Openings, closings—and where to get great gifts now.

As sad as I am to report that Uptown Downtown, the nifty home furnishings boutique next to Metro Café on Osprey is closing, it is my obligation as retail therapist to get you over there for Christmas gifts before everything is sold. Owner Judi Summers says the store wasn’t supporting itself, and while her decorating business continues to flourish, the retail component will close when most of the shop’s gorgeous inventory is gone.

Uptown Downtown's stock is going fast at up to 75 percent off.

At least of a third of the stock  is 75 percent off, including incredible banana fiber pillows embellished with bone, shell and embroidery, an assortment of luscious mohair throws ($250 marked down to $62.50) which Judi says didn’t sell in Sarasota because it’s too warm. I bought two as gifts for Northern friends and then decided to keep them. Everything else in the store is either 50 or 25 percent off, including lots of Palacek accessories and some irresistible pillows and textiles from the hottest new home collection: Ankasa, owned by the couture fabric designers who supply Oscar de la Renta, Escada and Vera Wang. Uptown Downtown will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays only from 10 to 4, says Judi, who is hoping to sublet the space.

While everyone’s eyes are on the obvious newcomers to Sarasota’s retail scene (Brooks Brothers on Main and Lemon and today’s much-anticipated debut of Sur La Table at 22 N. Lemon) we’re also about retail therapy: how to fill emotional voids left by Mary’s on Main and Annabelle’s on Osprey Ave. for example. We were thrilled to discover that the torch has been passed. Quite by accident we discovered that Queens' Wreath, the exquisite gem on St Armands Circle has added giftware, porcelain and crystal to its fine jewelry offerings. Handsome mahogany shelves now display Versace vases and decorative plates, Edgar Berebi and L’Objet stemware, picture frames, napkin rings and more.  These brands use 14-karat gold, Swarovski crystals, and Limoges porcelain paste to create giftware that becomes jewelry for the home.

The new crystal and giftware at Queens' Wreath are jewels for the home.

Finally, if you’re wondering where to get your Christopher Radko Christmas ornament fix now that Mary’s is gone, look no further than Madison Park Home Fashion Gallery, where Lance Licciardi and Tim Thomas have taken up the slack. In fact, Tim says Mary Fehily called Radko when she knew she was closing her store and recommended (or hand-picked) Lance and Tim as her successors for the collection. Check out the special Christopher Radko display – up front and center at Madison Park with 42 styles from $43 to $98, including all the new 2007 designs. Now that’s holiday cheer!

Nicola's Journey Stocking, part of the Christopher Radko 2007 collection at Madison Park.