Local Holiday Small Business Shopping Guide

If the mere thought of braving large crowds at the mall or big-box stores this holiday season makes you tired, you're probably not alone.

Even though Mountain View's replete with the mega-sales of Black Friday mega-stores like , , , and , the city also has small businesses and shops that could have the perfect gift for anyone on your list.

Whether it's a handcrafted item, a gift certificate to you favorite restaurant, beauty salon, spa, dance, yoga or martial arts studio—the city has a broad spectrum of choices sure to fit anyone's taste.

­­Here's a sample what’s available at some small businesses in Mountain View. For a more complete list of local businesses, visit the Mountain Patch Directory by clicking on "Places" in the horizontal menu bar at the top of the page.

, 250 Castro St.

• Stop by this clothing, accessories and home decor store and find really cute, small and affordable items. Check out the Sock It to Me knee-highs for under $10, wall prints for $12.95 or splurge on a studded iPad Case for $48. Store Manager Monica Nungaray encourages people to shop at Therapy because "its a family-owned business, with electic items and anyone can stop in and find something that they like."

, 262 Castro St

• If you have a music lover in your life, this store is right up their alley. They sell instruments like keyboards, harmonicas and saxophones, items specific to musical instruments like strings, picks and sheet music. For the Gleeks you know, a songbook is $16.95.

, 345 Castro St.

• One of the great things about the holidays is that handcrafted gifts are not only cool and thoughtful, but also unique. Consider making a bead necklace, bracelets or earring for your relatives and friends. Or buy them a gift certificate for free jewelry making classes. Store owner Kathleen McCabe-Elsey recommends the customizable kits to make macramé, kumihimo, leather wrap bracelets and even wine glass charms. "We also feature our own line of custom-designed jewelry, Don'Kay Designs, which are one-of-a-kind," she said.

Don't forget to visit our 2011 Holiday Guide for more articles on gift ideas, shopping tips, events, opinions and more.

Happy Holidays from Mountain View Patch!