Great Gifts to Keep on Hand for Unexpected Holiday Guests

The holiday season is here, and with Christmas right around the corner, it's time to get those decorations up, get your holiday meal planned, and get ready for guests stopping by! Sometimes, an unexpected tag-along may join the festivities - what's a host to do? To help ease this situation and ensure that it's not awkward and your surprise guest feels welcome, it's always good to keep a handful of "emergency gifts" on hand. On Hand Gifts are typically fairly inexpensive, and are good choices for a variety of giftees - whether your son's new girlfriend swings by, your cousin drops in to say hello, or an old pal decides to come say hi this holiday. 

To help you plan ahead, we've put together an Emergency Gift Guide right here!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Where to Meet Santa This Year on LI!

You better not pout, you better not cry - Santa Claus is coming to town! This year, the man himself will be making appearances across Long Island so that all the good little girls & boys can tell him all about their Christmas wishes. Meeting Santa has been a holiday tradition for ages, and luckily for Long Island, there will be plenty of opportunities before Christmas to sit down with Santa, and even snap a photo - he's making appearances in both Nassau & Suffolk daily! Get your Christmas List ready, and put on your holiday best - it's time to meet Santa, and make sure he knows what you REALLY want this Christmas! 

To find out where to meet Santa this Season, click here!

Get Crafty with Gifting at a Holiday Craft Fair This Season!

 Hanukkah is well under way, and Christmas is right around the corner, and with Black Friday and Cyber Monday come and gone, it's time to kick it into high gear when it comes to holiday shopping. This year, there are dozens of craft fairs and festivals happening throughout the month of December here on Long Island - perfect for finding just the right gift for everyone on your list. Holiday Craft Fairs are filled with local vendors that have lovingly created handmade items such as jewelry, candles, clothing, gourmet food, and a wide variety of unique gifts. This holiday, why not shop local, and give the gift of handmade crafts!

For the scoop on all the upcoming craft fairs, click here!

Black Thursday: Should The Shopping Frenzy Trample Thanksgiving Dinner?

 For years now, retailers have been opening their doors earlier and earlier for Black Friday Sales. This year, numerous big box chains across the country have made the decision to open up during dinnertime on Thanksgiving - a move that has proven to be controversial with consumers and retail employees alike. In this Black Friday exclusive, we've spoken with local retail employees, small business owners, and consumers - find out what Long Island has to say about this new shopping trend that many feel has begun to trample Thanksgiving.

To read the full story and share your opinion on the new "Black Thursday" Trend, click here!