Metro Detroit tastemakers from all walks of life offer a glimpse of what’s on their holiday wish lists. From artwork to leather goods and apparel to record players, their picks run the gamut of this season’s most popular gifting items. As different as they may be, for these four locals, the spirit of giving, eating good food, and spending time with loved ones always tops the list.
For the Man on the Move…
Tarick Salmaci, 46, had a successful career as a professional boxer. The Dearborn resident says he was once rated the fourth best fighter in the world by the World Boxing Organization, and he appeared on the 2005 Sylvester Stallone-produced NBC reality show The Contender. Today, he’s staying busy as a real estate broker, and focusing on his business, ARG American Realty Group. Headquartered in Detroit, ARG specializes in commercial and residential properties throughout the metropolitan area and the city, which Salmaci passionately supports. “I’m trying to be part of the wave downtown,” he says. “There’s so much opportunity.” His appreciation for Detroit is evident in stylish, high-quality picks from local brands like Detroit Grooming Co. and Shinola. Salmaci was raised Muslim, while his Italian wife, Dena, was raised Catholic, but the couple celebrates “all holidays” with their 16-year-old daughter, Ava. “It’s all one love,” Salmaci says, adding that the spirit of giving is the best part of the holidays.
His Picks: (Clockwise from top) Shinola Bedrock duffle, $1,395, at area Shinola stores and shinola.com; Louis Vuitton Notebook Clemence LV League MM, $185, at select Louis Vuitton stores; 866-884-8866; louisvuitton.com; Swell maple wood water bottle, $36, at area Paper Source stores and papersource.com; Gucci New Ace High sneaker, $730, at Saks Fifth Avenue, Somerset Collection South, Troy; 248-643-9000; saksfifthavenue.com; Detroit Grooming Co. Real .50 Caliber safety razor, $60, Omega hog bristle black shaving brush, $18, and Traverse City 1 oz. grooming oil, $22, at Detroit Grooming Co., Ferndale; 877-294-5826; detroitgrooming.com; Stone Island men’s wool beanie hat, $115, at Neiman Marcus, Somerset Collection South, Troy; 248-643-3300; neimanmarcus.com.
For the Girl Boss…
The holidays are a chance for Alina Morse, CEO of Zollipops — a candy company that specializes in sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and kosher lollipops — to relax. “Christmas is a great time for [family to] connect,” says the bright 13-year-old Wolverine Lake resident who splits her time between school, extracurricular activities like dance, and running Zollipops, which she founded in 2012. Morse’s wish list includes items that support her entrepreneurial lifestyle by providing ultimate comfort. She counts Lululemon and UGG as two of her favorite brands, and is eyeing the Microsoft Surface Pro 5, a lightweight tablet that’s ideal for her cross-country business trips. For adults shopping for the girl boss in their lives, she suggests taking a moment to connect with their teen. “Get little hints of what color they like,” she says. “Make the gift something that they can really enjoy while working on their next big invention or just doing some schoolwork.”
Her Picks: (Clockwise from top) Finna diagonal pillow, $154, at Thistle & Bess, Ann Arbor; 734-369-6092; thistleandbess.com; UGG Dakota loafer slippers, $80, at Saks Fifth Avenue, Somerset Collection South, Troy; 248-643-9000; saksfifthavenue.com; Lululemon Rest Less Half Zip top, $98, and All Your Small Things Mini 2L pouch, $28, at area Lululemon stores and lululemon.com; ZolliPops, $6 for 3 oz. bag, at area Kroger, Walmart, and Whole Foods stores, and at amazon.com; Microsoft Surface Pro (Fifth Generation), starting at $999, and Microsoft Surface Pro Type Cover, $129, at area Microsoft stores and microsoft.com; Rifle Paper Co. Amalfi del Mar candle, $29, at area Paper Source stores and papersource.com.
For the Artist…
Robert and Christine Schefman’s holiday gatherings center around good food and family. Inadvertently, art and creating is also a focal point. “Everyone at our family table went to art school,” says Robert, a painter and teacher at College for Creative Studies. “We’re all in the business in one way or another.” He and Christine, the director of David Klein Gallery, which has locations in Detroit and Birmingham, celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas with their children, Samantha, 31, and Nicolas, 24. Items that made the couple’s wish list this year include essential art supplies — “A nice set of watercolors can be great for anybody,” Robert says — exhibition catalogues, cook books, Cire Trudon candles, memberships to art museums, and, of course, artwork. A favorite of Christine’s is “Things I Like,” a silkscreen piece by local artist Emmy Bright, which is available at David Klein Gallery. “[Her art is] about personal relationships,” Christine says. “I love her work.”
Their Picks: (Clockwise from top) Framed Emmy Bright “Things I Like” silkscreen and marker on cardboard, $1,800, at David Klein Gallery, Detroit; 313-818-3416; dkgallery.com; Grumbacher opaque watercolors, set of 24, $42, Princeton Art & Brush Co. fan brush, $12.50, and liner brush, $11, at Blick Art Materials, Royal Oak; 248-548-7679; dickblick.com; Detroit Nights by Scott Hocking, $30, Dining In by Alison Roman, $30, Jerusalem: A Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi, $35, and 4 Detroit: Four Chefs. Four Courses. Four Seasons., $46, at Nora, Detroit; 313-831-4845; noramodern.com; Cire Trudon Coffret d’Hiver candle gift set, $210, at Mills Pharmacy + Apothecary, Birmingham; 248-644-5060; millspharmacy.com.
For the Musician…
When she’s not touring the country, Mayaeni Strauss can be found in her Detroit home studio creating music. The singer, songwriter, and electric guitarist has been compared to Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, and considers Sam Cooke and Motown artists as inspiration. “I really like those good, classically written songs,” she says. Her father is Jewish, and her mother is Christian, so growing up, Strauss celebrated both Hanukkah and Christmas. As an adult, she still enjoys the fun, cultural traditions of both holidays, but the main focus of her gatherings is food, family, and friends. This year, she finds herself in the market for a show-stopping pair of heels, bohemian-style fashion pieces and homeware, and a new record player. She’s particularly fond of Crosley’s line of portable turntables. “I like that it’s compact,” says Strauss, who has also lived in New York, Los Angeles, and London. Turns out when you’re a musician on the go, items that can travel with you are best.
Her Picks: (Clockwise from top) Crosley Urban Outfitters exclusive velvet Cruiser bluetooth record player, $99, and Beach House 7 LP, $20, at select Urban Outfitters stores; urbanoutfitters.com; Gucci Elias strappy sandal with jeweled lion, $1,250, at Saks Fifth Avenue, Somerset Collection South, Troy; 248-643-9000; saksfifthavenue.com; Shinola The Canfield on-ear headphones, $350, at area Shinola stores and shinola.com; Simply Curated Botanical Collection No. 02 candle, $40, and Happy Habitat blanket, $160, at Thistle & Bess, Ann Arbor; 734-369-6092; thistleandbess.com.
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