Overwhelmed and glitzed out by the holidays? All the office Christmas parties and other festive shindigs got you down? We're here to lighten your mood with witty banter and help with the shopping alternatives you're looking for. This section will help you decide what stores to hit-- whether online or brick-and-mortar-- and which cool tastemakers to follow in your quest for the perfect alternative gifts.

After you've dropped from hitting the shops, there'll still be plenty of time to gather round the tree, write out cards to friends and loved ones, and even sing a heartfelt carol or two while awaiting Santa's arrival. All in all, it's shaping up to be a picture-perfect holiday. Have a mad, mad, mad, mad Yuletime, y'all. And remember, every time that cash register jingles, a few more angels get their wings.

Frank Sennett

Newcity.com affiliates open their holiday trick bags for you:

TECHNO HOLIDAY
Gifts for the techno-geek are but a mouse click away

AFTER THE FALL
How to love your family during the holidays

STUFF THIS
There's no denying the thrill of ripping into a full stocking on Christmas morn--especially if it's brimming with cool zines, squirt lighters and the like

RETURN TO SENDER
Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we reject

GIFTS FOR GOOD CAUSES
A guide to consumption with a conscience

SINCERELY, ANONYMOUS
Gifts you'd hate to get, but secretly love to give

WRAPPED UP IN SPENDING
How to resist that urge to splurge

GIVING THE GIFT OF GAB
DIY company Christmas party disasters for overachievers

BEARING GIFTS
So many parties, so little time--good ideas for hostess gifts with more pizzazz than cost

PARTY OFF
How to avoid one of the season's biggest potential pitfalls: hosting a holiday party

CHEF'S SPECIALS
Holiday foods to keep the peace between carnivores and vegetarians

MAKE YOUR SPIRITS BRIGHT
These easy recipes will leave you time to celebrate

CLASSIC CHRISTMAS
Impress your guests with simple-yet-savory mainstays

YULE TRIED & TRUE
Out with the old, in with the older holiday feast traditions

TURKEY IN THE POT
And other holiday food disasters

UNCORKED
Holiday wines for the discriminating palate

VINE LINES
Gifts for the wine snob in your life

YOLK LORE
Its ingredients can be lethal, but eggnog is still a favorite

COOKIE MASTER
Perfecting the sweet taste of nostalgia

SWEET SENSATIONS
Delicious holiday goodies stuff more than stockings

EAT ME!
Yummy comestibles for the gifting gourmand

SWEET TALK
Professional bakers share holiday treat secrets

RAIDING THE PANTRY
These food gifts help your pals eat, drink and stay merry

TASTEFUL PRESENTS
These edible gifts will make you the most popular Santa in town

MANY HAPPY NON-RETURNS
Six tips for thoughtful gift giving

IT'S A GIFT
They say it's better to give than to receive. Here are some stories spelling out why.

COOL BY DESIGN
Why Target is the coolest store in America

HOLIDAY DIY
Why not make your own gifts this year?

HEARTS & CRAFTS
Making presents by hand can be fun--and it just might save your relationship

SIMPLE ABUNDANCE
A crafty guide to DIY gifts

THE YEAR OF PLASTIC FRUIT
Bringing families closer together through awful tree ornaments, yard Santas and other decorating disasters

SHOP? DROP.
One columnist tries to scale back her present desires

GIFTS FOR LOVERS
Creative ideas for sparking holiday hearts

X-RATED XMAS
Gifts for eyes over 18 only

IN THE CARDS
Season's greetings, for when you really don't care enough

DIGITAL GREETINGS
Browsing the best online holiday cards

WINDOWS SHOPPING
Find must-have merch without leaving your desk

CAVEAT E-MPTOR
Shopping online for the holidays? Watch for these warning signs.

BLESS THE LITTLE GUY
Instead of getting caught up in the $6 billion e-commerce web, why not shop local stores this year?

