Gift Fella

Real Men Cook.

2006-03-25T22:04:00.000-05:00

And if yours doesn't, he is missing one of life's great experiences: The corporeal pleasure of first creating, and then consuming, a fine meal. And if said consumption is accompanied by you, well, so much the better.

If your man is not a gourmet cook, learning to prepare Italian food is an accessible place to start. At it's best, real Italian food is simple, elegant and pure pleasure. And this is Italian food at its best.

The Silver Spoon - $25.17is no ordinary Italian cookbook. It is the Italian cookbook. Only recently translated into English, this is Italy's version of The Joy of Cooking.

Since the 1950's it has been the classic wedding present for new Italian couples. This Manhattan phone book-sized, 2,000 recipe volume comprises the entire range of the Italian dining experience.

The sauces alone are worth the price of the admission. But what will surprise you is the sheer range of Italian cuisine. Those who think eating in Italy means merely choosing a pasta shape and a tomato sauce are in for a treat.

The biggest surprises in the book are generally the simple, inexpensive meals you never would have associated with Italy.

Peasant food. Comfort food. Guy food.

Let him see how easy it is to learn how to make for himself a meal fit for a king.

And you, of course.

PS-52 Laser-Sighted Slingshot

2006-03-25T21:58:00.000-05:00

We know what you're thinking:

"Why would he possibly want a slingshot?"

Unless you guy was cloned into existance at age 21, he has many fond memories of his favorite slingshot from way back when. And this is not just any slingshot. This is, without a doubt, the coolest slingshot in the world.

The Precision Shots PS-52 Laser Slingshot ($49.95) uses a laser targeting system and patent-pending pivoting head design that makes it the most accurate slingshot on the planet.

We are talking split-a-pencil-at-20-feet accurate. Or perforate-a-soda-can-at-75-feet accurate. And, just like in the movies, the creepy little red dot floats around, coldly painting the object of his imminent destruction.

Three things to keep in mind.

1. This is off-the-scale cool.
2. He almost certainly does not yet know it exists.
3. Major brownie pointage for this level of surprise.

So Good, It's Kinda Freaky: The Radica 20Q

2006-03-25T15:14:00.001-05:00

Geez, we still haven't totally figured out the Magic 8-Ball yet, and they hit us with this thing?

All we can say is, "whoa."

Here's how you play it. You think of something. Anything. The Radica 20Q - $10starts asking you a series of simple "yes-or-no" questions.

And then it tells you what you were thinking.

This was a Major Hit in the stocking stuffer department at Casa de Gift Fella this year. And just about every guy in the room spent a good deal of time trying to stump the 20Q, to no avail.

This is not the Once In A Lifetime Grand Gesture type of gift, but if you are ~~a cheapskate~~ on a budget and want to surprise him with something small and fun, you could hardly do better.

As for how it works?

Don't ask us. (We are pretty sure there are elves involved, tho.)

But it sure is fun.

Badger-Hair Brush and Shaving Set

2006-03-23T14:35:00.000-05:00

Does he really care how close of a shave he gets in the morning?

Probably not.

Was he paying attention when Carson and The Boys from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy taught him how to do it right (uh, the shaving) on national TV?

Probably not.

Has he ever even shaved after using a shaving brush in his entire life?

Sadly, probably not. And he doesn't know what he is missing.

This Zirh Shave Tools Set - $85.00is a great way to introduce him to the art (and fringe benefits) of a classic, smooth shave.

This set contains everything a man needs for the perfect cream-based shave: a razor, shave brush, stand plus a jar of premium shaving cream.

The razor is lightweight, because lightweight razors are less likely to cause nicks or cuts. One blade is included, but for brownie points, get him some refill blades at the same time. It is designed to hold "Mach3's," which are darn good blades, as far as Gift Fella is concerned. You can get them at the grocery store, Target, WallyMart, etc.

The brush is made of 100% pure badger hair, which, so long as your guy is not a badger, is a very good thing. The bristles hold water and moisturize his beard for better, smoother shaving. It also gets the lather up under every single little hair to stand it up and make for a much closer shave.

The brush handle hangs on the stand, helping to remove moisture from the brush afterward. This extends the life of the badger bristles.

Both the razor and brush are made of a rust-proof stainless steel and aluminum alloy. The stand is compact and functional, with a weighted base to securely hold both items. And it looks as if it could have been designed by Porsche. No plastic here.

All three pieces are subtly embossed with the ZIRH logo. This set is shipped in a plain, brushed-silver box so it makes a thoughtful, easy to wrap gift.

He'll have to shave every day for the rest of his life. That's four minutes, every morning, that he can spend thinking of you.

