Where do you like to shop for unique holiday gifts in L.A.?

"The Thank You Mart in Westwood. Everything is $3.99 and it's a Japanese-owned store, and they get a lot of really cool accessories and belt buckles and sunglasses ... They have vintage things, they have brand new things, great little accessory gift items. It's awesome."

-- David Dodds, 39, West Los Angeles, ambushed by Brand X's Cheryl A. Guerrero

Tell Brand X: Where do you like to shop for unique gifts?

HOLIDAY GUIDE 2010: Perhaps because of the hot “Mad Men” throwback styles or the not-so-hot-economy, blowout salons are making a comeback in L.A. These casual salons could become the next mani-pedi and an inexpensive option for a unique holiday hairstyle.

“There was a gap between high-end salons … and discount chains,” says Alli Webb, who this year turned her mobile blowout business into a series of studios, aptly named Dry Bar.

The bright and airy salon — with locations in Brentwood, West Hollywood and Studio City — is a bit more bar than salon, with flat-screen TVs, plenty of hair products, plus bubbly and wine on the menu. Also on the menu are cocktail-themed 'dos for $35, including the Mai Tai, with messy, beachy waves à la Kate Hudson; the Cosmopolitan with big, loose curls; and the Southern Comfort, “which is our big hair with lots of volume,” says Webb. Her holiday recommendations after the jump >>

From homemade luxuriant bath salts to personalized preserves, Brand X is all about employing the DIY spirit during the holiday season.

The folks over at Make Me Hungry have an awesome aromatic holiday project that does just that, utilizing local farmers market herbs to create a rustic wreath to adorn your home.

It's made by weaving a variety of market-fresh rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano and mint into a simple grape vine wreath from Michael's.

The best part? This fresh and festive decoration can be made for under $10. (Head over to the site for a step-by-step demo.)

But if the tryptophan from your turkey leftovers has you feeling lethargic and less-than-crafty, we've got your back. Here's a guide of gifts from these local Etsy producers that'll do just fine, too.

-- Krista Simmons

Follow me on Twitter @kristasimmons

Photo credit: Lisa Cohen

Jewelry designer Amanda Thomas isn't the average 23-year-old. When she was 16, a Fred Segal buyer spotted the Los Angeles native, and her hobby catapulted into a career overnight. Her jewelry line called Luv Aj is now sold at the trendiest boutiques in L.A. including Madison and Kitson, and the designs make the perfect gift for a savvy fashionista.

Named after the way Thomas signed notes, Luv Aj has evolved with Thomas' personal taste, which could be described as “feminine rocker.” She manages to soften up the look of chains and spikes with delicate rose gold or an enamel flower.

“I like things that are a little edgier and chunkier [now],” Thomas said. “Whereas when I was 16, all I wanted was vintage charm necklaces … so it's just changing with the tides.”

In college, when friends were reading the tabloids to keep up to the date on the latest gossip, Thomas was checking in to see which celebrity was wearing her styles. During her first year at the University of San Diego, her pieces were featured in ELLE magazine.

At one point, Luv Aj sold totes. The celeb-oriented designs were plastered with the faces of the Olsen twins or the words “Free Martha,” for Martha Stewart. Never in her wildest dreams did Thomas think they'd get into the hands of the lady herself … in jail.

“Mark Burnett's wife was in Fred Segal and she saw it and Mark [producer of “Survivor” and “The Apprentice”] was going to go visit her in jail and he gave it to her,” Thomas said.

Thomas couldn't be more connected to her California roots. She grew up in West L.A., learned how to make jewelry at Madley in Venice Beach and left the University of San Diego for the famed Otis College of Art & Design, graduating last year. Continue reading >>

Today in Viral Marketing We Wish We Could Take Credit For: Controversial young hip-hop crew Odd Future is playing a sold-out show at the Echo on Wednesday and decided to send fans on a scavenger hunt for tickets -- a game that concluded last night with Twitter user Jensen Karp finding a pair in a Brand X box on Fairfax. Swag! Hopefully this detail won't be left out in their next New Yorker profile.

In the meantime, those who haven't scored passes to the show should keep an eye on the group's profanity-laden Twitter page for clues to their next ticket hide-out.

-- David Greenwald

Photo: The hidden pair of Odd Future tickets, discovered Monday night. Credit: Jensen Karp

All Jarred Up

HOLIDAY GUIDE 2010: Whether it's beer, a terrine or panna cotta, we can't help but be excited when comestibles are presented in a Mason jar. Teri Hiles, creator of All Jarred Up, capitalizes on this homey sentiment with their adorable jarred pies, which come in flavors like “Peachy Keen,” “How Do You Like Them Apples?” and “Pear-ed Together.” The pies are made to order, topped with an adorable checkered handkerchief and shipped the same day to ensure freshness. Jars come in 8-ounce ($7) and 16-ounce ($13), and can be ordered on their Etsy page. www.alljarredup.etsy.com

I Love Popcakes

Three local moms conceived their cakes-on-a-stick business organically. After constant requests to bring the customizable pops to their children's parties, the ladies decided to turn a profit off their talent.

