Tuesday, December 25, 2012
How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.
We know there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night. But did you know... $23,439.38 How much it would cost to buy your "true love" all the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas. 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person. Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion. Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China …
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Macy's will stay open the 48 hours leading up to Christmas, the company announced Thursday.
As the holiday shopping season approaches crunch time, Macy's is banking on becoming a destination for last-minute gift givers. The company announced on Thursday that all stores, including the Macy's location in Saint Louis Galleria, will remain open for 48 consecutive hours in the days leading up to Christmas Eve. The store will stay open starting at 7 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 21 until 7 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 23. And as Kavita Kumar at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch first reported, the store will close for an hour before re-opening for normal business hours. Macy's will run special deals for Christmas gifts and other holidays presents, according to a company news release. The nonstop shopping event is guaranteed to draw ire from some local …
Guitar, banjo, mandolin and flute bid you to come experience old world carols that merge into bluegrass as you listen in an intimate setting to children and adults navigate the story of Christmas.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Enjoy the tree lighting, carols and hot chocolate before a carriage ride or holiday shopping in Maplewood.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Buy your annual holiday cards from a local charity this year.
Every holiday season, families across the country send cards to their loved ones, filling them in on the last year and wishing them a happy new one. For families planning to buy holiday cards this year, nonprofit organizations around the area are offering unique cards that benefit their missions. That way, each card sends holiday cheer while supporting a worthy cause. Here is our round-up of holiday cards for charity. Operation Food Search Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Our Little Haven Saint Louis Zoo Is your non-profit organization selling cards this holiday season? Add your photo and information to the story by clicking the Upload Pictures and Video button.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Walk through the annual holiday light extravaganza before it opens to cars.
The 27th annual St. Louis County Parks Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park opens to the public Wednesday, Nov. 21, but patrons can experience the fun a few days early at the Winter Wonderwalk. Patrons can stroll through the park to view the million-plus holiday lights on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17-18 Winter Wonderwalk is $5 per person and strollers, wagons and dogs on a 6-foot leash are welcome. The walkthroughs will be held at the following times both nights: Advanced registration is required. Call 314-615-8822, 314-615-7373 or 314-615-5572. Food trucks will be available for food and drink purchases.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The Thanksgiving holiday falls as early as possible because November begins with a Thursday. You'll have more time to Christmas shop if "Black Friday" is the official start.
Some residents and businesses will start stringing up the Christmas lights as soon as the Halloween decorations come down, but hardcore shoppers know when their dream season begins. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has become the accepted if unofficial start time of the Christmas rush. It's a huge day for retailers but only the first of a roughly month-long extravaganza. And thanks to Abe Lincoln, who decreed Thanksgiving a national holiday, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who signed into law that it should fall on the fourth Thursday in November, and Pope Gregory XIII, who blessed the calendar we use by papal bull, 2012 has the longest possible shopping season. To explain: With Nov. 1 falling on Thursday, the fourth Thursday and …
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Yes, it's still a little early to think about Christmas shopping. I understand. But it's coming up soon. And we all know that one person who is extremely hard to buy for. What do you do?
I will make no apology for this edition of our weekly "Conversation Starter." I'm selfishly motivated by the need for your help. And I don't care that Halloween is still three days away. Or that Christmas is still nearly two months off. We need all the time we can get. See, here's the problem: My father is in his early 70s; my father-in-law is in his early 80s. If anything, they're trying to get rid of things. What do you buy for the hard-to-buy-for? What do you do to make the Christmas merry for the folks who seem to have everything, don't need anything or who won't let themselves get pinned down? Here's another stumper for you: My son is 17. He's a drama kid, a singer, a World of Warcraft fanatic. He is every bit as hard to buy for as my…
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Wondering what to do with your tree now that Christmas is over? The St. Louis County Department of Health has some ideas about reusing and recycling.
Christmas trees are objects of beauty and cheer—until Dec. 26, that is, when they can become a chore for families wondering what to do with them now that Christmas is over. The St. Louis County Department of Health has a few environmentally friendly ideas for what to do with your tree: If you live on or near a few acres of open land, use your live tree to create a wildlife habitat. Place the tree in a field as cover for small animals or submerge the tree in a pond or lake for a fish habitat. Do not dump the tree in a ravine or along an eroding bank. If you’re feeling crafty, use the branches to decorate or make wreaths for your home, keeping the holiday spirit alive even after Christmas. When you are ready to dispose of your tree but you…
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Open until New Year’s Day, visitors can enjoy an entire mile of holiday magic.
Now in its 26th year, the Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park boasts more than 1 million twinkling lights, making it a magnet for families from around metro St. Louis. “It’s a family tradition,” said Justin Hirsch, special events coordinator for St. Louis County Parks Department. Whether this is your first year to visit the Winter Wonderland or your 26th, you will find holiday scenes new and old. “The display changes every year,” Hirsch said. New and traditional sights New this year is a series of Christmas trees with lights that are synchronized to music. Also new are portions of the lighted tunnel and a snowflake effect that hangs over the roadway. Some of the previous years designs are in different locations this year. Look for the frog …
Nancy Miner
9:46 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Thanks for the reminder that this is happening! I just signed up!! We did this several years ago with the family and loved it. The have a spots left for the later times on Saturday and Sunday. more ›