Unique Baby Gifts: New York City On This Date

Are New York kids different than other children? Some people think they're more mature, more precocious, maybe more sophisticated. Who can say how and if New York kids are really different, but there's no question that when you grow up in NY, New York City becomes a part of who you are.

That's why I think the work of Tom Matt is the perfect way to celebrate the birth of a new New York baby. Tom Matt does wonderful original pastel cityscapes: Whether it's the romantic sultry streetscapes of Lower Manhattan or the burgeoning industrial views, Tom Matt sees NYC just the way I like to imagine it.

But what makes his work perfect for a baby gift is not just what he draws, but what he draws it on. Tom Matt draws beautiful New York cityscapes on the front page of the daily paper: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, mostly, but others as well.

Some people like to save the front page of the newspaper from the day a child is born as a memento of what the world was like then, but how much more wonderful for a NYC child to have not only the paper of record from that day, but a beautiful depiction of New York actually drawn from the streets on that day as an artful and lasting illustration of the New York that will become interwoven into that little baby.

How will the city change as that child grows up? Don't know, but Tom Matt's work seems to capture the timelessness of the city and the beauty that I hope will never change. But at least it will always exist inside of those of us who grew up here.

You can see more and buy limited edition archival prints of Tom Matt's New York cityscapes from his website: TomMatt.com The prints would make wonderful holiday gifts for friends who have moved away from the city or who just love it. Until January 1, 2009, he is offering prints at a discounted price. You can also contact him through his web site to discuss a commissioned piece of artwork for a baby's birth, an anniversary or any special occasion.