There is not one person who has not heard about Black Friday. It’s the beginning of the Holiday Season. Find a special gift for all of the people on your list at a great price. Stores in Chicagoland and across the US will open at before the crack of dawn.

Shoppers will attack the stores looking for advertised specials. If they are lucky, they will find that most stores have limited quantities and no rain checks.

The media will pump up shoppers to say that its the busiest time of the year. In actuality, the Saturday before Christmas is the busiest retail shopping day.

The term “Black Friday” originated in Philadelphia based on the amount of heavy traffic. It has been changed to refer to the period when retailers are in the black instead of the red. Electronics and the most popular toys each year on hot ticket items. To get you plan of attack, check out Black Friday Attack Plan.

Are you interested in an alternative to the bar scene? Why not combine Yoga love anda great time by participating in Midnight Yoga, Saturday December 5th at the Bloom Yoga Studio. Try an candlelight yoga session with great live music beginning at 10pm. Enjoy the company of fellow yogis with wine and cheese after your session. Pre registration is required. For more information, contact Bloom Yoga Studio. $20.

Bloom Yoga Studio

4663 N Rockwell, near the Brown Line

(773) 463-YOGA

Restaurant Perla

Are you looking for a new restaurant to try? Maybe you have a taste for Chicken Snitzel or Meatball Soup, YUM! Come to Restaurant Perla on Belmont Avenue. The have good prices and even better ambiance. Try a traditional Romanian drink. Call for a reservation at (773)282-5522 or click to go straight to their website.

Tell them The Chicago Traveler sent you.

If you are an aspiring writer and want some quiet time to catch up, this is a great thing for you. Also if you are Nano-ing and are behind in word count like me, a great place to catch up is at the Story Studio in Chicago.

Enjoy all of the snacks and beverages you can consume. During they day, there will also be writing marathons, talks with fellow writers, or you can grab your laptop or legal pad and find a comfy sofa. There will also be prizes and gift certificates. The cost is $12 for non-members and $7 for members

Story Studio

4043 South Ravenswood #222

On your mark, get ready, Go!

The 31st Annual Turkey Trot 8k Run, Walk, Jr Dash is Thanksgiving day at 9am. What a great way to clear out some calories for the big Thanksgiving Dinner.

Lincoln Park is the beautiful setting for a nice morning run for a great cause. Canned foods are collected before the race. 100% of all food and cash donations go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. A run for a great reason. During last year’s race, 8000 pounds of food were collected, WOW!

This time of year with the holidays and temperature outside should make us consider others and do what we can to make the season a little bit better. We all have to do our part.

Winners of the race will also receive great prizes. For more information, click Turkey Trot.