It's the Holiday Season and El Cajon Boulevard has it All!

Now that we are entering the holiday season make sure to support your local community by shopping on El Cajon Boulevard. Supporting local businesses allows you to avoid the headaches associated with the large shopping malls in addition to improving your local economy. The following list includes only a sample of businesses in the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement District that offer an abundance of unique goods and services.

There are few things more exciting than watching kids open their holiday gifts. Frank the Train Man, at 4223 Park Blvd, has been offering model trains to both young and old for decades. If your special someone is more interested in action sports, drop by the Route 44 skate shop at 2002 El Cajon Blvd for the best in skateboards, clothing and accessories. There is even a rail and half-pipe set-up at the side of the store for the kids to practice. On the bicycle front, Pedal Pushing Bicycle Shop, located at 4966 El Cajon Blvd, offers a great assortment of affordable bicycles and accessories for both young and old two-wheel commuters. If it's a soccer fan you are looking to please then head over to Soccer Solutions at 4241 El Cajon Blvd.

If you're thinking about the perfect place to book a holiday party, where else but Lips can you enjoy numbers such as "Twelve Drunk Days of Christmas?" Hot "ladies", lip syncing perfection, inappropriate humor, stiff cocktails and dinner is certainly a memorable way to celebrate the holiday season. Face it, these "girls" are professionals and they've been doing it for nine years – in heels and duck tape.

Thinking about where to go for a classic, romantic holiday dinner? The Red Fox Inn at 2223 El Cajon Blvd harkens back to a time when stars such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin enjoyed martinis and first-rate continental cuisine such as steak and seafood. Today, the regular customers love that it has never changed, the dim lit ambiance, the menu, the bar, the lounge entertainment and the staff have been around for decades. Step inside and enjoy it for yourself.

El Cajon Boulevard has always been a great destination for dining. Decades ago, the drive-ins and delis were the local's favorite, but now the fabulous array of ethnic restaurants attracts people throughout San Diego. Here is a list of great restaurants that sell gift cards:

Dao Son Noodle House - 2322 El Cajon Blvd
Bangkok Spices Thai - 2832 El Cajon Blvd
Pomegranate Russian-Georgian Restaurant - 2302 El Cajon Blvd
Lovin Hut- 1905 El Cajon Blvd
Tioli's Crazee Burger - 4201 30th St

For many people the holiday season means Christmas! There's no better place to purchase a special gift for your religious friends and family members than at O'Connors Church Goods, located at 3720 El Cajon Blvd. Whether it's jewelry, rosaries, saint medallions or spiritual literature, the people at O'Connors have a lot of pride in serving their customers and maintaining a unique business that dates back three generations.

Now that it is time to start shopping, how about this year you make ‘green' the theme of your holiday gifts? Plants always make for a nice gift, but the cacti and succulents sold at Exotic Gardens, located at 2212 El Cajon Blvd are pretty and environmentally sensitive. San Diego's unique mild climate and low rainfall make it ideally suited for growing succulents outside. Unlike lawns, succulents can survive months-long droughts and still look good, while providing a more dramatic and colorful look to any landscape.

Getting together with friends and family is great reason to get dolled up and look your best, so why not treat yourself to a haircut and a manicure and pedicure for the holidays? Salon Cabana at 2200 El Cajon Blvd has a rating of 5 stars on yelp and comes highly recommended. The salon is decorated in a 1950's tiki style and is located in a well maintained craftsman house. Amongst all the nail salons on El Cajon Boulevard, DK Nails at 3815 El Cajon Blvd and Sandy Nails at 1965 El Cajon Blvd are the two most preferred by San Diego Yelpers (www.yelp.com). While you're focused on treating yourself you may want to consider some gentle, specific and effective chiropractic care. Chiropractique, located at 2301 El Cajon Boulevard was voted best Chiropractic center in the CityBeat's 2009 Best of San Diego.

We certainly haven't covered all the bases of gift giving options without a bit of sweetness. Have no fear, the Eclipse Chocolat team is happy to accommodate your corporate or personal gifts! From the salty peanut butter toffee, to the blackberry sage dark chocolate bar, to a Champagne and truffle tasting, a gift card, gift box, or season tasting will provide endless possibilities. If you'd prefer something more homemade, make a personalized gift basket. An assortment of goodies from the North Park Produce at 3551 El Cajon Blvd such as dried fruits, nuts, cheese and holiday cookies will certainly go over well.

The El Cajon Boulevard Business District has over 900 business that offer fabulous goods and services to our local community. Now that we are entering the holiday season, make sure to try to shop local on El Cajon Boulevard first. From cooking, to dining and entertainment, to the most unique gift options in town, we hope you find the Boulevard Holiday Gift Guide helpful. When out shopping on the Boulevard, don't forget to check out the dazzling display of holiday lights on the seven bridges that span Interstate 805 in Mid-City San Diego, brought to you by the a partnership by the area's business improvement associations.