Please help me get from Europe to Canada for the Xmas holidays without having to live out of a cardboard box. [more inside]
posted by nicoleincanada on Nov 8, 2009 - 22 answers

How can I conveniently and safely affix a string of Christmas lights to the edge of a second-story roof? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph on Nov 5, 2009 - 5 answers

Can anyone recommend a good Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur podcast? [more inside]
posted by airguitar2 on Sep 15, 2009 - 3 answers

Help us pick a US vacation destination for a science-obsessed five year old. [more inside]
posted by pootler on Sep 8, 2009 - 39 answers

Where can I go for a 'healthy' break? [more inside]
posted by fernbritton on Jul 8, 2009 - 15 answers

Can Anyone Recommend a Good Beach Holiday? [more inside]
posted by Ruby Tuesday on Apr 19, 2009 - 17 answers

Where can I find an extensive calendar or listing of events and celebrations beyond the basic national and well known holidays? (i.e. that the last Saturday in Feb. is Open That Bottle Night for celebrating good wine.) [more inside]
posted by JFitzpatrick on Feb 28, 2009 - 6 answers

Bali, Thailand, or somewhere else for winter? [more inside]
posted by wilful on Feb 22, 2009 - 16 answers

Is my irritation over receiving tacky religious gifts unfounded? [more inside]
posted by JFitzpatrick on Dec 31, 2008 - 82 answers

I've got nowhere to go for Christmas and nobody to celebrate it with. Every place I could use to distract myself is closed. The soup kitchens already have too many volunteers. Plus I have no car. I'm going to be bored as hell. What to do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 24, 2008 - 37 answers

Can you help identify a short story read on NPR on or around x-mas day 2007, about a poor white family helping out a poor black family, probably out west, probably in the 1930s? [more inside]
posted by chr1sb0y on Dec 24, 2008 - 4 answers

My boyfriend just found out he needs to cancel his trip home for Xmas. (Kitty got sick.) I'm still heading out of town (leaving tonight) to see my family for 5 days. What can I do to make boyfriend's Christmas holiday better/less lonely? [more inside]
posted by soleiluna on Dec 23, 2008 - 6 answers

Good Latke recipes or any helpful hints in general? [more inside]
posted by Mastercheddaar on Dec 23, 2008 - 17 answers

Where in New York can I buy some of that nice-but-inexpensive non-blingy street stall jewelery? Today, that is. [more inside]
posted by lunasol on Dec 22, 2008 - 11 answers

I manage six ladies (I'm a guy) in my department and I would like to get them something for the holidays. I am looking for something $10-15 that is not candy, not a gift card and not an ornament. I probably don't have time to order it online so it should be something that I can find at a store. Any ideas? Did you get something cool this year? I want to give something memorable and different than the usual things employees find on their desks before Christmas.
posted by ieatwords on Dec 19, 2008 - 39 answers

Help me think of cute ways to show my new boyfriend that I'm thinking about him over the holidays! [more inside]
posted by catburger on Dec 19, 2008 - 16 answers

I was a dolt and missed the deadline to ship my Mom's potential Christmas gift to my parent's house before I left town. So now I'm left with one weekend in NYC to find her something pretty for the home that's also small enough to fit in a carry-on suitcase. I need recommendations for classy, inexpensive stores in NYC that carry unique and/or handmade bowls, candle holders, tableware, etc for under $80. [more inside]
posted by Viola on Dec 18, 2008 - 14 answers

Gifting en masse. Looking for non physical holiday gift ideas that can be ordered online for 40+ people scattered throughout the world. [more inside]
posted by LongDrive on Dec 18, 2008 - 9 answers

i'm looking for a nice cottage or similar in tahoe to rent, for just me and my girl for Christmas. [more inside]
posted by jimjam on Dec 17, 2008 - 5 answers

What is the best dessert you have ever created? This applies to cakes, pies, cookies, et cetera. [more inside]
posted by rachaelfaith on Dec 7, 2008 - 48 answers

I've always felt a bit uneasy volunteering during the holidays - to help the homeless, the poor, the otherwise downtrodden - primarily because I find the spirit of helping people during a particular season creepy. For many, I think the holidays has become a period for justifying inaction during the rest of the year and relieving oneself of the guilt that that inaction comes with. Of course, I know this sounds slightly ridiculous, slightly humbuggerish, possibly uncaring. But you get my broader point. So, my question is: what volunteering activities do you find socially efficacious and personally meaningful? [more inside]
posted by dskinner on Nov 26, 2008 - 21 answers

I need recommendations for an entry-level telescope and perhaps a good book to go with it. [more inside]
posted by coollibrarian on Nov 25, 2008 - 11 answers

I have family (parents and siblings, no young'ns) visiting me in South Florida around Christmas. How can I best entertain them? [more inside]
posted by Bokononist on Nov 21, 2008 - 8 answers

What are the most memorable, awesome or useful handmade gifts you've received or given? I'm in search of some inspiration, as well as cautionary tales. [more inside]
posted by carbide on Oct 19, 2008 - 38 answers

It looks like I'll be in NYC over Christmas and New Year's, and I don't really know anyone in town. Any suggestions for how to salvage some joy from the holiday season regardless? Budget is reasonably flexible.
posted by nicolas léonard sadi carnot on Sep 22, 2008 - 27 answers

