The time to holiday shop is upon us. Deal-seeking crowds, warzone parking lots and panicked shoppers frothing at the mouth over the latest and greatest technology are already popping up at commercial centers near you. You can face down the holiday soup at the chain stores ... or you can take your shopping local. Tacoma has a pleasing variety of locally owned stores that sell everything from candy to gothwear, antiques to artwork. Custom design your shopping adventure - or allow me to design one for you. A showdown, if you will. New (or newly relocated) shops in Tacoma vs. old (antique stores). Let's get ready to rummmmmbleeeeee!

New: Dwelling

Dwelling is a reincarnation of Dwell, a store formerly located on North 21st Street. The new location opened in 2012 and is one of the relative newcomers to the Stadium District. The shop sells vintage chic and nifty items by local artists, including fabric, jewelry and household stuff galore. This year, there are a few new and great items guaranteed to add some creative oomph to your Christmas. For example - Steel Stockingholders by Tacoma Junk Co. We've all been there - you buy a stocking holder at some chain store, but when you load that baby up, all you wind up with is a bunch of stocking stuffers strewn about your floor. Not so with the Steel Stockingholders. These will hold a full stocking without batting an eye and comes in five fantastic designs. Not good enough for you? Dwelling also features Rosanna dish sets made in Seattle, and hand-knotted semi-precious stone jewelry by Tacoma designer Patty Nulp. 626 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma

Old: Lily Pad Antiques

You can't get older than antiques, and Tacoma's Antique Row makes sure your holiday hunting is filled to the gills with everything from another era. Each store on Antique Row has a focus. Lily Pad Antiques, Collectibles, Comics & Old Toys is a rather self-explanatory title, and the shop is worth exploring. We all know someone who would love a Darth Vader mug, a Popple or a vintage children's book. Relive the 1970s and ‘80s with glee at this shop, and make sure your gift-receiver of choice does as well. Give the gift of Cabbage Patch, Star Wars, X-men, et al. 756 Broadway, Tacoma

New: Giraffe

Giraffe has been a Vashon Island staple for years, but moved to Tacoma in late 2012, bringing with it fair trade home décor from more than 50 countries around the world. Beautiful cotton throws made from repurposed Indian saris, furniture and kitchen wares, and even a few children's toys created from all fair-trade materials await you at Giraffe. This year, watch especially for an entire collection of hand-carved wooden bowls from an artisan group in Peru. The materials are all fair trade and the hardwoods are sustainably grown. Have someone on your Christmas list who tries to be green in all things? You can thank me later. 622 St. Helens, Tacoma

Old: Broadway's Best

It's difficult to find a cooler antique store than Broadway's Best. From wall to wall, you'll find vintage home décor, but don't expect china sets and old paintings. Instead, you'll find brewery memorabilia, vintage records, crazy old clocks and scales and other devices, and ritzy drink sets that look like something out of Mad Men. You'll also find a few of the Never Never Land statues still for sale and tucked throughout the store, but these are a little too large to make good stocking stuffers. 742 Broadway, Tacoma