No Coast Craft-o-rama

• Friday, December 4, 2009 (3 pm to 8 pm)
• Saturday, December 5, 2009 (9 am to 5 pm)
• Midtown Global Exchange building (2901 Chicago Avenue S.)

The No Coast Craft-o-rama features a variety of designers, artists, crafters and other talented creators of unique handmade goods. Last year Tom and I were able to find a lot of great gifts at No Coast. I hope the same is true this year! A complete list of vendors is available at the Crafter’s Local 612 website.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Tamale Festival

• Saturday, December 5, 2009
• 4pm to 9pm
• Ascension Catholic Church (1723 Bryant Ave N)

Learn how to make authentic savory and sweet tamales (!) in Ascension’s cafeteria on Saturday. Or, enjoy the tamales during hospitality after the Basilica’s Sunday afternoon Mass (4:30pm) in the cafeteria, located in the southwest corner of the parking lot between the church and school. All are welcome. For more on this weekend’s festivities, see the Basilica’s calendar for Saturday and Sunday.

Reindeer Day

• Saturday, December 5, 2009
• 10am to 2pm
• Linden Hills

Shop Linden Hills for special sales and enjoy these events throughout the morning and afternoon: Live Reindeer (free!) at 43rd and Upton from 10:30 to 1:30; Reindeer drawn sleigh rides (free!) outside Great Harvest from 10:30 to 1:30; Horse-drawn wagon rides at the Famous Dave’s parking lot from 10:30 to 1:30; Reindeer run starting at the Lake Harriet Band Shell at 9:00; Four Seasons barbershop quartet will be caroling from 11:00 to 1:00; Santa will be visiting from 11:00 to 1:00

For more information, visit the Linden Hills Business Assocation’s site.

British Television Advertising Awards

• December 4, 2009 through January 2, 2010
• Walker Art Center (1750 Hennepin Avenue)
• $10 ($8 Walker members)

This weekend the Walker kicks off The British Television Advertising Awards, an event that been selling out quickly for 21 years. According to the Walker’s website, the program this year includes dancing marionettes, monkeys, and nudists as well as American celebrities Snoop Dogg, Rob Lowe, and Anjelica Huston hawking products to UK audiences. 2009, video, 80 minutes. Friday and Sunday’s shows are already sold out, but there are still tickets available on Saturday for the 4pm and 9pm showings. More on the Walker calendar and on the film & video events page.

Member Double-Discount Shopping Days at the Walker

• Friday, December 4, 2009 (11am to 9pm)
• Saturday, December 5, 2009 (10am to 9pm)
• Sunday, December 6, 2009 (11am to 6pm)
• Members receive free parking with purchase

Members save 20% on all purchases this weekend at the Walker—it’s a perfect time to get your shopping out of the way! In addition to the offerings in the museum shop, The Walker will be hosting a Local Artist Gift Mart from 11 noon to 4pm daily. B.T. McElrath will also be back for another chocolate tasting on Saturday from 12 noon to 4pm. Details at walkerart.org.

True, Halloween hasn’t even happened yet, but Thanksgiving is growing near. The Wedge, the source of the turkey pictured here, has already posted their Thanksgiving hours on their homepage and will begin taking turkey orders on Monday, November 2. Tomorrow will be the last day for the Midtown Farmers’ Market, but as Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine recently noted, if you’re a Mill City shopper:

you should be aware that you can order Wild Acres turkeys from the Mill City Farmers Market. But don’t dawdle, supplies are limited and the deadline is Nov. 13.

This year we’re ordering our turkey from Clancey’s Meats and Fish in Linden Hills, where they just began taking orders. From what I know thus far, Clancey’s turkeys are never frozen: orders are taken, sent to the turkey farm, and the turkeys are slaughtered and delivered for pickup just before the big day. (Also good to know: Clancey’s can connect you with sources for heritage breeds if you’re interested.) The birds start at 10–15 lbs. and go up from there in 5 lb. increments. At this point I’m not sure how many will be joining us for Thanksgiving dinner so it’s hard to estimate how much turkey we’ll need. I’m curious—what size bird are you ordering? Are there any other great sources for turkeys we should know about?