Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and from here on out, it's all festivities all the time until 2015. With that said, let's get the weekend started early and take a look at local events starting tonight.

Meet The Makers Cocktail Party

Top of mind for us at the moment is our first "Meet The Makers" cocktail party here at the Lincoln & Rose holiday pop-up gift shop. If you've yet to stop in, please come say hello. (We're at 315 Lincoln Blvd., at the corner of Lincoln Blvd and Rose Ave.) We have a growing selection of all made-in-Venice goods, from chocolates and truffle salts to jewelry, handbags, wallets, planted arrangements, baby shoes and much more. While we're happy to tell you the story behind each and every item in here, it's much more fun to hear it first-hand from the artists who makes them, so we'll be hosting ongoing events through December where you can come in, bring friends, meet your neighbors and get to know the incredible talents behind the goods your gifting (or keeping). Tonight we'll have Nita Blum from Golden Plume Jewelry hammering initials into leather wrap bracelets, and Sadie Gilliam of Freedumb Founded Jewelry will be here demonstrating the art of lost wax casting. We'll also be serving up spiked cider and holiday pies. Elisa Testone, the owner of Sinners & Saints Dessert-ery will also have pies on hand for you to take home and will be taking orders for Thanksgiving. 

Happy Bday Hama

Big shout out and bday love to Hama Sushi celebrating its 35th anniversary tonight. It's one of our and everyone else's go-to spots for happy hour, and in honor of the special occasion, happy hour today goes from 4pm until closing. Local Loboman DJ will be there at 7pm to get the party going. 

Grand Opening

There's also a grand opening party tonight for Lindstrom Rugs on Abbot Kinney, which may pique your interest with cocktails, hors d'euvres from Barnyard Venice and complimentary valet.

Stouts N Staches

For all you mo bros who've been diligently neglecting your razors in the pursuit of men's health, treat yourself to a bit of pre-Turkey Day merriment at the annual Stouts N Staches party at the Hotel Erwin Saturday afternoon. There will be food and drinks, live music, mustache contests and to end it all, a free shave. Finally.

Moby Dick Reading

The tradition returns. It's time for the annual reading of Moby Dick on the beach. Bring your beach blankets and let your imagination run wild as you gaze out to sea and hear the classic read aloud cover to cover. The reading goes from 8am to 10pm Saturday and Sunday.