Here’s to Hanukkah, Holiday Shopping Nights and More

Happy Hanukkah!! Yes, it’s the eight-day festival of lights, meaning eight days of presents and latkes and dreidel games – let the partying begin! Of course, it does mean you’d better have your shopping done, without the benefit of the two extra weeks the Christians get, but then you also don’t have to decorate a tree, so I guess we’ll call it even.

Over at Debra’s Natural Gourmet in West Concord, they’re celebrating the holiday in style this Thursday, Dec. 13, with musicians from Kerem Shalom, meaning everyone gets to sing and dance. Oh, and they will also be making latkes – gluten-free, no less – for everyone who shows up. I do love these little fried pancakes of deliciousness! It runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. this Thursday night, so get your bad self on over there for some Hanukkah delight.

[Side note: Debra’s has a whole window display devoted solely to menorahs – colorful, whimsical, traditional, all manners. A mother and her young daughter were standing there, delighted to see a menorah display with no holly, wreaths, or fat men in red velvet in the same window. Kudos to Debra’s for honoring the holiday.]

And if you celebrate Christmas, Debra’s also has you covered: On Wednesday night, Dec. 12, there will be a reading of the classic “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” followed by Jim Leahy’s quite famous Christmas pudding. It all begins at 7 p.m. over there in West Concord. Hit them both nights and cover all your bases.

For your shopping pleasure

If you’re still holiday shopping – or if, like me, you’ve yet to truly begin – the Concord Chamber of Commerce is hosting a holiday shopping night this Thursday, Dec. 13. From 5 to 8 p.m., there will be a whole lot going on in the center of town, on Main Street and Walden Street, with strolling carolers, refreshments, holiday specials – the works. You'll feel like you just stepped inside "A Christmas Carol."

You can hit the Toy Shop for all your kid needs, pop into Concord Hand Designs for those one-of-a-kind items, or drop by the Concord Bookshop for bestsellers and classics. It’s an eclectic group of shops you won’t find at the mall, plus it’s nice to support the local shopkeepers who keep our downtown area so vibrant and inviting.

With all these places to choose from, it may be hard to pick that one perfect gift, so you might want to look into the Gift of Concord, a gift certificate that works at several dozen establishments around town. I love getting these, because it’s like a mini shopping spree just for me. You can buy them at Cambridge Trust Company, for as little as $10. Take a look at the list of places they cover – no one will be disappointed.

Also, don’t forget the gift shop at the Concord Museum; they have a plethora of history and Concord-themed items from penny candy and tricorn hats to replicas of Paul Revere’s lantern. Seriously, it’s worth a trip over there just to peruse the Revolutionary War items, plus all the cool literary stuff and reproduction artwork. Every time I go in there I find something to stuff in a stocking or two.

And really, isn’t that what the holiday is all about: Finding that one thing that makes someone you care about smile?

Do you have something you would like to share? Contact me at stefanieac@comcast.net and I will be happy to help you spread the good news. And follow me on Twitter: @stefanie3131.