What makes the best present? More socks, an engraved clock, or two tickets to South Pacific? We think you know the answer.

What to get your…

Nephew who’s not allowed to play videogames: If you can’t get him Guitar Hero, get him actual guitar lessons. (Ooh!) Start at Dusty Strings in Fremont. The music shop offers beginner classes starting January 4, teaching the basics of acoustic, swing jazz guitar, bluegrass, and ensemble playing. Prices are very reasonable ($20/lesson) and the vibe is “easygoing” (this is Fremont). If your nephew’s a bit more advanced, sign him up for the singer-songwriter studio or “how to jam” class ($135–$160) at the Experience Music Project. Couple it with a Beatles songbook from EMP’s on-site store, and he’ll forget what Xbox even is.

Sondheim-lovin’ mother-in-law: Want to really impress? Buy her a subscription to 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle’s mecca of heartwarming musicals. The 2010 season includes fan favorite Legally Blonde, Leonard Bernstein’s On the Town and Candide, and the coup de grace—Tony winner South Pacific. After one chorus of “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair,” she’ll be out of your hair for the rest of the year.

Overstressed fiancée: She insists on taking dance classes before the wedding. Save yourself and sneak some dinner and cabaret in at Century Ballroom. Running Saturdays from January 9 to February 13, Century will host La Fete—a night of dinner theater starring burlesque stars Inga Ingenue, Waxie Moon, and Lou Henry Hoover, followed by salsa lessons with Century teachers. As long as your fiancée doesn’t think you’re proposing a burlesque number as your first dance, this should soothe her nerves just fine.

Best friend and first-time homeowner: So many walls, so much white space… Help him decorate by offering to pay his rental fees for artwork from the Seattle Art Museum Gallery. Your friend can pick from more than 1,000 pieces by Pacific Northwest artists, then try the artwork out for three months. (Rent starts at $35/month.) If he decides he’s in love with his new painting, at least half of the rental fee will go toward the purchase price. Installment plans are even offered. For first-time homeowners—and art owners—it doesn’t get easier.

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