Steal our ideas for this holiday season!
AsianWeek staffers couldn’t think of what you should be buying for your friends and family, but when it came to we wanted for ourselves, our cup runneth over.
Find out what we’d rather get than give this greedy time of year!
What I Really Want: Crotch Rocket
The Yellow Ducati 996R: Imagine cruising through Chinatown on a Ducati 996R at 160 mph, with people, their mouths agape, admiring your fine yellow machine. They don’t call it the Ferrari of motorcycles for nothin’.  Weighing 407 pounds, with a twin cylinder engine and 998CC displacement, this 6-speed Italian masterpiece churns out 135 horses at 10,200 rpms. Simply da bomb. Cost: $16,000-$17,000
Really What I’ll Get: Cash
A crisp, one hundred dollar bill, tucked into a red shiny envelope from my parents. Ben Franklin. I love that guy.
What I Really Want: A Good Seat at Nobu
The Best Sushi Experience in New York Award goes to Nobu in the Tribeca area. Co-owned by Robert Deniro, star-gazing is included in the menu. Go for Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s tasting menu and be satisfied differently each night. My fantasy dream gift is to have a table for two ready for me once a week for a year. Estimated cost $6,336.
Check out the Web site at http://www.myriadrestaurantgroup.com/ (click on “Nobu”)
Really What I’ll Get: Dope Undies
 Personal expression of the inner self. Wear the wild-cat print under your power suit and feel like an animal all day. Set your pants on fire with the flame undies. Wear the planet print to the black tie next week and take a seat in the universe.
Get a set of three in eye-popping colors for only $15. Get a fourth set and make your boyfriend wear ’em! Check out Alloy.com at this link.
What I Really Want: Fantasy Massage
A weekend spa retreat overlooking the beautiful Napa Valley vineyards, with my very own Swedish masseuse named Sven to dig his strong kneading hands into my back as I lay there …
I called Health Spa Napa Valley (www.napavalleyspa.com, 707-967-8800) and asked them if they had a masseuse named Sven. “Uh … No,” said the receptionist. And they didn’t have anything with a view of the vineyards either. They did, however, offer an “Outdoor Massage,” which involves you, the masseuse and a well-positioned cabana. You can still get a Swedish massage for $125 for an hour and 20 minutes, but depending on conditions, (Napa can get pretty nippy, dropping to about 30 degrees) you may not want to be rubbed outdoors, even if it’s by Sven.
If you are looking to derive a total transformation from your spa experience, try the “Total Transformations” packages. Ranging from “Total Serenity” to “Total Edge” — these deluxe packages include four to five hours of some combination of body treatments, exercise, massage and restorative nutrition ($395 to $495).
For those in line with the new age order, there’s the Ayurvedic treatments based on an ancient Indian healing system that uses specially blended curative oils and herbs to restore balance and increase vitality and energy, so I’m told. The Shirodhara is particularly interesting: Warm herbal oil is dropped onto the forehead, or “the third eye,” and then massaged into the hair and scalp to nourish hair roots and condition the scalp ($95 for 50 minutes).
At the Sonoma Mission Valley Inn and Spa (www.sonomamissioninn.com, 1-800-862-4945), days-long retreat packages can range anywhere from $425 for their Historic Inn Room to the Jack London Suite for $1508 per night.
Located on the site of thermal mineral springs, the Inn boasts “the only luxury spa resort in the Western United States to use our own mineral water …”
Each package includes three 50-minute spa treatments, use of the fitness center and classes, mineral pool and unlimited participation in the 60-minute self-guided “Bathing Ritual.” The last part is really up to interpretation.
Really What I’ll Get: Warmer Feet
 Toe gloves, those glove-like socks especially made for the feet with well-engineered partitions that will swaddle each toe toastily all winter long. About $5-10 anywhere. Target (www.target.com) has an especially eclectic selection, while www.amazingsocks.com has not only toe gloves, but an array of other foot accessories as well.
What I Really Want: E-Book
 The size of a hardcover book, RCA’s REB1200 represents the new generation of e-books. You can download books from the Internet and within seconds, sit down and enjoy a good read. REB1200 also allows you to add bookmarks, underline passages and make notes. And there’s a built-in dictionary that instantaneously provides definitions to words you forgot after taking the SATs. Other features include a full-color, high-resolution display and an adjustable brightness control that enables you to read in the dark. Cost: $699. Can be purchased at Office Max and Circuit City.
