Press Club Guide to Holiday Gifts

We feel your pain. So you get back from Thanksgiving break and – whammo – it’s already time to start shopping for holiday presents, stringing together little chains of popcorn and mistletoe, and dusting off the ol’ dreidels.Sometimes this transition can be so stressful that you, like this blogger, just kind of pretend the holidays aren’t coming, assuming that gifts will buy themselves and all of the dreidels will do their own dusting. Alas, this forgetful bliss is not to last, if Princeton has its way. Hints that you’d better start sipping peppermint mocha frappuccinos and shopping for those family members who have everything seem to pop up all over the place.And if you feel like you’ve started logging more time in Paper Source than in class, you’re not alone. But if you’re looking for some good gift locations, look no further than after the jump.For the music lover: Check out Princeton Record Exchange’s impressive collection that will satisfy fans of Led Zeppelin, Elvis, and Taylor Swift alike.For the foodie: Stock up on quality baked goods at Chez Alice, or opt for a one of those great, themed chocolates at T. Sweet’s candy store in Palmer Square. Or, if you’re looking for something non-perishable, you could always go for a gift certificate.For the hipster: Check out one of the consignment shops in Princeton – try Greene Street Consignment or Jane – for some good (if sometimes pricey) finds.For the child at heart: Lose yourself in the colorful world of jaZams, the toy store in Palmer Square. Careful, though, or you might come out with more toys than you bargained for (at a price that you definitely didn’t bargain for…)For the bookworm: Stop by Chicklet Books in the Princeton Shopping Center for a “fun and funky book boutique,” or go more local and check out the sale books outside of Labyrinth. They’re worth a look-through if you have a few minutes to dig.For the person who has everything: Shop for some good gag gifts at Paper Source. Not just a paper store, Paper Source stocks funny gifts that range from collections of fake mustaches to drumstick pencils to 4-foot-long bendy straws to books that teach skills in sarcasm and dirty joke telling.Holiday stress be gone! Or at least, be less overwhelming! So sit back, relax, enjoy your hot chocolate and holiday tunes, and happy Princeton shopping!