Ugh. I actually *am* sick - sick since I woke up this [Monday] morning. But calling into work has me cringing under the duvet. Please help me out of this quandry... [more inside]
posted by ticktockdoc on Sep 1, 2008 - 18 answers

The girlfriend and I cannot take another mm of rain in Scotland. We want to go somewhere hot (europe...anywhere!...hot!) for 4-5 nights (leaving tomorrow) but cannot find anywhere helpful to book a place to go. Please... help... somebody.... impulsive.. to find a website that'll help so WE CAN BE DRY!! [more inside]
posted by you're only jung once on Aug 24, 2008 - 17 answers

Can anyone recommend a similar Barcelona hotel? [more inside]
posted by angryjellybean on Jul 19, 2008 - 5 answers

I'm planning a two night boat trip in Ontario with my son. Any ideas on a waterway that will keep us occupied while we aren't fishing? We have a 16 foot boat so I need a fairly calm lake or river system.
posted by Scoops on Jul 2, 2008 - 4 answers

Is there a good reference site for festivals around the world? I'm going to be traveling and this would be a neat place to start planning where to be when. I'd like to find a resource that has actual festivals, not just holidays (like you wouldn't specifically come to the US for MLK Day but you would for the 4th of July).
posted by bikergirl on May 12, 2008 - 8 answers

Where is a good place in a European city for a non-European to buy a small but nice two bedroom apartment for holidays? Looking for a city environment. How much would I need to spend? Are there any regulatory hurdles? Where do I find them? [more inside]
posted by DirtyCreature on Jan 3, 2008 - 6 answers

My family members decided to suddenly start celebrating Christmas this year. I feel weird about it. Help me deal with these changes. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 31, 2007 - 27 answers

I'm going to be in New York with my dad on Christmas Eve. What should I expect, crowd- and activity-wise? [more inside]
posted by shiu mai baby on Dec 14, 2007 - 5 answers

Where can I buy a ridiculous Christmas sweater? [more inside]
posted by yeti on Dec 7, 2007 - 19 answers

Charity for Christmas? [more inside]
posted by Pants! on Dec 3, 2007 - 17 answers

Are there likely going to be holiday sales on budget laptops? [more inside]
posted by brett on Nov 20, 2007 - 14 answers

Please recommend a delicious, decadent, primarily chocolate dessert that I can make for Thanksgiving. Some constraints inside. [more inside]
posted by peep on Nov 14, 2007 - 36 answers

I'm looking for a quotation that would be appropriate to include on a holiday card in the vein of growth, renewal etc [more inside]
posted by Soulbee on Nov 6, 2007 - 9 answers

Is there a way to excuse oneself from family obligations during the holidays? A way that would minimize gossip and guilt-trips? Any successes out there? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 27, 2007 - 22 answers

My immediate family is considering making our holidays vacation a trip to New Orleans to do volunteer work, excavating houses, etc. Problem #1: We have no idea where to start. [more inside]
posted by Ash3000 on Sep 22, 2007 - 8 answers

A large group (6-10) high school friends want to meet in Vegas for 4 days over new years. O' Hive mind, where can we get the best deal on airfare and a hotel on the strip? Please help as most of us are now exceedingly poor graduate students. [more inside]
posted by Large Marge on Sep 16, 2007 - 8 answers

I'm going to be in NYC with my girlfriend over Christmas, and need some advice from the hive mind about the general opening hours of restaurants and cafes on Christmas day in Manhattan. [more inside]
posted by triv on Sep 5, 2007 - 15 answers

A young professional Jewish woman of my acquaintance is moving to London for about a year and would love to find some community that might be welcoming to a stranger for the holidays. Suggestions as to places to meet (reform preferred) Jews, websites, etc. would be welcome.
posted by Patrick Graham on Aug 25, 2007 - 4 answers

We want to find somewhere we can regularly visit, that is accessible from Birmingham by public transport (up to 3 hours) and not too expensive. Seaside would be the best option. A guesthouse or perhaps a caravan site. Where can we easily get to in that timescale? [more inside]
posted by LyzzyBee on Aug 15, 2007 - 4 answers

What can I suggest my partner do with a huge stack of greeting cards he kept? [more inside]
posted by sian on Jul 21, 2007 - 9 answers

So, I've agreed to drive a group of people to Longleat Safari Park this weekend. It's been in the diary for months, but the weather forecast is not good. If you've been to Longleat before - is the bad weather going to spoil the trip? should we reschedule?
posted by ascullion on Jun 28, 2007 - 2 answers

Can you recommend any sites which list (or allow easy searches for) villas/cottages/apartments in Europe that are accessible without a car? I've found a couple for Italy here and here - any other suggestions?
posted by janecr on May 7, 2007 - 3 answers

how can i advise a youth-mentorship organization to be sensitive to the cultural and religious needs of its young participants and their parents? this Q applies to a very diverse group of kids. the issues i've noticed so far have specifically affected the muslim kids. [more inside]
posted by twistofrhyme on Jan 14, 2007 - 22 answers

As a first-time visitor to Rome and Florence (and Venice?) at next Christmas and New Year's, what can I expect? What is a must-see attraction that might have special holiday hours?
posted by tristanshout on Jan 13, 2007 - 14 answers

I can't stand my brother-in-law. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 9, 2007 - 24 answers