Holidays on South Grand

Small Business Saturday Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 25. Shop the street’s businesses, and from 4:30-6:30 p.m. enjoy the tree-lighting ceremony and festivities at Ritz Park at 3147-49 South Grand. S'mores and hot chocolate will be provided, and carolers and members of the STL Hoop Club will perform. The tree lights up at 5:15 p.m.

Grinchmas

Get your picture taken with the Grinch on Dec. 2 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the 16th annual Grinchmas, which will be held at Ritz Park. For a $7 donation to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, participants can get their photo taken with the Grinch. Those who bring a toy to donate to the children there can get a photo taken for $5. Clowns from Moolah will join the Grinch to provide free face painting and balloon animals, and some restaurants will donate a percentage of their sales to the hospital.

Be sure to check out

South Grand is just a stone’s throw away from St. Louis’ Tower Grove Park, where you can walk off at least one of those meals under its towering trees and historic pavilions. Tower Grove Farmers’ Market wraps up in mid-November, but after that you can shop indoors for local organic produce once a month at City Garden Montessori at 1618 Tower Grove Avenue. Dates are Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Feb. 10, and March 10. 9 am to 12:30 p.m. For more details: tgmarket.org/index.php

Stores to check out

Apotheosis Comics, which just moved to its new space at 3238 South Grand Boulevard, carries a variety of comics, graphic novels, and more. Get great great deals on spices and try a new food at Jay International Foods, 3172 South Grand.

Grab a bite

If you're looking for something to eat, five of Post-Dispatch restaurant critic Ian Froeb's STL 100 restaurants are here. They are: Guerrilla Street Food, Sheesh Restaurant, Cafe Natasha's, Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant and, a short drive farther south, Banh Mi So#1- Saigon Gourmet.