Help - need advice for housewarming gift?

Drez

So I'm going to a housewarming today...haven't been to one in awhile...and I'm not sure what I should bring. A gift? Nothing was said about bringing food or drinks, but my current idea is to maybe bring a nice $25-$35 bottle of Grey Goose vodka (at least I think that's how much it costs).

Is this...a good idea, a bad idea, or what? Should I run out at lunch and buy them a blender or toaster or something?

It's an apt. shared by three girls, all aged around 22-24, if that helps.

KrunkMcGrunk

If they like to drink, why not?

Preacher

Yeah if they like to drink its a good gift, if they are mormons not a good gift. You could always get them a gift certificate to bed, bath, and beyond. That place is fucking golden for stuff for new home owners.

IreneDAdler

I think there's generally an expectation of a small gift at housewarmings. Don't get them a toaster or anything, unless you know that they need one. If it's 3 people who are moving in together, there's a chance that they have lots of useless crap already.

If they enjoy drinking, a nice bottle of liquor or wine would be a good idea. If not, maybe some snacks from the deli, or a cake? Bringing food items to a party is generally not a bad thing.

Drez

Maybe I'll get them a $20 gift card to some shop. edit: In addition to the liquor.

Thanatos

If they're just going to make screwdrivers with it, I wouldn't bother with Grey Goose; get something tastier, like a nice liqueur, maybe some Benedictine, or something like that. A bottle of Patron Silver would be a good choice, too (I think way more people like a good tequila than like a good vodka).

Slagmire

Thinatos wrote: »

If they're just going to make screwdrivers with it, I wouldn't bother with Grey Goose; get something tastier, like a nice liqueur, maybe some Benedictine, or something like that. A bottle of Patron Silver would be a good choice, too (I think way more people like a good tequila than like a good vodka).

Most vodka is about the same anyway; they've had a number of taste tests and a lot of people can't tell the difference between brands most of the time - go with a better tequila like 1800, at least there, you're paying more for quality instead of just a name.

mts

Unless you know they like vodka, just go with a nice bottle off wine. Everyone can find a use for wine, but the same can't be said for vodka

Irond Will

Drez wrote: »

So I'm going to a housewarming today...haven't been to one in awhile...and I'm not sure what I should bring. A gift? Nothing was said about bringing food or drinks, but my current idea is to maybe bring a nice $25-$35 bottle of Grey Goose vodka (at least I think that's how much it costs).

Is this...a good idea, a bad idea, or what? Should I run out at lunch and buy them a blender or toaster or something?

It's an apt. shared by three girls, all aged around 22-24, if that helps.

A basket with bread and salt is the traditional housewarming gift. It would score you some mad old-school points if you a tasteful version of this in along with, say, a bottle of wine. Get, like, a decent basket, a nice salt shaker and, like a boule from some local bakery.

The bread and salt tradition comes from an old Russian folk custom. During this period, when the emperor and empress would pay a village a visit, merchants and gentry would present their esteemed guests with a round loaf of bread piled with salt, a sign of hospitality. Peasants were honored using a similar ceremony upon being introduced to the village with their new spouse, with the gift of bread and salt signifying that the new couple would always have the necessities of life. When given at housewarmings, therefore, bread and salt represent the giver’s wish that the recipient’s pantry will always be full. Sugar, on the other hand, symbolizes the hope for a sweet life.

And/or

2. Supposedly of Germanic Origin:
Bread so you'll never go hungry
Salt so you'll have good luck
Wine so you'll never be thirsty.

Drez

Thanks for the tips, guys! I decided to spend a little more than I initially budgeted for and bought them:

- $25 gift card to Brookstones
- This little wobbly egg-shaped (Weeble (tm) shaped, actually) thing called "Bob" that acts as a clock with date, time, and settable alarm, timer, and thermometer. I figure they can leave this in their kitchen or something.

I'm also going to get them alcohol. They are all Russian and I know that at least two of them enjoy Vodka. Tequila might work, though, I was throwing that around in my head, too. But now I might just get them a bottle of white wine instead...I dunno.

I like the salt, bread, wine basket idea too. Dunno if I can pull that together between work and when I have to be there but...maybe.