Deck Your Halls and Send Us the Photos

We're collecting photos of the most holiday decorated homes in Natick. Send us yours!

Every year, some people take great pride in decorating their homes for the holidays. They string along the gutters, put giant snow globes in their front yards and cutouts of Santa and his reindeer on the roof. We want to recognize those people who bring holiday spirit to their neighborhoods by featuring photos of their creations in our photo galleries. We'll be adding more as the season continues and hope that you will submit your photos too! No matter the decor, we want to see what you do to spread a little Christmas cheer. You can add you photos to this post or email them to Alissa.Letkowski@patch.com and we will add them for you.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

5 Holiday Gifts to Buy for Dad

Don't get him the same old boring tie. This year, try sports memorabilia, a beer making kit and more of these ideas you can find in Natick.

When it comes to thinking of creative holiday gift ideas, sometimes it's dads that are most difficult to cross off the list. You've bought them a tie every year since you can remember, so this year why not try something different to recognize your dad for all he's done for you? We've got a few suggestions for you to get over your gift-giver's block. We promise we won't tell you didn't think of them yourself.   1. If your dad is like many others and enjoys a cold glass of beer, try stopping by Pub Decor in the Natick Mall. With their wide collection of, well, pub decor, Dad could be pulling a cold one out of his Miller ice bucket, to pour into his Sam Adams mug, which is on his Guinness coaster, while staring up at his tin Amstel sign…

• Photos (1)

POLL: What's the Worst Holiday Gift You Ever Received?

Was it socks? Dried meats? Let us know by taking our poll.

Everyone likes to get gifts, but there's some you've received over the years that may stand out as far worse than others. Which do you consider the worst gifts you've ever received? Answer our poll and tell us in the comments section.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Alissa Letkowski

4:14 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011

One of our readers commented on Facebook: "a plastic nativity scene. Did I mention I'm Jewish?"   more ›

5 Holiday Gifts to Buy for Mom

Your Mom deserves something special this holiday season. Will a spa treatment, girls' night out, personalized jewelry or theater be just the thing to thank her for being her?

1. With all the things your mom does for you, she could probably use a break and a little relaxation for herself. A gift certificate to any of Natick's spas will let her get a new 'do and a little spa treatment. Adagio Salon & Spa offers a little bit of everything to give to the mother figure in your life. Heads Up Hair Salon the Littlest Spa also have great reviews from our readers. 2. With a gift card to the Framingham-Natick Melting Pot, your mom can spend any Wednesday she chooses at a girls' night out with her friends. She can choose from a wide variety of menu items and cocktails. 3. For a personalized gift she will always treasure, try something engraved with a special message or her name from Things Remembered in the Natick Mall. …

• Photos (1)

Tell Us About Your Thanksgiving Traditions

Whether you had an unusual dish, the regular fixings or your family plays games or watches football, every family has its Thanksgiving traditions. Share yours with us!

No matter how typical or unique your Thanksgiving, every family has its own traditions. Without them it wouldn't feel like the holidays. Every Thanksgiving, my family gathers in the living room of my aunt and uncle's house and watches football while we snack on hors d'oeuvres while my grandmother carves the turkey. We have the traditional turkey and all the fixings and always three kinds of pie—pecan, pumpkin and apple. Whether you have the traditional meal or your family reenacts the first Thanksgiving, we want to hear about your traditions! Comment in the comments section below about what your family and friends do for the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

• Photos (1)

POLL: Where Will You Shop on Small Business Saturday?

The day after Thanksgiving is one of the most popular of the year—Black Friday. But it's the day after, Small Business Saturday, that is really growing local stores' revenue.

As soon as the clock turns midnight on the Friday after Thanksgiving, shoppers will frantically rush to the larger stores holding sales for the holidays, including the Natick Mall when it opens at 6 a.m. But in recent years, there has been a push to take part in Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday, to increase sales a local shops. In today's poll question, we're wondering, where will you be shopping for your holiday gifts the weekend after Thanksgiving? Take our poll and let us know in the comments section about any specific small businesses in Natick that you enjoy.

•  3 Comments
• Photos (3)
• Videos (1)

Question of the Day

Traveling for Turkey This Year? [Poll]

Will you prepare this year's Thanksgiving meal at your home or will you travel to a relative or friend's home?

The cost of making Thanksgiving dinner has jumped dramatically this year, reports the American Farm Bureau Federation. The average cost to prepare a traditional dinner for 10 is $49.20, 13 percent more than the average of $43.47 last year. Compared to eating at a restaurant, though, the higher price is still a bargain, coming in at less than $5 per person. For some, paying a little more to enjoy the atmosphere of a restaurant—and, of course, to bypass hours of meal preparation—is worth the money. For others, the smell of turkey in the oven and home baked pumpkin pie is the only way to enjoy Thanksgiving. In today’s poll, we want to know where you plan to spend Thanksgiving dinner this year. Will you be enjoying a home cooked meal or …

• Photos (1)