You have a problem: your team of elves has gone on strike and is currently camping in McPherson Square. You need a Plan B, which is where we come in with a few inspired ideas. None of which require a tax loophole.
This stationer has custom-published historical books (leather-bound, of course) for the White House library. Now, they’ve set up shop in the St. Regis lobby, so you can have a drink while you peruse their letterpress cards based on DC neighborhoods, or design custom notecards. “From the desk of the czar” has a nice ring.
The problem with Iowa: listening to the same stump speech 1,000 times. The other problem: no Ben’s Chili Bowl. Unless, of course, you ship an overnight care package of chili con carne and half-smokes. They’ll have to get their own antacids.
Assume for a minute that one of your favorite craft beer makers partnered with one of your favorite made-in-the-USA clothing designers. Okay, it actually happened, as Southern-fried clothier Billy Reid got together with Dogfish Head for a pair of shirts based on Dogfish’s logo. Call it a drinking uniform.
For the discerning art lover, there’s always an original Matisse. Or, failing that, an original banner from a Matisse exhibit at the San Francisco MOMA. They’ve got other artists and other exhibits, too, including a Siamese Buddha show. For your yoga room.
You’ve got that one colleague. The one who always rescues you in those big, decisive professional moments. The least you could do is keep her neck warm. No, not like that. With one of these locally made, hand-dyed, silk-and-cotton scarves from JEM. Or like that.
