The Castro is awash in red ribbons, prettied up and ready for the holidays to arrive. But in case you can't say the same thing about yourself and your shopping list, here are a few gift ideas to help you find the perfect item for that finicky loved one.

Clothes-minded

The Castro has become a center for men's fashion retailers, but buying clothes as gifts can be tricky. The T-Shop (4251 18th Street) has accessories where size isn't an issue, such as slim ID wallets made from antiqued leather ($30-$32) – perfect for a night out. Similarly, Aranciatamara (526 Castro Street) owner Alfio Patane suggests belts as gifts, such as retro belts featuring Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd album art ($60-$80) or a spectacular lion's head belt buckle ($220). All American Boy (463 Castro Street) carries a wide range of hats and caps, including a knit cap with a skull-and-crossbones design ($16). For a more intimate message, Injeanious Lounge is the exclusive retailer of Aussie Bum underwear ($22.99-$42.99) in San Francisco.

Pet projects

For the animal or animal lover in your life, the Castro offers many gift possibilities. Best in Show features a wide range of treats decorated for Christmas ($1.75-$14.95) and Christmas-themed dog and cat toys, such as a stuffed gingerbread man ($8.95-$10.95). The Under One Roof holiday store (2278 Market Street) has pre-packaged gift stockings for cats or dogs ($5). On a more serious note, dog-grooming house Four Wet Feet (4599 18th Street) sells a pet emergency kit ($34.95), which includes 44 supplies for your pet's first aid requirements.

Kid's stuff

While the Castro might not be the first place people think of when shopping for babies and children, there are actually quite a few stores that stock items just right for the hip, urban kid in your life.

Cliff's Variety (479 Castro Street) stocks a wide range of toys and crafts, including the Lindsay Lohan My Scene Barbie set ($46) and finger puppets of ballerinas, pirates, and the Christmas-pilfering Grinch ($5.50). Planetweavers (518 Castro Street) features a full library of craft guides and kits from Klutz ($12.95-$21.95). For the tech-savvy preteen the must-have gift this season is a Webkinz, a stuffed animal that comes with an online counterpart, with which you can interact in a virtual world. Does Your Mother Know (4141 18th Street) carries a full line of Webkinz ($14.99) and the smaller Lil' Kinz ($9.99). For a more intellectual gift, check out the bilingual fairy tale books ($14.95) at Given (575 Castro Street).

For the fashion-forward tyke, designer Paul Frank has created a children's clothing line called Small Paul, with funky T-shirts ($20-$22), briefs (3 for $24), and panties (7 for $38) available locally at Citizen Clothing (536 Castro Street). The Human Rights Campaign's HRC Store (600 Castro Street) carries baby shirts ($15) and bibs ($8) featuring the HRC logo front-and-center.

10 Under $10

Think you can't find a good gift for under $10? Castro stores offer many choices for stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, or office gift exchanges. Consider:

1. A variety of comic books by local artists ($4) from Whatever� (548 Castro Street);

2. Jose Cuervo Especial chocolate cordials (package of 3 for $7.50) carried by Chocolate on Castro (504 Castro Street);

3. Potted paperwhites ($5.99) from Hortica (566 Castro Street);

4. Gift cards to buy sweet or savory crepes (available for any amount; crepes cost from $2.50 to $7.25) from Queen Malika (4416 18th Street);

5. Hand-poured candles, made in San Francisco with original scents such as chardonnay and leather (various sizes starting from $2 up to $18), created by A Wicked Scent (2324 Market Street);

6. Christmas candies, including sugar plum candies ($9/lb.), "chocolate threeways" (three foil-wrapped figures for 75 cents), and Christmas mix from Jelly Belly ($9/lb), available at Spike's Coffees and Teas (4117 19th Street);

7. Foreign newspapers or magazines such as Spanish Vogue ($8.25) or Le Monde ($3) for your worldly friends, available at Castro Smoke House (409 Castro Street);

8. Mini-magnets shaped like pigs, kittens, or Scottie dogs ($5.50), from the Under One Roof holiday store (2278 Market Street);

9. Traditional Italian Christmas panettone cakes ($7.50) from Rossi's Deli (426 Castro Street);

10. Meditative music from Tibet (starting from $10) available at Deki Jewels (4202 18th Street).

Or maybe you want to blow the budget entirely and shop to impress? In that case, consider a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne and two glasses, packaged in a fashionable carrying case ($95) from Swirl On Castro (572 Castro Street). Or for maximum drama, Phantom*SF (4229 18th Street) currently has two models of the Titanic, crafted in wood and metal in meticulous detail ($545 and $850). You will be the talk of the office Christmas party for years to come.

Make the Yuletide gayer

Experts suggest that when considering buying a gift for someone you first ask yourself, "How gay is this person?" If the answer is "very" then there are some great gift ideas waiting in the Castro. Something Rainbow sells numerous designs of sterling silver rings lined with rainbow-hued crystals ($49.95). Christopher Radko produces a special ornament for the HRC Store (600 Castro Street) each year, and this year's edition features a penguin and snowman apparently involved in an intense letter-writing campaign to Santa ($38). If you need something gayer, consider a Golden Girls T-shirt from A Different Light (489 Castro Street). But for the ultimate gay present, tickets are still available for A Very Merry Disco Christmas at the Castro Theatre (429 Castro Street). Randy Jones , the original cowboy from the Village People, will be performing live followed by a screening of Can't Stop the Music and a sing-along version of "Y.M.C.A." led by Jones himself. Tickets for the December 22, 7:30 p.m. show are available at A Different Light for $27.50 per person.

Getting your ship together

P.O. Plus (584 Castro Street) has published a guide to shipping deadlines to help you get your carefully selected gift into appreciative hands in time for the holidays. For domestic Christmas delivery with DHL Ground or FedEx Ground, P.O. Plus owner Paul Moffett suggests shipping by December 17. For UPS, the deadline for ground shipping depends on the destination, so check with staff for specifics. Hard-core procrastinators have until December 21 using DHL Next Day service, or until December 22 with UPS Next Day Air (with Saturday pick-up) or FedEx Overnight. Another hint for simplifying your gift giving is to forego wrapping paper for decorated shipping boxes ($4.99-$5.99) and padded envelopes ($3.99-$4.79).

Spreading holiday warmth

Recently the spirit of giving was manifested in a different way at the offices of Coldwell Banker real estate agent (and former B.A.R. business columnist) Katharine Holland (2355 Market Street). On December 5 Holland hosted her holiday party and a "One Warm Coat" drive to collect coats and blankets for donation to the St. Anthony Foundation , and the coat drive surpassed expectations with a bounty of 250 "gently used" coats and blankets. "It was so successful I may make it a holiday tradition," noted Holland.

For more information on the One Warm Coat campaign, see http://www.onewarmcoat.org/.

A Castro pearl turns 30

Last month the Castro celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Anchor Oyster Bar (579 Castro Street). Owner Roseann Grimm described how she received early support for her fledgling business from the late Supervisor Harvey Milk, who assisted her in acquiring her wine and beer license. In recognition of the long-standing local business, Mayor Gavin Newsom declared November 18 to be "Anchor Oyster Bar Day."

Check out Raymond Flournoy's Castro Shopper blog at http://www.castroshopper.vox.com. Contact him at mailto:castroshopper@yahoo.com.