Online - November 17, 2006

Surprise Party

Charles & Marie Holiday Calendar

We know. You’ve got turkeys on the brain, not partridges in pear trees. But humor us for a moment.

Design champs Charles and Marie bring you an advent calendar that will make someone on your holiday gift list a very happy bird, indeed.

Instead of counting down the days by uncovering third-rate chocolates, get a prezzie delivered to your doorstep daily from December 1-24.

Curated by avant-garders Josée Lepage and Tobias Wong, these covetable items are meant to deck not only your halls but also your bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Although we can’t give away too many surprises, gifts include works by Tord Boontje, a personalized paperweight, and cooking utensils by Jasper Morrison.

For the chosen folk, they’ve even thrown in the slickest menorah Santa’s ever seen. Oh, and did we accidentally let something slip about an iPod?

The holiday season is barely upon us, but as that tryptophan-induced Thanksgiving coma sets in, start thinking ahead to surprises coming your way from your true love.

Which sure beats visions of sugarplums dancing in your head.

Available online at charlesandmarie.com. Place orders by Monday, November 20.