…. UPDATED: 11/19/08 ….

Norman Rockwell’s got nothin’ on Darien this holiday season …  I’m looking forward to sharing all of the upcoming holiday festivities and events in town on this post, which you might want to bookmark because it will be growing and changing as new events and holiday information come across my desk.

The first thing I’d like to make sure you know about is the Holiday Helpers program being offered by the Darien YMCA.  Umm … YA … weekend daycare in December! But reservations are required, so get to your phone and call over there quickly!

FYI: The Holiday Happenings are listed according to date, counting down from Dec 30th.

FREE MOVIE MORNING — Saturday, December 20th, Darien Playhouse — 9:30am.  Both screens at the Theater will be playing a free movie (maybe we’ll vote on which one?) to start (or end) your day of downtown shopping.  Mark your calendars for that, and I’ll post more information when I’ve got it.

Community Carol-Sing at Tilley Pond and Luminary Lighting — Sunday, December 14th, 4pm to 5pm, Tilley Pond Park.  Darien’s local church choirs and clergy will come together to lead the community in Christmas carols before lighting the Center For Hope luminaries around the pond and signalling the rest of us throughout town to light ours … I have goosebumps just thinking about it!

Annual Darien Sport Shop Tree Lighting ceremony — Sunday, November 30th, 5pm to 7pm behind the Darien Sport Shop. Santa will be coming to town on a firetruck at 5pm, and all the kids are invited to sit on his lap and tell him if they’ve been naughty or nice!  There will be carolers, hot cocoa and cookies while we wait in line for Santa, and I’ve hear a rumor that there might even be goodie bags for the early birds containing gifts and coupons from Darien stores …!  The tree lighting ceremony will begin around 5:45, and will include singing by Darien High School’s Tudor Singers … and the lights will go on around 6 o’clock on the big tree and all throughout town at hich point we will sing a few carols.  Just to give you an idea of the scope of this event, last year there were an estimated 500 people in attendance!  It’s a super fun way to kick off the Christmas season, see you there!

YWCA Autumn Look Around the House Tour — Weds, November 19th! I just got some inside scoop on the House Tour, which is that there are some A-MAZING features in the homes included in this tour: bedrooms better than Disneyland, a custom-created window that is also a working, ticking clock, and (drumroll): you will even get up close and personal with a genuine Dale Chihuly sculpture!  This is not your average “peek through the window at someone else’s fabulous home” event: this is going to be a truly mind-blowing tour that promises to leave you brimming with ideas and dreams.  Unlike previous years, this year’s tour is only one session from 9:30am to 1:00pm — you must buy your tickets in advance, and are strongly encouraged to pick them up on Tuesday rather than waiting until Weds morning.

I’m also working on some extremely exciting promotions myself, which I will be unveiling soon but which I think you’re definitely going to likey.  Stay tuned …!

In the meantime, and in preparation for holiday shopping, I invite you to browse through the newly re-launched Retail & Services Register and rate/review your favorite local businesses!  Come on, share — it’s anonymous and really helpful to your neighbors.

I know, I know, I can’t even believe it myself — Halloween day isn’t even half over, my little Bear not even in his costume yet, and here I am, actually participating in the waaaaay-too-early-to-be-promotiong-holiday-stuff trend …!  But look, as long as I’m putting up a reminder about the 2008 Holiday Boutique coming up this Weds and Thursday, I might as well just go for it and get this post started.  I have been made privy to a HUGE number of fun events and promotions coming up in the next two months, so stay tuned and check back to this post often for updates!

So, start by setting aside a few hours of boutique shopping at the 2008 Holiday Boutique at the Piedmont Club (Hecker Ave off of Noroton Ave) November 5th and 6th.  If you’ve never been to this kind of thing before, it is SO convenient: booths and booths of the kinds of things that make the PERFECT gifts for people; gifts that you would have never thought of and agonized over for weeks and then settled for whatever wasn’t opened or sold out on the shelves on Christmas Eve (ummm … or not).

So for this event you’ve got very convenient hours: Weds you can shop during the day, from 9am to 4:30pm, or in the evening (read: champagne) from 6:30pm to 9:30pm.  The Piedmont Club is ever so convenient to the Noroton Heights train station for commuters …

Enjoy the following GREAT In-the-Know tips and specials at the Boutique:

* Best place to park if the Piedmont lot is full is right on Hecker Ave.

* Best deal around: buy $100 in Bobbi Brown products (not hard to do at all!) and Bobbi Brown’s protege Kim Harrison will give you a FREE 30-MINUTE MAKEOVER plus take home a Bobbi Brown Gift Bag.  Bookings are going fast - contact Allison ASAP to reserve a time.

* Best time of day to grab a deal is 9:00 am Wednesday for the best selection of high-end designer jeans ($~200 value) for $85.00 at Jeanie Blum.

* Best time for perks: 6:30 -9:30 pm on Wednesday the 5th for champagne and Milton Point Sweets

* Best kept secret: Jo Malone fragrance etc. will be sold at 15% off retail prices plus get a free gift with purchase

– Shop Til You Drop and help support the YWCA!

Lots more to come on this post, but I’ve got a pumpkin to carve!!

UPDATED: 10/30/08

HOORAY FOR HALLOWEEN IN DOWNTOWN DARIEN!

We’re reaching the final countdown to trick-or-treat time, so in case you’re not yet sure about your plans for tomorrow, keep in mind the first annual “Darien Merchants Treat Day.” This is SUCH a fun idea — participating stores will be offering treats to kids who come in costume!  A great way to do a little shop-and-treating without the guilt

If you haven’t already heard about the 14th Annual DCA Mom’s Morning In Halloween Parade, it’s happening downtown at 10AM: starting at the Darien Fire Station and parading through town to Tilley Pond, where there will be additional festivity and a magic show.

During the day and as part of the parade, Robeks Juice of Darien will be providing delicious samples of pumpkin-flavored alternatives to candy, so make sure to drop in either on your way over to the parade or on your way back from Tilley.  ((Did you know you can cut through the parking lot behind Robeks and get to Tilley Pond?))

And, for last-minute Halloween items ranging from fun wigs and light-up jewelry to house decorations, candles and treats, check out the Rainbow Shoppe’s first ever Halloween Sale, where all Halloween merchandise is 50% off today, tomorrow and Saturday.  Those of you who are subscribers to the Insider Alert caught Jan’s most recent Fabulous Find and should be reminded that the last day to order a pair of those adorable girls’ and womens’ monogrammed clogs in time for Christmas, exclusively available at the Rainbow Shoppe, is tomorrow October 31st!

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