As the temperature is dropping and the winter holidays approach, it’s a perfect time to get more winter gear! You don’t need to trek out to a mall or superstore to get these goods either, as there’s a lot going on right here downtown.

What follows is a list of downtown merchants who sell cold weather gear, and what discounts apply for purchasing goodies:

Name: Acme Mercantile
Website: www.acmemercantile.com
Address: 111 W. Liberty
What type of winter gear they sell: hat & scarf sets, gloves
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Scarves, gloves, Leopard and zebra fezes

Name: 16 Hands
Website: www.16handsgallery.com
Address: 216 S. Main
What type of winter gear they sell: hats, scarves and gloves
go!pass or other discount? 15% off cards and books for go!pass users
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Local artists working with fleece and knitwear, Neat winter hats, Messenger bags

Name: Bivouac
Website: www.bivouacannarbor.com
Address: 336 S. State
What type of winter gear they sell: boots, jackets, hats and scarves, gloves and mittens, high visibility gear, fleece and long underwear, socks, grips you can wear on your shoes
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Balaclava-covers head and neck, Merino wool base layers for tops and bottoms, Yak Tracks (grips for shoes)

Name: Downtown Home and Garden
Website: www.downtownhomeandgarden.com
Address: 210 S. Ashley St
What type of winter gear they sell: grips for your shoes so you don’t slip on the ice, hot coffee and hot cocoa
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Stabilicers (shoe grips), Muck Co. water-proof flexible boots, Winter work gloves

Name: Elmo’s Mainstreet T-Shirts
Website: www.mainstreett-shirts.com
Address: 220 South Main St
go!pass or other discount? $5 off any A2 t-shirt until 12/25/08 for go!pass users
What type of winter year they sell: Hats and gloves

Name: Footprints on Main
Website: www.shopfootprints.com
Address: 217 S Main St
What type of winter gear they sell: boots
go!pass or other discount? 10% for go!pass users
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Merrill boots and Clogs, Encore Stitch boot (warm and stylish for women), Keen Newport Trail for Men, Baffin Winter Boots

Name: Footprints on South U
Website: www.shopfootprints.com
Address: 1200 S. University
What type of winter gear they sell: boots
go!pass or other discount? 10% for go!pass users
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Keen Boots

Name: Fourth Ave Birkenstocks
Website: www.birkenstock.com
Address: 209 N. Fourth
What type of winter gear they sell: boots
go!pass or other discount? 10% for go!pass users
Staff recommendations for items they sell: This is a good time to get summer shoes repaired, Smart Wool socks, Smart Wool full-zip sweater jacket (several colors), DigiWalker Pedometers, Sheepskin boots from Warmbat, Finn Comfort boots

Name: Kiwanis
Website: www.myannarbor.net/kiwanis/
Only open Saturdays from 9am-12pm
What type of winter gear they sell: a used clothing store with all sorts of winter weather gear from hats to jackets to boots

Name: Middle Earth
Website: www.middleearthgifts.com
Address: 1209 S. University
What type of winter gear they sell: See staff suggestion column.
go!pass or other discount? 10% off non-sale merch for go!pass users
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Hats and gloves and scarves, Smoking Mitten, (holes for a cigarette), Moxies (moccasin slipper), Coffee and tea mugs

Name: Moosejaw
Website: www.moosejaw.com
Address: 327 S. Main
What type of winter gear they sell: jackets, fleece, mittens and gloves, hats and scarves, warm socks
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Arc’teryx covert scarf, Marmot Randonnee gloves, Patagonia big mountain beanie, Wind proof and water resistant clothing, Water proof, gore-tex boots, Hard shell and a couple of layers

Name: Orchid Lane
Address: 419 E. Liberty
What type of winter gear they sell: hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters
go!pass or other discount? 10% for go!pass users
Staff recommendations for items they sell: -hats, gloves-Mucklucs (slippers made by a co-op), winter jackets, wool sweaters, slippers.

Name: People’s Food Co-op
Website: www.peoplesfood.coop/
Address: 216 N. Fourth St
What type of winter gear they sell: tights, some scarfs and hats

Name: Red Shoes
Website: www.redshoeshomegoods.com
Address: 332 S. Ashley
What type of winter gear they sell: See Staff Suggestions.
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Winter wool scarves and gloves made out of recycled sweaters, Baby hats

Name: Running Fit
Website: www.runningfit.net
Address: 123 E. Liberty
What type of winter gear they sell: See staff suggestion column.
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Yak Tracks: helps to walk on ice, Hats and gloves, Wool socks

Name: Sam’s Store
Address: 207 E. Liberty
What type of winter gear they sell: boots, jackets, hats and scarves, gloves and mittens, fleece and long underwear, socks
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Waterproof and breathable rain jackets by Columbia, Duofold long underwear, Hats, face masks, and gloves of all prices.

Name: Sweetwater’s
Website: www.sweetwaterscafe.com
Address: 123 W. Washington
What type of winter gear they sell: Hot Coffee, Tea and Hot Cocoa
go!pass or other discount? 10% off your order with your go!pass

Name: Suwanee Springs
Address: 306 S. Main
What type of winter gear they sell: sweaters and more
go!pass or other discount? 10% off with your go!pass
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Rebecca Beeson tops, Level 99 Jeans, Hobo Handbags

Name: Tortoise and Hare
Website: www.tortoiseandhare.com
Address: 209 E. Liberty
What type of winter gear they sell: see suggestions.
go!pass or other discount? 10% for go!pass users
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Nike Sphere Dry Hoodie, Winter run mits, Smart Wool Socks

Name: Van Boven Shoes
Address: 17 Nickels Arcade
What type of winter gear they sell: boots , warm hats
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Boots, gloves, hats, Ugg Australia and Ecco Brands

Name: V2V
Address: 407 N. Fifth
What type of winter gear they sell: see staff suggestions
go!pass or other discount? 10% off home products after 4pm with go!pass
Staff recommendations for items they sell: Hats, gloves, scarves, and jackets (huge assortment)

Yes, I know it’s cold and snowy.  But with the right gear and the right attitude YOU CAN incorporate some active transportation into your weekly commute. Here’s how:

As we head into the season of office parties and holiday meals, chances are you’re thinking about how to keep off those extra pounds.

Well, a sure way to keep off the holiday weight gain is to stay active.  And what better way to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine than by walking and biking to work?

On average, walking just 1 mile burns 152 calories.  Biking burns 36 calories a mile.  So just walking or biking even one day a week in the winter can help offset all the extra goodies we eat this season.

5 ways to incorporate walking and biking into your daily commute:

□ If you take the bus, get off the bus early on your way home and walk or bike the rest of the way.

□ If you drive your car, park somewhere like the Pioneer Park and Ride Lot (where you can park for free with your getDowntown go!pass) and walk to work from there.

□ Bring exercise clothes with you on your way to work as well as a small backpack you can walk or run with.  Change at the end of the day, put your purse or wallet (and keys) in your small backpack and run home or to a Park and Ride Lot.

□ Park further away from work and walk to work.

□ Take a brisk walk during your lunch break.

For more resources on making winter commuting safe and fun, check out the “wintering” section of the getDowntown blog.