Handmade gifts are always a hit. If you’re crafty, consider making something yourself, like homemade cookies or a personalized ornament. People appreciate the time and effort you put into making something special just for them…reports Asian Lite News
As Christmas 2024 is just round the corner, many of us are getting ready for Secret Santa exchanges. While it’s a fun tradition, picking the perfect gift can be stressful. You want to impress your gift recipient but also don’t want to break the bank. Here are five easy ways to make sure you nail your Secret Santa gift this year, without all the worry.
Stick to the basics
When in doubt, stick to simple, classic gifts. A nice mug, a cozy scarf, or a box of chocolates can go a long way. These items are useful, thoughtful, and don’t cost too much.
Know their interests
If you know a little about the person you’re shopping for, use that to your advantage. Do they like coffee, books, or candles? Picking a gift that matches their hobbies shows that you care and put thought into it.
Handmade gifts
Handmade gifts are always a hit. If you’re crafty, consider making something yourself, like homemade cookies or a personalized ornament. People appreciate the time and effort you put into making something special just for them.
Stay within the budget
Secret Santa is all about fun, not spending too much money. Be sure to stick to the budget set by your group. If you’re unsure, ask a friend for ideas on what you could buy without going over the limit.
Add a personal touch
Even if you buy something simple, adding a personal note or a little extra touch can make the gift feel more meaningful. A handwritten card or a small wrapping detail can show that you thought about the person.
The 2022-2023 holiday season is a great time to explore New York City, according to NYC & Company, the convention and visitors bureau and official destination marketing agency of New York City.
Here’s a list of festive hotel offerings and shop at small businesses and flagship stores in NYC:
Festive Hotel Offerings
NYC Hotel Week: Give the Gift of an NYC Hotel Stay this Winter
On sale from mid-November, Citywide
NYC & Company’s second iteration of NYC Hotel Week will return for 2023 alongside signature programs, NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway WeekSM and NYC Must-See WeekSM. On sale from mid-November, shoppers can give the gift of New York City with a 23 per cent off discount. Valid for stays over January 3-February 12, 2023.
Celebrating the Holiday season in New York City.(photo:IANSLIFE)
Holidays at The Plaza
November 24-January 1, Midtown Manhattan
Enjoy afternoon tea at The Palm Court at The Plaza, an iconic destination for holiday festivities, as well as Santa Claus visits, the “Home Alone 2” experience and one-of-a-kind gifts at the Eloise Pop-Up.
Letters to Santa at Lotte New York Palace
November 27-December 23, Midtown Manhattan
The hotel will hold its annual Letters to Santa program, where customized postcards are provided to all guests upon check-in, allowing visitors to write their very own letter to Santa and “mail” them in the property’s Santa mailbox. Each evening, a North Pole Postman will pick up the cards, which are read by the hotel’s “Guest Experience Elves” and Santa Claus himself. Each guest will magically find a personalized response from the desk of Santa Claus, placed in their room to create treasured memories. Winter Spectacular at The Refinery Hotel
December 1-31, Midtown Manhattan
Prospective guests will delight in The Refinery Hotel’s Winter Spectacular. All December long, each stay booked with this special offer comes with a live Christmas tree, decorated and set up for guest arrival, along with hot chocolate, milk, cookies and gingerbread house kits upon request. Perfect for travellers or locals looking for a festive staycation.
Ring in the 2023 New Year at The Knickerbocker
December 31, Midtown Manhattan
The Knickerbocker Hotel continues with tradition, ringing in 2023 with its annual New Year’s Eve party. The one-of-a-kind celebration will host guests with a night of surprise and excitement just 150 feet below the Times Square Ball – the closest live view of the event in the world.
Shop Local at small businesses and flagship stores
Make Merry at Nordstrom
Available now throughout the holiday season, Midtown Manhattan
Nordstrom once again invites shoppers to Make Merry with the arrival of its holiday campaign featuring Tony Award-winning performer Leslie Odom Jr., Emmy-nominated actress Christina Ricci and their families. The campaign will showcase a curated selection of the best products, stories and experiences shared within the homes of Odom Jr. and Ricci, just in time for visitors to plan ahead for holiday shopping. The catalogue is now available online and in select stores.
