Dec 20, 2013 2 min read Asian American Writers' Workshop

The Day: Christmas Carols and Last-Minute Shopping

It's almost Christmas in the nabe. What are your plans for the holiday, locals? (Photo by Francisco Daum) — It’s almost Christmas in the nabe. What are your plans for the holiday, locals? (Photo by Francisco Daum)

Good morning, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.

Today starts the last shopping weekend before Christmas. The nabe will experience a heat wave this weekend – Sunday is even supposed to hit temperatures as high as 64 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Instead of the white stuff, expect a rainy weekend; so try not to get your presents too soggy. If you are picking up your tree this weekend, we’d love to know what kind it is. Click here to take our poll and we’ll post the results before Christmas.

If you want to brave the elements to spread some Christmas cheer, meet up the Fulton Area Businesses Alliance on Saturday for some holiday events. Start the day with the NY Cares Coat Drive at Fowler Square at Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue. Drop off your gently used winter coats to help keep new Yorkers warm between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. – NY Cares hopes to collect 100,000 coats in this year’s drive. After dropping off your coats, sing your hearts out with the world-famous Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble from Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church. Carolers will meet in Fowler Square at noon. And if you want to keep the festive tunes going, join the Boombox Parade at 4 p.m. The parade, a part of Make Music Winter, will meet in front of the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Peter Jay Sharp Building and will end at Cuyler-Gore Park at 5 p.m. with holiday treats.
Double up on your caroling dosage and sing “Deck the Halls” on Friday evening. The caroling group, which will wind around the neighborhood to bring musical cheer to others in the community, will meet at the corner of DeKalb Avenue and Hall Street at 6:30 p.m.
Need to find a last-minute gift for that special someone? On Sunday, head to 111 Lafayette Avenue at the corner of South Oxford Street for Sip and Shop, hosted by Estate Jewels by George & Raf. Browse vintage jewelry and support small businesses – a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Pratt Area Community Council. RSVP to the event by emailing info@EstateJewelsbyGr.com. The event runs from 2 until 7 p.m.