Festive frenzy
How to do the last-minute dash.

By Laura Paskell-Brown

IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN . Despite all your good intentions, it's only 24 hours till the big X day, and you're in trouble. Big trouble. Or at least you were until now. Because we're about to make life easier for those of you who put off buying presents until the last minute. Just choose one of these neighborhoods and you'll find all you need (books, music, jewelry, feather boas) without wasting time in transit between shops. All of these shops are guaranteed to be open on Christmas Eve, though most close before 5 p.m. So don't put off the shopping until midnight, OK? (Note: all San Francisco stores are in the 415 area code; those in the East Bay are in the 510 area code.)

San Francisco

Castro District

There's almost nothing you can't buy in the Castro. Start by fattening up your friends with a prezzie from Joseph Schmidt Confections (3489 16th St., 861-8682), a perennially packed joint where everything tastes divine, from the humble truffles ($19 for 12) to the three-foot-high Santa in the window. If you like your candy with a twist, then head for Faerie Queene Chocolates (415 Castro, 252-5814), where handmade yummies come wrapped in glittery gold paper. Down at Medium Rare Records (2310 Market, 255-7273) the CDs and music DVDs come as raw as you like, with a collection of dance, chill-out lounge, classic soul, and vocals. The motto at Cliff's Variety (479 Castro, 431-5365), hardware store cum gift shop, is "If we don't have it, you don't need it." And who among us doesn't need a set of Axis of Evil Finger Puppets ($20)? A few doors down, A Different Light (489 Castro, 431-0891) stocks gay, lesbian, and transgender literature, as well as tons of stocking fillers such as calendars and stuffed animals, while Worn out West (582 Castro, 431-6020) sells new and secondhand jeans, flannel shirts, and leather goods, perfect for all those cowboys on your list. If you're sick of the kids growing out of their Christmas clothes by Easter, then pop into Peek-a-Bootique (1306 Castro, 641-6192) and kit them out with secondhand toys, equipment, and clothing. Drop in at Tibet Shop (4100 19th St., 982-0326) and you won't be able to resist dropping some cash. Beautiful gifts include silky, soft pashminas (from $60) and peacock feather fans ($25).

Mission District and Noe Valley

Keep your pals happy with gift baskets of the finest foods (starting at $50) from Bi-Rite Market (3639 18th St., 241-9773). Feeling cheesed off? Plump for a stylish fondue set ($60) or a wedge or two from the 24th Street Cheese Company (3893 24th St., 821-6658). There's no shortage of reading matter down here, what with progressive co-op Modern Times (888 Valencia, 282-9246), San Francisco Mystery Bookstore (4175 24th St., 282-7444), science fiction-fantasy-horror book store Borderlands Books (866 Valencia, 824-8203) and Abandoned Planet (518 Valencia, 861-4695). And if that's too intellectual, then there're gift shops aplenty too: you'll find Indonesian jewelry, sushi sets, and sarongs at Toko Imports (3910 24th St., 206-9838), Latin American folk art, cards, and clothing at Casa Bonampak (3331 24th St., 642-4079), garden-inspired gifts at Paxton Gate (824 Valencia, 824-1872), and candles at Lady Luck Candle Shop (311 Valencia, 621-0358). Aquarius Records (1055 Valencia, 647-2272) might be small, but it's got cutting-edge stuff. Don't forget to shop for accessories, knickknacks, and clothing at Therapy (545 Valencia, 861-6213) before picking up plenty of pleasurable presents for your loved one at the new Good Vibrations (603 Valencia, 522-5460).

North Beach

Soothe your last-minute flap with a leisurely stroll/dash down Grant and Columbus Avenues. Ignore snotty sales staff and focus your attention on the stunning collection of underwear at Alla Prima, (1420 Grant, 397-4077). A pair of La Perla panties might set you back $60, but boy are they gonna get you a lot of lovin'. If undergarments are far too "done" for you, then swing by Aria (1522 Grant, 433-0219), a curiosity shop stuffed with one-off ornaments, vintage photos (from $1), paintings, and cute crystal jewelry boxes ($95). From hip 'n' happenin' to comfy and classic, MAC (Modern Appealing Clothing; 1543 Grant, 837-1604) will appeal to the multiple women in your life. Keep them warm with scarves ($78) and socks ($20) from avant garde Belgian designers. Just next door, Kathleen Dooly runs Columbine Design (1541 Grant, 434-3016), a veritable Aladdin's cave of natural history gifts. She sells seashells from three for $1 to one for $100, very un-PC coral (her last supply), framed insects and butterflies starting at $30, flowers, plants, and a few pieces of taxidermy (nothing weird or illegal). The offerings on Columbus include the ever popular Molinari (373 Columbus, 421-2337), purveyor of top-notch deli food, and City Lights Books (261 Columbus, 362-8193), bookshop, historic landmark, and holiday gift shop all in one.

