Looking for a unique holiday gift for someone on your holiday list, and can't seem to find one?

If you're like me, I'm always searching for something thoughtful and like nothing they've ever seen (or received!) before.   With Christmas a little over a week away, forgo the gift card and head to one of these great locally owned Kansas City stores with those hard-to-find and unique gifts for the holiday season...or anytime!!

Check out the Best Places to Find a Unique Gift in Kansas City with our top picks of cool gifts in About KC's Holiday Gift Guide 2009.

The Broadway Across America series has brought Kansas City some pretty amazing shows (think 'Wicked', ) over the last few years and continues on into 2010.

Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas' will hit the stage at the Music Hall January 5-10, 2010.

Tickets start at $23 and may be purchased online @broadwayacrossamerica.com

The Broadway Across America series will also bring 'Young Frankenstein', 'A Chorus Line', and '101 Dalmations' to the Kansas City stage in 2010.

Here's a fun and fab thing to do this weekend...

Horse drawn carriage rides around the Country Club Plaza delight those young and old throughout the year, but become especially magical during the holiday season as the Plaza Lights illuminate the streets. Lines may sometimes be long, so dress warmly grab some hot chocolate and enjoy. Prices start at around $50 per couple.

Plaza Carriage Rides 2009

Looking a little frigid out there, so what! A little snow and sleet never stopped any of us, so get out and enjoy the weekend with the KC Weekend Guide.

• Check out Sons of Brasil @ Jardines
• KC Mag's Sexy Single Auction @ Voodoo
• The Doo Dad's @ Crown Center
• Breakfast with Santa @ Zona Rosa
• Jazz Bruch @ the Phoenix
• Whoville @ City Market with the Grinch

  For these and all other cool things to do, check out the KC Weekend Guide.

This time of year, many of us are chucking our old cell phones for new ones or giving them as gifts...or maybe you have a few lying around in a drawer somewhere (me, I have three!).

Why not take that old cell phone that you'll never use again and help our troops? Drop them off at any corporate-owned AT&T store in Kansas City, and the proceeds from recycling the phones will go to Cell Phones for Soldiers, a charity AT&T supports that uses the proceeds to buy prepaid phone cards for active duty military members overseas.

Take any phone from any carrier, and you'll help the troops and the environment at the same time. Seems like a win/win.

According to AT&T's website: 'To date, AT&T has built roughly 70 calling centers in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan and has donated nearly $8 million worth of prepaid calling cards for military personnel.'

For a complete list of local stores to drop off your phones, go here.

You may also donate your phone by mailing it in. Get a prepaid label, here.

Slightly annoyed that there wasn't any local coverage of Dan and Sam, KC's own 2nd place finishers of
Emmy awarding winning reality show, 'Amazing Race'. We had to hear for months and month about David Cook for heaven's sake, so why no love for the Liberty brothers?

Here's a blurb from realitytvworld.com

I don't get it.

They should at least be able to throw a pitch out at the Royals or choose a kid from the crowd for the Plaza Lighting ceremony in 2010, right?

When I was young, New Year's was spent watching the ball drop at the Folly Theater and people dancing their pants off at the Hyatt. My-oh-my how things have changed since then.

It's time to ring in the New Year Kansas City style and we've got the best New Year's Eve celebrations in the Kansas City metro. From the super swanky and the ultimate bashes to family friendly and laid back..Kansas City is the place to be at midnight. So throw on your best duds, sip some champagne and welcome 2010...

New Year's Eve Events in Kansas City

• The Black Party IV at Californos: Hosted by Svedka Vodka and Red Bull, many consider this to be the NYE party of the year.

Mosaic: VIP Cocktail reception from 8-10, table service begins @ $100/pp.

Martini Corner: $75 gives you access to all five Martini Corner bars and unlimited drinks.

Voodoo Du Monde: @ Harrah's Voodoo Lounge

Hyatt's NYE Bash: Packages start @ $75 (and you get to be on TV!)

For these and all other great things to do this New Year's Eve, read our KC NYE Guide.

San Fran joint to open doors on SW Blvd... from blog pal, TKC.

TGIF, Kansas City! It's a cold one, but I guess it is December. Get your weekend started with the KC Weekend Events Guide.

Top Picks:

• Whoville! @ City Market (Dec 5th, 12th, 19th)
• Darius Rucker @ the Midland
• First Friday in the Crossroads
• Heartland Men's Chorus perform 'Fruitcake' @ the Folly
• Mavericks Hockey @ the Independence Events Center
• Holiday productions and shows all over the metro

  Get out and go!!

Kansas City is world famous for our Plaza Lights, but what about other lighting displays? Grab some hot chocolate--these are worth a look!

Kansas City Christmas and Holiday Lighting Diplays

• Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake: This drive through display is really something to see.
• Christmas Card Lane: Over 200 homes light it up at 151st and Ridgeview Road in Olathe.
• Legends at Village West: Introduced their 'Legendary Light Show' in 2009 which is synchronized to holiday music.
• Musical Christmas Light House: Home with Christmas lights set to holiday music, 132nd & Roe, OP.
• Paulie's Penguin Playground: Walk through Paul Craig's display with over 200 inflatables. Proceeds from donations go to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, 16617 Indian Creek Parkway.
• Downtown Marriot: The downtown hotel lights up the skyline throughout the year, but is quite dazzeling during the holiday season.

  For all info on Kansas City Metro Holiday Lighting Displays, get the scoop here.

  Know of a great display? Post it here.