I always think the two most difficult things about holiday gift buying are buying last-minute and buying gifts for people you don't know that well. This list is one I've used to help with both situations; hopefully, it will help you, too!

It's the last weekend before Christmas, so--if you haven't already--take a break from the shopping and take your friends and family to one of Vancouver's top Christmas shows. (They're always a little anti-climactic after December 25, no?)

• Goh Ballet's The Nutcracker
  Can it be December without The Nutcracker? The beloved holiday tradition is the ballet to see, and this is the only weekend to see it. Runs from Thursday, December 17 - Sunday, December 20.

• The VSO's Traditional Christmas
  Sing along to holiday favourites and carols at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra famous Christmas concerts. Catch the show before it ends on Saturday, December 18.

• White Christmas, The Musical
  The Arts Club Theatre Company's holiday offering is a stage version of Irving Berlin's famous film, perfect for kids and adults alike. Runs through December 27.

Want more Christmas activities? See my list of Top 5 Vancouver Holiday Attractions.

_{Image Courtesy of Arts Club Theatre}

Hanukkah is already here, Christmas is less than two weeks away....Are you feeling overwhelmed by the holidays yet?

It can be difficult to make time for everything that both needs to happen--e.g., gift shopping--and that should happen, i.e., spending time with our friends and families and enjoying the month's special events.

To help make your holidays easier and keep you organized, check out these Quick Guides to Christmas in Vancouver:

Holiday & Christmas Shopping in Vancouver

• Top 10 Places to Shop in Vancouver
  
• Gift Guide: Top 10 Places to Buy Gifts
  
• Vancouver Discount Stores

Vancouver Christmas & Holiday Attractions

• Top 5 Christmas & Holiday Attractions
  
• December Events Calendar: Holiday Concerts, Shows, Events & More

Buying Christmas Trees & Seeing Santa

• Where to Buy a Christmas Tree
  
• Where to See Santa Claus in Vancouver

Christmas Decorations & Recipes

• Christmas Decorations & Ideas
  
• DIY Christmas Ornaments for Kids
  
• Christmas Recipes

  _{Photo © Wathiq Khuzaie / Getty Images}

Christmas and holiday music are part of the joys of the season; why not make this weekend a musical one?

Want more seasonal ideas? Check out the Top 5 Vancouver Holiday Attractions.

• VanDusen Botanical Gardens' Festival of Lights
  The gorgeous VanDusen gardens turn festive with elaborate light decorations, a Candy Cane Tree, Gingerbread Walk and much more. Runs through January 3.

• The VSO's Traditional Christmas One of the city's most beloved holiday musical traditions, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents this concert full of carols, Christmas music, and plenty of audience sing-alongs! Runs through December 19.

• Vancouver Men's Chorus Making Spirits Bright
  The VMC's popular holiday concert series returns to the the historic St. Paul's Anglican Church in Vancouver's West End; it's a fun, festive launch to the holiday season. Runs through December 14.

  _{Image Courtesy of VanDusen Botanical Garden}

Vancouver loves celebrating the winter holidays with light shows. There's Stanley Park's Bright Nights and Canada Place's On the Sails, and there's the pièce de résistance, VanDusen Botanical Garden's over-the-top Festival of Lights.

A friend of mine and her family make visiting the Festival of Lights an annual tradition. It is definitely a sight to see: millions of lights light create bright pathways, there are musical Dancing Lights (around Livingstone Lake), and there are bursts of colour so exuberant they're a sight to behold.

Truthfully, I find the Festival of Lights a bit much (and, mind you, I love the VanDusen Botanical Garden). But many people adore it, especially kids.

For kids, there's the pleasure of running around bright lights in darkness (never to be underestimated), a chance to visit with Santa, Gingerbread Walk and Candy Cane Lane.

If you do head to the Festival of Lights this year, say "hi" to Christian, a.k.a. Dr. Waffle, who's on hand to provide delicious night-time fare. He's a friend of mine, and he does, indeed, make killer waffles.

Want more Christmas/Holiday info? My Guide to Christmas in Vancouver has it all.

_{Image Courtesy of VanDusen Botanical Garden}

If you're one of the many Mount Pleasant locals who loved Main Street and Broadway's Slickety Jim's Chat n' Chew, which tragically burned down in a fire last month, you have a chance to both mourn the old restaurant and, hopefully, help raise funds for a new location.