Potrero Hill

Not the most obvious of shopping districts, we grant you, but the lines will be shorter and the parking more plentiful, and the shopping ain't half bad either. Shop to your heart's content at the Butler and the Chef (1011 25th St., 642-6440), a très elegant store packed to the rafters with French "bar and kitchen antiques." Pick up a 1950s champagne bucket for $30 or a mustard pot from the 1920s for only $15. Continue doing your bit for U.S.-French relations at the Wine House (129 Carolina, 355-9463), which specializes in French wines. There are tons of bottles under $15 and a bunch of tasty champagnes to boot. Friendly staff and myriad possibilities await you at Dandelion (55 Potrero, 436-9500), a cute lil' gift store that won't rip you off, while the offerings at Collage Gallery (1345 18th St., 282-4401) are all handmade by local designers and include jewelry, scarves, candles, and ceramics. Stop by Christopher's Books (1400 18th St., 255-8802) for reading material, and then make your way over to Arch Drafting Supplies (99 Missouri, 433-2724), where the quirky gifts include items such as Ugly Dolls (scary looking but cuddly as hell, $29.95) and baby onesies declaring, "I might barf" and "I eat dirt." ($22).

East Bay

Fourth Street, Berkeley

Easily accessible by public transit (BART to Downtown Berkeley and then bus 51) or by car (immediately off the University exit on I-80/I-580), Fourth Street is the Berkeley equivalent of New York's City Fifth Avenue, so don't bother going if you're broke. Are your friends right ugly? Then get them some coverup at M.A.C. (1850 Fourth St., 849-9480), Benefit (1831 Fourth St., 981-9858), or Aveda (1846 Fourth St., 849-0992), upscale beauty stores within spitting distance of one another on Fourth Street at Hearst. If there's no hope, improve their minds instead with some quality reading. Builders Booksource (1817 Fourth St., 845-6874) can satisfy all of your architectural, design, and home-building book needs, while Cody's Books (1730 Fourth St., 559-9500) will provide the rest. For the music-lover in your life, Hear Music (1809 Fourth St., 204-9595) offers one of the most accessible, interesting, and wide-ranging collections we've ever heard. If you're looking for home furnishings, then you're in the right place, with everything from the thrifty Crate and Barrel (1785 Fourth St., 528-5500) and Dansk (1760 Fourth St., 528-9226) outlet stores to a more-money-than-sense Design Within Reach (only open till 2 p.m.; 1770 Fourth St., 524-1994). Get everything you think your mates ever wanted (and a lot you never thought of) at Zosaku (1780 Fourth St., 524-7407), a posh gift shop with pretty and practical presents. Run out of old newspapers to use as wrapping paper? Among the goodies at Miki's Paper (1801 Fourth St., 845-9530) are not only beautiful handcrafted sheets of paper but also writing sets, gift boxes, and much more. If you find them a little pricey, fear not, because the more economical card and paper shop Papyrus (1793 Fourth St., 524-4580) is only a few steps away.

College Avenue, Berkeley/Oakland

Winding its way through Oakland and Berkeley, College Avenue has copious stores to capture your attention. Get off BART at Rockridge and check out Saturn Records (5488 College, 654-0335), a great find for anyone who likes music of the vinyl variety. Heading in the Berkeley direction you'll find Maison d'Etre (5640 College, 658-2801), a gift store for the tasteful, overflowing with books, glassware, pottery, and more. You'll find wine at Vino (6319 College, 652-6317) and sweeties galore (including homemade fudge) at the Candy Store (6311 College, 547-9338), and if you're still not there yet, Heartfelt (6309 College, 655-9806) and Impressions (6251 College, 658-2840) will help fill in the gaps with photo frames, jewelry, soaps, artwork, pottery, candles, and stationery. At Ashby Avenue, Elements (2937 College, 548-6876) is the place to go for sexy undies, jewelry, and bath stuff, while Sweet Dreams (2921, 2901, and 2903 College, 548-8697) has not one but three stores selling candy, clothing, baby clothing, toys, and gifts.

Downtown San Francisco

There are even a few places to try in the busy downtown area. The Ferry Building Market Place (Embarcadero at Market, S.F. www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com) has plentiful, cheap parking, live carolers, and multiple cafés at which to rest your weary soul. Highlights include the Gardener, gift store Sur la Table, a branch of Scharffen Berger chocolates, and the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchants. Most stores will be open till at least 5 p.m. You can also try the lovely gift shop at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (151 Third St., 357-4035).