There were a lot of people out shopping Thanksgiving weekend. I wasn’t one of them. Although I have gotten most of my gifts since then, there are a few people that have not been checked off my list. I know many of you out there are in the same position, and may need to some ideas on where to go and what to get.

Here’s just a few spots on the street and on the net that may save you from sticking a 20-dollar bill in a card, something that just doesn’t say Happy or Merry anything.

STORES

Mod Livin'
5327 E. Colfax Ave, Denver CO 80220 - 720.94.9292
Store Hours: Monday through Saturday 11am-6pm, Sunday 12pm - 5pm

If you’re a 20th Century vintage freak like me, or have anyone on your list that lives for the funky, colorful, and innovative products of the past, then Mod Livin’ is your place to go wild. They have everything you can think of that recall the years of the ‘70s all the way back to the early ‘40s, ranging from a $15 case for ‘45s that I picked up in perfect condition, mint condition albums for $4-$7, all the way to retro lamps, tables, and other funky furniture. They have a wide selection of vintage cocktail shakers, always a crowd pleaser.

Courtney Cox, now becoming a decorator diva with her own show after Friends says good-bye, is a big fan of Mod Livin’, and sending a shout out in the November issue of Glamour Magazine. Home and Garden Television spent several weeks filming the new hit series "Hey Remember!" at their store. So plan to peruse the various rooms on their 4,500 square foot showroom and have a blast. Mention this article and receive a 10% discount. They also want you to know that they will open their Bargain Basement after the first of the year, where you can dig through their over abundance of inventory at lower prices than the showroom floor. To keep up to date on all the latest happenings and events at Modlivin, click here to join their mailing list.

Leechpit Store
708 North Weber Street, Colorado Springs - 720.941.9292
Store Hours: Monday through Saturday, 12pm - 8pm

Adam Leech has been in the center of the Springs music scene for some time, launching his infamous punk and rock web site www.leechpit.com that listed shows and gave many kids a spot to vent their musical frustrations. This past summer Adam went into the world of the entrepreneur, opening a store with his wife that made all his musical and political beliefs tangible. When you go to the web site, you’ll see for yourself that, “The Leechpit is more than just a store and a stupid website. The Leechpit is a really cool store and a stupid website WITH A MISSION! This mission is as simple as it is complicated…to prove that freedom and free thinking, rebellion and the spirit of rock and roll can survive, NO…THRIVE! - even in the heart of the belly of the beast, Colorado Springs.”

Leechpit buys, sells and trades clothing, music, and accessories, items that the Leech couple found and discovered in garages and spots all over Colorado and beyond. This store is a welcomed and badly needed place for Springs folks to get their hands on pop culture, CDs, vinyl, vintage clothing and retro household pieces.

Thrify Stick
32 South Broadway, Denver – 303.282.8972
Store Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11am – 7pm, Sunday 12pm – 5pm

TS2
15220 East Iliff Avenue Unit F, Aurora – 303.755.3600
Store Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11am – 7pm, Sunday 12pm – 5pm

This past year Thrifty Stick moved to a new spot on Broadway, closer to the heart of the Baker neighborhood action, expanding their inventory and opening their Bargain Basement and board tuning services. There’s stuff for both guys and gals, boarders and skaters, hipsters and geeks. Clothing lines range from Roxy to Triple Five Soul for the women; Volcom, Obey, Split for guys, they carry a number of snowboard lines including Unity and Ride; plus a great shoe and boot selection, plus skateboards, trucks, wheels and bearings.

Online

Suburban Home Records
Support local music and add to your loved ones CD collection by taking advantage of Suburban Homes Holiday sale. Through December 30th, you can get a hold of all seven compilations for only $10, a $35 value.

