SANTA SAYS >>>>

Today is Black Friday. Do you know where your hand sanitizer is?

Go Local Tacoma and the national Shift Your Shopping campaign reminds the looming Black Friday swarm to take it easy on the big box stores and see what's being sold at the Mom 'n' Pop.

I'm buyin' local this Xmas, thereby "strengthening the North Pole economy, creating local toy jobs and building communities." Yes, building, bringing people together ... unlike the GOP's order of importance on immigration policies, which was, quote, "[to be] richer, better, and more inclusive."

Oh my.

The Weekly Volcano folks have the word on this whole Shift Your Shopping movement here.

And the local rag also has a toy bag full of local gift suggestions here. Help generate up to two to three times as much economic activity in the community, and get some sweet gifts too.

PLUS: 2011 Super Best of Tacoma Bought and Sold Readers' and Staff picks

PLUS: 2011 Best of Olympia Bought and Sold Readers' and Staff picks

PLUS: 2011 South Sound Holiday Happenings

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LINK: Arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

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SANTA SAYS >>>>

Centerstage Theatre will present the greatest of all possible stories detailing the ache of the anthropomorphized, not just for autonomy but for the human soul - a working blueprint for adolescence: the confusion, the yearning, the denial of wood.

It's hard out there for a puppet. I know. I see it all the time.

Whether you're a marionette, a big-mouthed sock-type or some Henson combo of both, they feel that spark - of adventure, independence, life itself - compelling them to snip their strings or unglove the hand up them.

Many make it.

Anyway, the play I speak of is Pinocchio. The Federal Way-based theater company will not concerned itself with the undoubted complexities of the tale and has adapted the story in the style of the traditional English Christmas pantomime - loud, boisterous, and full of music, ridiculous humor and traditions almost as old as theater itself. The audience will be actively encouraged to boo the villain whenever he enters, argue with the Dame, and warn the "good" characters when the villain is in the vicinity.

Assigned the task of creating this new version is John Forster, the award-winning songwriter and humorist whose work encompasses the worlds of, musical theater and children's entertainment. 

[Knutzen Family Theatre, Nov. 26-Dec. 23 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, as well as 7 p.m. Dec. 16, 21-23, $12.50-$27.50, 3200 Southwest Dash Point Road, Federal Way, 253.661.1444]

LINK: Santa Says RSS feed

LINK: Arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Give the Weekly Volcano a "LIKE" present