Oui, Three Queens Productions
225 Gough (between Oak & Fell), 621-6877
Dan Dion
Say "Happy Holidays" with style at Zedd.
Dan Dion
Say "Happy Holidays" with style at Zedd.
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In this town, there's a queen in every hand and probably at least a couple on your list. This hip Hayes Valley studio deals in diva needs. Give the gift of false eyelash application ($15) and she'll be winking in style. If her wig is getting ratty, an overhaul goes for $50. The custom makeup service here takes center stage. Expensive lipstick lines can be reproduced, or you can have new ones formulated based on skin tone or ego. Best of all, you get to name your custom creations! Gift certificates are available for all services.
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Yum
1750 Market (at Valencia), 626-9866
For the finely fed on your list, fear not. Yum stocks culinary gifts for the lazy gourmet, the holiday baker, and even the recovering 12-stepper. Stuff a sock with an herbal elixir of oregano, chili, garlic, or rosemary -- a concentrated shortcut to a well-seasoned entrée, soup, or stock ($5). The bright green walls in this foodie shop are lined with the baker's every need or whim. Rows dedicated to the decorative arts include real gold and silver leaf for gilding the marzipan masterpiece and "Gold Luster Dust" to make cookies shimmer ($5-$30). For the alcohol-free crowd, assemble a beverage bucket of Jamaican Ting, New England Moxie, and fancy French lemonade. Gift pails are of galvanized aluminum and can be delivered or mailed for $15 and up.
Jeffrey's Toys
7 Third (at Market), 243-8697
This independent toy store stocks everything from classic gadgets to cutting-edge Japanese gizmos. Scoop on the "Homies" craze going on. Fashioned after real Chicano characters from the 'hood, these miniature saggy-pants, finger-flippin' figurines have lots of attitude and names like Big Loco, 8-Ball and Hollywood ($1). Larger stuffed and bobble-head versions are going fast at $8. The Island of Misfit Toys is a line that created the Abominable Snow Monster and a Rudolph with blinking nose. Squeeze his ear and he bleats out wails for mama ($30). Large radio-controlled tanks and sailboats ($80) will give Grandpa a thrill, while the tiny radio-controlled matchbox cars feed the adrenaline rush this season for $20.
HAIGHT ST./WESTERN ADDITION
Timeless Treasures
2176 Sutter (at Pierce), 775-8366
Give that friend who always spelled it out for you a letter of appreciation this Christmas. "Y" because I like you, "U" because you're you, or "E" because I love everybody! This little antique store has the walls shouting words like "fabulous" in every font and point size imaginable. Owner Joan O'Connor has collected stencils and letters for more than five years. Local movie house marquee letters go for $10, and hand-stamped alphabets are $4 per letter or complete sets for $45 and up. You'll even find Victorian wooden blocks for the baby at $2 apiece. Whether you spell whole words, create a 3-D monogram, or just buy them a vowel, you'll send friends a novel message this year.
Gamescape
333 Divisidero (between Oak & Page), 621-4263
Hot games this holiday season include Risk: Lord of the Rings, which, as the title suggests, is a special version of the classic game incorporating aspects of the film. Here you choose the fate of Middle Earth by commanding either a good or an evil force ($35). Pictionary meets Trivial Pursuit and Charades with AMC Reel Clues ($30), a game in which teams give clues about popular movies. In A Dog's Life, players are junkyard dogs that scavenge trash cans, beg at restaurants, mark their territories, fight bullies and elude the dogcatcher. The first to bury four bones wins ($35).
RICHMOND/LAUREL HEIGHTS
Haig's Delicacies
642 Clement (between 7th & 8th aves.), 752-6283
Specialty foods from the Middle East, Europe, and India are stockpiled at this market in the Avenues. Is there a homesick Brit on your list who's weary of Yankee calls for war? Stuff the poor bloke's sock with a hot toddy. A red sachet contains four muslin bags filled with nutmeg, ginger, and cloves to be steeped in hot whiskey ($12). For $50, the knackered chap will perk up with a gift package of clotted cream, PG Tips tea, biscuits, and jam. Surprise the German friend with a Kinder Egg, a chocolate egg with a toy tucked inside. Take them back to the fatherland for $10 and listen to them stumble over themselves with stories of their childhood.
HomeChef
3527 California (at Locust), 668-3191
A stainless-steel Espuma gourmet whipped cream dispenser ($89) has hit an all time high as the gadget du jour. Not just for whipped cream, it's used to froth a savory dollop of anything you can imagine. Yeah baby, get creative with your chive butter foam. From the miracle material of silicon comes another foodie gift: the nonstick baking/freezing mat, an amazing cookie sheet that wipes clean and rolls up for easy storage. It comes in different sizes ($35-$14). For the cook who has it all, new stainless steel citrus presses come in three sizes with corresponding colors -- orange, lemon, and lime.
SOMA
Giants Dugout Store
Pac Bell Park
If a monkey slaps you off a horse, you've got to Dusty off and get right back on. The Dugout Store is your retail resource for all things Giants-related, with a little bit of Niners thrown in for good measure. You'll find a healthy inventory of T-shirts, jerseys, mugs, and other merchandise to show your allegiance to our local heartbreakers. A fitted cap ($25-$30) is more comfortable than an adjustable one, and little brother won't borrow and lose it. But there's great kids stuff, too, like a Lou Seal plush puppet ($20) and a Beanie Baby in a Jeff Kent uniform (was $15, now $8 -- foreshadowing his departure?) Upstairs is the big-ticket memorabilia, like a Willie Mays autograph ($349) or a bat signed by Joe DiMaggio for a mere $2,499.
