Written by Katie Holmes, CNN
Whether you want to showcase your geeky side this holiday season or just show kids and grandkids the amazing world of tech, we’ve got you covered with some of the best gifts available right now. Whether you’re looking for a smartphone battery, an incredible drone or an Oculus Rift headset, here are just a few of the most exciting gadgets that we think you won’t want to miss.
Manhattan’s most unique open-air market
Startlingly kitschy, charmingly colorful and utterly worthy of a postcard-worthy celebration, New York’s 59th Street fair is among the world’s most prized traditions. Over the course of a few hours in August, the lively marketplace surrounds Old Colonial-era buildings with dozens of vendors selling everything from local produce and baked goods to real estate and tech accessories. Perhaps the most beautiful of all is Flea, a rooftop art installation featuring the work of street artist Keebler. Best of all? All proceeds from Flea’s tours benefit charity, making this one of the better (and more environmentally conscious) tourist attractions in the city.
You don’t have to be rich to travel on air
If you’re in New York for Fashion Week or Chelsea Market, you may as well hit up Boxcar New York, one of the largest private charter aircraft operators in the world. Executives at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority could be seen boarding the Atlanta-based charter company’s Cessna Citation X last week to try New York’s premier private dining destination, The Modern. Aptly named The Modern is like a cross between a restaurant, art gallery and a luxury hotel. It’s the perfect place to pop in to catch a dramatic show or attend a business conference.
Holographic iPad does double duty as a baby monitor
If your millennial brood has an itch to record and share all your child’s key moments — even if that entails collecting them into their own app on a particular brand of video camera — then the Wacom Cintiq X1013 might be right up your alley. The 12.9-inch Windows device has a 3D touchscreen that lets you record up to eight hours of video, all without a battery and with zero touch restrictions. Plus, if you simply like seeing your baby’s every move you don’t have to purchase an expensive camera. Playtime is free.
Virtual reality video game only requires a MacBook or Macbook Pro
Experience complete immersion and the breathtaking beauty of space or the rarest and most mysterious part of the Earth’s natural landscape — the Himalayas — with the incredible experience of the first-ever virtual reality headset, Muse 360. For 10 days in December, all you need is a model MacBook or Macbook Pro to experience the stunning 360-degree supercar race: Wind powered by a steering wheel and removable pedals, the virtual reality experience puts you right in the middle of the race.