The Drinks You Need for the Ultimate New Year's Eve Party

Hendrick's Gin:
Hendrick's gin is from across the pond, but rather than being produced in England, this one is out of Scotland. It's a unique small batch gin hand crafted with an unexpected infusion of cucumber and rose petals. Hendrick's makes for great martinis, and instead of garnishing it with a lime, opt for a slice of cucumber instead - you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry is a feature, length documentary exploring the roots of American tattooing through the life of its most iconoclastic figure Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins. Considered by many the foremost tattoo artist of all time, Collins, is the father of modern day tattooing whose uncompromising lifestyle and larger than life persona made him an American legend. Through rare interviews, photographs and hours of archival footage, ‘Sailor Jerry: The Life and Times of Norman Keith Collins' explores the past, present and future of the global tattooing phenomenon.

What We Heart
Limited Edition Stationery Collection
 
$20 (five-card set), available at Art in the Age, 116 N. Third St., 215-922-2600, artintheage.com

It's been a week since Jesus' birthday and you still owe your grandmother a thank-you note - even if she did buy your Christmas present at a garage sale. Head over to Old City's Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, where limited-edition five-piece stationery sets are nestled amid enviable-but-overpriced tees and old-timey perfume vessels. In collaboration with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (and its massive archives), Art in the Age is breathing new life into potentially boring artifacts and making history more user- and consumer-friendly. These cards - three of which are printed on substantial, creamy card stock and stamped with Civil War imagery, two of which are holiday-themed and showcase centuries-old chromolithography techniques - are available at $5 a pop or $20 for the set. Think of it as the perfect way to say, "Thanks for the slightly used steak knives, Gram.

For Gin, It's Hendricks!
We continue our libations posts with one on Christmas Eve--we hope it is not too late for you to find this gem. If you have ever tried a Martini and thought about drinking a fine Gin, then Hendricks should be on the list. For the price, this Gin is not too expensive (around $35), but the curious blend of cucumber makes this a tasty one for a martini.
While we like Tanqueray for martini fixes in a pinch, Hendricks is better, curiously delicious, and of a higher quality overall. Give it a try this holiday season, and do not mix it; this is a martini/straight drinking gin. As noted here, this is about more than style. What you drink says much about you as does your manner of dress.

From Philly to Paris, the Best Store Openings of 2008
 
By Karen Day, Sarah Moroz, & Xiyin Tang
In a year clouded with closings, foldings, lay-offs, and mergers, we're extra-glad that these innovative boutiques braved the odds and struck out on their own. Whether it's New York darling Steven Alan bringing his cool, classic goods to sunny Cali or beloved Swedish line Acne opening up their first U.S outpost, 2008 was a year for new beginnings despite the less-than-hot economic condition. Below, we've gathered the finest new boutiques so that you can put your hard-earned, cleverly saved pennies to good use.
 

Editorial Review for Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction - by Tara Nurin

In Short_Created as a response to commercialization and greed, this artists' collaborative hosts art and music shows and makes it cool to buy stuff, from private label tees, custom wallpaper and uphostery, stationery, housewares and clothes to Pennsylvania folk art, like Mennonite quilts.