Inspired Holiday Gifts, Part 1

Our gift to you this holiday season: A collection of inspired presents, blending technology, entertainment and design.

For the accident-prone bon vivant: Stemless wine glasses by Maximillian Riedel (2004). Beautifully formed goblets, without the fragile stems. They’re breakable, sure. But you have to try harder. (Available for Cabernet/Merlot, Chardonnay and Riesling/Sauvignon Blanc) $26/set of two at the MOMA Design Store.

For the hopelessly overcommitted co-worker: The classic New Yorker cartoon (“How about never—is never good for you?”). $ 150 framed at The Cartoon Bank.

For the reluctant globe-trotter: Bose QuietComfort noise-cancelling headphones. My brother, the pilot, swears by these. They not only deliver gorgeous sound; the acoustic noise-canceling technology eliminates the white noise that causes fatigue on long flights. And the new design folds flat, packs easily. Definitely worth the investment for frequent fliers. $299 at Bose.com.

For the unrepentant punster: Freudian slippers. Hee. $24 at Uncommon Goods.

For the not-so-green thumb: Orchids by the month. The delicate orchid is notoriously difficult to keep alive. Obvious solution: keep sending them more. A new miniature orchid — in a lovely porcelain pot — will arrive each month. Just after they killed the last one. $125/3 months at RedEnvelope.