Monday-Saturday

Are you game?

Unlike, say, Arbor Day, Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that traditionally involves a lot of family time. Spend it wisely by celebrating National Game and Puzzle Week, which concludes Saturday.

To reap the full benefits of family face time, we recommend focusing on tabletop games rather than online or video games.

Here are some suggestions:

• Monopoly. Since this wheeling-and-dealing real estate game can last hours, even days, when played properly, it’s best to start as soon as the turkey goes into the oven. Break for dinner, then continue over pie, nightcaps and, if necessary, breakfast.

• Scrabble. Because the game is more about strategy than vocabulary, you don’t have to be a logophile (that’s a fancy word for a person who loves words) in order to win. Although, if you find yourself with a Q and no U, it’s helpful to know that a qat is an evergreen shrub found in Africa and Arabia.

• Clue. This classic whodunit game is sure to keep everyone guessing until the last minute, especially if you’re playing with younger family members who have difficulty remembering which suspects have been ruled out.

• Jigsaw puzzles and card games are also great options. We advise you, however, to steer clear of poker – unless you want this to be remembered as the Thanksgiving when Dad and Uncle Murray stopped speaking to each other.

Friday

Pensive purchasing

Sometimes, it takes a little while to make up your mind about a gift. Take your time and mull it over at The Craftworkers’ Guild Holiday Craft Shop, which, starting today, will be open daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Dec. 22. The shop is at the historic Kendall House, 5 Meetinghouse Road in Bedford.

More than 60 artisans and craftspeople, all of whom are guild members, will be selling everything from winter-themed and holiday items to fiber and fabric arts to paper arts and jewelry. All items have been juried by the guild, so you can rest assured that everything is high quality and one of a kind.

For more information, email craftworkersguild@gmail.com or visit www.thecraftworkersguild.org.

Friday-Sunday

Traditional entertainment

You can make it through the fall bird migrations without having to see “Swan Lake,” and daylight saving time doesn’t necessarily require a performance of “Sleeping Beauty,” but it just doesn’t feel like the Christmas season without “The Nutcracker.” Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater will perform the holiday classic Friday-Sunday at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester.

Amherst native and Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater alumnus Amy Von Handorf will return to the stage as the Sugar Plum Fairy, along with a cast of more than 85 talented dancers and performers and a 22-piece orchestra.

Performance times are Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $15-$45, and can be purchased online at www.palacetheatre.org or by calling the box office at 668-5588.

Saturday

Walk this way

Going along with the crowd isn’t necessarily a bad idea, especially when it’s a crowd of 30,000 people strolling up Main Street. Stretch out those hamstrings and limber up for the Winter Holiday Stroll from 5-10 p.m. in downtown Nashua.

The evening begins with a candlelight procession from City Hall to the Hunt Building, where Nashua’s Christmas tree will be lit. Afterward, enjoy live music, dance, theater, even stargazing, outdoors in the street or indoors at any number of venues. New this year is a ski and snowboard rail jam by Keepin’ It Rail Productions and Zimmermanns of Nashua. Stop by the Sovereign Bank parking lot at 225 Main St. at 6:30 p.m. to see what it’s all about.

For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.downtownnashua.org.

Teresa Santoski (who writes The Week in Preview) believes it was Professor Plum in the Study with the Lead Pipe. Know of an event worthy of filling this space? Call 594-6466 or email tsantoski@nashuatelegraph.com. Information should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event. Follow TWiP, Tete-a-tete and Teresa’s articles at twitter.com/Telegraph_TS.