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Welcome to the tenth edition of the Saint Paul Almanac‘s blog, the Pig’s Eye Post! This will be our last blog post for 2010. We’ll keep this Pig’s Eye Post short so you can get on with darting to the kitchen to baste your Christmas Turkey or Kwanzaa Ham! If you’re in-between working out how to get the rubber part of the baster sealed better around the plastic nozzle so it actually works properly, do check out our holiday-themed new Almanac writing and browse our Calendar for ideas of things to do during the holiday season!

THIS WEEKEND! For the third year running, the streets of Lowertown will be overrun by a mob of costumed Santas, elves, reindeer, and other colorful holiday-related characters and objects. Saint Paul’s answer to Minneapolis’ popular zombie-themed bar hops, SantaCon is part spectacle and part mobile party. Led by Foxy Tann, who heads the Twin Cities only African American burlesque troop, and accompanied by the most mischievous Minnesotan marching band, The Brass Messengers, the 2010 Lowertown SantaCon is a jolly jaunt around the seven bars/restaurants that make up the Lowertown Entertainment District.

It’s the last weekend to see the Klingon Christmas Carol in Saint Paul! Scrooge has no honor, nor any courage. Can three ghosts help him to become the true warrior he ought to be in time to save Tiny Tim from a horrible fate? Performed in the Original Klingon with English Supertitles, and narrative analysis from The Vulcan Institute of Cultural Anthropology. The Dickens classic tale of ghosts and redemption adapted to reflect the Warrior Code of Honor and then translated into tlhIngan Hol (That’s the Klingon Language). At the Landmark Center.

FINAL “CELEBRATION THROUGH STORIES” READING ON SAT DEC 4TH! That’s right, it’s the last one! This event series featured contributors to the Saint Paul Almanac reading their pieces from the 2011 edition. Come, listen to the final reading in this year’s series on Saturday! Writers who will read at the final event include Karen Karsten, Leslie Walters, Bob Deck, Alexander Theoharides, Virginia Dippel, Steve Trimble, Jeanne Souldern Pinette, and Judith Niemi.

The Almanac extends a giant “Youbetcha we thank you” to all those who generously donated during last Tuesday’s “Give to the Max Day” charitable event. You helped us raise over $1,200 in individual donations plus matching grant funds from board members of the Saint Paul Almanac for a total of $2,426 in just 24 hours!

At the Saint Paul Almanac, we know we all do better when we know each other. Our goal is to use storytelling to help everyone in Saint Paul become friends and neighbors—one big block club of Saint Paulites that understand and support each other in good and difficult times. The Almanac creates spaces to enable people to share the stories of our community—an annual book, our website, public readings, community editor mentorship program, and other events that showcase and honor local, diverse voices and artists.

Our beloved loons and human snow birds are starting to migrate now, and we hope they stay safe from the miles and miles of oily Gulf Coast waters. The hunting season of our other state bird—the mosquito—has come to a welcome end and—whatcha know?—the long fall shadows of tree limbs extend on our Saint Paul sidewalks like stills from a Tim Burton movie. This blog includes new Almanac writing from David Mura, Janet Preus, Linda Kantner with memory support from Jane Sevald, and Norita Dittberner-Jax.

This is our fourth edition of the Pig’s Eye Post. Last week, we told you we were looking for your best “Minnesota Nice story.” And it’s been a busy week. Not only did the President visit our city, we also received a stunning entry from Louis DiSanto. Don’t let Louis’ “Yes We Already Have” attitude put you off because we’re still accepting entries. Coming Almanac events include Polly’s Coffee Cove (Oct 26th), the Mad Hatter Coffee Cafe and Teahouse (Nov 13th), and Common Good Books (Nov 15th).