TRENDS

Glam it Up
Let your ear piece be your best accessory this season.  BCBGMAXAZRIA (702.616.2249)  takes it up a notch with gold sparkly Pave Ball Ear Buds ($40). The perfect stocking stuffer or gift for a friend, the crystal ball ear buds add a whole new element of glam to your music player.

Dog Days
We can’t forget about our four legged friends this holiday season, and The Dog House (702.750.0033) is the place for all your pet gifting needs. The new shop carries a unique assortment of items for dogs and dog lovers. We love this Susan Lanci - Tinkie's Garden Collar ($44.99). The hand-crafted flowers are multi-layered, giving them an attention grabbing three-dimensional quality while the center of each flower is accented with a Swarovski crystal.  The collar is made from genuine upholstery grade Ultasuede® fabric that was imported from Japan. This soft, comfortable fabric is breathable, washable and colorfast.

Makeup Mania
Sephora’s (702.361.3727) coveted Makeup Studio Blockbuster ($49.50) is back and making a grand entrance. With a vast collection of 96 eye shadows, 84, lip glosses, six cream eyeliners, two eyeliner pencils, three blushes, one bronzer, one mascara and four applicators, you’ll have all the shades you need to create exactly the look you want.

Shoe Spectacular
You can never have enough shoes, and when you find the perfect party pair, you must snatch them up. We’ve found some stunners at Patty’s Closet (702.617.6452). These Red Velveteen Platforms ($32.80) with a black sequined toe, make for a comfortable yet updated holiday shoe, with just the right amount of sparkle.

A Gift that Gives Back
Give a gift that gives back this holiday season and join The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (702.270.6163) as it supports Keep Memory Alive with a custom-blended tea. The 20-bag tin ($19.95) comes ready-to-give, complete with an elegant silver gift bag and a gift card for the giver to use and share a memory with the recipient. One hundred percent of the sales price will be donated directly to the charity. Keep Memory Alive raises awareness and funds in support of Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s work towards enhanced treatments and research of neurocognitive disorders.  Keep Memory Alive volunteers will be on hand on December 10 to gift-wrap the tea and provide information on the impact the purchase will make on the organization. There are only 250 tins of tea so shop early!

It’s In the Bag
No outfit is complete without the perfect handbag, and City Life USA (702.897.5771) has a bag for every occasion. The shop has a complete line of purses and accessories that you can pair with a casual daytime dress or sexy sleek evening attire. Stock up in December when you can  buy one regular priced item and get the second item of equal or lesser value at 50% off.  We love this Vienna tote handbag ($69).

WHAT'S NEW

Now Open: The Dog House
A new specialty shop that caters to our beloved four legged friends recently opened at Town Square and it’s stocked with the highest quality food and dog-related items. The boutique carries a variety of collars, harnesses, leashes, dog clothes and toys that make perfect stocking stuffers for gifting your pet. The shop also carries must have accessories for dogs such as dog houses, strollers and car seats. To keep your dog’s teeth clean, you’ll find teeth cleaner and puppy mints. There’s also plenty of items for dog owners including clothing and accessories. For lasting memories, the shop works with local artists that can create portraits of your pet. On the nutritional front, The Dog House offers its own brand of all natural healthy dog food and treats from its  sister business, The Good Dog Food Company.  The dog food is prepared by The Mad Butcher Stockton, California – a family-owned USDA facility. The canine cuisine is exceptional in quality, nutritional value and taste. Meats are fetched from local farmers who raise their animals without antibiotics and hormones.  The Dog House is located on North Main Street next to Michael Stars and Barefoot Don. For more information visit www.gooddogfoodcompany.com.

Now Open: Bakers
Are your sights set on new shoes this season? You’re in luck because Bakers is now open and sporting the latest looks in fashionable footwear. Choose from private label and national brand dress, casual and sport shoes, boots, sandals and accessories. You’ll find a stunning look for every outfit. 

Now Open:   Patty’s Closet
Patty’s Closet Fashion Boutique is giving fashionistas a new place for fabulous finds. The boutique sells clothing, accessories and shoes to women who love to shop, but also love to save. Patty’s Closet has made a mark in the Las Vegas fashion industry by only carrying two of every size and only selling the items once. As a result, shoppers have less of a chance to buy and wear the same outfit as someone else. Patty’s Closet is located between Sanrio and Eric Andrew Collection.  For more information on Patty’s Closet visit http://ilovepattyscloset.com.

