What’s Happening?

As anticipated, once we hit Halloween, the days and holidays would fly by. It’s too late if you forgot the cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving. It’s not too late, though, to find a nice present for Mom. And you don’t need Black Friday to get a good deal. “You better shop around” like my mamma told me.

We baked a turkey, mashed potatoes, and gave thanks. My hat is off to U.S. agriculture, and, yes, I wish there was more emphasis on healthy crops and meals. However, it can’t be denied that a family can eat like royalty for less money than probably anywhere else in the world. If you want a fresh, minimally processed turkey, that’s available. If you want a Butterball full of processed stuff and a little pop up thermometer, that’s for sale too. I’m into fresh cranberries, and I make gallons of the stuff.

We went to The Movies last week in Imperial and saw “Coco.” We give it a five star endorsement. It’s a Pixar animated film of tremendous imagination. I don’t want to hype it too much, but it’s an enjoyable film for all ages. The statement sounds trite, but it’s true. The story incorporates the Day of the Dead celebration, and it’s set in Mexico. It’s interesting how the creators included a border crossing situation in the film which skews border crossing hassles without being particularly political. The film can be enjoyed in English or with Spanish subtitles. The screenplay is engaging unlike some animated films, and the Pixar crew knows how to make the most of animation. Why not create fantastic, color popping scenes with flying dragon-like creatures if you can?

There was some confusion at the theater since “Coco” was preceded by a short, maybe thirty minute, spin-off of “Frozen” where Olaf, the goofy snowman, travels around the town compiling information about Christmas traditions. We thought for a moment that we were in the wrong theater. It had been a long day so this animated extra provided some down time for me. I was hoping to make it through the sugary sweetness of the “Frozen” characters so I could enjoy the main event. Hey, the three year olds enjoyed it. I noticed recently that the two primary “Frozen” characters, Elsa and Anna, are available as a boxed set in the toy section of a local big box store for $50. It’s the franchise that keeps on giving.

We told a friend to go see “Coco.” He said he’d first have to check “Rotten Tomatoes,” the popular movie rating web site. OK. Is 96 percent good enough? My only complaint is that we never did get popcorn. It was $5 Tuesdays, and the theater was packed.

So what else is happening? The Imperial Valley Food Bank and the Salvation Army would like your contribution today or any day so they can feed children, adults, and the homeless. Find the contact info on your smart phone or laptop. These and other local charities can always use your assistance, though, it’s especially appreciated this time of year when demand is high. If you put off buying that new iPhone, you can donate to several local charities.

On Thursday, the Calexico Holiday Tree Lighting and Street Festival will be in front of City Hall, 608 Heber Ave., just south of the SDSU campus, 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Also on Thursday, The Imperial Valley Choral Society presents Handel’s Messiah at 7 p.m., at Christ Community Church, 590 W. Orange, El Centro. We attended last year, and the music and voices are not to be missed. Kids K-12 are free. We will attend again this year.

On Friday, the El Centro tree lighting with Santa will be in front of the EC Police Dept., 150 N. 11th St. from 5 to 9 p.m.

On Saturday, the Pioneer’s Museum (across from IVC) presents the Holiday Tour Around the World from 6 to 8 p.m. Adults $10, kids $5. The various galleries will present their holiday traditions and seasonal food. We’re in.

Get off the couch and enjoy the season. This beats August in the Valley.