Wrap it up!

THE U-STORE:

114–116 Nassau Street

What better place to do holiday shopping than the go-to spot for eager relatives: the U-Store? If your family is anything like mine, the “I have a relative who goes to Princeton!” excitement has still not fully worn off. So continuing to fill their homes with orange-and-black regalia seems appropriate enough, especially given how desperate we all are to get our holiday shopping done — fast.

And a quick trip to the U-Store is all you need. The impossible-to-miss sign by the entrance advertised 25 percent off glassware, which worked for me. I recommend the Princeton beer mug ($14 before the discount) for older siblings or your hip uncle. I know my sister, a beer enthusiast, will get a kick out of this, and it is a budget-friendly pick. I was tempted to pick up the hilariously cheesy “Princeton University Mom” and “Princeton University Dad” matching mug set ($24) for my parents, but in the end I just couldn’t go through with it. Instead I settled on a much more classy baseball cap for my dad ($20). Look no further than the baseball cap wall for brothers or dads — a hat is a simple but classic choice bound to go over well. Next I headed to the kids’ section and grabbed small stuffed tigers — wearing miniature Princeton shirts, of course — for my younger cousins. There are enough stuffed animal options here to cover all your kid gift needs. Actually, in this store there really are plenty of things that could work for any relative (or whoever else you buy holiday gifts for).

Voila; 10 minutes later and I had a lot less gift shopping to do. Though gifts from the U-Store may not be very personal, there is no denying the power of the orange and black one-stop shop.

—Allie Weiss

PRINCETON RECORD EXCHANGE: 20 South Tulane St.

The Princeton Record Exchange is a treasure trove of cheap music and movies that you could spend hours digging through to find that perfect gift for the holidays — or to procrastinate the work you are putting off. Here are my top three gifts:

Grandmaster Flash, “The Message” (on vinyl)

The Record Exchange has a large collection of actual records, especially in the jazz section. The albums span all kinds of music and even include contemporary releases. But for the old-school hip-hop head in your life, you can get Grandmaster Flash’s classic record for a cool $10.99. Pick it up for your brother who just got your parents’ record player working.

John Coltrane, “The Heavyweight Champion: The Complete Atlantic Recordings of John Coltrane”

Spanning seven discs and including everything that John Coltrane ever recorded for Atlantic Records, this box set could set you back $80 or more at another store. But pick up the used copy at the Record Exchange, backed by the store’s guarantee, and watch your savings pile up, as you will only spend $29.99. Get this for Dad and add some great music to your family’s Christmas rotation.

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Any Bargain Priced CD/DVD

CDs can cost as little as $2, and there are some very good DVDs going for $3–$5. They are haphazardly stacked all over the store, but if you have the time, there are some classics nestled in there. I found a copy of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” for $2, and the box set of the first two seasons of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” was $8. Get these for anyone with taste.

—Trap Yates

PAPER SOURCE: 82 Nassau St.

While Paper Source sells countless unique and interesting gift items, the best part about shopping for gifts there is the wrapping paper. I am a firm believer that the more beautifully wrapped the present, the happier the recipient, regardless of what’s inside. For example, I bought my boyfriend a book by Italo Calvino for his birthday. Since Calvino is Italian, I took the opportunity to wrap the book in a map of Italy. Book: $14.00. Wrapping: $3.95. Paper that matched the gift and later became a wall hanging: Priceless.

You can also find a map of 19th-century Paris, a pre-1990s map of the world (including the Soviet Union) and a plethora of other beautiful papers, holiday-themed and otherwise. Other uses for special wrapping papers include Halloween props, but that’s another story (sparkly paper for a sparkle guitar, Taylor Swift-style).

In addition to wrapping paper, Paper Source sells a selection of potential gifts, including an eco-cup for $10.95. It may not have the Starbucks logo, but it is just as useful for anyone with a coffee habit. Books for sale are mainly about arts and crafts, like “Silhouette Art” for $18.95 and “The Art of the Handwritten Note” for $16. My personal favorite is “Beer Pong: The Official Guide” for $15.95, which, though it has nothing to do with arts and crafts, is considered an art for certain Princetonians.

—Chloe Davis

ROSANA BOUTIQUE: 39 Palmer Square

Rosana is a high-fashion boutique in Palmer Square that is the perfect place to get a gift for the teenage girl in your life, whether she is a friend, sister or girlfriend. The store carries everything from fancy cocktail dresses to pajama pants, and it is all reasonably priced.

Probably the coolest gift from Rosana is an olive green bomber jacket. The jacket has dark metal studs on the shoulders and breast pocket, as well as on the sleeves — it is the epitome of high fashion. Not only is olive green one of the most popular colors this year, but many designers are replicating “army gear” in their new winter collections. Although the jacket is a bit pricey at $98, it is the perfect gift for the fashionista in your life .

