Society Scents, Porn Pig, Krispy Kreme; A Big Apple Yuletide

It is a self-confident fashionista who will confess to the myriad of alternative shopping options New York City has on offer. With that in mind, JC Report has compiled a list of New York-focused holiday gifts that the less sophisticated among us may have overlooked. For the dreamer in your life, a gift certificate to Aedes de Venustas, the mecca of fragrances, may lead to many romantic tales. For the fashion-obsessed, the must-have accessory of the moment is Andrew + Andrew's 24K gold Sensor pin, $95 at Seven New York. Treat the horny homo in your life to a private evening with porn legend Donnie Russo (prices vary depending on services). For the self-sufficient, independent gal, look for the Annie Sprinkle video Fire in the Valley: An Intimate Guide to Female Genital Massage for $40. Take a lover on a romantic helicopter tour of NYC, cheap champagne and Lionel Richie songs included. Prices range from $849 for a private tour (up to seven passengers) to the more budget-friendly $56 if you don't mind mingling with the masses. No bona fide aesthete should go without a subscription to Nest magazine, the bible of quirky interiors. Other novel gift giving ideas are everywhere in New York, from an introductory photography course at the International Center of Photography to a culinary class at the New School, or a membership to any of New York's great museums or film institutions (MoMA, Whitney, Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater, Dia Art Foundation, Film Forum). And don't forget spicy hot chocolate and other goodies from the Chocolate Bar, a Klabim retro modern lamp from Latin Collector Art Center, sheets by Dwell from Auto, and Selima Optique vintage sunglasses. And if none of these will do for the fussy fashionista in your life, then you will never go wrong with a gift certificate to Krispy Kreme. Trust us.
- Waleed Khairzada