In an effort to thwart the onset of holiday chaos, we bring you
money- and time-saving hints that will help quiet your inner Grinch and allow you to make the most of this merry month.

Shop in peace

Sign up for our newsletter!

* indicates required

Starting the second week of December, NorthPark Center opens up and closes down 30 minutes to an hour before and after its normal operating schedule. Stave off the hustle and bustle by taking advantage of those early mornings and late evenings. Visit northparkcenter.com/hoursinformation.html.

Eat, drink and be merry

Host a holiday feast or feed hungry party guests without touching a frying pan — these places do the cooking for you.

On the go

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? 10729 Audelia, Suite 107, 214.340.0061, guesswhoscomingtodinnercaterers.com.
To feed a hungry crowd, order a couple of casseroles, like green chili and chicken stacks or penne rustica, and a few sides at least a day in advance. Or drop by on weekdays to pick up individual meals for the family — no advance notice required.

Or on site

NorthPark Center 8687 N. Central Expressway, 214.361.6345, northparkcenter.com. The shopping shuts down at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, but the following day, the center’s restaurants open for business. Contact individual restaurants for hours
and specials.

A Christmas story

Sure, the Meyerson is great, but if you want to surpass the high-price tickets and crowds, you can still enjoy festive holiday entertainment here in our neighborhood.

a night in bethlehem Sunday, Dec. 9, 4-7 p.m. Scofield Church, 7730 Abrams, 214.349.6043, scofield.org. The gymnasium transforms into the Bethlehem marketplace where visitors can make perfume or strum on a harp, and experience the sights, sounds and smells of that Christmas Eve 2000 years ago.

Lake Highlands High School concert and dedication Tuesday, Dec. 16, 8 p.m. The Lake Highlands community raised funds to commission father and son sculpture team Dick and Rich Bergen (creators of the Kansas State University wildcat) to make a bronze wildcat for the newly renovated courtyard in honor of former principal Bob Iden’s retirement. Since Iden loves the choir’s free annual candlelight concert, the dedication takes place at 7:30 p.m., right before the concert at 8 p.m.

Deck the halls

Willow Creek Mart 8041 Walnut Hill, 214.369.3776, willowcreekflorist.net.
A shoestring budget shouldn’t mean sacrificing the traditional trimmings. Break out the old bells and baubles. This shop shows you how to make them sparkle like new.

You don’t have to toss all your old ornaments and decorations to have a whole new holiday look this year, says Jay Johnson owner of this floral, design and gift boutique. He suggests supplementing your existing glass balls and icicles with faux flowers and berries. “Beautiful and affordable high-quality faux flowers and berries are available in a variety of colors and styles,” Johnson says. “If you have a traditional motif, why not fill it in with sprigs of red berries, amaryllis, poinsettias and holly. If you want to add a little glam, accent your decor with hydrangeas in icy blue or lime green, gold-leafed ferns, gilded orchids or add bronze sequined maple leaves.”

Here comes Santa Claus

Forget standing in long lines or paying an arm and leg just to see the big man in red — if you want to visit Santa Claus, these are the best places and times to catch him.

Neiman Marcus 1618 Main St. 214.741.6911. Most people just think about malls and shopping centers when they want to see Santa — which might be the reason why the wait at Neiman Marcus downtown always tends to be shorter. You’re also welcome to bring your own camera and take a free photo of your kid with Good Ol’ Saint Nick.

McShan Florist 10311 Garland, 214.324.2481, mcshan.com.
Take your own photos with Santa — free — on Saturday, Nov. 29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

EBBY HALLIDAY 6441 E. Mockingbird Ln, 214.826.0316, lakewood.ebby.com. Get a free photo with the big man in red on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2-5 p.m while relaxing with some complimentary refreshments.

NorthPark Center 8687 N. Central Expressway, 214.361.6345, northparkcenter.com. NorthPark’s Santa may be the most visited in the city. However, if you still have a few Christmas presents to check off your list, the center makes it easier by giving Santa-seekers a number and an estimated time, so you can run errands while you wait.

Re-sale roundup

Used gifts might have been a ‘no, no’ in the past, but these days it’s perfectly acceptable — hip, even —to tap consignment stores for one-of-a-kind finds.

Plato’s Closet 6325 E. Northwest Highway, 469.232.2204,
platosclosetdallas.com. Choose from hoodies, boots and brand name bargains for the tweens, teens and hipsters in
your life.

Second Chance Treasures 9034 Garland, 214.660.9696. Treasures and trinkets galore are in store at this one stop shop for hand-picked consignments including antiques, jewelry, furniture
and more.

O Tannenbaum

Make time for one of these tree-lighting ceremonies, guaranteed to bring on the Christmas cheer.

Snider Plaza Dec 3, 7 p.m., 214.361.4898 or sniderplaza.net.

Casa Linda Plaza Dec. 3, 5 p.m.
Take pictures with Santa for $5; proceeds go to For the Love of the Lake.

Gift craft

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “The only gift is a portion of thyself.”

Studio Arts 214.827.1222,
studioartsdallas.com. At Studio Arts Dallas, kids, adolescents and adults can learn to create. Sign your loved ones up for lessons, or unleash your inner artist and make uniquely “you” gifts for friends and family this season.

It’s a wrap

Save some cash and energy by letting these stores handle the gift-wrapping.

The Store 10233 E. Northwest Highway, 214.553.8850, thestoreinlh.com. Anything bought here includes complimentary packaging. And to make the holidays a bit easier on the menfolk, employees are at the ready to quickly find the perfect presents for your princesses and get them under-the-tree ready — even if it’s Dec. 23.

T-Hee Greetings 9661 Audelia (next to Highlands Café), 214.747.5800, t-heegreetings.com. Save yourself the hassle. Bring your entire stash to this neighborhood boutique, purchase their gift-wrap, and employees will do all the work while you kick back with complimentary cookies and coffee.

Paperie & Co. 5339 E. Mockingbird, 214.821.8811, paperieandco.com. Swing by Monday-Friday 5-8 p.m. with any gift purchased at Mockingbird Station (along with the receipt) and they’ll wrap it up all pretty — no charge.



Gifts from the art

Surpass the storefronts
altogether and
go straight to one
of our White Rock area artists in residence.

Lottie Minick Metal
Glass Mosaics
lottieminick.com.
One-of-a-kind garden art in glass, metal
and mosaic make Minick’s designs a seasonal treat.

Urban Folk Pottery 214.324.2854, urbanfolkpottery.com.
Artist Angela Gallia delicately crafts works including music boxes, wall ar
t and gorgeous platters for those with a taste for the finer things.

Studio 1532 214.327.5860, studio1532.com. Silversmith Linda Tisdale offers up exquisite bracelets, necklaces and jewelry you can’t find anywhere else.

Locate many more area
artists at dallasartsrevue.comn