This coming weekend is another one of those great chock-a-block weekends in Union Square. Between craft markets, art openings, factory tours, comic book happenings, even a Somerville maple syrup celebrating brunch... you'll be busy from dawn to well past dark!

Biggest of the bunch is the three Winter Craft Markets taking place on Saturday, December 5. Union Square Main Streets (11 am to 4 pm) , Washington Street Art Center (11 am to 6 pm) and the Somerville Museum (11 am to 4 pm) are all hosting markets on Saturday, with the Museum doing an encore on Sunday.

In addition to the one-day vendors are Union Square's array of retail stores, including Moroccan Caravan, Wagner Jewelers, Hub Comics, Grand, and the pop- up gallery Prospect run by Somerville Local First. Taza Chocolate, Albertine Press, and QRSTs will have their doors open over on Windsor Street with factory tours, samples and special discounts.

At the Union Square Winter Craft Market our friends East Somerville Main Streets will show off their just released Savoring East Somerville Cookbook.

With over fifty recipes from business owners and East Somerville residents, the book captures the spirit, stories, images, and recipes of this diverse neighborhood.

For example, Ana Santos-Borges submitted her recipe for Arroz Maria Isabel, a traditional dish from her native Brazilian province of Nordeste. Not only does her page explain the recipe for the dish, it includes facts about traditional Brazilian cooking and introduces Ana and her tailoring shop. "Ana has designed bathing suits for the Ms. Brazil competition" said Novak. "That's the unique kind of introduction this cookbook will give you. The recipes combine with stories and beautiful photographs to paint a picture of this extremely vibrant neighborhood."

The full-color photographs were taken by professional photographer Mark Teiwes, a Somerville resident. "The highlight has been meeting people in the neighborhood and celebrating the culture and cuisine," said Mark. "My subjects have a relaxed opportunity to be themselves in their work places before the camera, and that is really cool."

"Savoring East Somerville" will be available for purchase for $15 at the Union Square Winter Craft Market this Saturday, on the ESMS website, and at select businesses and events in Somerville. A launch party will be held in East Somerville in January to celebrate the hard work of all contributors.

Brunch will be served at all the usual Union Square spots - Neighborhood, Precinct, Cantina La Mexicana, Sherman Café and Bloc 11, but the brunch at The Independent this day will be extra special. Their menu will feature a range of maple-inspired offerings such as maple glazed bone-in hamsteak, brioche French toast topped with Christina's ice cream and warm maple pear butter, and a maple- inspired cocktail.

When any customer this day indicates their support of the Somerville Maple Syrup Project, collaborative community-based education initiative, 20% of the proceeds will be donated back to the program.

Every February, maple trees in Somerville are tapped and the collected sap is stored for a 2-day public boil- down event in March at the Community Growing Center. Be sure to identify your self as a supporter of Groundwork Somerville and The Maple Syrup Project when you pay your bill.

Saturday evening there's two happenings. Over at Hub Comics from 7 to 9 Marek Bennett will read with the Trees & Hills Comics Group. The program includes a reading from the newly- released community-oriented comics: Nicaragua Comics Travel Journal and T&H's Shelter Anthology.

Done with your shopping, head over to the Holiday Inn at 30 Washington Street for Mayor Joe Curtatone's annual Toys for Local Children fundraiser. Starting at 7 pm there will be food, entertainment, and a raffle. If you're interested in buying tickets or making a donation, contact the Council on Aging at x2300.

For art openings, the Washington Street Art Center presents "Baby It's Cold Outside: an experiment in gender, art, and expression." Curated by EL Putnam and featuring the work of over 20 artists, the exhibit engages a variety of media from painting to performance. The show explores how each artist does/does not define, dismiss, despise, and/or devote her- or himself to "feminism." This show is about creating a dialogue concerning gender in art, with emphasis placed on ambiguity and confusion. Instead of creating a series of vagina monologues, the works in this exhibit presents a cacophonic version of gender discussion in all of its messy glory.

The opening reception will be Friday, December 4 from 6 to 9 pm and will be on view Saturdays through December from noon to 4 pm and by appointment.

Opposite side of the Square at Brickbottom Gallery, Pauline Lim has curated a show that includes a number of her fellow Somerville artists called "Holy". The opening reception is on Sunday, December 6 from 4 to 6 pm. Return again on Saturday, December 12 at 8 pm for a free early music concert by Zefiro in the gallery. Exhibition runs through January 16.

Third Life Studio cuddles you into the winter with a wonderful series of concerts.

