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

LINK: Santa Says RSS feed

LINK: Arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Give the Weekly Volcano a "LIKE" present

SANTA SAYS >>>>

With Thanksgiving looming large, you must succumb to the siren song of the approaching Holiday season.

The folks at the Weekly Volcano have posted its first round of holiday events in the South Sound. Yes, they present this list awfully early this year. That's so them!

Click here for the scoop on movies, plays, dance, concerts, outdoor activities and festivals coming your way between now and the end of the year - plus other events that defy categorization and enough Nutcrackers to satisfy even those dance enthusiasts who don't know the difference between a pas de deux and the shag. There's also a searchable database of events here.

The Weekly Volcano will also offering four print holiday guides, the first hitting the street Wednesday.

Once you've baked enough cookies to last until Easter, spent three weeks worth of paychecks, and played all of your Christmas albums backward, break out those wool socks and long underwear and hit the area for something new.

LINK: Santa Says RSS feed

LINK: Arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Give the Weekly Volcano a "LIKE" present

SANTA SAYS >>>>

With the chaos of the holidays approaching, don't overlook the numerous charitable organizations in need of gift donations or financial contributions. A little philanthropy can go a long way.

Bartell Drugs's "Toy 'N' Joy" drive is one of the most recognized holiday giving traditions. Through the "Toy ‘N' Joy" program - with the help of the Salvation Army's toy warehouses - Bartell Drugs distributes holiday gifts to low-income children and youth the week before Christmas.

Beginning today, and running through Dec. 11, toys will be collected at all 58 Bartell Drugs locations

A number of donation options are available:

• Choose a "gift request tag" from the "Toy 'N' Joy" display in the store and return the gift to the donation barrel with the tag affixed to it.
• Donate new, unwrapped gifts appropriate for children younger than 17. 

To find the nearest Bartell Drugs, click here.

LINK: Fight homelessness in Pierce County

LINK: Volunteer at the Tacoma Rescue Mission

LINK: Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity

LINK: Santa Says RSS feed

LINK: Arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Give the Weekly Volcano a "LIKE" present