Some suggestions for a big-box free December:
Yes, we're independent, so you can buy books from us without breaking any of those pledges you've made. We have a whole bunch of Classics for kids and adults at very nice discounts. And we've just introduced a nifty, colorful new NYRB Classics tote bag. If you spend more than $75, you get one for free. The bags are also available for under $10.
Books on the Nightstand has just begun a gift ideas round up. They link to Librarything, not to a store, but searching for a book at Indiebound will point to a local bookseller who stocks it. Indiebound has also introduced a wishlist function, anyone try it yet?
The handmade pledge was set up by a consortium of crafty groups and publishers like Etsy, Craft
magazine, Interweave, and Design Sponge to encourage people to make holiday gifts, or to buy them from micro-producers. Etsy also has a local seller index. Enter the name of a town, and up pop producers in that area. Similar human-made gifts can be found at The Renegade Craft Fair, which holds several events around the country, as do Bazaar Bizarre and Maker Faire.
Our favorite holiday fair is the Small and Independent press fair in Manhattan. Every year the participating presses seem ever more diverse and interesting (if not for last year's fair, we wouldn't have known about Mark Batty publishers, for instance), and the speakers and events more impressive. This year the fair is being held on December 6th and 7th. Come say hello to staff members who should probably keep their days jobs and pick up some bargains.
