The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (or Chanukah) gets underway on Friday, December 11th and continues for eight days.

Menorah on the First Night of Hanukkah © Laura Sternberg, Licensed to About.com

According to SimpletoRemember.com, 94,000 Jews reside in the Metro-Detroit Area. Like most holidays, however, not everyone celebrates the holiday. For those who do, there are several celebrations across town:

• Temple Kol Ami hosts two Hanukkah-related events. Shabbanukah at 6:00 pm on the first night of Hanukkah will have a latke bar, Menorah lighting, and songs. A Crazy Ninth Night of Chanukah on Saturday December 19th includes a concert by The Schmaltz Klezmer Ensemble, a dance party and dessert buffet.
  
  
• The Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield hosts a Family Chanukah Celebration on December 13th at 10 a.m. In addition to candle lighting, there will be songs, latkas and crafts.
  
  
• Congregation Shaarey Zedek, a conservative synagogue in Southfield, is hosting a Big Chanukah Blowout on December 13th at 12 noon with family activities, a movie, bingo and live bands, as well as a pyrotechnic menorah lighting. Price is $36 per family.

More Information About Hanukkah in Metro Detroit

Many of the drop-off locations in the Metro-Detroit area for Toys-for-Tots wrap up shop on Monday, December 14th; so if donating a toy is on your Christmas to-do list, now's the time to make it happen.

With Christmas almost upon us, it's easy to forget that Christianity is just one of the religions practiced in the Metro-Detroit area. The Pluralism Project of the University of Michigan / Dearborn celebrates the diversity by maintaining a slideshow archive depicting the many religions, practices and places of worship that exist in southeast Michigan, from the Swirling Wind Singers in a Native American Blessing in West Bloomfield to a Buddhist Meditation Center in Warren. Check it out!

Looking for a gift for that hard to please Detroiter?

Hitsville U.S.A., the Birthplace of Motown Records © Barbara Popek

Nothing invokes memories of the Motor City (or Motor Town) than the music of Motown. With the 50th anniversary of Motown Records, the label that started it all, in 2009, several anthologies were released that would make great Christmas gifts.

One of the most interesting astronomical events to witness is a meteor shower, which is usually caused when the earth passes through a comet's tail and rock or debris creates shooting stars upon burning up in the Earth's upper atmosphere.

Geminid Meteor Shower (12/14/06, Arizona) © Photo by Ethan Miller / Getty Images

According to Stardate.org, one of the most reliable meteor showers is the Geminid, so named because its shooting stars appear to fall from the Gemini constellation. In 2009, the shower can begin to be seen in the Metro-Detroit area on December 7th or thereabouts. That being said, the best time to view the Geminid in southeast Michigan is on December 13th and 14th, when the moon is in a thin-crescent phase and sheds less competing light.

According to Your Sky by John Walker, Gemini will rise in the northeast sky and arc to the east when viewed from the Metro-Detroit area during the peak Geminid viewing time of 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Therefore, the best way to view the Geminid Meteor Shower is to drive away from the bright lights of the city and its suburbs toward a less populated area or big park that is northeast / east from the biggest glow of civilization. Looking out east over Lake St. Clair should help cut down on the competing light and make for good Geminid gazing.

Some ideas for viewing locations:

• Piper Park in Grosse Pointe Farms
• Lakefront Park in St. Clair Shores
• Memorial Park in St. Clair Shores
• Metro Beach Metroparks in Harrison Township
• Bloomer Park in the City of Rochester Hills

More Information:

• List of Parks and Beaches in the Metro-Detroit Area
• Warren Astronomical Society
• Map of Ann Arbor Astronomy locations

As Michigan struggles with its economic reality, Lou Glazer sets out his vision for the state's future in an article in dbusiness magazine. According to Glazer, the key or "Path to Prosperity" is to rebuild the state's broad middleclass by utilizing its existing assets -- large core cities, renowned higher-education system -- to nuture a knowledge-based economy. According to Glazer, Michigan has to act to keep, mold and attract talent. His main tenets in this regard call for the state to further invest in its higher-education system and to reinvest in the state's core cities to make them more attractive and culturally vibrant...read more

It may be the thought that counts, but some gifts have more thought behind them than others. There are many Detroit families in need of a little assistance to have a Merry Christmas this year. If you want to help, here are a few ideas:

• Athletes Adopting Families for the Holiday is a fundraising event aimed at improving the Christmas of 50 families across the metro area. As the name implies, notable Detroit athletes will be on hand offering items in a silent auction and signing autographs. General admission is $65. If you can't make the December 15th event in Novi, you can also adopt a family outright through Volunteers of America Michigan.
  
  
• The Archdiocese of Detroit has an Adopt a Family for Christmas program aimed at helping local families with basic needs, including food, rent and utilities.
  
  
• Matrix Human Services has several programs this holiday season. In addition to a winter clothing drive, the organization sponsors the Angel Tree Holiday Program through which donors can buy and provide gifts to individuals and/or families in need.
  
  
• Last but not least, the Marine Toys-for-Tots program continues to connect toys with, well, tots for the holiday season. You can either drop off a toy at one of several locations throughout the Metro-Detroit area or attend a fundraising event. The 7 Million Jigawatts and Kevin Roney will be on hand at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Detroit on December 10th. Admission is either a new, unwrapped gift or a $5 donation. Alternatively, the Oakland County Sportsmen's Club is sponsoring an event that will feature two stages of live music on December 6th. Again, admission is either a new, unwrapped gift or a $10 donation.

Know of any more?

Unfortunately, there are still plenty of homeowners in Detroit and Michigan who are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. In fact, the crisis over the last couple of years has created a new foreclosure-rescue industry that uses buzz terms like short sale, loan modification and sandwich lease.

House for Sale on a Block in Detroit © Photo by Bill Pugliano / Getty Images

The truth is that homeowners may have to think outside of the box to keep their home or at least come out of home ownership with the ability to make a fresh start. The trick is to recognize rescue organizations offering legitimate help from those that are in it to help themselves....read more.

They come for the Turkey but stay for the long weekend. If you and your family stay cooped up in the house for four days, there might be blood shed; so here are some ideas for things to do in and around the Metro-Detroit area this weekend:

Ice Skating at Campus Martius © Jeff Widen

• Top Detroit Attractions, including casinos and museums
  
  
• Information About America's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a Detroit tradition
• List of Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving Day
• Shows and Concerts, Christmas and Otherwise
• List of Movie Theaters in the Metro-Detroit Area
• List of IMAX Theaters in the Metro-Detroit Area
• Arcades and Amusement Centers
• List of Shopping Malls and Centers
  
  
• Festivals and Events, including Holly's Dickens Festival, Howell's Fantasy of Lights Parade, Wayne County's Lightfest, and Ice Skating at Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit

Enjoy!

Want to go local this Thanksgiving? It is possible to have a Michigan Thanksgiving, wherein you showcase Michigan food products bought locally. So, if Chicago has its pizza and Philadelphia its cheese steaks, what is considered a Detroit or Michigan food?

According to FoodTimeline.org, Michigan is mainly known for its contributions to the dessert course, including cherry pies, Michigan mint, Mackinac Island fudge and Kellogg's Rice-Krispie treats. While these products may get you started in planning your menu, you'll have to be a little more creative to incorporate the Upper Peninsula's pasties and Vernor's Ginger Ale. Or you could simply opt for any produce, poultry or product actually born, raised or made in the state. Here are a few resources to get you started:

• List of Michigan food products
• List of Michigan Wines and Beers
• Michigan Turkey Recipes and Michigan Holiday Recipes

Have any more ideas?

More Information: Detroit Thanksgiving Guide 2009