Lucky 8! Your Annual Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide For CityLovers & DataGeeks!
Traditions matter. They bring us comfort, joy, a sense of stability. That’s why we couldn’t be more ecstatic to bring back your cherished annual holiday gift guide for the urbanists and data enthusiasts in your life after a hiatus in 2022. The revival of our guide marks a trifecta of breathing life into our long-standing traditions here at State of Place, joining our annual Thankful for Place and Giving Tuesday posts (check those out if you missed them a couple weeks back). In any case, this year, our amazing interns have contributed some delightfully fun gift ideas, as well as some recs by yours truly, just in time for all of the December holidays! We’ve also included links to the previous editions of our gift guides in case you need even more inspiration!
Homages to your fave city!
Drink up your City!
Brought to you by Linda: The design geek in me loves the minimal sleekness of this. The best part? You can embellish this barware with any city you love. How neat is that?!
Map Wall Art
Recommended by Stella: Get maps of up to sixteen locations on colorful wooden wall art hexagons. Great for anyone who has lived in many different places. Continue to add to your collection as you visit places that you love!
For Creatives!
DIY Street Art!
Another rec by Linda, inspire a budding public artist with sidewalk chalk! For the little ones (or your own inner child), let their creativity soar as they create a colorful path to brighten someone's walking commute. These non-toxic chalks come in various color options (including glitter! - oooh, aaah!)
Home Street Art!
If you follow this blog, you know we are fascinated and inspired by street art. That’s why I (Mariela) am so excited to recommend these amazing panels that can bring a bit of that urban art into your homes! The Etsy store that sells these also offers lots of other cool options!
Urban Explorers, Delight!
Lobster Gloves?!
Recommended by Malena, these funny-looking but quite pragmatic gloves are great for riding bikes in cold temperatures as the “lobster” aspect leaves one to two fingers sectioned in the glove for good brake access on the handles. Perfect for those in your life who bike for commuting, pleasure, or urban exploration!
Hydration!
For the urbanist in your life who's always on the go, Ashley recommends this colorful Owala Water Bottle – the perfect companion for their urban adventures and hikes alike. Keep them hydrated with Owala's ingenious Sip and Chug feature, that offers versatility for every sip preference. Whether they're sipping slowly while navigating city streets or opting for a quick chug during an outdoor adventure, Owala will have them covered!
Wearable Urbanism!
Design Your Own!
Inspired by Khearwoot’s suggestion for a beanie and scarf set - to help keep urbanists who are constantly on the go or like to spend time outside enjoying all the holiday festivities - we took it a step further and found this amazing site where you an upload your fave pick of your face city, and et voila, a few minutes (or maybe a bit more than a few if you let your inner designer take over!), you have a super cute, urbanist inspired winter accessory!
NYC Map Scarf
Once again, inspired by Khearwoot’s suggestion for a beanie and scarf set, we are so in love with this beautiful NYC map scarf by Kate Spade! It doesn’t hurt that it’s in State of Place orange! ;) This particular scarf is sold out on Kate Spade’s website, but available on Ebay and via Amazon. But, Kate Spade does offer other city-themed scarves if you want to check those out as well!
Walk Your Way!
I’m late to post about this (stay tuned for deets), but this summer/fall, I along with 20+ other amazing female founders participated in the Entrepreneur Forum’s Female Founder Fellowship program. One of these fantastic founders, Maeva Wang, is using AI to create the shoe of urbanist's dreams! The MODEL T by IAMBIC transcends the realm of footwear, embodying a symbiotic relationship with urbanism. Tailored to the individual's unique stride, it mirrors the diverse paths of city dwellers, seamlessly blending fashion with function. Beyond personalization, IAMBIC's commitment to on-demand manufacturing for each pair underscores a sustainable ethos, minimizing waste and environmental impact in the ever-evolving landscape of urban living. This would make quite the special(ized) gift!
Trains and Books - can you get more nerdy?
Train Tracker Live LED Map
Max recommends, the Train Tracker, a live LED transit map that utilizes live data to display the real-time movements of trains on an LED-illuminated map printed on a circuit board. The Train Tracker is available for various cities, including London, Chicago, San Francisco, New York City, and many more.
BookKnooks by Mini Alley
Another Max Rec! Imagine stepping into a bustling cyberpunk alleyway or a serene Japanese garden, all without leaving your home. DIY booknooks offer a unique and creative way to transform your bookshelves into miniature worlds, each with its own distinct atmosphere and environment.
These intricate creations are perfect for design geeks who appreciate the blend of artistry and functionality. They provide a delightful way to showcase your favorite books while adding a touch of personality and style to your living space. My personal favorite is the Cyberpunk one due to its futuristic and vibrant style!
Readable Urbanism!
Inclusive Transportation
Finally, we couldn’t have an ultimate guide to urbanist gifts without including a book - and this one promises to be amazing no doubt, as it compiles insights from Veronica Davis on how to leverage street design to create more inclusive transportation! I certainly cannot wait to read it!
I hope you find something special for your beloved urbanist - or yourself while you’re at it. But if you’re still searching for that perfect gift, please see our previous gift guides below. And if you want to learn more about State of Place - or want to gift the gift of data and evidence to create more livable, equitable, and sustainable places, feel free to book a time to chat with us and find out how we might help you in 2024 and beyond!