It’s that time of year once again. Night seems to arrive too soon, the cold winter air stings the lungs—and somehow, you will inexplicably find yourself arguing with an old lady in Target over who had their eye on the last Hannah Montana Tiki Hut and Surf Shop Hangout Play Set first, and can therefore claim rightful ownership. But not this year. This year, you vow to avoid the crowds of major department stores and the chaos of the mall and earn yourself a dose of good karma by shopping locally. Below, find a few recommendations that will leave your gift recipient smiling and your pocketbook as untouched as possible.

For the foodie/food snob:
Operated by the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market brings the hard work of California farmers and vendors to the gastronomically conscious city dweller. From crates overflowing with deliciously ripe produce to tables stacked with honey, homemade pies, kettle corn, yogurt and more, each tent offers something different.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
One Ferry Building, San Francisco
(Tues. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. & Sat. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

For Sporty Spice:
Find gear for the mountain climber/backpacker/bicyclist/runner/golfer/snowboarder/etc in your life at Sports Basement. Each department comes complete with a super knowledgeable and courteous staff, willing to answer even the dumbest questions you may have. Or stop by to sign up for free yoga, CPR certification or bike maintenance classes or to recycle your old used electronics or Crocs.

Sports Basement
610 Old Mason St. or 1590 Bryant St.
San Francisco
888.869.6670
sportsbasement.com

For the kid at heart:
Packed from ceiling to floor with random gifts, this cute little shop offers everything from traditional stuffed animals to baby onesies reading “mmm…boobies” or “iPood” over a picture of—you guessed it—an iPod. You can also pick up bandages that look like realistic little pickles, or “Holy Toast”—a mold that will emblazon your morning toast with an image of the Virgin Mary. They also have an expansive collection of clever and fun greeting cards.

Tutti Frutti Gifts and Collectibles
718 Irving St., San Francisco
415.661.8504

For Kids Kids Kids!:
“Kid Heaven” would be a great name for this toy store, located in the middle of West Portal. At the entrance is a giant brown bear with a huge grin on its face, welcoming children and their parents. Walls of toys, almost touching the ceiling, are filled with huge stuffed elephants, lions, dinosaurs and bears. A kid couldn’t dream of anything more. Now one of the largest toy stores in San Francisco since Toys R US moved, Ambassador Toys offers a large variety of toys for kids from newborns to preteens. Promoting the sale of non-violent toys, this store has everything from board games and Hot Wheels to collector dolls and action figures. It’s the place to be if you need to pick something up for a little cousin, brother or sister.

Ambassador Toys
186 West Portal Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94127
415-759-TOYS

For the bookworm/book nerd:
Green Apple offers a large selection of new and used books, music and movies. Occasionally, they have rare, first-edition books for sale, but be prepared to pay big money for them. For the super-broke: check out the $1 and the free book bins located right in front of the store.

Green Apple Books
506 Clement St., San Francisco
415.387.2272

For the pet treated like a human:
If your poochie is in need of a new winter raincoat, your kitty has a keen taste for bonito flakes, or you’re just plain curious to see how either of them would look in a bright pink wig, welcome to Cheeko B Pet Boutique. Alongside quality pet food, fun toys and stylish collars, you can also find birthday cakes (made with human-grade ingredients and tested by the owner herself) and neckties for your four-legged friends. When you get there, make sure to give some love to the resident spokesdogs, Cheeko and Frankie.

Cheeko B Pet Boutique
611 Post St., San Francisco
415.497.7629

For sexy items you might want to see a lady friend or yourself in:
Nestled just up the stairs of a converted Victorian, Intima Girl offers a quaint and comfortable shopping space for women who want to, as owner Kristie Lamour says, “embrace their sexuality.” Complete with gorgeous lingerie, whips, frisky bedroom games and “designer sex products,” Intima Girl also hosts in-home parties complete with champagne and fondue. If the prices are a little steep, make sure to check out the 50 percent off shelf in the second room (the one with the fully-made bed.)

Intima Girl
3047 Fillmore St., San Francisco
415.563.1202

For Love Fest costumes:
Founded in 1972, Piedmont Boutique has become the place to go for outrageous costumes for Love Fest and Halloween. Located right off Haight and Ashbury, the fun and colorful shop has the perfect gift for your party animal friends. Masks, wigs and hosiery are aplenty, along with a whole wall devoted to glittery jewelry. Owner Sahaj Kaupp told [X]Press that 80 percent of the products in the store are made by the Piedmont staff. And with their affordable pricing, this is an SF place that can’t be beat!

Piedmont Boutique
1452 Haight St., San Francisco
415.864.8075

For the kitschy collector:
Among the many fabulous stores that line Pier 39, San Francisco Music Box Co. is quite special. It is a small shop full of differently themed snow globes. There are snow globes for Christmas, weddings, birthdays—even Harry Potter. The snow globes are fairly affordable, but the more extravagant ones tend to be pricey.

San Francisco Music Box Co.
865 Market St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
415.243.0196