We All Deserve a Secretary

2006-03-18T00:12:00.000-05:00

Agent Dale Cooper (played by Kyle MacLachlan) in Twin Peaks defined quirky cool. And when he wasn't settling in for a slice of pie he fed his crime-solving dictation into his tape recorder, whom he named Diane.

Welp, Diane's got nothing on the Olympus DS-2 Digital Voice Recorder - $113.04,who offers 18 hours of operation (on 2 included AAA batteries.) She also boasts 64 MB of internal memory a USB docking station, 22 hours of recording time in LP mode, 12 total speed levels (8 fast playback and 4 slow playback,) USB docking for Mac and PC and voice activation for hands-free recording.

It pretty much goes without saying that we guys like things that make us feel important. And this digital voice recorder does just that.

Band of Brothers DVD Boxed Set

2006-03-17T23:39:00.000-05:00

Never before has there been a war movie that draws you in as completely as does the HBO 10-hour miniseries, Band of Brothers. The stories are real. The people were real. The future of the world hinged on the actions of a generation of ordinary, exraordinary young men.

The Band of Brothers DVD Boxed Set - $68.86 has an average score of 5 stars out of 5 stars on a base of 856 (as of this writing) reviews.

Here is a typical review from Amazon:

"Band of Brothers is an incredible miniseries. It seems no expense was spared in recreating a historically accurate setting. The casting and character development is exceptional, and the directing is superb.

Each episode is introduced with snippets of interviews with actual members of easy company, which served as a potent reminder that the seemingly unbelievable events depicted did indeed happen to these men. I am glad that such a work has been accomplished because it is a vivid reminder of what the greatest generation did for our country, and we as a nation should never forget it.

Especially in the world today, when it is easy to forget the underpinning values of our country, it is important to reflect back upon those virtuous qualities of the heroic men and women who won the war for us. I would definitely recommend purchasing this miniseries."

We at Gift Fella concur. Very likely the best "guy-TV" ever made.

Sonic Impact Class-T Digital Amplifier

2006-03-15T14:57:00.000-05:00

Somewhere between college and becoming a member of the AARP, most men learn that great audio is not about volume and bass. It is about detail, soundstage and midrange clarity. It is also usually about a coupla thousand bucks.

Enter the Sonic Impact Class-T Digital Audio Amplifier - $25.00, which is being seriously compared to amplifiers costing more than 50 times as much. That's not a typo, either.

The term budget audiophiles are using is "Giant Killer." That's a good thing.

Don't believe us? Read the Review over at 6Moons Audio, where they typically focus on audio gear with the price tags of late model used cars. They were floored.

This amazing little amplifier can run 10 hours on AA's, or you can get an A/C adapter if you want to use it permanently in your home. And you will. It puts out 15 of the sweetest sounding watts you will ever hear for less than four digits of price tag.

If your guy is into his stereo gear - and most of us are - he will find this little amp absolutely amazing in it's transparency and clarity.

And for $25.00, your gift idea gets Giant Killer status, too.

For the Man who Thinks He Knows Everything

2006-03-07T10:38:00.000-05:00

First of all, he doesn't. But Bill Bryson sure does.

If there is another book on the planet that packs this much knowledge and humor into the same volume, we sure haven't seen it. It spans just about every field of science and explores the frequently hilarious path we took to get to what we now know.

We would categorize it as "Dave Barry Meets Carl Sagan," but that would not begin to do it justice.

A Short History of Nearly Everything: Special Illustrated Edition Hardcover ($22.05)

Here is what others said:

“A modern classic of science writing. . . . The more I read of A Short History of Nearly Everything, the more I was convinced that Bryson had achieved exactly what he’d set out to do.” —New York Times Book Review

“A highly readable mix of historical anecdotes, gee-whiz facts, adept summarization, and gleeful recounts of the eccentricities of great scientists. It moves so fast that it’s science on a toboggan.”—Seattle Times

1938 Model Daisy Red Rider BB Repeater

2006-02-28T13:03:00.000-05:00

Occasionally we at Gift Fella are thrilled to find out that a cherished item from our childhood still remains alive and well today.

And the rediscovery of the Daisy 1938 Model Red Rider BB Repeater - $33.00 has us a bit choked up, to be honest.

Did your guy grow up in a rural envirionment? If so, he probably had one of these.

If not, he certainly wanted one of these. Bonus ponts for you if you already recognized the Red Rider as the object of little Ralphie Parker's abject desire in the 1983 movie, "A Christmas Story."

