Eichler Network's Holiday Gift Guide for Discerning Retrophiles

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As the year draws to a close and we get ready to drown one another in holiday gifts, the mind frequently becomes blank as one sets out to shop. But for fans of Eichlers, mid-century modern homes, and the Eichler Network that should not be a problem. Between the goodies we sell through our own site, and those we've introduced over the past year, there are a number of excellent gift ideas right here. If you'll indulge us a bit of flagrant promotion for ourselves and our friends, you'll find nine solid gift ideas listed below, with just enough time to order for the holidays.

Michelle Bickford

This year saw a fresh A. Quincy Jones retrospective at Los Angeles's Hammer Museum, and a new look, in the pages of CA-Modern, at the architect's work on tract homes beyond the Eichlers for which we most often laud him. It also saw the publication of a new book on Jones's work to accompany the exhibition, A. Quincy Jones: Building for Better Living, edited by Brooke Hodge with photography by Jason Schmidt. The work follows up on Cory Buckner's book A. Quincy Jones, and both are available via Amazon.

Of course, we would be remiss if we failed to remind everyone that the book Eichler: Modernism Rebuilds the American Dream, co-authored by architect Paul Adamson and Eichler Network founder Marty Arbunich, is still available through our own site.  With brilliant photos by Ernie Braun and a good historical recap of the Eichler story,  this one should be a cornerstone of the Eichler fan's collection.

Coast Modern

Films:

The year's great achievement in film, as far as West Coast architecture and design are concerned, was the documentary Coast Modern. Directed by Mike Bernard and Gavin Froome, the film traced the roots of West Coast modernism through the works of its key players. As our CA-Modern review put it, the film was "no mindless celebration of the sleek and slick," but rather a thoughtful exploration of what West Coast modern architecture tries to accomplish. It's available via iTunes or DVD through its website.

Also available this year (though technically it debuted at the end of 2012), is the documentary film People in Glass Houses: The Legacy of Joseph Eichler, produced by Bay Area realtor Monique Lombardelli. It's available for purchase or rent via Amazon.

Tours:

Tickets to next May's San Mateo Highlands Eichler Home Tour are available now, offering unique access to ten homes in the nation's largest contiguous collection of Eichlers. For the Eichler fan who has everything but more Eichlers, this event provides a day or weekend of home voyeurism.

Duck and Cover

Artwork:

We were thrilled this year to feature the work of artist Michael Murphy, whose vividly colored prints capture that certain atomic-age je ne sais quoi. Many stem from Murphy's hometown of San Francisco, including his Eichler-inspired classic 'Duck and Cover.' Prints are available via Murphy's website.

Another option, for those into artistic photos of Eichlers, would be to purchase a framed print from master photographer Ernie Braun via our website. Sadly, these won't be able to make it to their destinations in time for Christmas, but they won't be too late if your loved one would accept an IOU.

Gear:

As we noted on the blog earlier this year, Eichler T-shirts are becoming ever-more popular, and a number of designs are available throughout the web, including through our site. But get your Eichler Network "The House That Joe Built" shirts quick, because when the current selection runs out, we have no plans to print more.

Finally, subscriptions and back issues of CA-Modern magazine can brighten up any home, Eichler or not. They never go out of style.