Metro Pulse Holiday Gift Guide for Men
'Tis the Season...To be giving!
Jolly gifts for everyone on your list
–all of them fa-la-la-la local.
Tis the season... how do you want to finish that sentence? Most any tone you'd like to set, there's a corresponding gift—just match 'em up with this handy guide, then sit back and watch your gifts being enjoyed.
'Tis the season...
...to get a little goofy
TICKETS TO SIDE SPLITTERS
Life is stressful. Stress is bad. Laughter relieves stress. Comedy creates laughter. Problem solved! Give that man some laugh therapy from Side Splitters! Buy your guy a Side Splitters T-shirt—every time he wears it to the club during a general show, he will get free admission at the door.
They've also got gift certificates for complete nights out at the club, tickets for upcoming shows that you can buy and print online for super convenient stocking stuffers, and, best of all, you can help him laugh his way into 2013 with tickets to the New Year's Eve Gala!
SIDE SPLITTERS COMEDY CLUB, 9246 Park West Boulevard, 924-5233, sidesplitterscomedy.com
...for a wee dram of the malt and a romp through the Highlands
GIFT CERTIFICATE TO BOYD'S JIG & REEL
So maybe an actual trip to Scotland isn't in the budget, but you can treat that guy to the next best thing—an all-expenses-paid night at the Jig and Reel. They stock plenty of Scotch—170 and counting—and serve up great Scottish fare and the kind of lively music that will put a twinkle in his eye! So get that man a dram, a pint, and a pie—the kilt's optional!
BOYD'S JIG & REEL, 101 S. Central Street, 247-7066, jigandreel.com
...hot options in the morning
PETE'S COFFEE SHOP Gift Certificate
Breakfast in bed might sound like a good idea, but seriously, crumbs in the bed sheets are a major bother. And a guy likes some options in the A.M. Pete has lots of options, and all of them are tasty and happy ways to launch the day. Help your guy friend get the blood pumping by treating him to a mushroom spinach omelet, or let him throw caution to the wind and tuck into a pile of home fries with a daring side of biscuits and gravy. If you play your cards right, maybe he'll ask you to stick around to share Pete's famous plate lunch.
PETE'S COFFEE SHOP, 540 Union Avenue, 523-2860, petescoffeeshop.com
...to tie one on
ARTFUL ATTIRE AT ROCOCo
Need to impress him this holiday season? Shop at Rococo, the unique boutique and print studio, and give the gift of art! They are offering 15 percent off all their screen-printed ties for men from Friday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 2. Plus, you can get unique, free gift wrapping when you spend over $50.
ROCOCO, 2 Market Square, 971-1006
...to share some buds
BLUE TOOTH EAR BUDS FROM PLUTO SPORTS
Gentlemen like to add a soundtrack to life, so maybe Santa can help him to do that in the technological manner to which he has become accustomed. These wireless earbuds are the bomb—they hang like dog tags, have automatic pause and playback during calls, they can skip songs and control volume, and they have a mini USB connector for home charging. They're cool and they're stylish—just like him.
PLUTO SPORTS, 245 N Seven Oaks Dr, 693.8990, plutosports.com
...for a little bit of home
MARKET SQUARE HOLIDAY MARKETS
So what if he's hard to shop for? Give him an assortment of good stuff from East Tennessee, like Bill Henry's super cool record clock. And nobody likes a guy who's too chilly or gets cold feet,eh? You can fix that up with Rushy Springs Farm's Dried Chili Powders or a pair of Alpaca socks from Stone Mountain Alpaca. And nothing makes a man feel more like a man than a hefty, handcrafted scotch glass from Marble City Glassworks to hold his preferred malt. Oh, if your fella likes playing Santa—he probably deserves a glass of milk and a whole jar of Moonshine cookies from the Chattanooga Cookie Company.
MARKET SQUARE HOLIDAY MARKETS are Dec. 1, 8, 15, and 22 from noon-7pm, 405-3135, marketsquarefarmersmarket.org
...to, ah, rekindle old flames
FIFTY SHADES AT ADULT VIDEO SUPERSTORE
Oh my, if your Rocky Top girl is, in fact, wild as a mink and sweet as soda pop, then this may be just the gift you want to give. While Fifty Shades of Grey will soon be a major motion picture, there's already an adult "parody" version available just in time for some very private and, perhaps, titillating gift giving exchange.
ADULT VIDEO SUPERSTORE, 515 Lovell Road, 671-3836
...to celebrate hot heads and cool covers
WINTER HATS AT FIZZ MARKET SQUARE
Although that mom was misinformed about us losing all of our heat through our heads if we weren't wearing that toboggan that Aunt Rose knitted, a nice hat remains a fashionable cold weather comfort. FIZZ has a great assortment of cool covers $18 and up to help keep your buddy cozy.
