Bundle up because the forecast says a winter storm is on its way, but you still wont want to miss a holiday event that is quintessentially San Diego: the 37th annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights. On Dec. 20, 5:30 - 9 p.m., see over 100 boats, all decked out in lighted glory, cruise a 7.5 mile route on San Diego Bay. This year's theme is a "Christmas At The Zoo" and it promises to be better than ever. Best vantage points from the shore are along the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Harbor Island and Coronado.

Read more about the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights here.

With families tightening their budgets this holiday season out of necessity, some households might be short on cheer. But nothing brings smiles to entire families better than Christmas light displays. And when entire neighborhoods get into the holiday spirit, it brings whole communities together, with people driving from all points of the county just to get a glimpse of someone else's neighborhood display. Sure, commercial displays might be more grand in some cases, but nothing says Christmas better than a heartfelt lighted residence. Hopefully, the economic woes won't curtail the generous efforts of our local homeowners.

Check out my roundup of neighborhood Christmas lights displays around San Diego.

He was the guy who not only gave us the membership warehouse superstore, but he also inspired Sam Walton to give us WalMart. Sol Price, best known as the founder of Price Club and San Diego philanthropist, died Monday,  at age 93. With a knack for delivering products at attractive prices for the consumer, Price built his San Diego-based Price Club chain into a retail phenomenon until it was merged into Costco in 1993.

But even before the success of Price Club, Price already had shown his retail savvy when he started the FedMart (remember?) retail discount chain. Along with the deep discount prices on a mix of products, FedMart pioneered retail innovations selling gasoline at wholesale prices, in-store pharmacies and optical departments, as well as grocery and food products. Sam Walton saw Price's innovations in a Houston FedMart store and was inspired to start the behemoth retail chain WalMart. Walton wrote in his 1992 biography, "I guess I've stolen -- I actually prefer the word 'borrowed' -- as many ideas from Sol Price as from anybody else in the business."

After the merge with Costco, Price focused on real estate development and philanthropic activities that focused on community improvement, especially in the City Heights neighborhood. Besides his sons Robert and Laurence, Sol Price is survived by five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Not the best timing - in the midst of a rocky holiday season for many San Diegans still feeling the effects of a bad economy, the San Diego City Council this week approved a plan to reduce library hours, scale back maintenance at parks and beaches, eliminate long-standing public-safety programs and lay off 200 workers to help close a $179 million budget deficit.

According to the Union-Tribune, Mayor Jerry Sanders pushed for the recommended cuts now even though the new fiscal year doesn't begin until July 2010 because the city is projecting a $179 million budget deficit. Sanders' plan calls for ending programs such as horse-mounted patrols at Balboa Park, delaying projects like fire sprinklers at City Hall and putting off payments into reserve accounts. He said the cuts are needed now to avoid deeper cuts later.

Sanders has proposed eliminating 81 jobs for nonsworn service officers, investigative aides and code-compliance officers. Police Chief William Lansdowne said those duties would be taken up by sworn officers who currently serve in canine units and boat patrols -- two programs being cut or eliminated. Cuts to libraries calls for hours at every branch to be reduced to 36 from 41 per week and be closed on Sundays and Mondays. Only the downtown library will be open Sundays.

The cuts won't eliminate the projected deficit: with an ongoing gap between projected revenue and expenses, the city still expects a shortfall of $77 million for the fiscal year that will start in July 2011.

If you missed your chance to experience Balboa Park's December Nights last week but still need that something to get you in the holiday spirit, La Mesa has  something that might do the trick with their Christmas in the Village event, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11-12.

La Mesa's quaint downtown village is transformed into a Victorian Wonderland, perfect to get you in the holiday spirit. And as with every year, there will be strolling minstrels, carolers and street entertainers. Live Music is featured in a number of stage areas, while horse drawn carriages and bonfires to cut the chill fill the La Mesa Boulevard. For the kids, they'll love Santa, the carnival rides and the puppet shows. All specialty Shops, boutiques and restaurants open late during event. Hours for Christmas in the Village on Dec. 11 and 12 are 6-10 p.m.

For more information about La Mesa's Christmas in the Village, click here.

When it drizzles in San Diego, the weather becomes the "stormwatch" lead story on local TV news, so when it actually pours, the rain is a big deal. In fact, it set a record as 1.38 inches of rain fell at Lindbergh Field, topping the previous record for a Dec. 7 of 1.15 inches, set in 1992, the NWS reported.

Other parts of the county had even more substantial amounts of rain, and the local mountains had several inches of snow covering the landscape. Not to mention the usual rash of traffic accidents.

It looks like winter has really arrived, as more rain is forecast for later in the week. Hmm, could this really be an El Nino year?

It says something when a local performing arts organization can improve and grow during tough economic times, even one as esteemed as San Diego's Old Globe Theatre. But on Monday, the world-renowned theatrical group dedicates the new $22 million Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, featuring a technologically advanced performance space and an number of enhancement facilities added to the existing Old Globe complex in Balboa Park, including an education center designed to inspire young people.

