With only 10 days left until Christmas, Lincoln Avenue and its surrounding downtown streets have a wealth of stores with unique and traditional gifts waiting to be discovered. The community also offers something that the malls can't--that personal touch.

Many of the merchants have been familiar faces in Willow Glen for years. Businesses owners like Nancy Biagini at Casa, Casa, Valerie Lewis at Hicklebees, Cathy Adkins at Willow Glen Books, Bernie Levine at Details and Rhonda Lackmann at Alta, just to name a few, have helped create that unique small-town shopping experience. It's an alternative to the hordes of people descending upon the malls during the holiday season, offering a respite from the chaos and stress that mega-mall shopping often creates. And practically everything purchased can come beautifully gift wrapped at no cost or lines.

A leisurely stroll on Lincoln, Minnesota and Coe avenues or along Willow Street is also an opportunity to purchase gifts that range from clothes for dogs to jewelry for loved ones. And when its time for a break there's plenty of places to stop for a snack, a full sit-down meal or just to have a cup of coffee. It's all there.

This year parking is also a lot simpler, with additional spaces available at Bank of America and Longs Drugstore. The downtown area has about 1,900 parking spots. You might have to park and walk a bit, but that isn't any different than the required strides it takes to enter the malls during this time of year.

So when making up that holiday gift-giving list, write in Willow Glen as the place to go. Your purchases will support your neighborhood community, and help the merchants who have stayed faithful to the downtown district for so many years.