Jingle bells for friendly night out

There is always something fun to do in this town. And sometimes you don’t need a lot of money to go out and have a good time with your loved ones.

Wednesday night, about 30 or so of my running buddies went on a jingle bell run. That’s right. We donned Santa hats, strapped bells on our toes and strung blinking lights to various parts of our personages then took off running through downtown neighborhoods in search of holiday lights. Even our pace dog came decked out in his red-and-green finery.

Some ran fast (I’m not calling any names, Cheetah girl). Some took their time and even stopped to chat with a homeowner who seemed to marvel at our decked-out procession about as much as we marveled at his artfully light-filled deck.

The point is we took the time to enjoy what others created. We had fun, we got some exercise ... and we had two or three dozen cookies that were waiting in the cars at the end of our 3.5-mile run.

It was made more festive this year as 6.2 became another year younger on jingle bell day. And Baby Pink came out to share the after-run festivities, even though her own baby appears to have ignored the doctor’s predicted day of arrival. (It seems our much anticipated new wee one will be running to her, or his, own schedule, too.)

The outing also gave our running family a chance to celebrate together before Ellen heads to Boston, Amy leaves for Richmond and Kathy boards a Caribbean cruise to celebrate her grandmother’s 90th birthday.

Yes, the jingle bell run has become our annual tradition. But you can create your own, too. To help you get started, look over there. I believe it is the right side of this page. David A. Maurer has compiled a list of some of the brightest lights in town. Take this paper, take your family, take your friends, take your running shoes or take your car … and take in some local sights.

Speaking of local

If you are still puzzled about what to get your friends and family members for the holidays, think local. We have a wealth of unique and talented artists, musicians and writers who are willing to share their creativity through books, recordings, paintings, concert, theater or movie tickets.

Shannon Worrell has produced one of my favorite albums of the year, “The Honey Guide.” You can find it, and the UVa grad’s three previous CDs, on iTunes.

Among the other young groups that I have enjoyed this year are country rockers Sons of Bill, the quirky synthetic pop of Straight Punch to the Crotch (I did not make up that name) and the melodic duo of violinist Morwenna Lasko and guitarist Jay Pun.

Sons of Bill guitarist Sam Wilson (who started the band with brothers Abe and James) even has a brand new solo album out, “Green Gates.”  Sam Wilson and Worrell, by the way, will be on stage at Gravity Lounge on Jan. 26 with Alejandro Escovedo.

And don’t forget the art galleries. Several, like Art Upstairs, have small, affordable and uniquely individual selections that would fit nicely under any priced tree.

In these uncertain economic times, we need to support our own. Come January we will be losing three of our well-known galleries: Sage Moon and Migration on the Downtown Mall and Spruce Creek Gallery in Nellysford.

Run by and check them out, while you can.