It's after Black Friday, and you still have a half a gift list to go. New and innovative gifts seem difficult to scheme up when last year's unreturned gifts are in plain sight and simply begging for you to rewrap them.

Instead of giving mom another sweater and dad a new tie, take advantage of downtown stores with a variety of gifts for every personality on your list, including that picky older sister who already owns everything and anything.

For the technology geeks

"The big thing right now is MP3 players," said Blake Ferchalk, a part-time consultant for Penn State's Computer Store, 12 Willard. In particular, the iPod and Zune, Microsoft's digital audio player, have been a big hit with the students, Ferchalk said.

"In terms of the iPod, black is the most popular color and for Zune, pink and red," Ferchalk said. "People who want to get colored [players] usually want to get colored headphones as well."

In addition, he said almost all Mac products have been well received by students.

"Anything from the Apple series has been popular," he said.

Students and other clientele have also been in the store to purchase Leopard, the recently released new operating system for Apple, Ferchalk said.

Students may also be able to receive discounts on their Penn State Computer Store purchases, according to www.ohr.psu.edu/discounts.

For the adventure-seeking

As far as gifts go, Appalachian Ski and Outdoors, 324 W. College Ave, em-ployee Josh Mc-Clintic said there is a little bit for everyone in the store. He said in particular, headlamps make a great gift and have multiple uses for people who love camping.

McClintic also said performance socks, such as SmartWool and performance base layers, commonly known as long underwear, also make for functional gifts.

If students are in the store with their parents, they sometimes look at skis and snowboards as well, McClintic said. Ski brands at the store include K2, Volkl and Rossignal, and snowboards brands include Burton, Ride, and Arbor.

Fellow employee Megan Ellis said fleeces are popular gifts, especially The North Face brand, in black and brown colors. Also, she said the Life is Good brand shirts, which are cotton T-shirts with sayings, have been a huge gift item recently as well.

For the ultimate Penn State fans

Store floor manager Caroline Mangam said there is a little bit for everyone at The Family Clothesline, 352B E. College Ave.

"For the ultimate Penn State fan, we do have pet apparel," she said. "Anything you can put Penn State on, we have it."

Golf gear, polo shirts and the store's Nike jerseys are also great gifts for anyone, Mangam said.

"What fan doesn't want a jersey?" she said.

In addition to the Nike jerseys in stock, the store also makes customized jerseys. She said the store is able to put any number or name on a jersey.

The store also releases a new holiday ornament each year, in addition to the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) 2008 ornament.

Mangam also recommended the store's Web site, www.pennstateclothes.com, to shoppers, as all of the merchandise in the store is on the Web site.

For the fashion trendsetters

Shoppers worried about staying within their budget can still find fashionable gifts to purchase for those who seem to already own every trend this season. When it comes to getting the best clothes for the least amount of money, Veronica Burk, store manager of Mr. Charles, 228 E. College Ave., said the store has plenty of options. She said the store currently carries Enamel jewelry, which makes a great gift for any girlfriend or mother.

In addition, pashmina scarves are also back this year, Burk said, which the store carries in many different colors.

"It's a no-brainer gift and inexpensive," Burk said.

When parents come in with students, jeans are also a popular gift choice. Currently, jeans in the store are on sale from 20 to 50 percent off.

"You can never have enough jeans," she said.

Suede and water-resistant boots are also a must-have to combat freezing and rainy temperatures, said George Webster, manager of Barefoot, 130 E. College Ave.

"Rain boots are big this season," Webster said. He also said the Ugg boot is still popular as well, especially in chestnut and chocolate brown colors.

If there is a Vera Bradley lover on your list, look no farther than the Home Reflections store, 236 E. Calder Way.

"A lot of students come in and buy Vera Bradley for their friends," employee Donna

Maruszewski said. "We have all the new fall patterns, and the most popular color is Mode, a floral pink."

For the entertainment savvy

"Superbad comes in next week, so there's been a lot of requests for that [movie]," employee Charlene Stagon (senior-journalism) of Mike's Movies, 210 E. Calder Way, said.

Last week, the store put up its Christmas movie display, which includes A Charlie Brown Christmas and Love Actually, which people buy every year, she said.

"The most popular Christmas movies people buy here are A Christmas Story, Elf and Christmas Vacation," Stagon said.

In addition, the store also has a deal where customers can buy two used movies and get one free.

"We also always have a two for $20 wall [buy two movies for $20 dollars], and there are a lot of Christmas movies on that," Stagon said.

In terms of music, Greg Gabbard, owner of City Light Records, 316 E. College Ave., said he hasn't experienced many people buying gifts yet. However, recent albums from The Killers and Sigur Ros have been selling well, in addition to the I'm Not There soundtrack.

For the vinyl lovers, Gabbard said the new Paul McCartney album has just come out.

"I also get a lot of calls from parents asking for store gift certificates for their students," he said.

For the older population on your list

Dipi Sawhney, owner of Reflections, 244 E. Calder Way, said, said the store has many different gift choices for parents. The store has a wine-tasting room, which is popular among the students.

"Many students will come in and buy a bottle of wine to bring home for Christmas," Sawhney said.

The store also sells linens, with many students choosing the April Cornell brand.

In addition, Reflections has locally made and produced goods, such as maple syrup and Italian dipping sauce which make for unique holiday gifts.

Maruszewski also said students often come into Home Reflections to buy gifts for their parents from the Crabtree & Evelyn brand, which consists of perfumes, lotions and hand creams in addition to the items such as face masks from the lavender spa line.