Yes, you hear the holiday music. Yes, you see that it’s December. No, your holiday shopping isn’t done yet.
Peace be with you, intrepid holiday shopper. In three easy steps, you can find the perfect gift for everybody on your list by identifying what they like to do, knowing the places that facilitate those things and wrapping up your gift shopping, knowing you’ve done it like a boss.
Ready to give it a whirl? Check out these categories, gift ideas and the places to find those gifts:
THE ADVENTURERS
Their photos threaten to give you vertigo and their stories always have you on the edge of your seat.
• For the hikers, bikers, climbers, runners and couch-to-5kers, check out Freeze Thaw Cycles, Appalachian Outdoors or Rapid Transit.
• Keep the adventure local at Escape Room Inc. or What-a-Blast Laser Tag.
• Make a memory out of a journey up Mount Nittany at Old Main Frame Shop.
• Let the adventurer carry the memory close with a tattoo from Iconic Inc, King Cobra Tattoos or Evolution Tattoo.
• Get the next adventure’s gear at Jim’s Army & Navy Surplus Store.
THE FOODIES
They post all their meals on Instagram and you never miss an opportunity to scope out a new chef with them.
• Fill a basket with local goodies from Branch & Vine, Kitchen Kaboodle or Home Reflections.
• Purchase a membership to a CSA, a co-op such as Friends & Farmers or Fasta Ravioli.
• Stop by a spirits store to pick up locally brewed libations.
• Give a cooking adventure at Kitchen Inc. or Happy Valley Learns to Cook.
• Pick up a gift card to a local restaurant or dessert spot.
THE BOOK LOVERS
They mark time in chapters and always have great book recommendations.
• Pair them up with great coffee spots such as Saint’s, Barranquero, The Cheese Shoppe or Sower’s.
• How about a mug membership at Webster’s Bookstore Café?
• Find a reading buddy for younger readers at Animal Kingdom.
• Pick up a bookmark at Nittany Quill.
• Spur the imagination at Comic Swap.
THE FASHION AFICIONADOS
Their shopping sprees qualify as cardio and their makeovers are legendary.
• Expand their wardrobes at Harper’s, Connections, Bare Foot, People’s Nation or Cheap Thrills.
• Transform them at Evolve Studio, Looks Hair Design, Rinaldo’s or Fitted Cuts.
• Pamper them at Designer’s Denn, A Step Beyond Massage, Angelina’s Invigorating Hour or Perfect Ten & More Day Spa.
• Treat them head to toe at Downtown Nails, Bronze Tanning or California Tanning.
• Frame a new perspective with Happy Valley Optical or Spectacles.
THE BLEEDS-BLUE-AND-WHITE ONES
The Penn State devotees who’ve never met a weather system that could keep them from tailgating, and you’d never see a game without them.
• Need a Dirty Santa gift or outfit? Family Clothesline has holiday-themed Penn State gear.
• Get a great deal at Lion & Cub with Penn State slippers.
• Help tailgaters with essentials such as coolers and tents from The Student Bookstore.
• Check out Old State Clothing Co. for memorabilia.
• Put the new baby in his or her first blue-and-white onesie from Lion’s Pride.
THE FITNESS GURUS
Their games are on point and there’s no one else you’d rather kick off your resolutions with.
• Find namaste with a class at Lila Yoga, Bikram Hot Yoga, Yoga Lab, Yoga in State College or Yoga Massage and Energy.
• Help little ones learn their first steps at Central PA Dance Workshop.
• Wax on and off at Chaar Tae Kwon Do.
• Embrace the inner gym rat with a membership at F45.
• Let them dance to the beat of their own cymbals with belly dancing classes at Movement Arts Studio.
THE EXPERIENTIAL ONES
Their mantra is collect memories, not things. And, you love making memories with them.
• Carve out time for creativity at The Makery, 2000 Degrees or Uncle Eli’s.
• Get the creative juices flowing with a trip to the Art Alliance Downtown Gallery, Woskob Gallery or Douglas Albert Gallery.
• Take in a show at The State Theatre or Penn State Downtown Theatre.
• Have a sing-along at Icy Snow Karaoke.
• Book a “staycation” at the Hyatt Place, Atherton Hotel, Days Inn or Hotel State College.
THE MEMORABLE ONES
Whether or not things really were uphill both ways in their day, you love listening to their stories.
• Memorialize a special occasion at Moyers Jewelers or Miska & Reini.
• Make it personal at Signature Engraving.
• Visit Growing Tree Toys to find a favorite childhood game.
• Reminisce about that Caribbean trip at Your Cigar Den.
• Replay the songs of youth at Alley Cat Music, Music Mart or Music Underground.
THE CHARITABLE ONES
These folks prefer to give back, and volunteering with them always leaves you in a great mood.
• Give back to their favorite nonprofit organizations.
• Support local press.
• Start a college savings account at a local bank.
• Pay for time with an attorney to help them draft wills full of charitable provisions.
• Make a donation in their name to their churches’ outreach programs.
Need a fail-safe gift? Try the closest thing to a universal gift card: a Downtown State College gift card, accepted at more than 100 local restaurants and stores. Stop by our office, 127 S. Fraser St. in State College, to pick one up or tell us about your favorite local gift. Short on time? Visit www.downtownstatecollege.com to purchase a gift card online.
Irene Miller is executive director of the Downtown State College Improvement District.
