The Art of Gifting

Metro Detroit tastemakers from all walks of life offer a glimpse of what鈥檚 on their holiday wish lists. From artwork to leather goods and apparel to record players, their picks run the gamut of this season鈥檚 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.
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Gift boxes and wrapping courtesy of Paper Source, Birmingham; 248-594-4954; . Props courtesy of Event Theory; 586-755-5000;

Metro Detroit tastemakers from all walks of life offer a glimpse of what鈥檚 on their holiday wish lists. From artwork to leather goods and apparel to record players, their picks run the gamut of this season鈥檚 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鈥

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鈥檚 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. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to be part of the wave downtown,鈥 he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much opportunity.鈥 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 鈥渁ll holidays鈥 with their 16-year-old daughter, Ava. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all one love,鈥 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 ; Louis Vuitton Notebook Clemence LV League MM, $185, at select Louis Vuitton stores; 866-884-8866; ; Swell maple wood water bottle, $36, at area Paper Source stores and ; Gucci New Ace High sneaker, $730, at Saks Fifth Avenue, Somerset Collection South, Troy; 248-643-9000; ; 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; ; Stone Island men鈥檚 wool beanie hat, $115, at Neiman Marcus, Somerset Collection South, Troy; 248-643-3300; .



For the Girl Boss鈥

The holidays are a chance for Alina Morse, CEO of Zollipops 鈥 a candy company that specializes in sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and kosher lollipops 鈥 to relax. 鈥淐hristmas is a great time for [family to] connect,鈥 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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. 鈥淕et little hints of what color they like,鈥 she says. 鈥淢ake the gift something that they can really enjoy while working on their next big invention or just doing some schoolwork.鈥



Her Picks: (Clockwise from top) Finna diagonal pillow, $154, at Thistle & Bess, Ann Arbor; 734-369-6092; ; UGG Dakota loafer slippers, $80, at Saks Fifth Avenue, Somerset Collection South, Troy; 248-643-9000; ; Lululemon Rest Less Half Zip top, $98, and All Your Small Things Mini 2L pouch, $28, at area Lululemon stores and ; ZolliPops, $6 for 3 oz. bag, at area Kroger, Walmart, and Whole 香港六合彩图库资料s stores, and at ; Microsoft Surface Pro (Fifth Generation), starting at $999, and Microsoft Surface Pro Type Cover, $129, at area Microsoft stores and ; Rifle Paper Co. Amalfi del Mar candle, $29, at area Paper Source stores and .



For the Artist鈥

Robert and Christine Schefman鈥檚 holiday gatherings center around good food and family. Inadvertently, art and creating is also a focal point. 鈥淓veryone at our family table went to art school,鈥 says Robert, a painter and teacher at College for Creative Studies. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all in the business in one way or another.鈥 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鈥檚 wish list this year include essential art supplies 鈥 鈥淎 nice set of watercolors can be great for anybody,鈥 Robert says 鈥 exhibition catalogues, cook books, Cire Trudon candles, memberships to art museums, and, of course, artwork. A favorite of Christine鈥檚 is 鈥淭hings I Like,鈥 a silkscreen piece by local artist Emmy Bright, which is available at David Klein Gallery. 鈥淸Her art is] about personal relationships,鈥 Christine says. 鈥淚 love her work.鈥



Their Picks: (Clockwise from top) Framed Emmy Bright 鈥淭hings I Like鈥 silkscreen and marker on cardboard, $1,800, at David Klein Gallery, Detroit; 313-818-3416; ; 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; ; 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; ; Cire Trudon Coffret d鈥橦iver candle gift set, $210, at Mills Pharmacy + Apothecary, Birmingham; 248-644-5060; .



For the Musician鈥

When she鈥檚 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. 鈥淚 really like those good, classically written songs,鈥 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鈥檚 particularly fond of Crosley鈥檚 line of portable turntables. 鈥淚 like that it鈥檚 compact,鈥 says Strauss, who has also lived in New York, Los Angeles, and London. Turns out when you鈥檙e a musician on the go, items that can travel with you are best.



Her Picks:听(Clockwise from top) Crosley Urban Outfitters exclusive velvet Cruiser bluetooth record player, $99, and Beach House 7 LP, $20, at select Urban Outfitters stores; ; Gucci Elias strappy sandal with jeweled lion, $1,250, at Saks Fifth Avenue, Somerset Collection South, Troy; 248-643-9000; ; Shinola The Canfield on-ear headphones, $350, at area Shinola stores and ; Simply Curated Botanical Collection No. 02 candle, $40, and Happy Habitat blanket, $160, at Thistle & Bess, Ann Arbor; 734-369-6092; .