Really What I’ll Get: Pointe Shoes
These days it makes more sense to buy my ballet shoes online. Most sites offer a wide variety of the satin slippers at least 20 percent below retail. Two companies in particular, All About Dance (www.allaboutdance.com) and ADA Discount Dancewear (www.adadance.com) are two of my favorites sites. Cost: $30-50.
What I Really Want: Racing Bicycle
A Greg LeMond Tete de Course $4,700 bicycle — pedals not included. This state-of-the-art road racing bicycle is not only a work of art but you can use it to get around, too. I used to be into bicycle racing when I was a kid. However, the bike I owned was a $300 touring bike and was inferior to the racing bikes that the other kids had. I was just an average racer, but I always wondered: Was it because of my bike? If I got this bike for Christmas, I would race again, and this time there will be no excuses for my average performance!
Really What I’ll Get: Toy NASCAR Slot Racer
Man, I was at Toys R’ Us the other day, finding a present for my little cousin. They have some pretty cool and intriguing toys there. No, Barbie dolls are not one of them. There are remote control tanks, video cameras, and the toy that I can afford and want: NASCAR slot racing. I like the idea of NASCAR racing. It reminds me of southern food and warm weather for some reason—thoughts that are soothing to me. However, each time I attempt to watch NASCAR on ESPN2, in five minutes it’s channel surfing time. NASACAR slot racing is different, though. It’s an intense proactive endeavor where you can vicariously imagine you’re a NASCAR speed racer. Only thing I would change in the set is the make of car they use: Ford Taurus. They suck. My mom use to have a Ford Taurus and it was a piece of junk. Since NASCAR’s has to be American made, I would rather have a Pontiac Grand Prix.
What I Really Want: Luxury Bedding
 There are few things more telling of someone’s personality and happiness as one’s sleeping situation. A good night’s sleep is often the key to both mental and physical ills. On what other piece of furniture do you spend at least seven hours a day? Plus, in the world of studio apartments – a bed quickly becomes your entire universe. With a good bed, good bedding and a few key accessories a bed can become more comforting than a mother’s womb. And since right now I am sleeping on my futon — in couch-form with no sheets — I spent some time creating the fantasy bed scenario that I want to wake up to on Christmas morning:
You need to start out with the king size Sealy Adelfia Cushion Firm Mattress Set. This mattress is part of the Sealy Posturepedic Crown Jewel collection and offers the most advanced technology the bedding industry has seen in 40 years. The dual support system will, at once, give you cradling and firm support as though psychically in tune with the needs of your entire body. It even comes with its own specially crafted frame. This will run at about $1,299 from behome.com – a home furnishing Web site that has a good range of furniture, which you should keep in mind for next Christmas when perhaps I will be ready for a dining table.
But a good bed is nothing without proper coverings. Nothing beats the soft, warm, snuggly, love of good flannel. Partnered with the warmth of a goose-down comforter, getting out of bed in the morning is no longer an option. Maine’s L.L. Bean (www.llbean.com) practically invented the whole concept of flannel and has a wide range of types. But first, you must go for the king size Goose Down Box Stitch Comforter ($199). This comforter offers a more lightweight warmth that won’t suffocate. The box stitch construction keeps the down from shifting and the 250 thread count shell will always stay smooth. But you must wrap the comforter in the Ultrasoft Flannel Comforter Cover ($90) in a deep, royal eggplant color. For sheets and pillowcases, you can switch to the Chamois Flannel Fitted Sheet ($49) and pillowcases (two for $30). I would suggest the chamois or natural color. The flannel is guaranteed to get softer and cozier with each wash.
Now, for a final touch, L.L. Bean offers a Feather Bed ($149), which will go on top of the mattress for a soft, supportive touch adding warmth and comfort.
Throw in a few pillows and its not just a bed – it’s an entire lifestyle.
Really What I’ll Get: Budget Bedding
Kmart’s H.E. Queen Sheet Set ($29) available at Bluelight.com. It will fit perfectly over the futon mattress, and the stylish geometric pastel patterns will go so well with the rest of my belongings.
What I Really Want: Ski Equipment
Forget standing in line for gnarled skis and ill-fitting boots. Give me what I need to self-actualize the skiing god that waits for release from this unassuming body. I’ll take a dream set of equipment so I can truly enjoy the speed, raw adrenaline, and complex finesse of alpine downhill skiing.
Salomon skis, bindings and boots will do the trick. The X-Scream Series skis ($599) would be a suitable challenge for the intermediate-advanced skier that I am. I’m not pretending to be a world-class expert – yet. As I achieve double black diamond mastery, however, the X-Screams will continue delivering stability and precision without compromise.
