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FA LA LA LA LA THROUGH THE STREETS OF L.A. THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH THE GUIDANCE OF URBAN SHOPPING ADVENTURES

Avoid Overcrowded Malls and the Usual Retail Suspects; Instead Shop ‘Til You Drop with a Personal Shopping Guide to LA’s Best-Kept Retail and Wholesale Secrets

Los Angeles, Calif. – (October 18, 2005) – Let loved ones and friends deck the halls—not to mention bedrooms and closets-- with unique gifts from you courtesy of Urban Shopping Adventures, LA’s premier tour company for shopping enthusiasts. Choose from two fabulous districts, Downtown L.A.’s Fashion District or the trendy boutiques of the Melrose Heights Shopping District, an emerging retail area along Melrose Avenue just west of Fairfax.

Holiday shopping with Urban Shopping Adventures is fun, informative and a lesson in time management. The owner-led tours offer a range of itineraries, price points and transportation options. Bargain shoppers will be especially pleased with a trek through key parts of the 90-square block LA Fashion District, where the city’s newest designers, as well as familiar labels, are available for purchase well below the price of retail. Shop for everyone on your holiday list while browsing through a selection of the latest styles in jeans and separates, designer suits, trendy handbags, stylish belts, sunglasses, perfume and more. There are also optional stops to textile warehouses where bolts of fabric and trim represent an array of styles and price points. You’ll also find shelves stocked with beads and crafting materials, party supplies, and home décor items.

Shoppers who prefer to sleuth through some of L.A.’s high-end boutiques can pick up one-of-a-kind stocking stuffers from the merchants of the Melrose Heights Shopping District. Anchored by Fred Segal, a store frequented by fashionistas and A-list celebrities, the area embraces an eclectic mix of hip American and European designers. Signature stores along this stylish stretch include BCBGMaxAzria, Betsey Johnson, Fornarina, Marc Jacobs, and Xin, just to name a few. There are also a handful of exclusive gift and furnishing shops as well as a number of trendy restaurants that are ideal for refueling and people watching. Many merchants offer exclusive courtesies to tour participants, as well as incentives and discounts not available to the general public.

"The goal of our holiday shopping itineraries is to take the burden out of shopping, and make it fun for the gift giver," says Urban Shopping Adventures founder Christine Silvestri. "This time of year can be stressful, so we offer one-stop shopping agendas that are truly unique and enjoyable. You’re more likely to walk away with purchases you wouldn’t find at the local mall and, most likely, at a savings too."

As an added bonus, Silvestri has personally combed the LA Fashion District for a special list of "Hidden Holiday Gems" with great gift ideas for $50 and under. Silvestri is sure to point out locations for each of these items as part of the Fashion District holiday shopping tour. The Holiday Shopping Tour also includes some of the basic amenities found on all Urban Shopping Adventures tours, including a five-minute "shopping school" orientation and a sturdy shopping bag loaded with a full color map guide, a list of insider shopping terms, a mini-map of the day’s tour route with restaurant and snack ideas, and some special coupon offers from Fashion District vendors including even a voucher for a complimentary t-shirt.

Several tour packages are available including, the "Walking Adventure" option, in which two or more shoppers meet their guide at the company’s LA Fashion District office, saving the added cost of tour transportation. For larger groups, the "Mini-Shuttle Adventure" includes transportation for groups from 15 to 24; the "Luxury Coach Adventure" offers a full-sized coach for groups from 40 to 57; and the "Custom Concierge Adventure" provides highly personalized service with pre-reserved appointments and limousine option. Additional features, such as a fixed price lunch at one of several trendy eateries, can also be arranged at an additional charge.

Walking tours, which last from two to three hours, are $32 per person. Other tour packages and custom-designed agendas vary in price depending on the number of participants, transportation needs, and preferred dates. All packages offer personalized guidance to selected stores along the route with ample free time to shop at will. Group discounts are available for students and seniors, advance reservations are required.

Urban Shopping Adventures, the exclusive authorized group tour provider to the LA Fashion District and Melrose Heights Shopping District, provides insider access to some of LA’s most exciting retail and wholesale shops. To book your Holiday Shopping Tour, purchase a gift certificate to slip under the tree or for general information, call Urban Shopping Adventures at 213.683.9715, email info@urbanshoppingadventures.com, or visit online at www.urbanshoppingadventures.com.

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