I love Asheville this time of year for many reasons, but mainly because I bet that over half of its residents have yet to finish their Christmas shopping, making me feel less alone. Because let's face it, we think we are just too cool and too laid back to make lists, check them twice, wrap all our gifts with recycled paper and have them under the tree before the 22nd of December. So, I’ve compiled a list of nine great gifts ideas, all local, all purchasable before the big day to be sure to wow anyone. 1.) For the Beer Lover. This is a given. With over twenty local breweries in town, a private tour is a perfect specialized gift. Or stop by the merchandise booth and pick up a tee, hoodie, koozie, or hat. 2.) For the Foodie. You can go wild with this one. Arrange a personalized basket of local goodies like, 12 Bones BBQ sauce, Tupelo Honey Café jams, French Broad Chocolate Lounge truffles (have you seen their new space?!?), stuff from ImLadisFarm, some Lusty Monk Mustards, Sunburst Trout Smoked Trout,  Hickory Nut Gap anything, really. Just visit some of our awesome local grocers, select, customize, and delight.  3.) For the Music Lover. Harvest Records in West Asheville is the mecca. With CD’s and vinyl’s ranging from jazz to reggae your every music need will be met. They even put together their own holiday gift guide which you can check out here. 4.) For the Fashionista. For the woman in your life who always seems to be ahead of the trends stop by these local boutiques to pick up bright tights, darling headbands and cozy sweaters. Minx, Twist, Boutique LP, Frock, Union His & Her, and Honeypot, and Hip Replacements who also have awesome vintage finds.  5.) For the Concert Lover. Music is at the heart of Asheville. And with countless music venues, tickets to a killer show or a gift certificate are ideal. The Orange Peel, Isis Music Hall, The Grey Eagle and The Odditoirum all provide gift cards and a great 2015 line up. 6.) For the Kids. Children’s books are always a great go-to. Malaprops Bookstore carries a wide variety of classics and locally authored stories along with Downtown Books & News (who has a great internatinal magazine selection as wel). Or if you’re in the market for something a little more personal check out I play. store in East Asheville. With strollers, bibs, eco-friendly baby food processors and unique toys, you’ll be sure to find just about anything to please the ankle biters. 7.) For the Outdoorsman/woman. This is another easy one stop shop thanks to Mast General, Second Gear, Diamond Brand, and Frugal Backpacker. A simple Nalgene filled with power bars or a new set of climbing ropes and gloves (or warm furry socks) is a great and simple buy. 8.) For the Older Fam. Step out of the ordinary cliché slippers and puzzles and try the gift that keeps on giving. A subscription to the Asheville Citizen Times newspaper is perfect for the news junkie. Or try a WNC magazine subscription with six beautiful issues published each year. It’s a real Western North Carolina treat for anyone. 9.) When All Else Fails. Gift cards people! They are great and can be procured at most places. Always call the businesses first to see if they offer them, if not, check out: www.giftrocket.com for local restaurants, venues and stores all offering shiny plastic.