news-record.com

What's happening around town takes a back seat this week in favor of some holiday shopping suggestions based on this column and Ed Williams' wine column from the past year.

This is in no way intended to be a guide, nor is it by any means comprehensive. These are merely some things that came to mind upon reflection. Happy shopping!

Help the homeless

Inspired by a chance meeting with a homeless man more than 20 years ago, artist William Mangum joined Greensboro Urban Ministry to create the annual Honor Card.

With a donation of $5 or more, you get an Honor Card that can be inscribed to someone you wish to "honor."

Proceeds benefit Greensboro Urban Ministry, which feeds and gives emergency shelter and support to the homeless.

Each year, the Honor Card features a painting by Mangum.

For information, call the William Mangum Fine Art Gallery (379-9200) or Greensboro Urban Ministry (271-5959).

Cookbook benefits guild

Their recipes have been featured at the Women's Resource Center benefit Men Can Cook and at a gala commemorating the renovated Aycock Auditorium at UNCG.

So, it goes without saying that members of the Greensboro Symphony Guild know their cuisine.

The guild is again offering a collection of culinary delights in its cookbook "Recipes of Note."

Proceeds from the book support the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and its education programs.

The $20 book is available at The Extra Ingredient, Maxi B's or Sarajane Accessory Boutique in Summerfield, to name a few locations.

Or visit www.gsoguild.org for ordering information.

Fresh from the oven

With a Best Bakery nod from Go Triad's Readers' Choice Awards and a couple of new bakers turning out European-style pastries, it's no surprise that Simple Kneads (227-B S. Elm St., Greensboro; 370-4446) will offer some traditional holiday staples such as stollen, brandied blum gingerbread and apple cranberry walnut pies. For information, visit www.downtowngreensboro.net.

Over at Spring Garden Bakery and Coffee House (1932 Spring Garden St., Greensboro; 272-8199) holiday cookies, pumpkin pies and fruit cakes will be rolling out of the oven. And don't forget the hand-rolled truffles.

And according to the blog at Sweet Temptations Bakery (www.sweettemptations.info), the home-based company will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 3.

Owner Jessie Podair has kept a low profile but is taking the opportunity to showcase platters of assorted goodies, including logo cookies, which are customized to sport a company's logo.

Up from the cellar

Shopping for vino? Some wine outlets worth mentioning include Vin Vin (3716 Alliance Drive, Greensboro; 346-1759; www.vinvin.us), which opened earlier this year and is hiding in an industrial park off Wendover Avenue. The no-frills venue offers decent prices on uncommon labels.

The chain WineStyles (3326 W. Friendly Ave., Suite 141, Greensboro; 299-4505; www.winestyles.net/greensboro) opened a franchise in Friendly Center recently. The concept tries to simplify shopping by organizing wines by color and style.

In addition to garnering an honorable mention for Best Wine Shop in Go Triad's Readers' Choice Awards, Zeto (335 Battleground Ave., Greensboro; 574-2850; www.zetowines.com), the downtown boutique wine shop, late last year installed Enotecha Gallery, a sort of wine tasting machine. You can sample some two dozen wines before making a purchase.

A season for chocolate

In addition to a large assortment of truffles, including gingerbread and egg nog, the ladies at Loco for Coco Gourmet Chocolate (1420-D Westover Terrace, Greensboro; 333-0029; www.locoforcocochocolate.com) are offering Hanukkah items, including a chocolate dreidel, and plenty of novelty chocolate Christmas items. Stop in for a warm shot of incredibly rich sipping chocolate.

And visit Cleo's Gourmet Praline Goodies (549-8479) at www.cleosgourmet.com for an assortment of chocolate praline pecan clusters and some new praline-inspired breads.

Have restaurant news for Short Orders? Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or carl.wilson@news-record.com