The Great Bruin Gift Guide

Want to give something unique this holiday season? UCLA Magazine fanned far and wide to find the perfect choice for everyone on your list. Check out this broad selection of cool presents, any of which will have your recipients eight-clapping in thanks.

Apparel

UCLA School of Nursing Scrubs & MoreStarting at $23.00
Be ready for the Skills & Simulation Lab, as well as clinical rotations, with a variety of UCLA School of Nursing scrubs and branded apparel.  

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Varsity Patch Your LifestyleStarting at $100
Showing Bruin pride can come in many forms. Help a fellow Bruin express theirs with a custom varsity patch. Talented Etsy artists will design a personalized accessory for a beloved jacket or tailgate tote bag. Simply describe the desired design — like a favorite spot on campus, or Joe Bruin defeating a certain crosstown rival — and they’ll stitch it into reality.

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You Can Kick It$150
Celebrate our entry into the Big Ten in style with Nike’s newly released UCLA Bruins Zoom Pegasus 41 running shoes. Lightweight and breathable, the Pegasus kicks provide an energized ride for road running — and a sleek showcase for team spirit.

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The One Piece of Bruin Merch They Don't Have

Starting at $20
UCLA Store has all the fixings you need to create one-of-a-kind, customized Bruin merch for the UCLA fanatic in your life. Choose a classic cap, bucket hat, beanie or scarf as a base before adding UCLA pins, patches and buttons to add a personal touch for unique apparel no other fan will own. And it’s the gift that keeps on giving: Your giftee can keep on adding adornments well after the holiday season. HEADWEAR; PINS: UCLA Circle Retro Joe Pin; UCLA Script Pin; UCLA Identity Pin; UCLA Big Ten Pin; BUTTONS: UCLA Big Ten Button; UCLA “Beat USC: Button; PATCHES: Bear UCLA Bruins Patch; UCLA Script Yellow Patch; UCLA Script Blue Patch; Bear UCLA Patch.

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Books, Tchotchkes and More

Practically Everything at the Hammer Museum Store
Prices vary 
From avant-garde home goods to elegant stationery and artsy socks, the Hammer Museum at UCLA has a gift for even the most impossible-to-buy-for person on your list.

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Fiat Lux$59.99 for 12” wide, with larger sizes available 
“Let there be light” with a UCLA sign that blends the classic allure of neon with LED technology and, of course, Bruin pride. Light up a den, office, bedroom or tailgate setup with a variety of colors, from tropical blue to lemon yellow or just plain white. This site even offers free shipping, a two-year warranty and $10 off with code SAVE10.

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Some Really Good Books

Blackouts by Justin Torres$15.49 (Hardcover)
Winner of the National Book Award, 2023’s Blackouts — penned by a UCLA professor — is a gift for the avid reader. Composed of legacies, dangers, distortions and erasures, Blackouts follows a sweeping conversation between two friends. Vanity Fair called it “a surreal, expansive, audacious excavation of queer history and identity.”

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Mycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar '69 $17.36 (Hardcover)
A small, unknown UCLA alum takes a shot at writing a mystery novel full of thrills and suspense. We jest, of course — basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a New York Times bestselling author of 15 books and, interestingly, one of the nation’s leading authorities on the Sherlock Holmes canon.

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Force of Nature: Three Women Tackle the John Muir Trail by Joan M. Griffin ’77$25.95 (Hardcover)
You may have heard of the John Muir Trail, but how much do you actually know about it? Lace up your hiking boots and have UCLA alum Joan M. Griffin take you through fierce thunderstorms, imposing mountains, breathtaking wildflowers and staggering forests in a tome that’s part adventure tale, part memoir.

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Etsy Gems

“Le Chat Noir”: The Art of Powell Cat$13.99
Gone but never forgotten, the legend that was Powell Cat endures in this rococo print. A great way to decorate any space, it’s printed and shipped from Santa Barbara by the artist, Tara Woodard, herself — just the gift for a Powell Cat lover.

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First Edition UCLA Trading Cards$5.95
Featuring the all-time Bruin sports greats — from Jackie to Kareem to Flo-Jo — UCLA vintage trading cards are the collector’s item you didn’t know you were missing. There are eight mystery cards per pack. An excellent stocking stuffer.

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The Pawfect PresentStarting at $12.99
Any dog can now show as much Bruin pride as their owner with a custom, handmade dog bandanna. Can the UCLA fight song be barked?

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Burning Bruin PassionStarting at $15
This fragrant Bruin candle will add warmth not only to your living room, but also to your tailgate setup, UCLA shrine, office desk or bathroom shelf. Scents include beachwood and vanilla.

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Neck and Necklace$10.99
Made locally in Huntington Beach, this silver pendant necklace shows all the Bruin pride but without an overt collegiate look. There’s an option to add blue and gold crystals to add a little bling to your mini-Bruin.