They include Playing 4 Square 3 - tracks from the Jealous Sound, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, No Knife, Counterfit, Over It, Criteria, Communique, Adventures of Jet, The Goodwill, Hellicopter Hellicopter; Playing 4 Square 2 - tracks by Rainer Maria, Finch, Recover, Mates of State, the Gamits, Starting Line, Sunday's Best, Discount, Stereo; No Fi Trash - tracks by Lagwagon, the Get Up Kids, New Found Glory, Hot Water Music, The Fairlanes, The Gamits; Playing 4 Square 1 - tracks from the Ataris, The Gamits, Over It, Midtown, New Found Glory, Lagwagon, Adventures of Jet, Good Riddance; No Borders - a Japanese/American hardcore compilation; Wankin in the Pit - A Japanese/American punk rock comp with NOFX, Teen Idols, Potshot, Limp, Strung Out; Punk, It's All About the Orchis Factor - tracks from Blink 182, Discount, Tiltwheel, The Fairlanes, Homeless Wonders, Against All Authority.

Your order will be shipped by media mail so if you want it by Christmas, make sure you add $4.00 for priority mail shipping.

InSound
If you go digging around the net for your favorite indie, pop, punk, or rock artist, you may have discovered InSound if you clicked the link to buy that 7” vinyl. This company not only survived the dot com crash, they have continued to thrive over the years due mainly to the depth and variety of their inventory.

Taken straight from their latest email update:

Everyone's got their angle. Tower Records tries to sucker you in with that $6.99 Billy Joel's 'Greatest Hits' offer. But, is that even a really good deal? And Amazon just wants to sell you beauty aids and lawn furniture. And they don't even have vinyl. It's true. They think it's only for hedons and Ivy Leaguers. They even told us so at the super secret, confidential online retailer collusion luncheon we had in October at the Des Moines Marriott. And Best Buy and Wal-Mart are just for middle Americans. And what the hell does that mean, anyways?

Yeah, so they've all got their angles. Except for us. So we figured we needed an angle this holiday season. Like a gimmick. Something innovative. Something they would write about in AdWeek. Something like really clever, borderline-smug, self-aware, possibly-mocking weekly promotional emails designed to charm your pants off? Think about it. Charming the pants off though funny emails. Really. Think about it. You may think that it won't work. Or that you're too savvy to be swayed by something so simple. But, let us say this, if you're sitting there by the computer in your undergarments right now, pants on the floor, credit card in hand, staring at the Insound website, then tell us who the big winner is? (Insert sound of cash registers ringing with Insound holiday theme song in the background to the tune of 'Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel')

FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2003, WE HAVE THREE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR ALL INSOUND SHOPPERS:

1. FLAT DOMESTIC SHIPPING RATE: $2.99 FLAT SHIPPING FOR ALL U.S. ORDERS OF $50 OR MORE. NO SPECIAL CODES OR COUPONS NEEDED.

2. 15% OFF ON ALL ORDERS OF $50 OR MORE. SIMPLY USE THE COUPON CODE BELOW DURING CHECKOUT. OFFER VALID UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2004.
COUPON CODE: holiday1503

3. 10% OFF ALL INSOUND ORDERS UNDER $50. SIMPLY USE THE COUPON CODE BELOW DURING CHECKOUT. OFFER VALID UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2004.
COUPON CODE: holiday1003

Overstock.com
Before I buy electronics, household items, or basically anything, I check out Overstock.com where you can get brand new items at substantially discounted prices, from 10-75% off retail. They have digital cameras starting at $52, the complete 5th Season of Sex and the City for $31.49 (savings of $18), Bolle Goggles for $25-$35, and down comforters ranging from $37 - $100. You have until December 22 at 1pm Eastern Time to place your order, and they’re offering free express shipping on selected items that have the icon.

Other Ideas

When you’re really, really stuck and don’t want to give something that you know will just end up in “gotta return” pile, go for the tried and true gift certificate at a place you know your loved one shops – record store, music store, Victoria’s Secret, sex shop, or their favorite café or restaurant.

Something else I’ve done in the past, the gift that gives all year long, is a magazine subscription. This is typically around $10 - $20, so not only is it affordable, but every month your gift receipient will be reminded of just how much you care. Ahhhh…But get creative. Don’t just go out and send in the pesky subscription card for Rolling Stone. There are hundreds of great zines and lesser-known, underground magazines featuring music and culture like Bust, XLR8R, Surface, Anthem, Modernism Magazine, CMJ, and more. Do some searching on the web or in your B&N, find one you think they’ll like, and then wrap up that magazine with a note that there are more on the way.

-Kim Owens, editor