FIZZ MARKET SQUARE, 27 Market Square, 851-7990, fizzmarketsquare.com
...for some classic cuisine
COOKBOOKS FROM MCKAY
In every guy there's a secret chef, so this Christmas help him break out of the Food Network wannabe mold and get him some classic cookbooks. McKay has a fine collection of the masters, folks like Beard, Child, Claiborne, Cunningham and Pepin. Short on cash? Sell or trade your own used books, CDs, and DVDs for a wallet-friendly holiday shopping alternative. Make it an open-early gift, and maybe he'll whip up a batch of beignets for Christmas morning.
MCKAY USED BOOKS AND CDs, 230 Papermill Place Way, 588-0331, mckaybooks.com
...for the call of the wild
OUTDOOR GEAR FROM MAST GENERAL STORE
The expansion of Knoxville's Urban Wilderness makes for a lot of exploration, and you'll want the scout on your list to be prepared. Mast has got you covered with wool to keep to him warm, fleece to keep him warmer, and Flap Jack Union Suits to make him hot.
MAST GENERAL STORE, 402 South Gay Street, 546-1336, mastgeneralstore.com
...to feel love, love, love
BEATLES VINYL (AND MORE) FROM DISC EXCHANGE
These cold winter nights are a fine time to cozy up to the fireplace and cue up the record player with your vinyl-loving man. And there is no bigger vinyl must-have this year than the complete Beatles LPs, available as a box set or individually. Yes, brand-new, completely remastered Beatles records to be enjoyed as originally intended—with a tone arm! For other gift ideas, check out discexchange.com
The Disc Exchange, 2615 Chapman Highway, 573-5710, discexchange.com
...for some tasteful giving
GIFT CARDS FOR CRU, NAMA, SHUCK, AND TRIO
A guy likes to eat, so help a brother out! Every man's happy when he's sporting a fashionable new gift card that he found in his stocking. And that's especially true when those gift cards are from some of the best places to eat and greet in Knoxville. As an added bonus, you get $5 free for every $25 purchased! Where else can you buy a guaranteed smile?
CRU Downtown: 544-1491, 141 S. Gay Street, Turkey Creek, 671-6612, 11383 Parkside Drive, crubistroandwinebar.com
NAMA, Bearden: 588-9811, 5130 Kingston Pike;, Downtown: 633-8539, 506 South Gay Street, namasushibar.com
SHUCK, 329-000, 135 S. Gay Street, shuckrawbar.com
TRIO, 13 Market Square, 246-2271, trio-cafe.net
...to find unexpected treasures
POP-CULTURE FINDS AT FRIENDS ANTIQUES
If you can't find something for the man in your life at Friends Antique & Collectibles Market you aren't digging hard enough. We found this Big Mouth Billy Bass in the "Man Room" in the basement next to the "Christmas Room." Chances are you won't find two of anything but there are more treasures hidden in this place then you can shake a stick (or fish) at.
FRIENDS ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES MARKET, 1201 N. Central St., 524-3803
...to look Baja fresh
BAJA JACKET HOODIES AT HEMP MONKEYS
Keep your surfer dude warm all season long in these wintry mountains. Lots of cool colors and the best price in town: just $24.99, all sizes.
HEMP MONKEYS, 4928 Homberg Drive, Suite A-1, 474-1340
...to don our sexy apparel
CORSETS MODELED BY YOU
Yowza. The lady wears it, but it's a warming gift for your significant other—corsets from Intimate Treasures, like this satin number from the Shirley of Hollywood's Marilyn Monroe line. It can be the basis for a behind-closed-doors get up, or a romantic touch for that special New Year's Eve outfit. You wear it, and that special someone will love it, promise. ($35-$75)
INTIMATE TREASURES, 7212 Kingston Pike, 584-3199
...to look cooler than cool
RAY-BANS FROM LUTTRELL'S
Here's a quick and easy way to update your loved-one's look: new frames. And Luttrell's has lots of them, like those from Kliik and Fysh from Denmark to those classic Ray-Bans that never go out of style, all prescription-available. And if you're leery of making such a life-altering choice for the guy, try a gift certificate and the experienced staff will guide him, gently, to a new look. ($200-$300)
LUTTRELL'S EYEWEAR, 5030 Kingston Pike, 588-4052, luttrellseyewear.com
...to get formally flashy
HIP TIES AND BELTS FROM NOTHING TOO FANCY
Got a guy who's unafraid of sprucing up his duds while flashing some personal style? Then Nothing Too Fancy is the one-stop-shop for his gift. It specializes in cool items by East Tennessee designers (including a big collection of offbeat and often hilarious T-shirts—as well as national purveyors of funkiness. Check out these highly personalized ties and heavy duty belts.
NOTHING TOO FANCY, 435 Union Avenue, 951-2916, nothingtoofancy.com
...to warm up like the pros
WEATHER-DEFYING OUTERWEAR FROM BLUE RIDGE
Does your fellow like to hit the trails for adventure? Then he needs to be equipped to withstand that cold mountain air, and Blue Ridge Mountain Sports has him covered—literally. With brands like The North Face, Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, and more, you'll have plenty of options to keep him warm and snug.
BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN SPORTS, 4610 Kingston Pike, 865.588.2638 & 11537 Kingston Pike, 865.675.3010, brms.com
