It’s weekend-getaway season, people, and we want to make sure you’re prepared. That’s why we’ve been documenting famous people’s carry-on essentials (they travel a lot) and why we’re now bringing you the best gifts to bring your weekend hosts, according to New York editors — because the only thing we love more than getting away is impressing people with our New York savvy. This is how you get invited back.
“A round cotton-terry towel is a fun gift. Also this Fisher’s Finery blanket is a bit expensive, but who doesn’t want a cashmere blanket?” —Wendy Goodman, design editor
“I love getting my hosts a rare book or a first edition that relates to their specific interests. Vintage cookbooks for amateur chefs, out-of-print monographs for friends who are photographers, or signed copies of novels for literary types, for example. If I know I’ll be staying with someone well in advance, I look on eBay or Amazon’s rare books. If it’s last minute I’ll run over to the Strand or even grab one off my own shelf. I like to leave them unwrapped, so it feels more casual, or tie them with a grosgrain ribbon and tuck a nice note into the front, for a more personal touch. That and a bottle of wine, and we’re in for a great weekend.”—Stella Bugbee, editor-in-chief and president, the Cut
“I think Areaware coasters are the best — cool and kind of expensive-looking without actually being crazy expensive. The cube-looking ones are a bit tired to me now, but these stripey ones feel surprising and unique. They come in black and white.” —Jason Chen, senior editor, the Strategist
“Cire Trudon’s Abd el Kader candle would make a great host gift. Unique in the world of candle scents where everything smells either orangey, smoky, or figgy, this smells like an aromatic cup of freshly brewed mint tea, the kind made using real mint leaves and not that tea-bag nonsense. It’s a rich scent without being cloying, and notes of jasmine and vanilla make it smell unlike anything you might get a whiff of in the dentist chair. You’ll never have smelled a candle like this before, trust me — and in the best way possible. It does run a little expensive, so for a thriftier alternative I also like the candles from Boy Smells.” —Kathleen Hou, beauty editor, the Cut
“My go-to gift is a bottle of wine, but if not that I like giving things that make rooms smell good, like Aesop’s room spray.” —Diana Tsui, senior market editor
“I usually bring Prosecco, because it’s so cheerful and nearly everyone likes it. I like a cheapie like Mionetto. It doesn’t taste tremendously different from the more expensive ones, and it is so inexpensive that you can show up at someone’s house with two or three or four bottles, which appears extravagant and lets everyone start throwing it back.” —Chris Bonanos, senior editor
“Since we know almost no one outside the art world we tend to rely on bringing a can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup which I sign Andy Warhol. Otherwise I tend to bring two or three big bottles of Canada Dry seltzer water because that’s pretty much all I drink. I always bring a $20 bill for the kids; works wonders.” —Jerry Saltz, art critic
“My best gift these days is old Saul Steinberg books, two in particular: The Art of Living and Masquerade.” —David Haskell, editor for business and strategy
“I’m going away this weekend and my gift to the host is that I’m paying someone to clean the house after we leave. It’s best gift you could ever give.” —Miranda Dempster, art director
“If your host is into gardening, go for Frances Palmer pottery, like a vase to show off freshly cut flowers. Beautiful cook books are also always welcome—in the country there’s time for cooking, and hopefully fresh produce, too.” –Amy Larocca, fashion director-at-large
“A Max Lamb Crockery carafe is very sculptural and very beautiful in either white or black. It’s the type of thing they’ll have forever.” –Jody Quon, Photography Director
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