Each week through our December 11 issue we’ll be featuring a roundup of gift ideas on a different theme. Next week look for our suggestions on locally made goods. —Heather Kenny
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
Bottlenotes Guide to Wine: Around the World in 80 Sips (Adams Media Corporation) provides an overview of the increasingly global wine industry. Author Alyssa Rapp traveled the world sniffing out varietals not just in Napa and Tuscany but in Israel, China, and other lesser known wine-producing areas. a$14.95 list price
Even without a back 40, it’s possible to grow your own food, manage waste in an ecologically conscious manner, and even detoxify the natural environment. Toolbox for Sustainable City Living (South End Press) explains how to do it all practically and affordably. a$16 at Sprout Home, 745 N. Damen, 312-226-5950, sprouthome.com.
Japanese retailer Mujirushi Ryohin (it translates to “no-brand goods”), aka Muji, takes a straightforward, ecofriendly approach to design. This unisex rain poncho can be cut along the hem and sleeves to fit, but you can also get creative and cut a scalloped edge. a$14 at the MOMA store, 800-851-4509, momastore.org.