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Trim the Tree in Blue and Gold$34.99 
A stunning ornament fit for any Bruin tree.

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Royce Hall Landmark PrintStarting at $25
This Royce Hall print captures the beauty of UCLA’s most famous landmark with accompanying iconography, accented with a distinct street-art edge. It features Royce Quad, the Bruin bear statue and a vintage newspaper clipping (about UCLA defeating USC, of course).

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Consumables

UC — C Is for Cookie — LAStarting at $78/dozen or request a quote 
Dream up any design — Bruin-themed or otherwise — and alumna Emily Yetter ’10 can turn it into baked-good brilliance. If you’ve been to a UCLA event, there’s a good chance you’ve sampled one of her exquisitely decorated cookies. Get a dozen pieces of art (delicious on both the inside and the outside) for your holiday party or as a satiating gift for the sweet tooth in your life.

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Bruin BrewStarting at $20
Exceptional coffee from the world’s best bean producers, delivered right to your doorstep. Mabel Yeung ’13 started Moonwake Coffee Roasters in 2020 to provide a sense of calm and introspection through meticulously crafted and curated roasts. Gift a subscription that will deliver a flight of their freshest grounds, a brewing accessory that ensures a great cup of joe every time or a simple — yet flavorful — bag of Moonwake’s beans.

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The 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall (or Close) Club$30/month
Progress Brewing’s “Beer Club” is officially accepting new members this holiday season for its subscription service, which delivers a monthly beer box plus exclusive merch. But owners Diego Benitez M.B.A. ’19 and Kevin Ogilby ’11 take your average subscription service one step further: A “Beer Club” membership grants you entry into Progress Brewing’s exclusive events every third Thursday of the month, where you can bring a guest, drink as much as you’d like of the month’s new beer, and learn all about how the suds are made.

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Francis Ford Coppola’s FinestStarting at $15
In addition to his classic films, Francis Ford Coppola M.F.A. ’67 also makes a mean pinot grigio. Your favorite film buff can now watch The Godfather while sipping on a “Director’s Cut Merlot.” Beyond an extensive wine list, the Coppola Winery also offers a diverse selection of gifts, like bicycle pizza cutters, cheese boards and puzzles. Bruin cinemascore: A+!

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Delicious Bruin Businesses

Prices vary
Everybody eats, and there are plenty of Bruin and UCLA-affiliated chefs ready to serve up good grub in greater L.A. Choose the exact price of the gift you give with a gift card sure to satisfy any Bruin foodie. Some of our faves:

• David Kuo ’01’s Fatty Mart in Mar Vista is an Asian deli with a fusion menu, offering everything from fried chicken and waffles to banh mi to burgers and birria, all fresh and delicious.
• Everyone needs a pick-me-up — so pick up a gift card to Josh Zad M.B.A. ’06’s Alfred Coffee. An L.A. staple, Alfred Coffee always has new and exciting drinks to get your giftee ready for the day.
• Vibrant, ingredient-driven menus in a warm, lively atmosphere. That’s what Chef Ray Garcia ’00 promises and ensures in his restaurant, Asterid. From and for Los Angeles, Asterid’s menu is rich and fresh, reflecting L.A.’s diverse food culture.
• You know the Hammer Museum at UCLA, but do you know Lulu? Overseen by legendary chefs David Tanis and Alice Waters, Lulu is UCLA’s premiere restaurant and features a three-course market menu, along with à la carte selections of salads, soups, sandwiches, coffee, tea and desserts to tickle any recipient’s taste buds.

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Experiences

UCLA Lake Arrowhead Lodge GetawaysPrices vary; family weekend packages start at $1,710
Make your holidays truly magical by spending a holiday weekend at UCLA’s very own winter wonderland. The UCLA Lake Arrowhead Lodge’s family resort provides cozy accommodations in a variety of charming and spacious two-story chalets. Enjoy family-focused programming, or simply take in the crisp mountain air and beautiful scenery while lounging beside a crackling fire. And you won’t have to lift a finger in the kitchen — the lodge provides award-winning meals prepared daily by a gourmet chef. Craving the Hallmark movie experience? Live it here.

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A Night at the NimoyStarting at $15
Westwood’s newly opened Nimoy Theater is one of the crown jewels in the UCLA performing arts ecosystem. Gift live performances that engage, challenge and captivate audiences through the shared experience of extraordinary artistry and the exchange of ideas.

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The Gift of the Geffen PlayhouseStarting at $40
New musicals, classic comedies and innovative plays — that’s what the Geffen Playhouse promises, and it never disappoints. Located in the heart of Westwood, the Geffen’s 2024–25 roster is chockablock with intriguing shows; a three-play package for just $90 opens the door to a range of productions, from traditional plays to inventive, untraditional performances.

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The Great Bruin Gift Guide was independently researched and curated by the editorial staff of UCLA Magazine. Neither the magazine nor any of its staff was compensated by any of the vendors listed in exchange for their listing.