Salomon’s X Wave 10 boots ($299) and Poweraxe S912 Ti Pe bindings ($549) will make for a sleek, high-performance, comfortable fit. Their top-of-the-line technology and construction make them safe, secure, and precise. Throw in a pair of Scott Edge Wing Poles ($49), and I’ve got a set of equipment to last me for years.
But what good are skis without the slopes, and how can I improve without lessons? Alpine Meadows Ski Resort in North Lake Tahoe is one of my favorite winter destinations. A 10-Pak of lift tickets goes for $420 this season. And Alpine Meadows has some talented and charismatic instructors. Two-hour individual lessons run $120 each. Three sessions should be enough this season. The total package: $2276. The best place online to buy the equipment: http://www.rei.com. Alpine Meadows ski resort online: http://www.skialpine.com.
Really What I’ll Get: Palm Pilot
 How can I find time to go skiing when I can’t keep track of my schedule enough to even find time for lunch? Palm Pilots are all the rage for geeky techno-philes like me, and since I’m saving my cash for the Salomon ski set, I’ll settle for the least expensive, most useful PDA on the market: the Palm m100 ($150). It’s got all I need to track the people I know and the things I’m supposed to do. Best place to buy online: http://www.outpost.com. (free shipping!)
What I Really Want: A New Home
The unattainable dream: real estate. Picture a modest, two bedroom house in a part of the city where the sun will shine onto my small patch of earth, where the flowers I planted will grow tall. Of course, I must have a garage for both my cars and my gardening tools. But I’m not too picky. The hardwood floors can be scuffed and the view can be partial just as long as its all mine! Price: $750,000 to $1 million.
Really What I’ll Get: A New Cappucino Maker
Nothing makes a morning person happier than a strong cup of Cappuccino before 7 a.m. With the Italian Coffee-Coffee company’s latest home espresso/cappuccino machine that incorporates the technology of commercial units with the size of a home machine, you’ll be guaranteed to be the first person into the office every morning. The Club Combo “Duet” ($399 at Coffee-coffee.com) features a super crema disc located in the handle, which allows the pump to obtain 16 bars of pressure before brewing is even started. Plus, the cappuccino will be extra frothy with the patented super-froth attachment and a 1150-watt heating element. The Duet’s grinder has a low speed conical burr grinder that protects the beans from a burnt-taste. Get the machine in a fine silver finish and you have style and class to cover up your caffeine addiction.
What I Really Want: Tropical Tryst
Swinging from a hammock on the beachfront of the snootiest hotel, while soaking up the tropical Hawaiian sun with a Mai Tai in one hand and a cabana boy in the other.
The week after Christmas is the most popular and cheapest season to jet out to Hawaii. Frugality, however, has no practical role in this fantasy. So stay at the swankiest hotel in Oahu you can find. The Sheraton’s Royal Hawaiian (www.royal-hawaiian.com), Hawaii’s own “Pink Palace of the Pacific” is known to cater to high-society folks.
Try their “Touch of Pink Package,” which includes five-night stay in their Tower Ocean suite, with daily buffet breakfast and dinner in the “Surf Room,” special concierge service (that’s how you can order the cabana boy), a sail tour on their pink catamaran, plus pink champaign and a pink teddy bear as a welcoming amenity. Packages start at $2,450.
If you don’t want the frilly frills, just go for their ultimate Kamehameha suite: luxurious hardwood floors, full bar, dining table, jacuzzi. $3,700 per night. Yes, per night.
Really What I’ll Get: Lotto!
 Lotto tickets. Just get me ten quick picks, plus a couple of scratchers ($1 each). This may be the closest chance I’ll get to my tropical fantasies. Don’t expect me to share the wealth if I win.
What I Really Want: A New Home
A house, a house. What more could a San Franciscan want than to own the building he/she lives in. To come home and feel at home in your own home. No ridiculous rents, no landlords, no noisy neighbors upstairs. A quiet home in Anza Vista, that’s all I ask. Price: $1 – 3 million.
What I Could Really Use: A New Head of Hair
Hair Club for Men seems like too much of a commitment – but Cyberhair systems, on the other hand, offer the most advanced synthetic hair systems on the market today. Cyberhair was developed in a Japanese laboratory and is lighter in weight and more colorfast, has better curl-retention (apparently an important factor in fake hair) and durability than human or other synthetic hair. Also, just like Superman’s, Cyberhair is four times stronger than human or other synthetic hair. With the advanced Cyberhair systems that range from the executive package to the transbase custom fit, you can sleep, shower, shampoo or even use a curling iron (again with these curls) just like you normally would. Available for $499 at www.hairpiece-toupee.com.
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