Columnist Muriel Stevens: Certificates certifiably rewarding

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2000 | 10:07 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at 259-4080 or muriel@lasvegassun.com.

If you're one of those perfect types who shop for holiday gifts in August and have them wrapped and ready by September, this column is not for you. But if you're like the majority of gift givers still looking for ideas, read on.

One of the easiest ways to solve the gift dilemma is with gift certificates. Teenagers adore receiving certificates for music stores, bookstores and movie theaters. These same gifts make adults happy, too, especially those who are difficult to shop for. One of my favorite places for gift certificates is Virgin Records in the Forum Shops at Caesars. The selection of offbeat titles in the book section is cool. Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Borders Books Shop & Cafe have the best all-around selections; Virgin's book selection is much smaller, but more hip.

Restaurant gift certificates are another super gift. American Express card holders can use this service for restaurants across the country. Imagine the pleasure of the recipient who receives a gift to dine at a fine restaurant. Not every city has participating eateries, so call AMEX for a complete list.

And what about a gift certificate for a blimp ride, dance lessons, cooking lessons or spa sessions? Starbucks sells $10 and $15 gift certificates. Trader Joe's and all of our supermarkets sell gift certificates.

For those who abhor shopping on their own, turn to the in-store shopper. Personal shoppers love what they do and know what can be found in every department. It would take hours to find the treasures these "born-to-shop" mavens can lay their hands on in minutes.

Neiman Marcus, Saks and Macy's all have personal shoppers. Give a personal shopper a budget for each gift (most important) on your list, tell them anything they should know about the recipients and relax. They'll do the rest.

Some do's, some don'ts: Don't give fragrances to men or women unless you know their preferences. Fragrances are personal. I'm convinced that unless you know the scent preferred, most of these gifts are returned or recycled.

Don't give electronic gifts to those who still recoil in fright at the thought of anything beyond a manual typewriter (yes, these are still sold).

Do give those who never met an electronic gadget they didn't like, accessories, games and every tschotke (toy) imaginable. These are the same types you gave a water bottle holder/holster to last year.

New trends: For him and her: oversized techno watches ($125 and up) with plastic bands -- the newest design is the curved case Side Watch worn on the inside of the wrist; Calvin Klein messenger bags designed to replace klutzy backpacks. For her: gloves, dressy and casual; hoop earrings with stones; jeweled belts, very retro; handbags with a cell phone pocket; silk roses that can be used as a pin or a barrette. For him: Tornado dual-purpose Data pens that are both a ballpoint pen and a stylus; the MBS Razor, a high-tech crossbreed for use on streets and ski slopes.

Candy still dandy gift: According to the Casual Gifting Survey, 76 percent of women admit to "faking" a positive response to a gift received that they did not like. A whopping 85 percent have never "faked it" for chocolate!