On to the specs:

• Action: Lever cocking, spring air
• Caliber: .177 (4.5mm) BB
• Sights: Blade and ramp front, adjustable open rear.
• Stock/Forearm: Stained solid wood with lariat logo and burnished forearm band.
• Receiver: Stamped metal. Saddle ring with leather thong.
• Capacity: 650 shot
• Safety: Crossbolt trigger block
• Barrel: Smooth bore steel
• Muzzle Velocity: 280 fps.
• Max. Shooting Distance: 195 yds.
• Overall Length: 35.4 in.
• Weight: 2.2 lbs.

Again, ladies, the point is not to ask why in the world would he possibly want a Red Rider BB Gun?

The point is his major shock and adoration for your taking the time and effort (OK, maybe we helped) to not only discover a classic return-to-your-childhood gift, but to figure out where to get your hands on one.

Be Like Bond

2006-02-27T22:26:00.000-05:00

James Bond actors come and go. But for our money, Sean Connery is the only one there ever was. When we stand in front of the mirror (when you are not around, of course) and throw a steely glance toward our reflection, the next line always comes with our best Scottish accent.

"Bond. James Bond."

Now, we can't walk around toting the Walther PPK (that's a gun) that Sean/James brandished so effectively in the movies. And we can't drive the various cars he drove, either. But our wrist can look like James' wrist. Which can be enough, sometimes.

James Bond made famous the classic Rolex Submariner automatic watch. But those cost over $3,000.00. And we are thinking your guy has probably not been THAT good lately.

But there is a wonderful watchmaker named Invicta who has created an homage to the Rolex Submariner, and they call it their Invicta 8926 Coin Bezel Diver's Watch ($139.).

Now, hold it just a minute. This is NOT a cheapo Rolex knockoff. We hate those. They masquerade as the real thing but are, in fact, junk. They SAY Rolex. They are junk.

This watch is styled very close to the Submariner, but is clearly labeled as an Invicta. And under the hood, there is a very good automatic movement, which means it does not need winding. Nor does it need batteries. It uses the normal movement of your guy's wrist to wind itself constantly.

And, because any guy worth his salt likes to watch gears spin, the 21-jewel movement has a display back (the back of the watch is clear) to watch it work.

Your guy will look just like James Bond from the wrist down, and the bonus is the Invicta 8926 is a very good watch. In fact, it was recently named the best watch under $200 - which includes some very stiff competition - by one of the leading watch forums on the 'net.

As far as automatic mechanical watches go, it may be the very best watch for the money out there.

Oh, and one more thing. Invicta makes a version of the 8926 with a scalloped-edge bezel. It is less expensive, but you do not want that one. The coin edge looks like the Submariner. We know it is an illusion (just like us pretending to be Mr. Connery) but the differerent bezel is enough to shatter it. Hope you understand.

Welcome to Gift Fella!

2006-02-26T14:49:00.000-05:00

First, congratulations. By finding Gift Fella you are already ahead of the pack. You stand a very good chance of really scoring some major points on your next special occasion. Gift Fella is a blog (secretly) run by men, but meant for women. We feel your pain. We understand that we men are notoriously difficult to buy gifts for. That's why we're here. And hopefully, that is why you're here.

Yes, we know we would be so much easier to shop for if he would just communicate once in a while. Sadly, that's not going to happen. And heaven help you if you are looking for help from his friends. They almost certainly do not want to help you shop for him. And if they do, you should be very - VERY - suspicious of their interest in this activity. While we are at it, he should probably get some new friends, anyway. But we can't help you there.

What we can do is to scour the web (and our dusty, primitive little minds) to come up with gift ideas that will knock his socks off. We do the work. And you get the credit.

Think of us as your secret weapon. We don't sell anything. But if the gift is available online, we will point you in the right direction. Some gifts (some of the best ones, actually,) are not things at all, but activities, experiences or just inspired mindsets. We'll help on those, too. But pulling them off won't be as easy as clicking on a link and whipping out the Visa.

And, speaking of our ideas, you should know that some of them might seem a little weird. That's kind of the point, actually. We males are different animals. And you could never hope to know some of this stuff without a glimpe at the other team's playbook. In the process of browsing this site you will likely find out quite a bit about the inner workings of your guy's mind, such as it is. Maybe more than you really want to know. Try not to laugh out loud at him if you are at work.

And yes, we know you are probably wondering if we have a sister site for men who desperately need help to buy for women. Well, we are working on it. But Lord knows we can only do one thing at a time. (Truth be told, that gives us enough trouble as it is.) And we are eminently underqualified to tell him what to buy for you. But we are seeking out professional (i.e., female) help and we will let you know as soon as we go live.

It will be up to you to figure out how subtle you want to be about letting him know how to fiind it.