Inspired by Bakerella's similarly shaped creations, Janice Ho and her two baker buddies offer a variety of cake bases that can be mixed and matched with various frostings and toppings. (The chocolate with milk chocolate frosting and toffee was to-die.) Currently I Love Popcakes offers snow-cap-wearing monkeys and penguins, and they'll also be doing a variety of holiday-themed cakes to be announced soon, sold at $2.50 a pop. They also do customized popcakes to order if you'd like to get crafty yourself. http://ilovepopcakes.com

Perishable

The Chicks with Knives are no strangers to the local pop-up scene, so their latest Perishable pop-up pickle shop was naturally a success. Using fresh, local ingredients, the two L.A. ladies crafted various jams and pickles, including bacon jam, Mexican-style carrots and jalapenos and curried Asian pears. The ladies' wares will be available for purchase online on Dec. 9, with small sizes running $6 and large going for $8. www.perishablepickle.com

Chocolate Box's secret stashes

This Malibu-based chocolatier recently started offering some of their secret, off-menu hot-chocolate blends to the public in cool glass boxes that resemble the traditional gingerbread house (Let's be honest: A box full of chocolate is way better than spiced crackers.) Flavors like the Spicy Latina (chili pepper and cinnamon), Indian-inspired Cardamom Mintranda (cardamom and mint), Caramellow (caramel and help) and Her Name is Earl (Earl Grey and violet). Orders for the hot-cocoa combos ($29) can be called into the store, or bought in-house.

3939 Cross Creek Road, Malibu; (310) 456-7977; www.chocolateboxcafe.com

-- Krista Simmons

Photos: A pecan pie from All Jarred Up, Inc.; Popcakes in seasonal styles; pickles from Perishable; Chili hot chocolate from Chocolate Box Cafe. Credits: Courtesy of Bread & Butter Public Relations; David Greenwald for Brand X; Rachael Narins; Krista Simmons for Brand X

The band: Kisses, a lovebird duo led by indie-pop act Princeton's Jesse Kivel and fashion blogger-turned-keyboardist Zinzi Edmundson.

The sound: The group's "The Heart of the Nightlife," a set of lo-fi electronica driven by Kivel's Jens Lekman-like baritone, offers of-the-moment disco influences mellow enough for after the after party -- and romantic enough for a dinner date. Live, the group's surprisingly sample-free set proves the songs work equally well without a laptop.

The random: The band's exotic tone comes from Santa Monica native Kivel's globe-trotting days as a travel writer.

The details: "The Heart of the Nightlife" arrived on label This Is Music earlier this month. The band won’t be joining Lekman, as was previously announced, for a DJ session at the Swede’s Mondrian SkyBar concert on Saturday, but keep an eye on Brand X for future dates.

The music: Download two tracks from the new album below.

MP3: Kisses - "Kisses"
MP3: Kisses - "Bermuda"

-- David Greenwald

Photo: Kisses far away from home in Manchester, England, moments after their debut U.K. performance at the In The City festival in October 2010. Credit: David Greenwald

Hilarious master of self-deprecation David Sedaris has a new book, “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk,” and he'll be at Vroman's Books in Pasadena to present and sign it. If his track record is any indication (“Me Talk Pretty One Day” is one of the funniest books we've ever read), his appearance should be both hilarious and insightful.

Vroman's Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; 7 p.m.; free with purchase of book, $21.99; www.vromansbookstore.com

-- Daniel Siegal

Photo: Author David Sedaris. Credit: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images

Ronald Isley honored at Soul Train Awards: The Isley Brothers great was released from a jail stint over tax evasion earlier this year. Don't call it a comeback! [MTV]

Speaking of comebacks: Nearly forgotten soul singer Freddie Jackson, who has 10 No. 1 hits but none we can remember, has released a new album, "For You," just in time for the holidays. [Amazon]

Comcast taking aim at Netflix? The cable provider is reportedly charging extra fees to a Netflix intermediary over the service's bandwith consumption, drawing the ire of Net Neutrality supporters (not to mention Netflix supporters). [Bloomberg]

Mandy Moore, burger eater: The "Tangled" star says if she wants a burger and fries, "I'm going to do that." (So are we. With a beer flight.) Note to People magazine: Stop asking adorable, interesting actresses what they had for dinner, please. [People]

NASA announcement coming: Did they  discover life on one of the moons of Saturn? Stay tuned for an "astrobiology" press conference on Thursday. Fingers crossed it's the aliens from "Alien!" [Gawker]

-- David Greenwald

Photo: Ronald Isley takes the stage at the 2010 Soul Train Awards. Credit: Moses Robinson/Getty Images

Nick Cave has been making rock music for longer than most artists today have been alive, and Grinderman is his effort to set the record straight on what real rock and roll is. Grinderman is stripped down, noisy lecherous rock music, and the restless energy contained in their sophomoroe album, “Grinderman 2,” proves that it was a very good idea for Nick Cave to pick up a guitar.  Unfortunately, it sold out since we circled it on our calendar, so either scour Craigslist, haggle with a scalper, or pick from one of the other excellent concerts listed below. 

-- Daniel Siegal

The Music Box at the Fonda, 6126 Hollywood Blvd.; 8 p.m.; $32.50 - SOLD OUT

More Tuesday Concerts:

Million Kids, Symbol Six, Soul Trash @ Redwood, 9 p.m.
New Kingdom, XDAO @ Silverlake Lounge, 8:30 pm.
Wires in the Walls, The Whisky Saints @ Hotel Café, 7 p.m.
Can of Jam @ House of Blues Sunset, 8 p.m.
Faith No More @ Hollywood Palladium, 7 p.m.
The Frames @ Avalon, 7 p.m.
T.Mills @ Troubadour, 9 p.m.
Kitten, A House for Lions @ Echo, 8 p.m.
Roger Waters: the Wall Live @ Staples Center, 8 p.m.
Street Drum Corps @ Roxy Theatre, 8 p.m.

Photo: Grinderman - L to R - Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey, Jim Sclavunos. Credit: Polly Borland