Gift Suggestions?

[ammayernyc]

I have a relative getting married this weekend and I have no idea what to get him and his fiance. Unfortunately, I cannot attend the wedding and am cluess as to the gift.
They are both professors, live in Berkley, CA, complete hippies. They didn''t register for anything. The wedding is low key -- they didn''t even put a stamp on their RSVP card.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[MissAva]

A donation made in their names to PETA or Greenpeace? I am not a hippie so I cant be 100% but if it is low key I think a donation might be better then a "gift".

 

[flopkins]

I recommend a gift certificate to one of the many restuarants in berkeley. If they are really into the hippie vegetarian organic business, perhaps they would enjoy cheeseboard? they have fresh vegetarian pizzas every day, and the neighboring bakery/cheese shop has a delectable selection of breads and cheeses!! Yum

If you would like something fancier, I would recommend Chez Panisse Cafe, or Cesar (spanish tapas, owned by Alice Waters cohorts, I believe) next door... double yum!

All are on Shattuck near Cedar. Any questions feel free to PM me.

Edited to add:
Cheeseboard website
Cesar website

Chez Panisse website

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Do these relatives have a garden? Possibly they''d love some organic herbs or plants that you could preplant in a cool pot?

 

[movie zombie]

something organic whether that be plants, essential oils, candles, or cotton towels.

gift certificate for a stay at an equally hippy type b&b up in mendocino, preferably with a hot tub.

a case of organic wine.

a donation to an organization that you know for sure that they support.

peace, movie zombie

 

[blueroses]

Those are all great ideas.

Here''s a VERY general thought: Buy a copy of "Organic Style" the magazine and I bet it has some great product suggestions/tips. (I have a new subscription to it b/c I was about to lose some airline miles and it''s great!! A lot like "Real Simple" but more green.)

Otherwise, some sort of location-specific gift cert. like was recommended sounds great too!

 

[Mara]

or do a subscription to Organic Style and package it up with some fun organic goodies, aka candles, cheese, wine, for an organic feel that is kind of romantic, food and tub reading!! seems like simple would work best.

or what about a couples massage at a low-key spa in berkeley, not someplace froo-froo but more down-to-earth?? if there is one!

 

[movie zombie]

another thought:

a gift certificate to an INDEPENDENT bookstore

peace, movie zombie

 

[MissAva]

Okay this may be a silly question but what is an independent bookstore? Does that mean a little mom and pop shop or something else?

 

[ammayernyc]

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions!

I''m still torn on what to get them. I''ve never been to their house, never been to California in fact. My relative is a first cousin once removed who is about 10-15 years older than me and although I really like him and his soon-to-be wife, I don''t really know them that well. I don''t think I''ve seen him for about three years.

I grew up in NYC in a relatively sophisticated lifestyle, so although they might like it, I have a hard time getting them a gift-certificate. Maybe a donation, since I know they are settled in their lives and don''t need anything in particular.

Hippy might have been the wrong word to describe them -- they are both professors at Berkley, so they are the typical professor type.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[JC]

Well, when a couple doesn''t register anywhere that is usually a sign or a nice way of saying that they simply want a "cash" gift. I would think that if they wanted a specific physical gift that they would have registered at different places for their guests to shop. So when in doubt get a nice card and put some $$$ in it. No one will ever dislike that gift.