Share your favorite holiday heirloom, tabletop workshop and more

Thanksgiving is still a few days away. But it's late this year, which means it's already time to start thinking about the next holiday. So unpack your seasonal decor, relive your holiday memories and share them with us and fellow readers.

Whatever you celebrate — Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, winter solstice or something else — we want to know how you make the season bright. Do you have a favorite decoration or heirloom that you display year after year? Or is there a holiday decorating ritual that has special meaning to you?

Your heirloom doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. It can be funny-looking. We're looking for things with a story behind them.

Share the story of your favorite ornament or other decoration, and what makes it special to you. Send a few sentences and a digital photo to: kim.palmer@startribune.com. Or mail a snapshot and brief description to: Kim Palmer, Star Tribune Newsroom, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488.

We'll feature some of the most interesting tales in an upcoming story in the Variety section and at www.startribune.com. But don't wait too long — the deadline is Dec. 10.

Want to set a stylish table this holiday season? A holiday tabletop workshop will be presented at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Dunn Bros. Coffee in Eden Prairie. Kim Yeager of Lark Nest Design will demonstrate sparkly looks using seasonal bounty to create festive tabletop decor. The $25 registration cost includes all materials, plus a glass of wine, appetizers and a take-away gift.

Dunn Bros. is in the historic Smith Douglas More House, 8107 Eden Prairie Road in Eden Prairie. Space for the workshop is limited. To reserve a spot, call 952-934-0145.

Festivities begin Friday with Santa arriving on a fire truck at 10 a.m., free horse-drawn carriage rides in the afternoon, carolers on Main Street in the evening and performances of the "Nutcracker Ballet." Holiday-related events will continue through Dec. 31, including shopping specials, a window decorating contest, strolling Santa and carolers, Victorian teas at the Lowell Inn, Santa brunches at the Water Street Inn and Santa lunches at the Dock Cafe. For a schedule of events, visit www.discoverstillwater.com.

If there's an architecture buff or Madeline Island fan on your holiday gift list, here's an opportunity to get an autographed copy of the new coffee-table book, "Madeline Island Summer Houses: An Intimate Journey." Architecture writer Linda Mack, who collaborated on the book with her daughter, photographer Kendra Mack, will sign copies on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Bookcase in Wayzata, 824 Lake St. E., Wayzata. Other upcoming signings will at noon Dec. 5 at the downtown Minneapolis Barnes & Noble, 701 Nicollet Mall, and 11 a.m. Dec. 14 at the Galleria Barnes & Noble, 3225 W. 69th St., Edina.

What color is your favorite song? The question isn't as abstract as it sounds. Now there's a mobile app that translates tunes into colors. It's "Paintlist" from paint manufacturer Dutch Boy, a free app that allows music lovers to turn melody into music-inspired color palettes for home decor. How does it work? Paintlist merges song-identifying technology with genre, mood and tempo characteristics to generate a color scheme.

The app is available for iPhone and Android devices. To download Paintlist or see a video demonstration, visit www.dutchboy.com/paintlist.