Thank You, Secret Santa

Rachel Hirsch
History (Vintage Boutique)
Received, from Colin Rhys: A chess set. “Dead on! I love all board games and can’t wait to use Alexander the Great’s battle strategies with this.” ($95, Eureka Puzzles)
Really wants: Skull clogs. “They’re fun and quirky but also comfy enough for me to stand in at work. I’d wear them every day.” ($75, Vintage Etc.)
Gave to: Chef Tim Wiechmann. “First I was thinking cooking accessories, but the last thing Tim needs is another ‘Kiss the Cook’ apron, right? When I found out he’s a big fan of the Patriots and antiques, I decided to go with this ideal football-watching outfit with vintage style and off-field appeal.”

Tim Wiechmann
T. W. Food (restaurant)
Received: A varsity sweater and scarf. “I love anything with my initials on it!” (Sweater, $35, and scarf, $43, both Bobby from Boston)
Really wants: “A powerful Husqvarna chain saw like my neighbor Peter’s, so I can chop wood in my backyard.” (Husqvarna 359 series, $499.99, Needham Garden Center)
Gave to: Elizabeth Xanthopoulos. “I’d give her and some friends an afternoon at the Athenaeum. It’s a classy place, and since she’s a venture capitalist and salon owner, I’m sure she’s a classy and sophisticated woman.”

Elizabeth Xanthopoulos
Miniluxe (nail salon)
Received: A tea party at the Athenaeum. “This is perfect! Since childhood, I’ve dreamed of having a great big library in my home in which to read, paint, write, and bring people together.” (Tea for four, $80, Boston Athenaeum)
Really wants: A Vespa. “I don’t own a car, so this is a beautifully designed, zippy little solution to get me from point A to point B, and a psychological sojourn to Italy while in Boston—la bella vita!” (Vespa GTV, $6,899, Vespa Boston)
Gave to: Larry Baron. “I learned that Larry loves entertaining and classical music, so I’d hire violinist Sebastian Baverstam to play at his next party.”

Larry Baron
Spa Christine
(salon/gift boutique)
Received: A private concert. “Nothing’s better than live music. You can’t download it—coming from a human is the best type.” ($100–$125 per hour, Music Referral Service, New England Conservatory)
Really wants: A mixer. “I used to be a chef and have had mine for 30 years—it’s falling apart.” (KitchenAid mixer, $499, Bed Bath & Beyond)
Gave to: Alessandra Miele. “I try to give things that people wouldn’t buy for themselves but that they’d use, like extra-nice towels. Since she’s a yoga instructor, I think she’ll really envelop herself in them. And white goes with everything.”

Alessandra Miele
North End Yoga
Received: Towels and soap. “What a treat! With this job, I shower multiple times per day—and I love to pamper myself.” (Gotham towels, $14–$48, and Catherine Memmi soap, $8, both Waterworks)
Really wants: A yoga jacket. “There’s nothing worse than being chilled, so I need something to throw on after I teach a class.” (Après-yoga jacket, $139, Lululemon)
Gave to: Frank Campanale. “He spends a lot of time on buying trips to South America. He can keep memories in this journal, and the pillow is small enough for him to stash in his carryon.”

Frank Campanale
Diseño (décor shop)
Received: Travel accessories. “I needed a new travel pillow! I’ve bought three or four and always leave them on the plane. And the journal’s important for collecting thoughts from my travels.” (Fiorentina leather-bound journal, $50, and lavender pillow, $50, both Louis Boston)
Really wants: A hip sweater. “At Uniform in the South End, the owner knows my style and points me straight to what I’ll like—like this sweater.” (Qi cashmere sweater, $250, Uniform)
Gave to: Shaka Ramsay. “With a new retail business, you can never have too many Buddhas or too much good luck.”

Shaka Ramsay
Achilles (clothing/home store)
Received: A Buddha head. “I’ve always studied Buddhist values—and Frank’s right, no one can ever have too much good luck.” (Buddha head, $95, Devi Home)
Really wants: A digital camera. “I take photos in my spare time, so I’m psyched Nikon’s finally releasing a full-frame DSLR.” (Nikon D3, $4,999, Ritz Camera)
Gave to: Nancy Cushman. “This book is about Japanese design and is printed on Japanese paper. It’s a first edition from 50 years ago by Ralph Adams Cram, who’s from Boston. Having been to O Ya, I knew that was something Nancy would appreciate.”

Nancy Cushman
O Ya (restaurant)
Received: A vintage book. “How unique and amazing! I love Japanese architecture—we were totally influenced by that in building our restaurant.” (Impressions of Japanese Architecture by Ralph Adams Cram, $75, Ars Libri)
Really wants: A spa day. “It’s been a busy year—I need a little relaxation!” (Exhale Experience package, $455, Exhale)
Gave to: Colin Rhys. “Colin was hard to buy for because he’s so young [he’s 22]. But everyone has to eat, and these combine art and food, and support children,” with a portion of the proceeds going toward elementary school art programs.

Colin Rhys
Rhys Gallery
Received: Chocolates. “I’m not a big chocolate person, myself, but it’s great to have someone tie a gift in with charity.” (Children’s Ballotin chocolates, $25–$65, Richart)
Really wants: A car club membership. “I’m a particular guy, so I need choices. With the Otto Club, I’d drive a different super car down to Miami every weekend without one dollar of overhead. In cars like those—Ferraris and such—you can make it down there real fast.” ($20,000–$30,000 per year, the Otto Club)
Gave to: Rachel Hirsch. “Rachel’s favorite character of all time is Alexander the Great. And people who love history—more importantly, conquest—love a good game of chess.”