GIFT BOXES
What to give the film connoisseur for the holidays

DREAMCAST A LITTLE DREAM
Sega unleashes a game system with the brains of a smart bomb

ELECTRONIC STOCKING STUFFERS
A guide to gremlin-free gizmos

BATTERIES MAY BE INCLUDED
A guide to life's rich gadgetry

RING MY BELL
Don't be alarmed by this sweet selection of clocks

KID STUFFED
Toys that tots won't relegate to the attic

CHILD'S PLAY
Toys for the tot in all of us

PICTURE THIS
Two new cameras make cheap, fun gifts

SAVING FACE
Magnetic Poetry brings a smile to your fridge with Photo Faces

JOY TO THE WORD
Who says Christmas fiction has to wallow in the saccharine sentimentality of the season?

KITCHEN AID
Cook up some fun presents for the cooks in your life

RECIPE FOR FUN
Great gift books for the cooks on your list

KITCHEN CLEANUP
Good gifts for the galley abound

GALLEY GREETINGS
Great gifts provide cool kitchen help

HAUTE STUFF
Cruise by the kitchen supply store for tasty presents

FUN & GAMES
A few offbeat gift suggestions to keep you ahead of the pack

ODDBALL PICKS
Gimcracks and gewgaws for the tough-to-buy-for recipient

KITSCH ITCH
From Scooby Snacks to Bob Marley incense, here are some goofy gifts sure to grab attention

OUT OF THE CLOSET
Eye-opening presents that will never collect dust

STOCKING OVERSTUFFERS
Gift ideas for that spoiled person on your list

DIFFERENT GIFTS
If you gotta shop, you may as well get something interesting

UNWRAPPED & UNHINGED
Gift ideas for the truly disturbed

LUXURIES GREAT & SMALL
From goose livers to remote-controlled B-2 bombers, these presents go over the top

WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD
What you really want for Christmas, versus what you'll really get

THE GETTING IS STILL GOOD
Part two of the getting-is-better-than-giving exercise

THE GETTING GETS BETTER
And part three will really feed your greed

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GOOFING
Highly inappropriate holiday presents

SKINTILLATING
Treats for bed, bath and beyond

BEAUTY BUZZ
Give the soothing gift of skincare

SPACE SAVERS
Of lamps, picture frames and other neat home accessories

WELL-APPOINTED
Slide these furnishings under the tree

MAKING CAMP
Presents for the outdoorsy folks in your life

GIMME THE BOOT
Here's hoping the current boot revival turns into a permanent kick

ACTION JACKSONS
Threads for the global explorer in your life

SHREDDING BETTYS
Tough snowbunnies temper practical mountain gear with flashes of prettiness

OY, HUMBUG!
There's absolutely no escaping Christmas in America--particularly when you're Jewish.

FESTIVAL OF LITE
Finding Old Testament fun in a season of good cheer

CAN'T BEAT 'EM, JOIN 'EM
Christmas is a weird time of year for Jews, but that doesn't stop this one from throwing a big Christmas party

TRULY SCROOGED
Is it just this writer, or do others feel like outsiders during Christmastime?

BURNING BRIGHT
He celebrates the Winter Solstice with a big bonfire and a little swig of holiday cheer

ON BUDDHA & BURGLARY
Meditating upon the differences between Western materialism and the Buddhist principle of nonattachment

THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS
Considering one man's Zen-like detachment from the consumer aspect of the holidays

INDIGENOUS HOLIDAY
Enter N. Scott Momaday's "Circle of Wonder: A Native American Christmas Story"

WISH LISTED
This holiday newsletter takes full advantage of the season of giving

NOT-SO-MERRY CHRISTMAS
Finding holiday cheer amid the humbug

ST. NICK OF TIME
Getting past the jolly fat man with the white beard to the true story

WALK A NIGHT IN HIS BOOTS
In a rare interview, Santa Claus says his Christmas adventures aren't everything they're cracked up to be

CLICK FOR CHRISTMAS
What traditions will Christmas future bring?