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RI Magazine 2016 Holiday Gift Guide

Find the perfect gift for the cook or fitness buff in your life—or get them something just for kicks. Our list this year is a balanced mix of useful and fun.

GIFTS FOR THE KITCHEN

barbarian
BARBARIAN BAR TOOL
No need to hoard an arsenal of bar tools when you have the Barbarian. It’s a citrus press on steroids that also packs a corkscrew, bottle opener, zester, can lance, a variety of knives, and a jigger for perfect measuring. And you can forget the phrase, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to.” The Barbarian is solid iron, virtually indestructible, and so strong you could probably use it to bend your old wine keys into a piece of modern art.
$59.95, barbarianbartools.com

lazy-susan
LAZY SUSAN CORDLESS WARMING TRAY
Fresh, hot appetizers can turn mediocre real quick as they get cold on the counter in a traditional serving bowl. This cordless warming tray keeps your hot bites piping til the very last hors d’oeuvre is served. Just plug it in for eight minutes, unplug it, and use it as a serving tray. The internal heating stones will retain heat up to 120 degrees for the next hour. Perfect for pizza and more.
$99.95, hammacher.com

fondue
FONDUE FOR TWO SET
For a romantic evening in or a delightful snack with a friend, this fondue for two pot makes it easier than ever to make and serve fondue. Just light the included candle, add cheese cubes, a dusting of corn starch, and herbs. The square mahogany pot on a wooden board is also ideal for serving up warm sauces.
$29.99,
uncommongoods.com

ri-apron
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE APRON
Robert lives by this motto and you should, too. Remind yourself and the people in your life that the impossible becomes possible every day with this high-quality chef’s apron emblazoned with perhaps the most powerful three words in the English language.
$25, chefirvine.com

musical-wine-glasses
MUSICAL WINE GLASSES
Run a moistened finger along the rim of these wine glasses and suddenly you’re a musical prodigy. Like running a bow across a violin, the glass responds to pressure and tempo. Dinner parties and drinks amongst friends will never be the same.
$65, uncommongoods.com

defrosting-tray
PREMIUM INNOVATIVE DEFROSTING TRAY
Take a rock solid frozen steak and thaw it completely in 10-30 minutes. No need to leave it on the counter all day or microwave it and risk ruining it. The secret is the thermal conducting liquid in the center of the tray which naturally draws cold out of your food.
$89.99, sharperimage.com

GIFTS FOR THE GYM

hypersphere
HYPERICE HYPERSPHERE
Pressure from a dense object—like a foam roll or a lacrosse ball—can go a long way to breaking up painful muscle knots in your back, quads, hamstrings, and shoulders. They’re even great for loosening up the arches of your feet. But what happens when you take that same concept and add a motor so powerful it could shake the fillings out of your teeth? The Hyperice Body Ball. Combining incredible power, durability, and portability, it has everything you need to keep your body limber and help you recover fully between workouts.
$149, hyperice.com

fitbit-flex-2
FITBIT FLEX 2
Ready to go wherever your workouts take you, including the pool. The FitBit Flex 2 tracks all of your activities, including sleep, and will even poke you with reminders to move if you’ve been idle for too long. The removable tracker fits into an assortment of accessories, including bangles and pendants.
$99.95, bestbuy.com

corbett-i
TIMOLABS CORBETT I WATERPROOF BLUETOOTH SPEAKER
There’s no need to listen to music out of the puny speakers on your phone—even near a water hazard like the beach or your bathroom. This waterproof bluetooth speaker resists corrosion and water damage with a thick, durable hide. Just how waterproof is it? Drop it in ocean, watch it float to the top, and then tell us.
$62, amazon.com

aer-backpack
AER TRAVEL PACK
This travel pack from AER offers great protection for laptops; the 15” sleeve is suspended so your computer won’t bang against the floor when you set the pack down. The main compartments is roomy enough for a few changes of clothes and the thick cushioned straps make it a comfortable, balanced carry.
$220, aersf.com

garmin-scale
GARMIN SMART SCALE
If you’re just weighing yourself, you’re not getting the full story. This body composition scale from Garmin uses electric current to measure body fat and muscle mass, as well as bone and water weight. $149, bestbuy.com

GIFTS JUST FOR FUN

xbox-one-s
FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT BUFF:
XBOX ONE S
The revamped Xbox One S boasts some major improvements over the original, including 4K blu-ray and video capabilities. The One S runs most video apps including Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, HBO Go, Showtime Anytime, Starz Play, and many more. Games get a nice visual upgrade with the One S, so if you’re buying for a gamer, grab a bundle; Madden, FIFA, Gears of War 4, and Battlefield 1 are all available, so are beefier 1 terabyte hard drives.
Starting at $299, xbox.com

got-beer
FOR THE GAME OF THRONES JUNKIE:
OMMEGANG GIFT SET
Among Ommegang brewery’s most popular offerings: beer themed after cultural phenomenon Game of Thrones. This gift set includes a collectible etched glass and a pair of 750 ml bottles, Valar Dohaeris and Valar Morghulis. If you’re a fan, you know what that means. If you’re not, there’s no room to explain here. But fan or not, it is damn good beer! Learn more HERE.
MSRP $22.99, at local distributors

batman
FOR THE COMIC BOOK GEEK:
DC COMICS COLLECTIBLES
The armored Batman action figure can be a toy for kids or a high-end collectible you’d be proud to display on your desk, recreating the iconic suit worn in Batman V Superman with impeccable detail. If you’re shopping for a real comic geek, fans can catch up on 75 years of essential Wonder Woman history with this four-volume box set just in time for next summer’s movie.
$50, shopdcentertainment.com

monster
FOR THE AUDIOPHILE:
MONSTER ELEMENTS OVER-EAR HEADPHONES
For pristine, studio-quality sound that offers true bass, highs, and midrange, this is the price ($350 MSRP) you’ve come to expect. But these over-ear Elements headphones from Monster buck expectations everywhere else, starting with the wireless bluetooth connectivity that sacrifices nothing. Where they really earn their keep: they look incredibly sharp and are shockingly light weight, comfortable enough to wear for hours.
$349.99, monsterproducts.com

wonderful-life
FOR THE NOSTALGIA-MINDED:
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 70TH ANNIVERSARY
Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life is now 70 years old, and yet every frame holds still holds up. This two-disc restoration features the original black-and-white and colorized (not necessary) versions, both in 1080p. For the collector, this set also contains limited edition art cards featuring original advertisements.
$11.99, amazon.com

jenga
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:
GIANT JENGA
This Giant Jenga set is made to order. The price reflects a 21-level set, but you can ask the craftsman to add more for $9 per level. Each block receives a clear coat to make it waterproof. The ultimate outdoor game for the whole family leaves nobody out. Comes with a tote bag for storage.
$180, etsy.com

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