Shopping in Northfield

Tacking up one of B & J’s circular, freshly decorated circles of festivity is an easier way to celebrate the holidays than convincing mall Santas to come to your house or stringing elaborate light patterns that spell out your spec script for Two and a Half Men. Unlike ornaments and knick-knacks, post-holiday-season cleanup won’t require delicate storage. Groupon holders also receive a $5 coupon toward a Fraser fir tree (starting at $36.36), the supposed Rolls Royce of tree breeds. Stop by B & J Trees between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. and bring home some fresh-cut, pine-scented holiday cheer.

At MartinPatrick3, you'll find a well-edited assortment of sophisticated giftable wares, from travel and leisure bags ($245–$940) to sleek wine decanters ($65). A set of faux-croc pencils ($30) near your bed or an absinthe spoon ($10) in the kitchen are instant conversation starters. When demurely displayed on a sink, the nickel-plated Charcoal shave set ($265) distracts washroom visitors from the jellybeans in the bottom of the soap dish. MartinPatrick3 also carries a variety of sartorial standouts, including the Tokyo Bay basic watch ($75) and hedgehog cuff links ($145). The helpful staff can help you navigate the shop’s extensive stock to find the ideal item for anyone, be it an uncle with everything, a sartorially schooled little brother, or a modern man on the run from the U.S. men's gymnastics team.

The daring design duo of Michael Byzewski and Dan Ibarra creates meticulous screen-printed posters. Utilizing their mastery of the three key senses—sight, touch and paper-cut evasion—the crafty companions fabricate award-winning designs that garner attention from publications such as Rolling Stone and Print magazine. Their mutual appreciation of music and design has propelled their poster-making prowess and allowed them the opportunity to create posters for acts such as Josh Ritter ($10+), The Decemberists ($30), and The Dead Weather ($25+). Supply dull walls with interesting conversation points with a poster from Surlyfest 2010 ($20) or the Fifth Annual No Coast Craft-O-Rama ($20), or show affection for the second dimension with a Flatstock 12 poster ($20).

Yelpers give the book store a strong 4.5 stars and agree that it's a charming space with a knowledgeable staff.

Buying souvenirs can get in the way of enjoying your journey, so O’Day Cache's owner handpicks the finest Asian accessories and French milled soaps for your gift-giving needs. Every year, this savvy proprietor sets off on Asia-trekking journeys, spending more than two months overseas annually to stock the Minneapolis Cache with impressive finds and self-designed jewelry, searching hidden-away enclaves and booby-trapped temples for elegant porcelain dinnerware and more. Shoppers can browse an eclectic collection of products that includes antiques, bath and body products, vases, and women’s accessories. Bring good luck with single-cast bronze money sheep covered in Chinese coins ($45), tote your lunch in a multi-tiered tiffin box used for carrying lunch ($40), or pick up a chicken paddle toy for your niece ($4.25). Ranging from everyday practicalities to museum-quality conversation pieces, O’Day Cache’s collection provides an opportunity to peruse in person, instead of venturing halfway around the room to eBay the intriguing imports.

Nielsen's first-rate framing wizards ensconce fine art, photos, mirrors, and memorable keepsakes in a flurry of fashionable custom casings. Prices vary according to materials and size, but customers can opt for offerings such as an 8”x10” plain black frame with regular glass and 2” matting ($147) or an 11”x14” olive-veneer black frame with regular glass and 2” matting ($327). Nielsen's practiced frameworkers enclose mementos with the care and precision of a silk-gloved surgeon, effortlessly easing pieces into an eye-fetching selection of sleek, stylish quadrangles devoid of garish scimitars, semi-precious gems, or distracting chrome skulls.