Hand-picked holiday gift ideas from us, the LAist staff

Yes, we may be hard at work keeping LAist.com, LAist 89.3 and LAist studios running (phew!) but we are gift-givers too. We asked the staff to tell us what they're buying friends and family this year. Here's what they told us.

Archery lessons

— Jenn Baughman, Director of Programming

(

Cyril Zima

)

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I took my 10-year-old nephew to a one-hour lesson with Area Archery at Woodley Park in Van Nuys. When we got there a large group of adults were just finishing up. Both lessons were age appropriate and people were having fun. This is a great activity for folks who want to get outside and try something new. Now my nephew wants his own bow and arrows. Look for my recs on that in next year's guide!

$50 for a 1 hour Archery Lesson with reduced costs for booking larger groups. $40 per person for two or more. They also offer two-hour lessons and parties of 6+.

Custom cartoons

— Lucie Russo, Development Events Manager

(

Nathan Gelgud

)

My pick for a one-of-kind gift is a piece by local artist Nathan Gelgud, who is taking commissions for custom cartoons inspired by a favorite movie. His clever comics have been featured in the New York Times and used by many cultural institutions, and for $50 you can have one made just for a special person in your life (or yourself!).

Hot chocolate from Amara’s Cafe

— Julia Paskin, host of All Things Considered

Amara's hot chocolate

(

Ashley Rusch

/

LAist

)

It wasn’t until I interviewed Amara herself, of Amara's Cafe in Pasadena, that I learned that not all hot chocolate is created equal, and that I had been deprived of the true pleasure of what some call “drinking chocolate.”

I swore to never go back.

Amara explained (and as is printed on each bag) that around the world, hot chocolate is prepared with different thicknesses and in Venezuela, it's served super dense and very rich! Amara’s hot chocolate is so, so good, I swear I can feel those happy brain chemicals vibing with every sip. It even made an LAist best hot chocolates in town list! I recommend pairing a bag of Amara’s hot chocolate with a nice mug for a seasonal gift for the chocolate-enthusiast in your life.

Slushy Maker

— Jason Wells, Managing Editor

(

Amazon

)

I recommend the Ninja SLUSHI Professional Frozen Drink Maker. It was so simple to set up, fits neatly on my kitchen counter next to my KitchenAid, and is super easy to use. And most of all, it's super fun! It's a total talker when having people over, and tinkering with recipes to create new concoctions is almost addicting.

Dubai Chocolate from the Queens of Knafeh

— Austin Cross, host of Morning Edition

(

Courtesy Knafeh Queens

)

If you have a sweet tooth and your algorithms know it, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the Dubai Chocolate craze sweeping the world. These are thick chocolate bars loaded with a gooey, crispy green filling that may be what dreams are made of. The tantalizing treat, with roots in Dubai, is filled with shredded knafeh and pistachios. I tried one recently when I had the honor of interviewing the “Queens of Knafeh,” Fatmah Muhammad and her daughter, Rheyanah. They brought me their version of the famous bar — made by hand in my hometown of Rancho Cucamonga.

It was heavenly from first bite to last, with the gentle sweetness of the chocolate balancing perfectly with the crunchy-yet-creamy, flavor-filled center. Buy at least three: One for someone you love and an extra two for yourself. It might cost you more than your average bar, but this is no average bar. It's available for local pickup only by request, and note: it doesn’t show up on their product page — you have to ask!

Hasami Porcelain

— Suzanne Levy, Senior Editor

(

Suzanne Levy

/

LAist

)

I love Tortoise, a Japanese store on an unassuming part of Venice Boulevard in Mar Vista. It's like a wonderland of beauty and organization. My favorite thing to buy is their Hasami Porcelain collection, designed by store owner Takuhiro Shinomoto, and made in Japan in the rural Nagasaki region from a unique porcelain and clay mixture.

The original collection has a slightly rough texture, (the newer collection is glossy), and I always get compliments from people when they come over. I've collected the set in black over the years — mug, creamer, plates — and they're all designed to stack seamlessly together.  They make me happy when I see them in my cabinet.

2025 Nib Geebles calendar of L.A.

— Josie Huang, Weekend Edition host and reporter

The 2025 calendar

(

Courtesy Gordon Henderson and Abira Ali

)

Every time I turn the page of a Nib Geebles calendar, I’m welcoming a new piece of original art into my home.

Each month features a scene from in and around L.A, painted in the unmistakably spiky, playful style of Gordon Henderson a.k.a Nib Geebles — who also works as an announcer at LAist — and his creative and life partner Abira Ali.

This year, the pair went searching for storefronts that used animals in their artwork like the Chicken Boy statue in Highland Park on the calendar cover. It’s always so fun to point and say — hey I know that spot!

Bonuses: Each calendar is signed by the artists themselves and includes aphorisms, alongside holidays, like “You can have it all if you’re willing to settle for less” and “Start a new, more conscious era.”

This is the 39th edition of the calendar. It's never too late to start collecting!