POSTED // Nov 19,2008 - Yes, we writers are idealists; we constantly seek a better world. And with this issue, we’re applying that idealism to shopping.

POSTED // Nov 19,2008 - Not long ago, publishing's wise old heads bet we would be so preoccupied with defibrillating the American dream at the polls in 2008 we wouldn't have time to dream in fiction. And they were right.

POSTED // Nov 20,2007 - It’s November 22. Do you know where your perfect gift is? Why, oh why, you might be asking, do we put ourselves through this torment every year? The crowds, the lines, the expense … all to hand off a cheerfully wrapped box with the ideal...

POSTED // Nov 20,2007 - We spend sleepless nights racking our brains, countless hours with other frustrated shoppers in freezing outdoor shopping centers. Still, we come home empty-handed and aggravated. Sit back, pour yourself a cup of cocoa and relax. See if I can’t...

POSTED // Nov 20,2007 - Forget about silkscreen T-shirts, mix-tapes, or even the Sharper Image catalog of wonders, there’s nothing as personal as a book. For every personality, every reading level, there’s a book out there waiting to provide that lucky recipient...

POSTED // Nov 20,2007 - I’ve been particularly good this year, and I hope Santa has taken note. Because you know the saying: It ain’t over ’til the fat man slices. And I lust for a fancy mandoline under the tree this Christmas. Not the little eight-stringed...

POSTED // Nov 20,2007 - We all know you have killer taste in music. But, while it might seem like a good idea to burn a copy of Radiohead’s In Rainbows as a gift, it’s not an idea all will appreciate. Often, those lacking similar musical “prowess” prefer...

POSTED // Nov 20,2007 - It’s hard to know what others might like to receive this holiday season, but each of us knows what we’d like to unwrap come winter solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or yuletide. So, in an effort to spark your gift-buying frenzy, members...

POSTED // Nov 23,2006 - The holiday season: In like a tsunami, out like a tsunami. But sometimes, at least, it’s a warm pleasant wave frothing with good vibes and good cheer. But always on steroids, unless you’re new to town and have only one friend … someone on...