Already made a couple of purchases on Amazon...let the Season begin.

Merry X-mas...Happy Channukah...and happy holidays to those atheists who don't believe in Chistmas but enjoy the gifting.

Posted by: The Iceman | Nov 25, 2005 10:32:31 AM

Thank God for online shopping!

Posted by: Miss Martta | Nov 25, 2005 11:01:04 AM

This is very much the season to remember the many small business that give our shopping areas their color and vitality. Books=Montclair Book Center, if they don't have it, they will order what you want. Great gifts at places like Semplice and Jaffajems. Something fun and/or funny from Copabananas. Great ornaments, flowers, decorating ideas and gifts from Accents with Flowers. Something nice for everyone from Intimate Engagements. Something for our animal friends from Montclair Feed and Pet Supply.

Here is a place to insert a $300 colander joke, but that store has many terrific things in addition to and costing less that that one item.

Anyway, those are some of my favorite places. And I like to support what I think makes the downtown great all year round, but if we don't want another restaurant or another bank, this is the time when we can each invest in our neighbors. I like to remind people that each of these businesses supports the community all year, I don't see Wal-Mart sponsoring any Little League teams.

Posted by: kevin Lee Allen | Nov 25, 2005 11:47:37 AM

KLA: the colander joke has been going around so long I forgot the name of the store that carries it. Little help here ... thank you!

Posted by: Conan the Grammarian | Nov 25, 2005 12:13:52 PM

A coulpe of other great local shops: for tea, coffee and mugs/teapots/etc - both the London Food Co and Beans have great products. And Parcel, that cute paper store on Bloomfield, has journals and high quality pens, etc.

And, MontclairWear.com has local-inspired products. :)

Posted by: Butch | Nov 25, 2005 12:43:37 PM

Just got back from Short Hills Mall. Traffic was not bad..........parking was easy. Bought a new Tumi bag - 28 inches wide, new Oakley sunglasses for my son, and a replacement phone at the Verizon wireless store.

Posted by: jmo | Nov 25, 2005 1:14:52 PM

Gift certificates for a portrait make nice gifts .

Seriously, though, thanks Kevin and Butch for thinking about keeping it local.

And, uh, for anyone who's curious...click on my tile to your right and a bit down the line.

Posted by: Dan Epstein | Nov 25, 2005 2:33:46 PM

Rats. There was supposed to be a winking emoticon next to my first sentence above so it would be tongue in cheek.

Sorry for what looks like shameless self promotion.

(Not what I had in mind.)

Posted by: Dan Epstein | Nov 25, 2005 2:35:58 PM

Little Cricket is always great, as well.

Posted by: kevin Lee Allen | Nov 25, 2005 4:53:26 PM

Dan,

When you have a great product such as yours there is no shame in a little self promotion now & then.

Posted by: Greg (talk about shameless) Spinelli | Nov 25, 2005 5:40:26 PM

95% of my shopping is done online, but I did go to Barnes & Noble yesterday. It wasn't that crowded (only 2 people ahead of me in line when I went to pay). I debated going to Babies R Us for a toddler gift but at the last minute opted to buy the kid a couple of books from BN - I can't believe I even THOUGHT of going to BRU on Black Friday!

Posted by: Girl | Nov 26, 2005 7:46:23 AM

Here's a great gift idea, a gift that keeps on giving......

http://www.forgemountain.com/jom.htm

Posted by: Barknee | Nov 26, 2005 8:27:47 AM

There must be a shop that sells fresh loose potpourri - anyone know? I want to make the little bags out of silk and give them to friends this year.

Posted by: annie oakley | Nov 26, 2005 10:13:50 AM

Hey Annie,

Go to AC Moore or the Rag Shop - they sell them in bulk bags....you can even get your fabric there.

Can't wait to get one ;-)

Posted by: Anne Prince | Nov 26, 2005 10:52:51 AM

Anyone able to recommend a knitting class/instructor for a high strung commuting professional. I'd like to give this person a gift cert for same as they have mentioned it as one of the things of interest.
Ta, VO&O

Posted by: Voneandonly | Nov 26, 2005 4:52:54 PM

VO&O,
I highly recommend Sima at nouveau knits - look for her ad on the right. She is lovely and a great teacher...and the price is right.

Posted by: Karen | Nov 26, 2005 5:11:07 PM

http://www.wildprairiesoap.ca/

Here's another suggestion that a Canadian friend told me about.

Posted by: Miss Martta | Nov 27, 2005 10:00:09 AM