It's Christmas time in the Ciudad...

There are a plethora of alternatives to the traditional consumption-heavy gift-giving practices of the holidays! Alternative gift giving falls into six basic categories

1. charitable donations (examples: nonprofit donations, memberships, tree dedications)

2. experience gifts (examples: concert tickets, scuba lessons, cooking classes)

3. give of yourself (examples: offer your cooking skills, babysitting services, fitness training expertise, whatever your skills might be)

4. recycled gifts (examples: regifting, shopping vintage, antique and junk stores)

5. homemade gifts (examples: crafts, baked goods)

6. green products (examples: sustainably produced clothing, jewelry, home accents; you name it, and a green company out there probably produces it)

Once you have your alternative gift, keep the gift wrapping green as well: cloth; scarves; magazine pages, paper grocery bags colored, stamped, tied with bright ribbon

Here's more information on specific gift ideas for the holidays:

http://www.nrdc.org/cities/living/ggift.asp

http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2005/11/22/giftguide/

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/11/how_to_green_your_gifts.php

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/11/holiday_gifts_f.php#garden

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/25-great-consumer-less-gift-ideas.html
http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife/2007/11/your-gifts-are.html
http://letsgogreen.biz/

Alternative Gift Fairs:

December 8
SAJE: 152 W. 32nd Street
10 AM-4PM
On December 8th, SAJE will host our 2nd Annual "Just Holiday Marketplace" here at the SAJE space. We'll be open from 10AM to 4PM with gifts, food and music for all. We've got some unique and talented crafters from around the LA area so come on down and shop for the holidays so you can ensure that you give your loved ones gifts made with the very best in handmade gifts and wares. VENDOR SPACES STILL AVAILABLE! Visit the Marketplace website for more information or to download the registration form.

December 9
Alternative Christmas Market
Diamond Bar United Church of Christ
2335 S. Diamond Bar Blvd, Diamond Bar, CA 91765
11:30am -1:30pm.
Handarts from Third World Gifts and Arts, Centro Santa Catalina, and Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolates will be available. We will also be serving a simple soup luncheon. 909-861-4735 Visit our website for directions, www.dbucc.org.

December 16
The Anti-Mall
La Culebra, Highland Park (Avenue 57, crossing Figueroa)
Be a Conscious Consumer at this Winter's AntiMall.
Come and Celebrate 5 years of commitment to Recycling our Money and putting People over Profit. We have a great group of committed Artivist/AntiMallers with one-of-a-kind art work. We will be featuring an array of performers and great food. Come and put your dollars to work into our local economies!