Posts Written by Vic Arkoff

Digital eye strain is a given for those of us who stare at computer screens all day. Kudos to Gunnar for designing gaming and computer eyewear to battle blue light. The limited-edition Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Enigma has wide lenses for panoramic views and Gunnar’s signature amber lens with a blue light protection factor of 65.

A newborn rum is here, pa rum pum pum pum. Crafted by Trinidadian entrepreneur Marc Farrell – a former Starbucks VP and a Harvard, Cambridge, and MIT grad – his Ten to One rums challenge perceptions of tropical spirits. Light and dark expressions blend premium rums from the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados.

For its signature OCA Low Stripe sneaker, Brazilian shoemaker Cariuma updates the classic Chuck Taylor look with premium materials like suede leather, and insole cushioning for superior comfort. The brand goes to extremes to ethically tap rubber, operate a Gold Rated tannery, use solar energy panels, and pay fair wages.

London’s iconic hotel, The Savoy partnered with LEGO to create the Twelve Rebuilds of Christmas, a dozen installations made from 372,931 bricks. It took 2,200 hours to snap together a castle, a dapper tea-drimking lion, and a motorcycle fit for Santa. The massive centerpiece? A dragon-shaped Christmas tree made from 150,000 bricks.

“World’s Best Martini” award-winning AK’s Gin is by Master Distiller Kirsty Black, named Scotland’s Young Scientist of the Year for her part in making GMO-free “field-to-bottle” Arbikie the world’s first climate-positive distillery. Founded by the Stirling brothers on their family’s farm, the Highlands distillery honors their father, AK.

Buffy eucalyptus sheets are earth-friendly, made 100% from fiber grown sustainably in Austria (not Australia – no koalas affected!), then dyed with all-natural ingredients like rose, turmeric, pomegranate, and tea. It’s an industry first: zero chemicals. The cool-touch fabric is more breathable than cotton and softer than linen.

Colorful, see-through Little Gem banjo ukuleles are fun to play and super fun to look at, especially the new light-up model with three LED settings, including sound-activated. It’s plastic but it’s a serious instrument, well-built with a maple neck, sealed tuners and USB charging cable. A NAMM “Best in Show” winner.

The game of backgammon is 7,000 years old; the USA heritage brand Pendleton is 150; and a mating of the two begat this. The travel-ready Pendleton x Chronicle Books Backgammon Roll-Up (also made for chess/checkers) looks like a Pendleton wool blanket, but it’s soft-coated canvas with a snap-on pouch for game pieces.

Snow and ice have met their match with Danner’s gorgeous suede hiking boot. Built for men and women, it outfits the popular Mountain 600 collection with a high top and cold-weather tech: Vibram’s Arctic Grip and Ice Trek rubber compounds for traction, plus Primaloft Gold insulation, a waterproof zipper, and a Danner Dry waterproof membrane.

Tune out the stress of traveling with these lightweight, easy-to-pack, budget Bluetooth headphones. iFrogz Impulse 2 wireless cans have a 20-hour battery life and an aux cable for even longer play. They have 44 mm neodymium drivers, an integrated mic for hands-free phone calls, plus controls for volume and tracks.

What whisky lover doesn’t appreciate a little hair of the dog? Ardbeg has packaged its coveted single malt from the Scottish Isle of Islay in a limited-edition bone-shaped gift tin to raise a glass to their beloved canine mascot, Shortie. Inside is 750ml of the smoky, peaty, flagship whisky, Ardbeg Ten Years Old. That’s 70 in dog years.

Fury Bros. used to make loud music as We Are The Fury. Now Jeremy and Stevie make manly, vintage-inspired, awesome-smelling candles, soaps and solid colognes in their Hell’s Kitchen apartment. Their oil can soy candles combine clever graphics with robust scent blends like gunpowder + charred hickory and campfire + tobacco.

Jigsaw puzzle fanatics develop an acute sense of color, recognizing subtle nuances to spot the right piece and click it into place. Those skills are useless with this daunting but beautiful puzzle. The monochrome 736-piece Krypt Black comes from Ravensburger, the world’s oldest jigsaw puzzle maker. Also in silver or gold.

A bible for discriminating audiophiles and and industrial design junkies, Hi-Fi: The History of High-End Audio Design traces the evolution of all things audio, from the 1950s birth of specialty equipment to today’s cutting-edge design. Phaidon’s 272-page book has 300 images and the expertise of Gideon Schwartz, founder of Audioarts.

In the spirit of the holidays, Jack Daniel’s Distillery built five huge whiskey barrel trees in Chicago, Dallas, Milwaukee, Nashville and Lynchburg. One auctioned barrel from each will benefit Operation Ride Home, bringing US military home for the holidays.

Not everyone can ride their own Indian 2020 Challenger motorcycle, but even public transport riders can commute in style with Indian’s official black leather Cross-Body Messenger Bag. The flap snaps shut and features the recessed relief image of Indian’s classic headdress logo. The compact bag measures 11″ x 6.3″.

This 23-minute journey is Disney’s most ambitious attraction yet, recruiting guests into service as heroes of the Resistance in a climactic battle with the First Order. Rise of the Resistance made its galactic debut at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and will launch at California’s Disneyland Park on January 17, 2020.

Santa’s sleigh will be filled with Apple Watch 5s and AirPod Pros this holiday. Hopefully he’ll also distribute Mophie’s 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad, a top accessory to solve charging cord headaches and tabletop overcrowding. This Qi-compatible unit quick charges an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch at the same time.

Everything is better with butter, even this tastefully novel notepad. Chronicle Books’ Pad of Butter is a cholesterol-free kitchen staple for making grocery lists, jotting down recipes, stuffing stockings, and pranking Paula Deen (who we imagine would place it on a real butter dish). Contains 480 sheets, zero saturated fat.

Ever snicker like Beavis & Butthead when people unwittingly say something dirty? This card game is for you. Make It Dirty: The Game of Familiar Films Made Filthy challenges players to get their minds in the gutter by making movie titles sound like pornos. Example: “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” becomes… well, you get the idea. Heh heh.

The Flaming Lips’ ringleader Wayne Coyne loves Christmas, though it’s hard to tell from this surreal “Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth” video, an homage (sorta) to the famous David Bowie/Bing Crosby duet. The track was recorded live at Coyne’s Pink Floor Studios in Oklahoma City, and arrives as a single 11/29/19.

No more ugly tassels and metal spikes. The embossed-leather Croco golf sneaker goes from the clubhouse to the club. Designed in England and handmade in Italy, Royal Albartross’ golf shoes feature modern style, impeccable stitching, gold details, and a kicky orange sole with rubber cleats for grip on the greens and comfort on the street.

PGA masters and side-betting amateurs are guaranteed an equally serious advantage with Bushnell Golf’s advanced rangefinder. The Pro XE assesses distance for uphill and downhill shots with its Slope technology, factors in temperature and barometric pressure, and provides visual and vibration feedback when it locks onto the flag.