Frank Hamilton

Stuffed

The 2009 City Paper Holiday Guide

In Holiday Guide Intro

The Gifts That Count

Holiday Guide Feature: The presents that have stayed in our writers' thoughts [11/18/2009] by Raymond Cummings, Lauren Bender, Charles Cohen, Alex Epstein, and John Barry

The Busman's Holiday

Holiday Guide Feature: A short guide to giving what you know [11/18/2009] by Emily Flake

Stocking Stiffers

Holiday Guide Feature: The author of Scroogenomics runs the numbers on holiday gift-giving [11/18/2009] by Edward Ericson Jr.

The Holiday Guide

Holiday Guide Calendar: Our guide to getting through--and enjoying--the holiday season [11/18/2009]

Holiday Guide Calendar: Carroll County Christmas Farmers Market, now through Dec. 19, Agriculture Center, 700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, (410) 848-7748, carrollcountyfarmersmarket.com, free. This holiday craft f [11/18/2009]

Kid Stuff

Holiday Guide Calendar: The Polar Express 4D, now through Jan. 3, National Aquarium in Baltimore, 501 E. Pratt St., (410) 576-3800, aqua.org, $4 in addition to admission. In this blissfully shortened version of the feature- [11/18/2009]

Nutcrackin'

Holiday Guide Calendar: Pennsylvania Ballet: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24-29, Kennedy Center 2700 F. St. NW, Washington, (202) 467-4600, kennedy-center.org, $47-$150. The Pennsylvania Ballet perform [11/18/2009]

A Few Christmas Carols and Other Productions

Holiday Guide Calendar: Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!), 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays Nov. 21-29, Cultural Arts Center, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick, (301) 662-4190, frederickartscouncil.org [11/18/2009]

Traditions

Holiday Guide Calendar: Santa House Lighting, 4:30 p.m. Nov. 21, Harborplace Amphitheater, 200 E. Pratt St., (410) 332-4191, harborplace.com, free. If Santa's gonna hang around town, he's gonna need a place to stay. Ol' Cla [11/18/2009]

Music

Holiday Guide Calendar: Christmas Rocks! Extravaganza, 8 p.m. Nov. 27, Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda, (301) 581-5100, strathmore.org, $35-$95. Brian Setzer and his Orchestra return for his seventh annual Christm [11/18/2009]

Open Houses/Tours

Holiday Guide Calendar: Christmas in Hershey, now through Dec. 31, Hershey Chocolate World, 251 Park Boulevard, Hershey, Pa., (717) 534-4900, hersheyschocolateworld.com. Ride a chocolate trolley, stroll through a chocolate- [11/18/2009]

Mistle-aneous

Holiday Guide Calendar: Pumpkin Spice Candles, 1-3 p.m. Nov. 21, Irvine Nature Center, 11201 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, (443) 738-9220, explorenature.org, $10, members $8. Learn how to make your own candle and make [11/18/2009]

Helping Others

Holiday Guide Calendar: Turkey Trot, 8 a.m. Nov. 26, Ma and Pa Trail, 314 Williams St., Bel Air, (410) 697-9622, $30, advance $25, walkers $17; 9 a.m. Nov. 26, Towson Family Center Y, 600 W. Chesapeake Ave., Towson, (410) 8 [11/18/2009]

New Year's Eve!

Holiday Guide Calendar: Ports America New Year's Eve Spectacular Rockin' New Year's Eve Extravaganza, 6:45 p.m.-1 a.m. Dec. 31, Ram's Head On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis, (410) 268-4545, am-fm.org, $109. Rock in the New Ye [11/18/2009]