CENTER HAPPENINGS

Gingerbread House Competition
The Ronald McDonald House Charities® is hosting a “Home Sweet Home” Gingerbread competition on December 10 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Town Square Park and shoppers will have the chance to cast their vote for their favorite house. Families and companies were invited to create a gingerbread house that represents their version of “Home Sweet Home” and submit it to the Ronald McDonald House Charities®.  In addition to voting, a drawing will be held at 7:15 p.m. for an opportunity to win one of four homes designed by a professional chef. Children can enjoy a gingerbread man decorating station for a donation of $5. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas creates and supports programs that directly improve the health, education and well-being of children in the community. The Ronald McDonald House® is the cornerstone program of RMHC, and provides temporary housing for families who travel to Las Vegas to receive critical medical treatment for their children.

Holiday Nights & Lights Community Concerts
Join us center stage as we present local community groups demonstrating the spirit of the season every Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. before Snow in the Square. Enjoy performances from school choirs and holiday musicals. All performances are elementary to high school aged students from Las Vegas area schools and take place through December 21.

WHAT TO DO

Reserve Your Spot with Santa
If you’ve made a list and checked it twice but you don’t want to wait in line to find out if you’ve been naughty or nice, then reserve your seat with Santa at Town Square. Three easy options are available for photos with Santa. You can visit www.mytownsquarelasvegas.com, call 1-855-57SANTA to make a reservation or check in at Santa’s House in Town Square Park. It’s all part of the Qline system that Town Square has implemented to shorten the wait for photos with Santa Claus. Once confirmed, a text message will be sent to you to verify the reservation. Additionally, if you are running late, you can text back to the phone number and push your arrival back by 20 minutes.

Enjoy a Gift from BRIO
Whether buying a gift, hosting a holiday gathering or catering a party, BRIO Tuscan Grille (BRIO) is celebrating the season with incentives. BRIO is lifting spirits with bonus gifts for gift card purchases, private parties and catering orders. A $20 dining reward will be gifted for every $100 in gift cards purchased through December 31. Additionally, each guest attending a party of 15 or more between November 15 and December 22 will receive a complimentary $10 dining reward, including the host. BRIO knows how busy life can be, especially when planning a holiday event at home or the office. BRIO Catering is a delicious and convenient way to celebrate. With every catering order totaling $100 or more between through January 15, 2012, guests will receive a complimentary dessert tray from the Catering menu.

Wine and Dine at Texas de Brazil
Texas de Brazil invites you to enjoy signature South American flavor every Thursday evening with one of the numerous varietals offered from the wine region. Diners who purchase the first bottle of wine at regular price will receive half off their second selection from the Brazilian steakhouse’s extensive collection. Relax in the Beijos Bar and Lounge and enjoy a Chilean Chardonnay or indulge in the gourmet salad area and sizzling selection of meats in the dining room as you sip on an Argentine Malbec. For the complete cultural dining experience, choose from the restaurant’s abundance of decadent desserts including the classic South American treat, Brazilian papaya cream. For more information visit www.texasdebrazil.com or call 702.614.0080.

EAT

i♥burgers
The newest restaurant to open at Town Square is satisfying guests with its specialty burger fare. i♥burgers takes diners on a mouthwatering journey with its variety of burgers, salads and shakes. Favorites include the Standard, the Caprese (Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella, Tomato, Basil and Balsamic Vinaigrette) and the Plymouth’s Pride (a turkey burger with stuffing and cranberry chutney). Or, indulge in the i♥bacon, a tour-de-pork, featuring a patty composed of brisket and applewood-smoked bacon topped with more applewood-smoked bacon, bacon mayonnaise and crispy onion straws.  All burgers (including beef, bacon, chicken, salmon, turkey and homemade black bean vegetarian) are served on a proprietary brioche-style bun made locally in Las Vegas by a family-owned bakery.  i♥burgers also features a series of delicious and healthy salads from its sister restaurant, The Daily Kitchen & Wellness Bar. Pair your burger with a shake from the milkshake station and enjoy tasty delights such as the famous Blueberry Panshake, made with real blueberry pancakes, blueberries and maple syrup.

WATCH

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
In Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows director Guy Ritchie helms a new action-packed adventure, following the world's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.), and his longtime trusted associate, Dr. Watson (Jude Law), as they match wits with their arch-nemesis, the criminal genius Moriarty (Jared Harris). The movie will debut December 16. Call Rave Motion Pictures at 702.362.7283 for show times and more information.