Saturday, December 12 is a return of the magnificent Brazilian choro ensemble Ch oro Democrático. Choro is a uniquely Brazilian musical genre that began to develop in Rio de Janeiro during the late 1800's as musicians combined European musical styles such as polka and waltz with lively local rhythms. Choro is typically played in a roda de choro (circle jam session), in homes, cafes or restaurants where anyone can join in. Choro Democrático, a seven-piece ensemble, has a devoted following of fans with sold-out shows at the Regattabar and Ryles Jazz club. Their repertoire ranges from standard choro compositions by Pixinguinha and Jacob do Bandolim to more modern works by Hermeto Pascoal and the group's flautist, Fernando Brandão. This show at Third Life Studio will also feature some special guest musicians. Tickets: $15 at the door

Saturday, December 19 at 8 pm the OpenSound Music Series continues with an eclectic line-up that ranges from solo violin to theremin to a dada-ist sound ensemble. Suggested Donation: $7.

Keeping with the season on Sunday, December 20 at 4 pm is Wi nter Solstice in Legend and Song with Diane Edgecomb accompanied by Margot Chamberlain and Tom Megan. This unique performance brings together music and story with a world-ranging collection of solstice legends from Greece, Scandinavia, England (Apple Tree Man) and Native American lore. The haunting and sometimes humorous tales of light are set against a lush background of music on Celtic harp, synthesizer, accordion and voice. This performance is suggested for ages 12 and above. $15 admission at the door.

On Winter Solstice, December 21 at 8 pm the 8-piece Metal and Glass Ensemble create a meditative sound scape. Tickets: $10 at the door

If you missed the City of Somerville Visioning Meeting recently held here in Union Square there's more chances to participate in one of the World Café style gatherings. Attend anyone one of these facilitated group discussions where you'll mix and mingle, chatting about our community's past, present and future, while a "graphic facilitator" captures the ideas in images and color.

Wednesday, December 9 at Holiday Inn, 30 Washington Street
Wednesday, December 16 at TAB Building, 167 Holland Street
Tuesday, January 5 at The Armory, 191 Highland Avenue
All meetings begin at 6:30 pm.

For more information check out the City of Somerville website.

Typically this newsletter sticks "squarely" on all things Union Square. But we also like to stick with Fluff, so when we heard details on the winner of Davis Square's Kickass Cupcakes Contest we had to share the story. The bakery celebrated its two-year anniversary with a competition of over 200 cupcake entries from people in the community.

First Place was a cupcake called "Somerville Sensation": coffee/espresso based cake, light brown in color, frosted with Nutella and Fluff whipped together and garnished with Taza's chocolate nibs. How sweet is that? You'll see that original creation on the bakery's menu starting next month and Creator Candice Cruz Dintino will receive cupcakes for one year.

Somerville Local First and Cambridge Local First are going all out asking you to "Shift Your Shopping" this holiday season.

From November 27th to December 31st they encourage you to make the 10% Shift by buying local. Making the Shift to Local Independents is one of the fastest ways to build sustainable communities and create jobs in the local economy.

This campaign comes on the heels of a breakthrough New Orleans Study - Thinking Outside The Box by Civic Economics which shows that local retailers have twice the local economic impact in our communities, while consuming a fraction of the land area.

Check out their Shift Your Shopping website where you can search for a local retailer selling the gift you're looking for. Can't find it on the website? "Ask Professor Shifty" and you'll get your answer of how to do anything local.

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network's Boston Regional Office & Minority Business Center at UMass/Boston, the Kirstein Business Library and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights present a legal business workshop.

Any economic transaction embodies a contract. In this comprehensive overview of business law and contracts, you will learn about how contracts are defined and constructed, the types of law that govern contracts, navigating oral and written contracts, contracts in the internet age, breaches, disputes, and different avenues for remediation, and typical issues and areas of concern, including product liability, employment agreements, commercial leases, and finding corporate attorneys to meet.

The workshop takes place December 14 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Orientation Room of the Boston Public Library.

To register online go to http://www.sbdc.umb.edu/training.html or call (617) 287-7750.

While Union Square has gone gaga recently for yoga with classes happening at Bow Street Yoga, Be In Union Yoga as well as ongoing classes at Shobu Aikido on Allen Street, they're not the only game in the 'hood.

For those partial to Pilates be sure to check out Atelier Pilates. They're offering free TRX Suspension Training lessons on Sunday, Dec 6 from 1:30-3:30pm. Interested participants can call 617-764-2835 or email nora@atelierpilates.com to reserve a spot.