A friend of mine (former roommate actually) moved into a new apartment a while ago. Last night I visited it for the first time and realized I'd like to get her something nice but different, just for the hell of it, basically.

I was thinking martini glasses, or something else nice (and alcohol-related), but affordable. ($20ish-$30) Are there any shops that would have something like that close by? (Cameron Village/Glenwood Ave/Crabtree Mall/Target )

BTW it doesn't have to be alcohol-related, but that was just the first idea that popped into my head.

[Edited on February 5, 2007 at 7:23 AM. Reason : heh]

2/5/2007 7:19:15 AM

if you're in the $20-$30 range, just go to bed bath and beyond

2/5/2007 7:24:00 AM

i will probably end up going to target if nothing else, but i'm just looking for options/opinions.

2/5/2007 7:28:15 AM

target has a bunch of cute martini glasses and such....shouldnt be hard to find something. afterall...it's target!

2/5/2007 8:22:12 AM

Don't get martini glasses. Wine glasses are a lot more practical. Martini glasses are like plates on sticks, they look neat, but they're pretty much only good for spilling alcohol everywhere.

2/5/2007 8:24:46 AM

TJ Maxx... in addition to glasses, you can get a "funky" mixer-- all within you price range

[Edited on February 5, 2007 at 8:30 AM. Reason : an- a]

2/5/2007 8:30:07 AM

wine glasses . . and go to world market for those.
they have nice inexpensive ones for everyday winos like me

2/5/2007 8:38:43 AM

my friend got me sushi plates, chop sticks, and soy sauce dishes for my bf and i's HW gift

we also got mixing bowls, grill utensils & new grill (well his parents gave him that), really awesome dish cloths from anthropologie, one of those travelling bags for warm or cold dishes (with the casserole dish)--you like heat up the bag to keep the dish warm, or you freeze the bag to keep it cold

and i think that was it

2/5/2007 9:11:41 AM

second on tj maxx....you could stock an entire bar for cheap with the items they have

2/5/2007 9:15:07 AM

World market near the petsmart near crossroads has tons of stuff that's relatively inexpensive and pretty interesting.

2/5/2007 9:21:13 AM

2/5/2007 9:31:36 AM

Big, big thumbs up for fun glasses at Target (they change their selection often).

If you can make it out to Cary go to Swagger (http://www.swagger-gifts.com) for really unique, fun gifts ANYTIME. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE that place! (In Lochmere, just past Waverly Place!)

[Edited on February 5, 2007 at 3:32 PM. Reason : directions]

2/5/2007 3:32:13 PM

you can find cool things at kirklands or bombay company in the mall as well.

2/5/2007 3:57:36 PM

Quote :

"World market"

no doubt

2/5/2007 3:58:28 PM

f the glasses

just bring a bottle of booze

2/5/2007 4:05:19 PM

she has a fridge/freezer full of booze.

i thought about wine glasses, but unless it's sangria, she's not a big wine drinker. i know she's the martini type. she was actually talking about having a girl's night/martini party sometime soon, and as of right now, she only has a 4-set. i figure either now or later she's gonna have more than 3 friends over at a time.

swagger looks super cute, i may try to make it over there. i forgot completely about tj maxx. good ideas.

2/5/2007 4:31:57 PM

Get him/her a small piece of art

could be an original or print (depending on size)

if they're a state student, check out some of the campus prints

2/5/2007 4:32:01 PM

howabout a giant basket full of various sized batteries/light bulbs

2/5/2007 6:23:12 PM

My bf wanted some martini glasses for Christmas last year, and he had this one type of design in mind. We looked at a ton of different places that had martini glasses, but couldn't find exactly what he wanted. Then we went to Pier 1 one day and they had the exact thing he wanted for $5 per glass. They don't have a huge selection, but it worked out well for us, so it's worth a shot.

2/5/2007 8:37:20 PM

^^that's actually not a bad idea
throw in some tape of different kind

2/5/2007 8:45:05 PM

For almost every housewarming, I go to crate & barrel & get the short stem wine or martini glasses that are in the back left corner for about $3-$6 per glass (depending on the design). Then, I take them to things remembered and have them monogramed with the person's initials... No complaints in the past 4 years...

2/5/2007 9:53:40 PM

towels, with their names embroidered on them

2/5/2007 10:03:53 PM

Do you guys have Cost Plus World Market up there? It's great for quirky gifts like that.

2/5/2007 10:20:39 PM

Gift card with the insistence you go shopping to help pick it out.

2/5/2007 10:27:28 PM

wine racks are a lot of fun... and I doubt it's something your friend would normally buy for herselp

2/5/2007 11:08:58 PM

1. Go to Father and Sons antiques on Hargett Street.
2. ....
3. Profit!

2/5/2007 11:21:28 PM

^ I bought the most awesome little vanity table there.

2/5/2007 11:27:09 PM

huge double ended purple dildo

2/5/2007 11:34:04 PM

I think the idea of a basket full of stuff is a great one. When we moved into our new house we got a huge basket with light bulbs, batteries, a simple tool chest, lysol wipes, paper towels, windex, Magic Erasers, popcorn, and all sorts of random stuff.

