New Year’s Eve parties

For those of you not already going to a party (or just staying home) on New Year’s Eve, the Bulletin has a pretty good article listing many of the parties and events you can go to. They include details, times, and prices. Some are expensive, some are cheap/reasonable. For instance, … Continue reading

A couple of Christmas lights pictures

As I mentioned in my Christmas lights post the other day, I’d try to snap some pictures of displays if we were out and about. So, I took two; total amateur-hour nighttime productions, but you get the idea. This is the house at 19911 SW McClellan, on the cul-de-sac. It’s … Continue reading

Holiday Shopping Guide: Miscellaneous

This is the category of "Everything Else" that I couldn’t fit on its own, for whatever reason. Some are suggestions, some are just single-entry categories. And, I wanted to more-or-less finish this out before it got too late to shop for the holidays. The Home Brewer Really the only place … Continue reading

Holiday Shopping Guide: Computers

I’m almost ashamed to say that even though I’m in the computer field, I don’t know much of the offerings here in town. Part of that is intangible—I wouldn’t put services and repairs only here in the shopping guide; part of that is, well, I just don’t need to hit … Continue reading

Holiday Shopping Guide: Music

When it comes to music, there’s really only two stores in town to visit for retail. Unless, of course, you’re looking for musical instruments, but I really can’t help you there. So, here’s the Holiday Shopping Guide for music. Boomtown Yes, I just recommended them for toys, but music is … Continue reading

Local Christmas lights

Today’s Bulletin has an article on the front page of their Community Life section about local Christmas light displays. (No link—it’s behind their paywall, grrrr.) I’ve been thinking about doing a holiday lights post; it’s usually a tradition of ours to drive around and look at the lights, and if … Continue reading

Holiday Shopping Guide: Toys & Games

Time for more Holiday Shopping Guide. It’s every kids’ favorite topic: Toys and games! Leapin’ Lizards The downtown toy store that specializes in non-mass-produced fare: all their toys and games are engaging, educational, unusual, active, goofy, and any and all combinations of those. My own kids love this place. No, … Continue reading

Holiday Shopping Guide: Alcohol

More in my "Holiday Shopping Guide"! This time I’m going with alcohol (hey, write what you know, right?)—beer, wine, booze. What shopping guide would be complete without it? Liquor store No real recommendation here; a liquor store is a liquor store is a… well, you get the idea. I am … Continue reading

The Source Weekly’s holiday shopping guide

The current issue of The Source Weekly is running a holiday shopping guide of their own: the "Naughty or Nice" over-$100 gift guide. I like the "over-$100" part—pretty much the opposite of what I’m doing here, but hey, it’s fun. And with gift recommendations like a leather couch, a chainsaw, … Continue reading

Holiday Shopping Guide: Books

The first in my Holiday Shopping Guide posts, covering something I’m pretty familiar with: books! Now I really like Barnes and Noble, don’t get me wrong, but that’s not what this gift guide is about. So here are my picks: The Open Book Bend’s best used book store, and my … Continue reading