Flagship Store Shopping
Available now throughout the holiday season, Midtown Manhattan
Locals and visitors alike are invited to various flagship stores, such as Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Cartier, Saks Fifth Avenue and more, to find this season’s most brilliant holiday presents for friends and family. 36th Annual Miracle on Madison Avenue
Throughout holiday season, Upper East Side, Manhattan
The 36th Annual Miracle on Madison Avenue, NYC’s holiday shopping tradition, will benefit the pediatric programs of The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
October 28 throughout holiday season, Bryant Park, Manhattan
This year, the European-style Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park welcomes travellers and locals alike to kick off the festive season with must-buy gifts and sweets matched with cosy libations and winter activities.
Shop at Grand Central Terminal
November 14-December 24, Midtown Manhattan
Grand Central Terminal welcomes back its famous indoor Holiday Fair to the splendour of Vanderbilt Hall this November after a two-year hiatus. The Grand Central Holiday Fair is one of New York City’s most coveted attractions, welcoming thousands of locals, commuters and visitors for a curated holiday shopping and gifting experience. This year’s event will feature 36 vendors, including Ekologic, Garden of Silver and Rebel Designs.
Union Square Holiday Market
November 17-December 24, Union Square, Manhattan
Urbanspace’s longest running holiday market will return this year with over 160 vendors featuring unique gifts created by local craftsmen, artists and entrepreneurs.
Brooklyn Flea Holiday Market
Sundays, November 24-December 24, Dumbo, Brooklyn
Visitors are welcomed once again to Pearl Street for Dumbo’s iconic Brooklyn Flea Holiday Market. One of the borough’s most popular attractions, shoppers will support local vendors and cross off holiday shopping with vintage and antique items, crafts and gourmet food stands.
Celebrating the Holiday season in New York City.(Photo:IANSLIFE)
Grand Holiday Bazaar
Sundays, November 27-December 18, Upper West Side, Manhattan
Find one-of-a-kind handmade holiday decoration and giftable items: candles, skincare, fashion, handbags, vintage accessories and collectibles, handmade jewellery and furniture, rare antique silver and glassware, and of course delicious artisanal treats and foods. Annually, the market provides more than 1,000 independent local merchants with much-needed affordable retail space.
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
November 28-December 24, Upper West Side, Manhattan
Internationally known as one of the most elegant places for holiday shopping, visitors will lose themselves in aisles of art, jewellery, home goods and delicious eats from local artisans and designers, all while roaming through NYC’s iconic Central Park, just a stone’s throw away.
“I genuinely don’t think it gets classified as a party,” Raab said. “I don’t think it was a party.”…reports Asian Lite News.
A photograph of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and more than a dozen other people drinking wine in the garden of his Downing Street residence during a lockdown last year does not show a party, his deputy said on Monday.
The picture, published by the Guardian, shows Johnson with his wife Carrie, who appears to be holding their newborn son, and two other people at a table on a terrace in the Downing Street garden with cheese and wine.
Nearby is another table of four other people, and a short distance away are a larger group standing on the grass around a table with bottles of wine.
“Downing Street use that garden as a place of work,” Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab told Times Radio. “That’s not against the regulations.”
“I genuinely don’t think it gets classified as a party,” Raab said. “I don’t think it was a party.”
The scenes depicted in the photograph add to the scrutiny on Johnson following revelations that his staff held a series of gatherings during COVID-19 lockdowns while the population was being told not to mix with others.
He has faced a barrage of criticism since a video emerged showing his staff laughing and joking about a Downing Street party during a 2020 Christmas lockdown when such festivities were banned.
Raab said the new photograph was taken on a day when the government had just held news conference and that sometimes staff had a drink after a long day in the garden. It was a work gathering, he said.
Johnson’s wife Carrie, Raab said, had popped down from the Downing Street flat to spend some time with her husband.
Besides anger over alleged parties, Johnson is grappling with a rebellion inside his party over the direction of his government which critics say is chaotic and has dramatically expanded the power of the state.
Brexit minister David Frost resigned on Saturday over disillusionment with the direction of the government.
“You know my concerns about the current direction of travel,” Frost told Johnson in a resignation letter released by Downing Street.
“I hope we will move as fast as possible to where we need to get to: a lightly regulated, low tax, entrepreneurial economy, at the cutting edge of modern science and economic change.”