If you are looking to spend a little less, there is a long charcoal gray cardigan for only $44. Though the cardigan is somewhat plain, it is a staple to any girl’s wardrobe. This long-sleeved sweater can keep a girl warm during the cold winter months. It can also be dressed up or down for any occasion, giving a girl many options for how and when to wear it.

Rosana also offers ideas for small gifts for friends you’ve just recently met at Princeton too. One such example are Asian-inspired scarves for only $16. These scarves are really soft and come in two different designs. Especially this winter, a scarf is a very practical item to own, and this style will appeal to a wide variety of people.

Though these were just my favorite gifts from Rosana, the store has a lot of different options for any type of girl.

—Lisa Fierstein

KITCHEN KAPERS: 32 Hulfish Street

Kitchen Kapers, at 23 Hulfish Street, offers a wide variety of kitchen-related items. At first, the shop can seem overwhelming: rows of gleaming pots and pans, unsettlingly sharp knives of every size, and stacks of airtight containers for storing dry goods. Further investigation, however, reveals plenty of thoughtful and entertaining holiday gifts alongside the more intimidating and expensive appliances.

As another customer remarked while browsing, the store contains “nothing frivolous.” Everything here serves a distinct purpose, and some of it is clearly utilitarian in its design. A food processor or a set of measuring cups might not seem like the most exciting gifts, but if you, like me, have an aspiring chef in the family, an actually functional cooking item might be the perfect present. As long as you know just what the person wants or needs in the kitchen, a practical gift can be both thoughtful and useful.

For younger siblings or cousins, a cookie decorating set — complete with design ideas and frosting in different colors — can provide plenty of entertainment over the holiday season. Cookie decorating is a great indoor activity for cold winter days, and a kit can last beyond snowflake and gingerbread cookies for a creative array of year-round desserts.

There are gifts here even for those who don’t like to cook. Not everyone can whip up a souffle, but everybody will it eat it — and there are plenty of presents here for the non-chef too. In particular, a set of baseball-themed dishes or a platter painted like a football field would appeal to the sports fan in the family.

Finally, college friends might appreciate one of the store’s more unique cookbooks, “Hangover Cures.” Though this interesting collection of remedies from around the world might draw skepticism, this is, after all, the season of believing.

—Molly O'Neill

J. CREW: 1 Palmer Square

Shopping for Princetonians is easy: We basically only wear eating club gear, things Kate Middleton might wear and apparel for theme parties. You can stock up on gifts anytime and be assured that when the time for gift-giving comes, you’ll be able to distribute them at random to your unnervingly similar friends.

With these thoughts in mind, I paid a visit to J.Crew to pick out some Christmas gifts. A pair of tipped socks ($13) seemed like an intriguing gift possibility. Though I do not wear socks, the store has both red and green ones in stock. Perfect for a brother, sister or dad, J.Crew has a whole section dedicated to plaid shirts ($65). No one actually looks good in plaid, so this is an excellent opportunity to get revenge for all the unattractive clothing gifts you received as a child.

A significant portion of J.Crew’s women’s wear is upstairs. This seems to be so that the store can dedicate the ground floor to jewelry that is worn, as far as I can tell, primarily by women who work at J.Crew. But many of the necklaces ($55–$98) do seem appropriate for gifting, particularly if your mother has a need for an elegant gym scrunchie.

If she seems nonplussed, tell her Kate Middleton wore it; it’s probably true.

—Andrew Slottje

LANDAU: 102 Nassau St.

Though holiday shopping may seem daunting at times, Landau makes buying gifts effortless with its high-quality selection of woolen products. Landau, located on Nassau Street, offers a variety of soft, cozy products, perfect for the winter months ahead. Whether you are looking for a sophisticated pashmina for mom or a fun trapper hat for a friend, Landau has it all.

Standout selections for holiday gifts are Landau’s plaid earmuffs and fingerless gloves/convertible mittens. If you have ever stepped outside in December, you know how uncomfortable it is to have icicles for ears. Landau offers plaid earmuffs in a wide range of colors; keeping warm has never been this adorable. While plaid earmuffs might be better for a sister or a friend, fingerless gloves are great for men and women alike. These gloves, which handily convert into mittens, come in every color and pattern imaginable. They offer the warmth of mittens and the utility of gloves — an utterly harmonious combination. Even better, neither of these gifts costs more than $20.

If you’re looking for more expensive presents, check out Landau’s pashminas, scarves or blankets. Family and friends alike will appreciate your thoughtfulness — after all, who doesn’t want the gift of warmth in winter?

—Abby Williams