$50 and Under

The Disappearers

Though we typically read the books we recommend the urgency to celebrate the release of Marlon James’ The Disappearers feels more important than our ability to complete it in a timely manner. The recipient of many awards including the American Book Award and The Booker Prize (for A Brief History of Seven Killings), The Disappearers is one of the dozen books shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize.

The book is a journey with pop culture and music as its muses, about Jamaican homophobia, sex, violence, colonialism, AIDS, domination, submission and life in the margins, told by several of its characters. The reviews, unanimous in their praise for the book, speak to it better than we could:

“This Masterpiece Is the Novel of the Decade, if Not the Century” (The New York Times)

“The unrelentingly raw and profane vision is enlivened by the energy of the writing, and in particular its infusions of Jamaican slang. Mr. James does not simply reproduce the island’s singular patois; he uses it to create abrasive auditory rhythms.” (Wall Streeet Journal)

“…this polyphonic 640-page doorstopper is an emotionally bruising narrative that roves “uptown, downtown, ghetto and gully” through Aids-era Kingston with sidetrack excursions to 1950s England and a closing leap to 2000s United States.” (The Guardian)

“The Disappearers ends up as a violence-driven protest, a scream of rage—like Nirvana’s final album—against a world that keeps trying to kill people like him and then pretends that they asked for it, or that they never existed.” (The Atlantic)

Use this code to sign up for a 20% discount on this book at Bookshop.org

This products is sold by Bookshop.org

Non-Alcoholic Beer (12 cans)

Crazy Mountain is a new non-alcoholic beer brewed that way (thanks to a proprietary yeast) instead of brewing and removing the alcohol, which uses electricity and can change the taste. Made by the team behind Casamigos (George Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman) who know a thing or two about creating new brands in the beverage space, it’s certainly not the first but it is one of the better tasting. Available in original and lime flavors, it’s a recommended addition to your NA line up. Price is for two six packs (you can mix the two flavors if you like). Also available in retail and delivery outlets.

This product is sold by Crazy Mountain

Postcard Set

Bienvenue Studios, a Zurich-based creative studio focused on biophilic design, uses “natural patterns showing how complexity and harmony can coexist.” They prefer to work in sets of images rather than stand alone works. These five print small art collections can be used either decoratively or as post cards, and come in many different options. The works are offset printed in Zurich on 400g stock, and are 104 x 140 mm.

This product is sold by Bienvenue Studios

Smoky Paloma Incense

Smoky Paloma incense comes in cigarette pack boxes and the incense sticks resemble cigarettes, so it looks like a smoking cigarette is in your ashtray, not a stick of incense. The Smoky Paloma blend of palo santo and sandalwood is our favorite, but other scents are available. Twenty incense sticks per package, which burn for around 25 minutes. Matching matches are included, and other accessories are available.

This product is sold by Smoky Paloma

Lil Bucks Crispy Organic Treats (3 boxes)

Little Bucks Crispy organic treats update the iconic rice and marshmallow bar with sprouted buckwheat, brown rice sugar and pea protein, delivering a more considered and natural ingredient variation of the beloved treat. Other flavors are available. Three boxes of five treats each come in this package.

This product is sold by Little Bucks

Chroma Scissors

Craighill’s colorful Chroma Scissors bring function alongside colorful design, with ceramic coated blades and vinyl-dipped handles. More than a casual pair, they are cast in stainless steel and feature a circular hinge mechanism for smooth and easy performance. Available in multiple styles / colors, including a pair without ceramic coating. It’s an easy way to add some color and fun to an otherwise basic product. The full-size scissors are 7 oz and 8.5″ x 3″ x 0.5″.

This product is sold by Craighill

Non-Alcoholic Spirits, Aperitifs and Sparkling Wine

UNDONE started its line of non-alcoholic spirits in 2019, helping to bring a new generation of dealcoholized products to bars and markets. Today their portfolio lacks little, offering spirits, aperitifs, liquers, sparking wine, canned cocktails that taste more similar to their alcoholic counterparts than botanical spirits. They’ve been a prominent feature at CH HQ this summer, where we’ve explored making many different cocktails and tasty sips that keep us on deadlines. They have just about everything you need to easily make the classics—from a Smoky Paloma to a Vesper to a range of sprtizes.  What we appreciate most is the range and depth of flavors providing endless opportunities for your NA enjoyment. Products range from $15-25, with many options for kits, sets and mixers.

