A few stocking starters

So you know you should be shopping for Christmas but you're just not yet ready to drop the big bucks. Here's a few local hints to get you going, painlessly.

The MOCA store has cool arty holiday cards; the pic above is from the card designed by SoCal artist Mark Ryden.

CandyBlog reviews Sharfenberger Chocolate Coverd Cacao Nibs, finds them superb.

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog was NBC's top download on their first day of jumping on the iTunes video bandwagon (via Fishbowl LA). He's $25 at the NBC online store.

The Giant Robot store is chock full of new t-shirts, calendars for '06, candy and toys. You can shop online, on Sawtelle or in Silverlake.

Coffee Bean is stocked to the gills with The Perfect Holiday Gifts. At least, that's what they're calling caffeine and chocolate.

If you're still not in the mood, Little Tokyo grocery store Mitsuwa has Christmas carols playing over their speakers -- in Japanese.