"People in Willow Glen owe it to themselves to shop here," says Willow Glen Books owner Cathy Adkins. "They'll enjoy it."

Lifelong Willow Glen resident Jim Spence, who's on the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association's board, says residents who shop in downtown Willow Glen don't have to go far, will find a plentiful selection and are supporting their local community.

Store owners can provide "top-notch service" rather than leave shoppers to "fight mall madness," making shopping on Lincoln Avenue a low-stress and fun experience, says Willow Glen Business and Professional Association Executive Director Norma Ruiz.

"It's the coolest place. You can even bring your dog," Ruiz says, referring to the water bowls and leash ties merchants provide in front of their stores.

Besides being pet-friendly, business owners enjoy interacting with their regular customers, meeting new ones and suggesting gift ideas, Adkins says.

"Some of my customers I only see once a year at the holidays," she adds.

Willow Glen resident Karen English was recently browsing through Willow Glen Books to select a Christmas present for her husband and to find the book she wanted for a gift.

"We try to come here when we buy books," says English, who makes an effort to support the stores in her own neighborhood.

The Willow Glen bookstore is a place she frequents when buying books for her two teenage sons.

Besides the typical bookstore categories, the store also carries anthologies of cartoon series, like the Calvin and Hobbes Weirdos from Another Planet for $10.95, and, for the budding poet and Shakespeare scholar, a book of limericks by Max Gutman, There was a young girl from Verona, for $8.95.

For a bookstore exclusively tailored to children's tastes, try Hicklebee's Children's Books on Lincoln Avenue for an array of popular and inspiring literature choices.

For children enthralled with magic and fantasy, the staff recommends Dragonology—A Complete Book of Dragons for $19, which is so popular the publisher can't keep up with the demand and bookstores everywhere might run out before Christmas.

Younger children enjoy the tales of Toot and Puddle, two pigs in a series by Holly Hobbie. Besides Hobbie's I'll Be Home for Christmas featuring Toot and Puddle for $15.95, Hicklebee's also carries a Puddles stuffed pig in his Christmas pajamas, which costs $8.50.

A book parents will never tire of opening to read to their children is Robert Sabuda's amazing pop-up adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for $25.

And for those who prefer feeding the body instead of the mind, a quick stroll to the intersection of Lincoln and Minnesota avenues will have them entering a chef's dream kitchen at Cooking Etc.

The shop on Lincoln Avenue, which moved from Meridian Avenue and Willow Street a year ago, displays a mix of diverse and practical kitchen accessories for cooking aficionados.

Cooking Etc. carries a collection of 12 different female characters as sculpted egg cups that sell for $7.95 each and a salt or pepper shaker for $14.95.

Co-owner Bambi Satter says female customers specifically ask for the collection, which Satter calls "The Girls," so they can add all the characters to their kitchens.

Cooking Etc. also sells decorative recipe cards and boxes, which are priced between $11 and $23.

For many who love to cook, a good bottle of wine or an appetizer tray is also part of the holiday festivities. Two doors down from Cooking Etc., a shopper can find just what is needed to add to the times of cheer.

The Grapevine creates cheese courses with five kinds of international cheese that can feed from five to 10 people for $39. The merchandise can be individualized as holiday gift-giving baskets. One pre-made selection is a combination of two Italian wines, cheese sticks and green olives in a picnic basket for $49.95.

But if tea, not wine, is the drink of choice for someone on the gift list, then High in the Sky has the answer.

The shop on Lincoln sells a tea gift basket with a teacup, scented votive candle, cherry and almond tea, candy and a journal for $37.95. It also carries a black-and-white, French Country-inspired hard-case purse for stationery or cosmetics, which costs $10.50.

For the food lover, Bertucelli's La Villa delicatessen sells boxes of panettone, which are priced between $5 and $10, and biscotti for $4.29. Another holiday favorite, cuccidati—Italian cookies filled with brandy, figs, raisins, apricots, dates, filberts, almonds and chocolate chips—are priced at $16 per pound.

Those with a preference for Mexican cuisine instead of Italian can also satisfy their craving in downtown Willow Glen.

At the corner of Lincoln and Coe avenues, Mi Rancho Supermarket sells four Mexican pan dulce for $1. Another Mexican treat is the market's hot chocolate, such as "Ibarra sweet chocolate" for $2, which is made with hot milk and chocolate in a blender.

While giving desserts is usually a safe bet, there is always that quirky individual on the list.

For funky home décor, Park Place sells 1960s starburst clocks for $30 and "Starry Starry Night Light" retro-image night lights for $20.

For people with a sense of humor who like whimsical gifts, Peninsula Beauty sells designer toilet paper with pictures of cash, lips, ducks and polar bears featured for $6 a roll.

Another creative gift with an appealing twist is Fleurish's bath ice-cream-flavored bath salts shaped like ice cream scoops that cost $7.50. For more holiday-oriented gifts, a hanging lit paper star adds festive luminescence at $23.50. Fleurish also sells holiday linens, and its colorful linen placemats cost $10.95.

The holidays are also synonymous with parties, so a gift from one of the many clothing or boutique stores might be perfect for those looking for a new item to enhance or accessorize a wardrobe.

Details boutique sells a fashionable, evening beaded purse for $45. The store also carries upscale men's fashion wear.

For that trendy young woman on the list, Gypsy Girlz sells decorative and warm scarves from $16 to $20 and a matching hat and scarf priced at $25.

And for numismatists, coin collectors young and old, Falcone Coins and Jewelry has a wide selection of unique gifts, including the first 25 commemorative quarters for $18. The 2003 proof set of coins, encased straight from the mint, contains the latest five commemorative quarters and a 2003 penny, nickel, dime, Kennedy silver dollar and Sacajawea gold dollar, which costs $30.

But there will always be shoppers who find gift hunting a daunting task, so Ruiz suggests taking time out to visit a restaurant or spa to enjoy some downtime from the hectic pace. There are several to choose from right on Lincoln Avenue, including La Concha and Sachs Day Spa.

And to encourage holiday shopping, various downtown Willow Glen businesses are donating 23 prizes to a Gift Give-Away. Participating businesses are posted on the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association's website.

Every time a shopper fills out an entry form at one of the participating businesses Dec. 6­12, he or she will be eligible for the Dec. 13 prize drawing.

And if shoppers miss the drawing, merchants are going it again on Dec. 20, but shoppers have to fill out a new entry form during the week of Dec. 13­19. Prizes include a diamond heart pendant from Mann's Jewelers; a $50 gift certificate to Siena, a Mediterranean Bistro; a wine rack and gift certificate from Seasons in the Glen; 15 six-inch Subway sandwiches; a $100 gift certificate for Rotten Robbie's gas; and a gift certificate for a facial at Vena's Skin and Body Treatment.

And the pleasure of shopping and doing business in Willow Glen goes both ways. "It's a social occasion," Adkins says about the holiday mingling of business owners and shopping residents. "It's fun to see them in a holiday mood."

For more details about the Gift Give-Away or for a directory of downtown businesses, visit http://www.downtownwillowglen.org.