You have gift questions, and we have gift answers! Welcome to part one of our second-annual gift guide, where you’ll find so much cool stuff from small businesses (many run by women and BIPOC!), no Amazon links (but you do you), and thoughts on orgs to donate to, too. Part two is coming next week, and last year’s still-relevant installments are here and here. Now, hope you’re prepared for an outrageously long episode recap...   PARENTS! My mom has requested “a new hobby” for Christmas which has sent me spinning. Any ideas? She’s very artsy and already gardens and writes fiction. Knitting hasn’t worked for her due to her arthritis, and she’s a lifelong hater of kitchen activities, most of the cute gifty hobby kits I’ve seen fall into those categories. Stumped!  Joone Creative air-dry ceramics tiles kit Rose Pearlman punch needle hoop kit The Crafter’s Box arm-knitting workshop Melanie Abrantes Japanese bowl-carving kit   Fic & non-fic books that will nudge my parents to the left without them realizing it. What Unites Us by Dan Rather Evicted by Matthew Desmond Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Good Talk by Mira Jacob   I need gift ideas for my almost 60-year-old, tech-y, suburban dad. Hasn’t finished reading the books he got for Father’s Day but he loves history. Does a lot of biking on his indoor trainer. He has an Apple Watch but we aren’t allowed to get him AirPods because my mom thinks he’ll accidentally put them through the laundry. He likes food/eating/cooking but had a heart attack 3 years ago so we’re not allowed to do fun things (unless they’re low sodium/cholesterol). Usually I try to find an activity (movie, bike, ride to brewery, etc.) but covid makes that hard. So many restrictions!! Claire puts her airpods through the laundry all the time and they still work! (Mostly.) But for an alt: Rapha x Bang & Olufsen earphones (made for indoor training—bigger than Airpods). Subscription to the Peloton app to use with his bike (you don’t need the Peloton bike!) Smart/wake-up clock: Philips SmartSleep, Loftie Beer-plus-history book: Pilsner: How the Beer of Kings Changed the World MasterClass: Doris Kearns Goodwin teaches "U.S. Presidential History and Leadership"   Mom and her husband who just bought a new cottage and are DIY fixing it up. The kitchen and garden are especially yucky!  Online landscaping-design apps like Yardzen or Tilly Design Gardening stuff: Floral Society, Floret, and Father Rabbit Tools: MoMA Design Store Rainbow Multi-tool set, FIXR tool, and Bosch Blaze laser measurer Birdhouse: Andreu Carulla's Bird and Breakfast, Amish cottage Coffee-table books: The Gardens of Bunny Mellon and More than Just a House by Alex Eagle Donation to Habitat for Humanity My Jewish parents who are IMPOSSIBLE to shop for and trying to stop eating sugar.  Popcorn seasoning set: The Spice House or Oaktown Spice Shop Engraved Masala Dabba from Diaspora Co. Cookbook: Sweet Laurel or Ottolenghi Flavor Miznon Israeli falafel or lamb kebab kits Chefanie Oy Vey cocktail napkins Russ & Daughters tote, tee, hat...in R&D wrapping paper! My crunchy fire-fighting dog lady MIL. Bon Temps tea Simpli quinoa Soapwalla tasting menu gift set Sashiko mending kit Ace & Jig x Project Thrive scrap coaster set Recreation Center dog bowl Donation to BARC Shelter in Brooklyn or her local animal shelter (many have wish lists where you can send dog food, etc!)   Stepmom: hates being cold. She’s always cold. But is entertaining outside now in CA. Hot water bottle: Amara sheepskin and Chickpea knit Something for cooking warm entertaining food/drink outside: Boska mini raclette cheese melter and grill, Royal Rose hot toddy mixers, or FLÎKR Fire personal concrete fireplace Flamingo Estate candles—scents like Roma heirloom tomato   SISTERS-IN-LAW!   My sister-in-law is a chic New Yorker and I live in Missoula, Montana. I am a needs-based gifter and she is very much a wants-based gifter. I love to cook, she dabbles in cooking (s