Festive Fantasizing

Experiential gifts for your nearest and dearest

Let’s get right to it!

I’ll start with my weirdest recommendation: Aldi — yes, your friendly supermarket chain — just launched a limited-edition Pigs in Blankets flavored lickable wrapping paper. You need to be a U.K. resident to win, so those of us living elsewhere will have to live vicariously through the triumphant recipients.

For the chocolate-and-art-lover, look no further than Ed Rucha’s Made in California chocolate bar, a collaboration with andSons Chocolatiers. It’s (probably?) the most delicious topographic relief you’ll ever eat.

For the chocolate-and-magic-lover, you’ll want some Magical Chocolate. It’s an edible illusion, “a surprising confection that grows bigger when you break it apart.” Personally, I don’t know what that means. I have, however, ordered a bar for “scientific research” purposes.

If you love advent calendars while also blurring the line between fictional narratives and historical architecture, you can’t find a better option than the Dennis Severs’ House advent calendar. (For anyone in/ visiting London, the Dennis Severs' Tour is wonderful.)

For those in cooler climates, you may need a knitted balaclava…with ears. Blamo has you covered (literally).

If you’re keen for a pop-up book (who isn’t?) Kelli Anderson’s This Book is a Camera contains a working camera with a pinhole lens, a lightproof bag, five sheets of photo paper, and development instructions.

Also in the book department are these perfect stocking stuffers: miniature books (lots of classics to choose from) and Mindy Seu’s A SEXUAL HISTORY OF THE INTERNET, which she describes as an historical resource, a script for her participatory lecture, and a fiscal experiment of redistribution (“Citational Splits”). (If you missed her Los Angeles appearance, she has performances in 2026 in Chicago, Hong Kong, Milan, Paris, London, and Athens.)

Don’t miss Mister & Mischief’s mini-festo, Infinite Right Answers. It’s chock-full of delightful and practical wisdom for storytellers of all kinds.

For fans of my scentscapades (I appreciate you so dang much), Hibi takes a different approach to incense with 10-minute incense matches (Ameico stocks a selection). Clap Clap offers scented greeting cards, which are absolutely lovely.

The Lớp Acrylic Lamp is perfect for art aficionados, especially of James Turrell, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Helen Pashgian (you get the idea…).

For the musically inclined, you have portable options in the Strumba Kalimba Thumb Piano and the Stylophone S1 Pocket Synthesizer.

Actually Curious makes card decks and the Human Rights Edition is one way to foster meaningful conversations over the holidays at any time.

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