Giving Tuesday (after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday)

Thanksgiving is followed by Black Friday, a crazy shopping day in which I rarely partake because in my current job I have always worked on that day. The recently created Small Business Saturday encourages Americans to shop at local stores instead of big chain behemoths. Some shops offer patrons discounts or extras, such as cider and cookies while browsing, or free gift wrapping once done shopping. One of the DC area's best bookstores, Politics and Prose, was particularly clever, and invited local authors to spend time in the store to chat with shoppers, recommend favorite books, and also sign their own books. Bestselling author David Baldacci participated, and happened to be in the store at the same time as our country's most powerful shopper - President Obama. The President has now made it a tradition to do some holiday shopping, often accompanied by his daughters Malia and Sasha, at independent local bookstores. Last year he also shopped at P&P, while in 2012 he visited One More Page Books in Arlington, VA.

The more recently named Cyber Monday takes place when office employees return to work after their Thanksgiving weekend and presumably spend part of the day doing some online shopping at their desks. The distinction between Black Friday and Cyber Monday have blurred in the past couple of years as more online retailers offer deals over a range of days.

In an effort to remind Americans of the need to help others, non-profit organizations have banded together to create and spread the word about Giving Tuesday. This year on Giving Tuesday I will support two of my favorite local charities, A Wider Circle and Doorways for Women and Families. I will also donate to my favorite Latvian-American organization, Garezers. As you write your gift lists and do your holiday shopping this year, I suggest finding the resources and taking the time to also make a donation to some of your favorite charities. Every contribution helps, and science even says that giving is good!

That Most American of Holidays: Thanksgiving

Growing up Thanksgiving was not a big deal in my family, as it was overshadowed by the importance of a gigantic Christmas when extended family from around the Midwest and East Coast came to visit and celebrate. When younger sis and I were in our later high school years and in college, Thanksgiving weekend typically meant traveling to whichever city was hosting the American Latvian Youth Association congress. I recall the very first congress I attended in Chicago -- I must have been in my third year of high school -- and there was actually discussion at the annual congress about changing the date of this event. One young man stood up to express his disdain of this suggestion by saying, "If the congress isn't held Thanksgiving weekend, what are we supposed to do then? Actually sit home and eat turkey with our parents?!"

That enormous bowl in the middle was later filled with mashed potatoes!

In the time I've lived in the DC area, I have traveled out of town at Thanksgiving only twice. Many different friends have kindly invited me to their homes over the years for delicious Thanksgiving dinners. This year I spent the evening with good friends who typically have a house full of relatives, and this holiday was no exception. Sincere laughter and fantastic food were both plentiful. One of my favorite dishes were the green beans and pearl onions with balsamic vinegar; see a similar recipe here. I will not delve into some of the stories told and heated debates exchanged, as the participants may not wish to see those spread. ;-)

The master chef's son showing off the turkey

I am always grateful for all of my wonderful friends, but particularly on Thanksgiving. If you celebrate Thanksgiving by hosting a meal in your home, I urge you to look around your circle of friends and acquaintances, and invite individuals who don't have family in the area and might have not a place to go. This heartwarming story about a homeless man who went as far as to post an online ad looking for others with whom he could celebrate the day proves that Thanksgiving is a holiday which should be observed in a group.

Kick off (not of the football sort)

Thanksgiving week was a wonderful kick-off to the holiday season. I was incredibly fortunate in that I celebrated Thanksgiving three separate times with three different groups of friends (both Latvian and American). Additionally, I helped a friend celebrate Hanukkah twice during the week. All of these parties and celebrations were truly a fantastic way to begin what is known in the U.S. as “the holiday season.” 

Generally all of these holidays and celebrations are very food-oriented. I am not much of a cook, but I do enjoy baking, thus I happily contributed pumpkin bread, brownies, almond spice cookies and pumpkin spice cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Because I gave up eating gluten almost two years ago, I've been missing the traditional Latvian Christmas cookies, piparkukas, that I used to make with gusto every December. And that might be why I gravitated towards baking goodies with lots of spice in them. The almond spice cookies had a taste very similar to piparkukas, thanks to my decision to add cardamom and extra ginger.

In the month of December I look forward to flying to Michigan for Christmas to visit family, as well as to a couple of Christmas-themed events here in the DMV. However, there is another event that looms large on my calendar: the annual AFI European Union FilmShowcase. In previous years this great series took place in November, but for whatever reason it is scheduled for December 5 - 22 this year. I will certainly make time to see a number of films, including the Estonian one. The EU Film Showcase is just another reason to love living in the DC area; other than the opportunity to see so many European movies, occasionally directors or actors from the movies are present at the screenings and answer questions after the movies. Over the years I have seen a wide variety of movies, ranging from wonderfully comedic to darkly depressing and everything in between. Many of the films are never shown in regular theatres here in the United States, while others premier at the showcase. Last year, for example, I saw both Quartet and Barbara, which were shown in arthouse theatres several months later. I can recommend both; the German film Barbara in particular was excellent – similar in theme and style to the popular The Lives of Others (which was awarded the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006). If you are at all interested in life in Eastern Germany during Communist times, I highly recommend watching both Barbara and The Lives of Others.