The namesake of the theatre complex is Conrad Prebys, a Point Loma real estate developer and Indiana native whose $10.4 million gift to the Old Globe in 2005 helped make the new complex possible. One of the featured spaces is the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, the 250-seat stage and the centerpiece of the new complex (the Whites donated $5 million). It replaces the demolished Cassius Carter Centre Stage.

Karen and Donald Cohn Education Center is 6,500-square-foot facility, which includes a classroom and Hattox Hall. The Old Globe's board chairman Cohn and his wife pledged $5.35 million to the building of the facility. New public spaces and facilities were also added and improved throughout the Old Globe complex.

Read more about the Old Globe Theatre's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center here.

December Nights might be the big holiday happening attracting the huge crowds this weekend in Balboa Park, but if that isn't enough to get you in the holiday mood, there are also a number of other smaller community events happening this weekend. More specifically, longstanding neighborhood Christmas parades in North Park, Coronado, Ocean Beach, La Jolla and Chula Vista are taking place this weekend, Dec. 4 and 5.

The 34th Annual Coronado Holiday Open House & Christmas Parade Celebration (Fri., Dec. 4) - The city on the island celebrates Christmas on Friday night with its parade and traditional community open house. The parade starts at 6 p.m. with ands, floats, kids of all ages, and again this year:  festive electric carts parade down Orange Avenue. Catch a good viewing spot between 8th Street and RH Dana Place. At 7 p.m., the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony & Community Concert takes place when Santa and the Mayor of Coronado will flip the switch to light the Rotary Plaza Christmas Tree followed by a performance from the Coronado Community Band. From 4-8 p.m., kids can frolic in Coronado's version of a snowy Christmas at the Coronado Ferry Landing.

North Park Toyland Parade (Sat., Dec. 5) - Hosted by North Park Main Street, the North Park Toyland Parade will take place on Saturday, Dec 5 at 11 a.m.. along its usual route on University Ave starting at Utah Street and ending at Iowa St.  There will be marching bands, car clubs, beauty queens, dancing troupes, dog clubs, and many more fantastic parade entrants from a variety of local businesses, schools and community organizations.

The 30th Annual Ocean Beach Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting (Sat., Dec. 5) -OB lends its unique flavor to Christmas with its annual parade and Christmas tree lighting.  The parade begins at 5 p.m. and the festive procession heads west down Newport Avenue from Sunset Cliffs Boulevard to Abbot Street, ending at Veteran's Plaza and the OB community Christmas tree.  The event includes floats, marching bands, antique cars and surfers, as well as a Funzone for children in the OB Pier parking lot next to the tree. Children can also have their picture taken with Santa.

The 47th Annual Chula Vista Starlight Parade (Sat., Dec. 5) - The 47th Annual Starlight Parade presented by the Third Avenue Village Association will take place Saturday, December 5, at 6 p.m., on Third Avenue between H and E Streets. This year's Parade will be themed "Holidays Around the World". This annual event is the largest nighttime parade in the South County, with over 5000 participants each year. Special features will include carolers, delightfully decorated floats, local school marching bands, and, of course, Santa Claus!

The 52nd Annual La Jolla Christmas Parade (Sun., Dec. 6) - The La Jolla Christmas Parade lures locals to the picturesque village and watch a spectacular, homespun tradition unfold. The parade begins at 2 p.m. on Girard Avenue. A Holiday Festival takes place after at 3 p.m. And the Grinch and Santa will both be making appearances.

Read about other San Diego Christmas and Holiday Activities in my article here.

Traditionally, San Diego ushers in the Christmas holiday season with a grand community celebration in Balboa Park. Balboa Park December Nights is a two-day gift to the community that brings out the holiday spirit in all. The 2009 edition takes place Friday and Saturday, December 4 and 5.

It's hard to believe only a few years ago, this event was on the verge of being canceled. This year marks the 32nd anniversary of this must-attend family event, and once again features expanded hours: Friday, Dec. 4, 5 to 10 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 5, noon to 10 p.m.

Whether you call it Christmas on the Prado or the more politically correct December Nights, the beloved San Diego event features sparkling lights, theatrical and musical entertainment, and exotic Food/Spirits throughout the Park. The largest free community festival in San Diego, December Nights is expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors over two days.

For more information about 2009 December Nights in Balboa Park, read my article here.

The 2009 holiday shopping season is upon us and for better or worse, it means a number of San Diego shoppers are going to have to make their way to unfamiliar territory: the regional shopping mall. If you haven't been to your local shopping mall recently, you might be surprised at some of the changes awaiting you. And in their own subtle ways, San Diego shopping malls cater to a certain type of shopper profile that they like to attract: the shoppers at Fashion Valley aren't the same as those at Mission Valley Center, even though they are just a mile apart.

So, where do you begin? Here's a roundup of the San Diego County regional shopping malls, along with some of their best and worst characteristics. Oh, and don't forget your gift list!