Known as "the holidays", this is the time of year when we have to quit blowing all our expendable income on candy and pr0n, and must use it instead to buy what they call "presents" for those other than ourselves. Insert tired cliche here: blah blah, the holidays suck, buying presents is expensive and stressful, blah. Almost all of us still have to do it.

So, what better place to shop for the holidays than Union Square, which is home to exactly the same stores you can find in any reasonably sized town -- all the better for your recipient's inevitable need to return whatever you gave them for cash or store credit.

This helpful Examiner piece helps you figure out the public transportation and parking challenges associated with a holiday trip to Union Square. Hey, did you know that "Sunday and Monday are the least crowded days" in Union Square? Really? Sunday? How can that be right? Then we realized that the information was from Muni, and that its chances of being right were not so high.

Still, we will be taking their advice and shopping on a Monday after work, as opposed to high noon on a Saturday. How about you? What are your holiday shopping strategies? Have you started your holiday shopping yet? Are you planning on going on Black Friday? Let us know in the comments!