This product is sold by UNDONE

Faception Reloaded Tee

The Faception tee by Urban Privacy confuses facial recognition systems with its multiple graphics. Shirts are made to order in 100% 180 gram organic cotton following the GOTS and ÖEKO-TEX Standard 100 guidelines. Available in white and black in slim and baggy cuts. Note that the graphics disrupt each system differently, and software can be updated to manage the confusion.

This product is sold by Urban Privacy

Specialty Instant Coffee

NYC-based Forchewn solves a constant issue in our travels—having an affordable, dependable, easily available coffee while we’re on the go. They are considered in their sourcing, roasting and packaging to ensure the best possible cup of coffee given the format. Each box also comes with a tarot card for an extra moment of pause for your daily rituals. Prices vary per blend, starting at $14 for a five serving box.

This product is sold by Forchewn

Thick Honey

At a recent visit to the Fancy Food Show, a trade show for gourmet foods, we met longtime CH reader Noah Phillips. We always love when that happens, even more so when they are up to something interesting. Noah loves honey, but doesn’t love having to manage it in containers where it often solidifies, or is thinned out to dispense more easily which often makes a mess. As any passionate entrepreneur does they solve the problem by making their own, and Honey Department was born (it also helps that his dad is a beekeeper). The single source honey comes from bees that pollinate Mexican wildflower and mesquite blossoms. He calls it “thick honey” and it’s packaged in an aluminum tube. Thick, because it is naturally thickened into a creamy paste, a perfect consistency for putting on your food more precisely, smoothly and without waste. Need more? Just squeeze the tube; when you’ve finished it, recycle it. We’ve tried it on food, in recipes, in beverages, and we’ve even been seen carrying the small tube around to share with people (these are currently an added bonus when you buy a three pack, but will soon be sold separately). Until then, you can buy a single 6 oz tube for $16, or buy in larger packs at a lower price.

This product is sold by Honey Department

Botanical Alphabet

If you’re a plant or typography lover, these botanical seed packets hit that sweet spot. The seeds correspond with every letter of the alphabet, from Aster to Zinnia, and the designs feature a unique color palette and typographic style. Each packet contains multiple seeds, sowing instructions and fun background info on the typeface used in the design. It’s hard to choose a favorite, but we’re leaning towards Nigella with its typeface inspired by the Mexico 1968 Olympics logo design.

This product is sold by Piccolo Seeds

Fallingwater Chocolate Bar

Éclat Chocolate’s Fallingwater Dark Chocolate Bar 65% (also available in 49% milk chocolate) is inspired by the windows and the “innovation and harmony” seen in Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Fallingwater House.

This product is sold by Éclat Chocolate

Symbolorum: The Secret Wisdom of Emblems

Before there were tarot decks there were Baroque emblem books, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries and featuring allegorical images accompanied by Latin phrases. The books offered an enchanted connection between mystical images and mottos showing human lives alongside celestial, bestial and plant life. Discovered during her research into fragrances from that time, natural perfumer Mandy Aftel’s Symbolorum: The Secret Wisdom of Emblems brings us back to that era, with Camerarius’s images reborn in watercolor and modern commentary. A great addition to any cabinet of curiosities or the library of anyone inspired by the subject.

This produce is sold by Aftelier

The Typical Stretch Towel

Typical ups your towel game by adding just a bit of stretch (they are 98% cotton and 2% spandex). One of our editors has lived with these for a few weeks and gives an enthusiastic thumbs up for their softness, stretchiness and quick-drying capabilities. Available in bath (30″ x 60“), hand (14″ x 34″) and face (14″ x 14″) sizes, we’re also fans of the surprising color combos in their striped and polka dot patterns.

This product is sold by Typical

Smoke & Brûlée Chocolate Bar

A perfectly balanced chocolate bar with 66% Dominican chocolate, cold smoked nibs, brûléed sugar bits and black lava salt hits all the right spots in sophisticated treat from this bean-to-bar chocolatier from Bentonville, Arkansas. Inspired by the maker’s memory of eating bananas foster and creme brûlée on a summer road trip through New Orleans, it’s a great introduction to the brand and their unique confections.

This product is sold by Markham & Fitz

Compression Socks

You don’t need to travel as much as we do to include compression socks in your travel kit. They are essential for flying, helping your body to keep your blood flowing in your feet and legs while sitting on your ass for hours at a time. Many people wear them when working out, or if standing most of the day at work, too. We’ve tried many brands and VIM & VIGR is our new favorite. They offer multiple styles (regular socks, open-toe socks, leg sleeves) in three different knits—cotton, wool (our favorite) and moisture-wick nylon), various compression strength, and of these in many solid colors and patterns.

