Williams Sonoma frozen croissants have always been well received.

We've also sent flowers in advance and said looking forward to seeing you.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for the suggestions! Please keep them coming.

We are here in DC, they are in CT near the NY border; but uncle travels quite a lot for work so DC-themed stuff is old hat. And they’re full up on delicious seafood up there, although I do like the crab idea.

I literally just shipped the crab cakes to family vacationing in CT last week. They said the crab cakes were excellent and a special treat. You aren’t getting Maryland lump crab meat in CT (or anywhere, really given the current shortage).

I ordered from The Narrows on Kent Island. They’re my go to.

FWIW, the smith island cake was a big hit, too. Smith Island is off the coast of southern Maryland, and the cakes are a local delicacy going back generations.

Penzey Spices is my go to. They have gift boxes of all sizes premade or you can pick.

Thank you all for the suggestions! Please keep them coming.

We are here in DC, they are in CT near the NY border; but uncle travels quite a lot for work so DC-themed stuff is old hat. And they’re full up on delicious seafood up there, although I do like the crab idea.

If you are staying with them, perhaps have something special delivered that you can enjoy together

We are from Maryland, and I ordered/overnighted crab cakes from the eastern shore along with a smith island cake. Both were a big hit.

If you want to spend less, take nice flowers and pop into a local bakery for some treats.

An orchid in a beautiful (locally made or vintage?) ceramic pot. They are completely easy to care for. Aunt and uncle can toss after the bloom dies in a few months or keep till they rebloom.

LA Burdicks in Georgetown has the most beautiful and delicious boxes of chocolates. Get the signature assortment in the wooden boxes. Always been a hit with everyone from CEO clients to in Laws. Enjoy your visit!

Flowers—really nice flowers.

Anonymous wrote:Treat them to a meal out while you’re visiting.

That’s not a hostess gift, that’s just what you do while you’re visiting.

Flowers, chocolates or wine. Don’t overthink it. Something consumable.

The olive thing is gross to me but as long as you don’t insist they open it, it’s fine.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not normally a give-a-candle person, but I just saw some pretty multi-wick citronella candles at World Market and I thought they'd be nice hostess gifts for people who do outdoor entertaining.

World Market for a host gift?

Treat them to a meal out while you’re visiting.

I'm not normally a give-a-candle person, but I just saw some pretty multi-wick citronella candles at World Market and I thought they'd be nice hostess gifts for people who do outdoor entertaining.

For people who have everything, I always lean toward something perishable. How about a very nice bottle of wine?
Or, is your hometown known for something in particular that might be hard to find where they are?

We’ll be spending two days visiting my uncle and his wife (i.e., second marriage) on our way to our final destination. I’d like to bring something as a thank-you, but I am a terrible shopper — plus they are very much people who have everything. I’m also frankly a little intimidated by Mrs. Uncle, who I haven’t spent much time with. But I adore my uncle, and they are being so kind to welcome us for a few days.

Shopping/gift-giving gurus, I need your help!