Ah, yes, the holiday gift giving season has arrived. You know what that means? Annoying jingles, lots of cards, the smell of Christmas trees (and our Chanukah candles) and our chance to scour this site (and many more) to bring you the best of 2008 in the form of our distinctly awesome holiday gift guides. This year in addition to buying guides (of all prices), we’re going to be giving away a couple big gifts to you, our dear readers.

Stay tuned over the next 25 days, you’ll surely enjoy what’s to come.

As always, thanks for the support!

-Josh

Underground hip-hop has a lot to fight against here in Brazil. There are a few places around Sao Paulo that put on weekly parties, but it’s just not the same experience listening to Madvillain in the same super-club that will host electro dance-punk parties for the rest of the week. Without something like Radio BoomShot, heads like me can get their fix anytime on locally produced tracks in the comfort of my own room, homemade caipirinha in hand. The online radio station has been streaming hip-hop shows since 2003 and is celebrating its hard-earned five year anniversary of bringing beats to Brazil. It’s a fruition that has resulted in what will become their most classic program to date, a 10-song look (take your pick on how you want your tracks: “ouca aqui” means “listen here” and “baixe aqui” means “download here”) at the guest sessions they’ve featured since the beginning, plus a free party in Sao Paulo this Sunday. Don’t sleep on the archive though—it features shows with guest DJs who are renowned names in the underground hip-hop scene. Use this inimitable resource to discover Brazilian MCs and more.

Living on your own has its perks. For one, you’re not subject to the decorative whims of design-challenged parents or roommates who think Billy the Big Mouth Bass makes any living room complete. While you have plenty of taste, enhancing your abode is never as simple as finding a rug that really ties the room together. For those with a flair for interior design who have run a little dry on resources, we recommend checking out The Cultivated Home. The new blog from Nina Freudenberger, one of the principles at Haus Interior, spotlights specific vendors, new designers, events and stores in the NYC area that are sure to leave those with a specific interest in the beautifying of living space lusting for more.

When the Storefront for Art and Architecture renovated its New York City space this past summer, some things had to go. Among the items that got the ol’ heave ho were the iconic letters that adorned its facade since 1993. While the concrete creations by Steven Holl and Vito Acconci are no longer out front for visitors to admire, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to the alphabetical art again. If you’ve got a few bucks you can have a historical memento. The Storefront is holding a 2008 Holiday Benefit Auction for four of these lovely letters ( T,F,G, and O). We recommend getting your bid in before the 12 p.m., December 20th deadline. No low ball offers though, as the the bidding starts at $1000 for each piece.

Potentially less offensive than the “I [middle finger] L.A.” tee or the recent “I Heart NY” style-shirt that features a cyclist falling over train tracks in San Francisco, Public School created its own rendition of the classic tourism tagline. Like New York’s ability to endear and isolate, you may have a love (nod-worthy design, 100% cotton jersey)/hate ($68 through CryWolfNY)) relationship with the new style. What would original copywriter Mary Wells Lawrence do?

It’s a safe bet that any travel bag the folks at Seattle’s Blackbird packed would prepare you better than one you prepared yourself — regardless of destination. Between the Opening Ceremony vests and rain parkas from Nom de Guerre, it’s clear that their new online store’s collection is more structured and cohesive than your own. The “clothing and effects” retailer has been blogging religiously about men’s outerwear and trends, and finally (on “Cyber-Monday”) we won’t have to fly into Sea-Tac to grab a nice pair of moccasins.