This product is sold by VIM & VIGR

Everyday Sake Guide

Everyday Sake: The Go-To Guide for Choosing, Pairing + Serving by Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori, is the latest effort by the duo who’ve run Oakland’s Umami Mart since 2012. The shop features a sake bar, Japanese spirits, pantry items and housewares. The book celebrates their passion for sake and its flexibility as a beverage for much more than Japanese food. It covers helpful things like understanding the various types of sake, what they are best paired with, how to read sake labels, and much more. You can add some sake to your order, too…

This product is sold by Umami Mart

El Apiario Honey

Jorge Mendez runs his family farm and apiary in the Huehuetenango region of Guatamala, high up in the mountains. His coffee, Finca El Apiario (Honeybee Farm) is a favorite of many roasters, and is named after his bees. Coffee Blossom Honey sells the honey from the farm, which is made primarily from the honeybee’s main diet, coffee blossoms. It has a “subtle sweetness with delicate lavender notes” and naturally pairs well with tea and coffee.

This product is sold by Coffee Blossom Honey

Strawberry Shortcake Cap

Maybe it was the microdose. Maybe it’s part of the nostalgia wave. Maybe it’s a safe space in challenging times. Strawberry Shortcake cap. Summer. We’re here for it.

This product is sold by Amazon

PowerClip

When we’re in full on art or design week mode we always travel with a heavy duty power bank to keep our crew going through multiple full phone charges a day. While a great solution they are bulky and heavy, and often much more than what you need. Twelve South’s PowerClip sits at a specific place in the range of charging devices—its small size and light weight makes it ideal to carry on your key chain, clipped to your bag, or comfortably placed in a pocket. It is designed to deliver enough power—around a 30% charge—to ensure that you have enough to get through the rest of the day or night. It cannot charge your phone fully, though it can fully charge other items like earphones etc. It can even charge two USB C devices at the same time using its two cables, and if you are short a cable it can connect to a power source and a device.

This product is sold by Twelve South

One Wish Notecards

Wish Cards offers many different styles of its One Wish cards, several in collaboration with artists and brands. Each card has something in common though—a match, a strip to light the match, and a small candle. Strike the match, light the candle, make a wish, and blow it out. Cards start at €10 and go up to €24.

This product is sold by Wish Cards

Micro Hozuki Light

Snow Peak’s latest in their line of Hozuki portable lights is the Micro Hozuki, a cherry sized light, provides light when you need it most and easily attaches to your keychain, bag, tent zipper, etc. with its clip. It’s hearty and not afraid of rain or snow, bright (27 lumens) and waterproof.

Summerdown Peppermint Dark Chocolate Crisp Bar (2 Bars)

Summerdown started growing Black Mitcham peppermint, an heirloom varietal, around thirty years ago. The farmers found and painstakingly brought cuttings back to England, and with lots of time and care the finicky plant settled in; today it’s grown on 100 acres. Once harvested it’s distilled and barrel-aged, and powers many products that the farm produces. They make several chocolates but the bar is the easiest to travel with, and as we’re always on the go it’s what you’ll often find in our everyday carry. Made from 70% Colombian chocolate, it has a light dusting of sugar crystals to give it a little crunch. Each bar is 100g / 3.5oz, price is for a two pack.

This product is sold by Chelsea Market Basket

Gemstone Star Wars Figurines

These small Star Wars gemstone figurines are excellent desk, nightstand or everyday carry companions. Each stone (sodalite, fire quartz, opalite, howlite, amethyst and others) is hand carved and one-of-a-kind. The collection includes R2D2, Grogu, Stormtroopers, Darth Vader and Chewbacca.

This product is sold by The Science Museum of Minnesota

AirSpreader in Beech

Think about all of the knives you’ve used when you set out snacks—most often they aren’t designed for the task at hand; they fall over, they drip and they don’t do a great job. Behold the AirSpreader from Bosign, a multiple award winning design for its simplicity and effectiveness. The ergonomic base rests on the surface, while the spreading half is elevated and ready to spread whatever you’re serving. We love the simplicity and price point for the solid beech version, but several other materials are available as is a larger AirSpreader.

This product is sold by Bosign