2020 has somehow felt like the longest and the shortest year ever. Though many of us are spending the holidays a little further away from loved ones than we would have liked, there’s no reason not to make the best of it. With that in mind, we put together a list of small gifts we’re sending to some of our favorite people, by some of our favorite people. Here’s hoping that next year is better than the last!

Lechon Earrings by BRWNGRLZ

I was previously living bi-coastally between Brooklyn and the Bay Area, where a lot of my family lives. These earrings remind me of the big gatherings we had, with a huge lechon as the centerpiece. I'd sneak out of church a minute (don't tell uncle!!) early so I could be first in line to claim the crispy skin and ears.

brwngrlz.com, $50

Wooden Fork and Spoon print by Allison Catuira

In a lot of traditional Filipinx households, you'll see giant fork and spoons carved out of wood hanging in the dining room. For those who are homesick and maybe living in a smaller apartment (like me!) this print by Allison Catuira can bring you home.

etsy.com, $11

Survived 2020 Pin by Snippet Studios

I mean, we deserve more than a pin. But it's a start, right? This Seattle/San Jose shop has adorable hats and bags for the boba lover in your life, too.

shopsnippet.com, $7.95

Give yourself the present of an organized pantry or do it for a pal.

Kitchen tape and a sharpie or a label maker

Many folks are cooking at home more often and while our chef friends already know to label everything, you might want to go through your fridge and pantry. Not only will you know what's in the mysterious spice jar, noting the date will tell you if you should throw out those leftovers or not. At the hardware store, it will be sold as painter's tape; not to be confused with masking tape which has more adhesive and won't be as removable. Various locations, various prices.

–Jenn de la Vega, editor-at-large

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup from Economy Candy

Candy from Economy Candy

In a year where everyone has done basically nothing but online shop, you can’t go wrong with candy. Economy Candy sells things like chocolate covered graham crackers and peanut butter cups by the pound, multiple kinds of black licorice (my mother-in-law’s favorite) and surprisingly affordable fancy chocolate bars (like last year’s rec Tony’s). economycandy.com, $1 and up

Candles by Keap

Everyone loves a fancy candle! The wood cabin scent is perfect for winter and smells just like a campfire, while grapefruit + yuzu and greenmarket are my top picks for year round. Pair with a box of long matches from John Derian, which come in a variety of fun prints. keapbk.com, $49.50

Dry vermouth by Little City Vermouth

Last year I became a vermouth and soda convert, and I have been quietly (okay… maybe not so quietly) spreading the good word everywhere I go. My mother, who loves me endlessly and is willing to try basically anything, has been recently convinced that this is the go-to holiday drink, but alas! Her liquor store only carries one (very boring) kind. So here to save the day is Little City Vermouth, with their perfectly giftable bottles of fancy-but-not-too-fancy vermouth. littlecityvermouth.com, $21.99 and up

T-shirt supporting Ray’s Candy Store by Neighborhood Spot

T-shirts by Made in Chinatown and Neighborhood Spot

I’m sending t-shirts and other merch to my friends on the West Coast who are really missing New York. Both these brands support local businesses hit hard by COVID, and feature some of my favorite spots like Jing Fong, Elizabeth Street Garden and Ray’s Candy Store (which we previously wrote about on our blog). madeinchinatownny.com and neighborhood-spot.com, $35-$65

Bottles of loose blooming flower teas from Sun’s Organic Garden

Tea from Sun’s Organic Garden

My favorite tea shop in Manhattan, Sun’s Organic Garden has every tea you could ask for and enough knowledge to recommend a replacement for anything they kind of don’t. This year, I’m gifting their teas with a small jar of honey I picked up at the farmers market, perfect for all my work-from-home friends who are struggling. suns-organic-garden.business.site, $2 per ounce and up

–Heather Clark, senior editor

Newsletters, Patreons, art and donations

As we all know, things are rough and getting rougher this winter, so give support where you can to mutual aid orgs, writers and cooks who aren’t working as much these days and have started patreons and newsletters and artists and friends who are selling prints and shirts and spice blends. Look around your local community and see what people are up to and buy things from them.

Here are a few that I am into… From the desk of Alicia Kennedy, the Service Workers Coalition, Randwiches, Ralph McGinnis (my egg co-founder), Food Issues Group, GLITS, National Black Food and Justice Alliance and Soul Fire Farm.

–Simon Keough, editor

LAST MINUTE GIFT GUIDE 2020