Well, it's that time of year again. Snow is on the ground, temperatures are falling, people have hit the ski slopes . . . . yes, I know this could be pretty much any time of the year (ha-ha), but it's late November and that means the holidays are around the corner.
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwaanza, or another holiday from your tradition, this is a special time of the year. It's a time of family, food, fun -- and the hectic rush preparing for everything. Shopping for presents takes up a lot of time, and can be very stressful. But it doesn't have to be that way. For the most part, shopping in Edmonton seems to be clustered in specific areas of the city. If you can't find what you are looking for in one store, you don't have to get back in your car or on the bus and go halfway across the city. One major shopping extravaganza can be found at the world famous West Edmonton Mall There are over three phases (the fourth is currently under construction) of stores to choose from, everything from gifts and trinkets to clothes to music. The Mall is not just shopping -- you can also have some fun with your family at Galaxyland, an indoor amusement park, the World Waterpark, and submarine rides. But for people with more alternative tastes, a lot of hip and cutting edge gift and clothing stores can be found along Whyte Avenue, near the city's Old Strathcona district. One can spend hours just walking along this historic area. Many people go book shopping on Whyte Avenue, because of the numerous new and used book stores. An excellent book shop there is Orlando Books, which stocks many alternative fiction and poetry selections, as well as having author readings on a regular basis. The store also does mail-order. Another great book shop is Greenwoods, which has a main store, one for children, and one that deals exclusively in calendars. I'll be taking a look at other stores in the Whyte Avenue area in future features before the holidays, so stay tuned. But before I go . . . Some Holiday Shopping Tips:
