I do love this period, after the food coma of Thanksgiving and before the crack of a New Year. Sure, crass consumerism is gross, but gimme the frosty mornings, the friends and family, the food, the decorations, the lights, and the spirit of giving. It's all too easy here in Portland, where we have, you know, seasons. I've spent Christmas in Arizona before, and while it has its own charms, i'll take a scarf & gloves over shorts & flip-flops any day.

In any case — before i cry tears of joy in my soy eggnog — and in the spirit of giving, let's turn our attention to our great amigo Steve Lafler, who is in midst of a Kickstarter campaign to get his sublime tome El Vocho into print, then into bookstores. This is the real deal, folks.