Although martini glasses are thoughtful, it doesn't really seem like something really useful for someone who just bought a place. I also think the idea of some sort of artwork is nice... new places usually seem so bare. Maybe even a little decorative mirror... that way you don't have to pick out a print you think she'd like.

Also, a creative wrapping idea... wrap with some type of towel (bath, dish, who cares)... towels are always useful, and it's unique

2/6/2007 12:07:21 AM

I think martini glasses are a great idea.

Crates&Barrel
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/martini-glasses/drinkware/1

you can get a pair for less than 20 and they are good quality and nice looking

If she doesn't drink a lot of martini's, you can get her some bar glasses. I use ours for water all the time

Everyone can use some martini glasses... even if you don't drink... you can always have your ice cream served in it

2/6/2007 6:37:15 PM

Check out Charlotte's at Cameron Village, if you have to buy a gift for a girl its money in the bank......tons of hand painted NCSU (and every other college in the area) martini glasses, wine glasses, plates, etc

2/6/2007 6:43:42 PM

^^ earlier in the thread she said she already had 4... how many martini glasses do you need??

2/6/2007 7:43:52 PM

Try Pier 1, they have cool stuff. My sister gets stuff there all the time.

2/6/2007 8:01:25 PM

You may want to check out the global bazaar at Target. They have some nice things. My friends are big readers, so we got them an elephant bookend.

2/6/2007 11:22:57 PM

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=172&f=20
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=130&f=11&q=viva&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1

Those are the ones I usually go with.... I've washed mine probably 50+ times in the dishwasher and have never had a problem.
...And the monogram looks fabulous.

2/6/2007 11:33:19 PM

This is by far one of my favorite threads... I'm going to sum up what I think are some of the best ideas (in order of appearance, not how much I like it... it's bold if I really like it):

Quote :

"Stores in General: 1. TJ Maxx... in addition to glasses, you can get a "funky" mixer-- all within you price range 2. World market near the petsmart near crossroads has tons of stuff that's relatively inexpensive and pretty interesting. 3. If you can make it out to Cary go to Swagger (http://www.swagger-gifts.com) for really unique, fun gifts ANYTIME. The website just does NOT do it justice... you have to go to the store sometime! 4. you can find cool things at kirklands or bombay company in the mall as well. 5. I go to crate & barrel & get the short stem wine or martini glasses that are in the back left corner for about $3-$6 per glass... Then, I take them to things remembered and have them monogramed with the person's initials... 6. Check out Charlotte's at Cameron Village, if you have to buy a gift for a girl its money in the bank......tons of hand painted NCSU (and every other college in the area) martini glasses, wine glasses, plates, etc"

Quote :

"FANTASTIC Gift Ideas: 1. my friend got me sushi plates, chop sticks, and soy sauce dishes for my bf and i's HW gift, mixing bowls, grill utensils & new grill, really awesome dish cloths from anthropologie, one of those travelling bags for warm or cold dishes (with the casserole dish) 2. Get him/her a small piece of art, could be an original or print (depending on size), if they're a state student, check out some of the campus prints 3. howabout a giant basket full of various sized batteries/light bulbs... throw in some tape of different kind... a simple tool chest, lysol wipes, paper towels, windex, Magic Erasers, popcorn 4. towels, with their names embroidered on them... or just a simple monogram (I did this for Christmas and my family loved them!) 5. wine racks are a lot of fun"

[Edited on February 7, 2007 at 12:20 PM. Reason : more]

2/7/2007 12:19:22 PM

Quote :

"huge double ended purple dildo"

Why's it gotta be BLACK PURPLE?

Does she have a b/f or significant other living with her? Might want to get something for them as well...

2/7/2007 7:20:58 PM

C4 Explosives.

2/7/2007 7:56:02 PM

if you can cook, bring some good food over have a nice meal

[Edited on February 7, 2007 at 7:59 PM. Reason : u]

2/7/2007 7:58:31 PM

I would go with something other than the martini glasses because chances are that she can pick some out for herself or one of your other friends might be getting them since they know she likes them.

2/7/2007 8:03:07 PM

Two Words: Lawn Gnome

2/8/2007 9:04:50 AM

best housewarming gift ever a few months late haha. my aunt/uncle are re-furnishing their lakehouse cause it doesnt match the color they want to paint it hahha, and they just gave me all the shit they were replacing.

i am stupid at decorating, so before that, i had gone to target and bought some random crap (a table and chairs and a tv stand thing and a shelf thing and some end tables and lamps) and i had hand me down couches and stuff like that

now everything downstairs matches and my dining room table is huge and seats 8 it doesnt look right to me, but everyone else says it looks great. i guess its cause im used to the other way. so the best gift you can get for someone is something that makes their house change from a pad to an adult house

[Edited on February 8, 2007 at 9:48 AM. Reason : w00tttt]

2/8/2007 9:45:58 AM