends headphones ( www.wearefrends.com; starting at $149 ) are some of the coolest-looking soundgear I've seen in quite some time. With lines such as Taylor Rose Gold and Layla Oil Slick, the phones incorporate leather ( black or white ) with gold hardware. People who see you wearing these probably won't even care who you're listening to.
Let's bake a deal
Last year, Hasbro said it would start selling gender-neutral Easy Bake Ovens ( starting at $44.99 )—and items are in black and silver as well as the traditional pink. The Ultimate Oven ( which comes in purple ) allows kids to become little Martha Stewarts with items like red velvet cake mix and chocolate chip cookie mix.
To the right
Contrary to one some may think, Hollywood hasn't always been a bubble of liberalism. When Hollywood Was Right combines celebrity and politics, with figures from John Wayne to Walt Disney joining forces to rebuild the Republican Party. This is a great gift for anyone fascinated by history.
Blinding me with science
The Evolution Store ( theevolutionstore.com ) has some very cool items—and some that others might find a little, um, creepy. The skull-and-claw bottle opener is something that seems cool, and who wouldn't want a malachite box or agate coasters? On the other hand, taxidermy and the skeleton erotica...
A year of dates
The 2014 edition of the Orthodox Calendar ( www.orthodox-calendar.com ) is just as homoerotic as it wants to be—and this calendar full of muscular dudes pays tribute to same-sex marriage. I can only imagine what certain religious leaders would have to say.
Nice to meat you
Carnivore Club ( www.carnivoreclub.ca; $50/month ) offers monthly subscriptions of curated meats delivered to your doorstep. And just in case you think you're getting items on the level of Spam, boxes include such meats as Iberico chorizo, pate de Champagne and Toscana salami. Happy dining!
Jim beams
Pianist Jim Brickman has released The Magic of Christmas ( www.jimbrickman.com; $9.99 ) features him with the brand-new original instrumentals "The Magic of Christmas" and "On A Winter's Night," along with legendary singer Johnny Mathis adding his sound to "Sending You A Little Christmas." ( There are also standards such as "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." ) Incidentally, he'll be performing in Joliet Nov. 30.
Let's get 'Loud'
Out Loud Greetings ( outloudgreetings.com/ ), run by 23-year-old Ryan LeMere, has "cards for diverse communities, made with heart," according to its website. What you'll find are cards for everything from a lesbian wedding to a bear anniversary. Try finding THAT at Walgreens.
What's cooking?
Local bon vivant Sanjay Singhal has penned the cookbook What Tastes Good! ( www.amazon.com; $17.96 ) The cookbook captures many of Singhal's stories in the kitchen, both at home and overseas ( in India and France ). The recipes follow in order, from hors d'oeuvres to salads, soups, meats, vegetables and desserts. Quiche aux trois fromages, anyone?
Saks and the city
Saks Fifth Avenue ( www.saksfifthavenue.com ) has a variety of items for the more sophisticated man, including the Del Toro velvet slipper ( $350-$375 ), the Tom Ford "Tobacco Oud" fragrance ( $520 ), the Barbara J. Campbell silk pocket squares ( $95 ) and the Le Labo soy wax candle ( $60 ). Paging Donald Trump!