Eggfest, the fundraiser/wake/memorial concert for Slickety Jim's will be held at the Anza Club on December 10, and will feature Eldorado, SWANK, I Braineater, The Furniture, The Minimalist Jug Band, and Slowpoke and the Smokes. Tickets are just $10; $25 will get you a Slickety Jim t-shirt.

I find it truly touching--and really indicative of the community spirit of Mount Pleasant / SoMa--that this is only one way the residents have rallied to help businesses destroyed in that fire. A benefit concert to help rebuild Zocalo, another felled restaurant, was held last Saturday at La Casa del Artista.

There are a lot of Christmas events this weekend, besides these picks; check out the December Events Calendar for more great, seasonal activities.

• Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
  It's the opening weekend for this annual winter holiday event, which includes a celebration of light, live music, kids activities, and more. Runs through January 2, 2010.

• Vancouver's Baker's Market
  Support local bakers--and indulge in delicious baked goods--at this occasional baker's market. Happens Saturday, December 5 and Saturday, September 12.

• Rogers Santa Claus Parade
  This annual parade features over 60 marching bands, dance troupes, festive floats and community groups, attracting over 300,000 spectators. Volunteers will also be collecting non-perishable goods for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society--so don't forget your donations! Happens Sunday, December 6.

_{Image Courtesy of Capbridgeviews.com}

The H1N1 vaccine is now available to all British Columbians, not just those with priority health issues. That means that if you want it, you can get it.

So how do you find a clinic where you can get the H1N1 shot near you?

• Use the BC Flu Clinic Locator at the Ministry of Health Services site.
  
• Contact your personal physician and ask him/her for vaccine locations.
  
• Call HealthLink BC by dialing 811.

UBC students and faculty can get the H1N1 shot on campus (while supplies last) at a flu clinic at Gage Residence in the Isabel MacInnes Room. The UBC flu clinic will be held on Friday, December 4 and Monday, December 7. Find more information here.

You know it's time to start working on your Christmas and holiday gift lists when Santa arrives in Vancouver, courtesy of the annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade.

The Rogers Santa Claus Parade starts at 1pm this Sunday, December 6, 2009.

One of Vancouver's Top 5 Holiday Attractions, the parade is a huge event in downtown Vancouver, attracting over 300,000 spectators. Santa himself is the parade's main event, but there's also Frosty the Snowman, Chinese dragons, stilt-walkers, dancers, bag pipes, and more.

The parade starts at Georgia and Broughton at 1pm and takes about an hour and a half to reach its end-point at Davie and Howe.

Map to the 2009 Rogers Santa Claus Parade Route

Quick Tips for the Rogers Santa Claus Parade:

• Don't drive! Parking will be impossible. Use Translink to plan your trip and take the SkyTrain, bus or Canada Line.

• Wear warm clothes and rain gear (if you need it). It gets cold out there, and the closer to Davie and Howe you are, the longer the wait.

• Go early if you have small children who need to be "in front". People start staking out spots with chairs and blankets as early as 10:30am.

Want a more up-close-and-personal encounter with Santa? Where to See Santa Claus in Vancouver

For more on Christmas in Vancouver, top holiday attractions, gift shopping, and more: Your Guide to Christmas in Vancouver.

_{Image Courtesy of Rogers Santa Claus Parade}

It must be the official start of the holiday season, because the first of Vancouver's top annual holiday attractions--Bright Nights at Stanley Park--is already up and running.

• Bright Nights at Stanley Park
  It's the opening weekend of Stanley Park's Bright Nights, an annual Vancouver holiday tradition that transforms the forest around Stanley Park's Miniature Train into a winter wonderland of light. Runs through January 2.

• 15th Annual Women's Winter Faire
  Kick off your holiday shopping at the Winter Faire, an annual arts and crafts fair featuring BC's finest women artisans. Happens Saturday, November 28 - Sunday, November 29.

• Free Ice Skating at GE Ice Plaza
  Grab the kids and grab your skates: It's the first weekend to skate at the reinvented Robson Square ice rink--now the GE Ice Plaza. Open daily from 12pm - 9pm

_{Image Courtesy of Vancouver Park Board}