Forget Thanksgiving, the holiday season will soon be kicking off in Scranton with local tradition, the 16th Annual Scranton Jaycees Santa Parade on Nov. 22 at 9 a.m.

The parade route travels down Spruce Street from Franklin Avenue to Wyoming Avenue, then right down Wyoming to Lackawanna Avenue and follows Lackawanna to Adams Avenue. The Santa Parade will be shown live in its entirety on WNEP.

After a three-year hiatus, the Scranton Jaycees float is back. This year’s Earth friendly float is themed “The 12 Ways of Green-Ness”.

Immediately following the parade, you can take part in Breakfast with Santa at the Hilton Hotel & Conference Center. Cost of breakfast is $12 for adults; $6 for children 10 and under; free for children under 3. To make reservations, call 570-558-7334.

After you cast your ballot today, you can celebrate having taken part in the democratic process in the state likely to decide the election or just celebrate the end of this long campaign season by heading down to Dionysus Downtown for Election Day specials.

Dionysus Downtown, 244 Penn Ave., Scranton, will offer OBAMA-politans and McCAIN-tinis for Election Day, as well as specials on Miller Lite and Budweiser bottles, starting at 5 p.m.

Wait until after you vote, then stop by Dionysus Downtown and watch the results roll in.

Check out the new website for Anthology New & Used Books, 515 Center Street, Scranton: www.scranthology.com.

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Downtown Scranton will be welcoming two new businesses in the next few weeks with a Dunder Mifflin Store set to open at the Steamtown Mall on November 1 and the opening of vegan café Eden announced for November 7.

When you’re looking for a Dwight Schrute bobblehead or a “World’s Best Boss” mug, the Dunder Mifflin Store will sell official merchandise from NBC’s Scranton-based sitcom “The Office.”

Eden, located at 344 Adams Ave., will be Scranton’s first and only all vegan lunch café, offering soups, salads, sandwiches and more. It’s owned and operated by Christian Pilosi, a vegan for more than 11 years and an experienced chef.

Support local businesses and see what Eden and the Dunder Mifflin Store have to offer when they open in early November.

Local entrepreneur Danielle Fleming will announce several new Danielle and Company health and beauty products this week at the Natural Products Expo East in Boston, Mass., the largest trade show on the East Coast.

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Along with GreenBeing, there’s another new business opening in Downtown Scranton this weekend. On Saturday, Nightmare Video will open on 134 Franklin Ave., next to Whistles.

Nightmare Video is a horror movie rental store started by Ian Dunlay and Michael Brandon Ancherani. Their selection will range from the 1890s to the newest and goriest horror flicks. Nightmare Video will feature everything a horror fan could want - t-shirts, posters, magazines, soundtracks and horror-related video games.

Stop by on Saturday and check out the grand opening of Nightmare Video. And if you still haven’t had your fill of Halloween-time horror, get ready for the premiere of locally made “Fair Evil” at the Endless Mountains Theatre on October 25 at 6:30 p.m.

This Friday, Downtown Scranton’s first eco-boutique, GreenBeing, will host an opening celebration at 334 Adams Avenue from 6-9 p.m. GreenBeing is just the first of some interesting developments coming to Adams Avenue in the next month along with the soon-to-open Eden vegetarian lunch cafe at 344 Adams Ave. and the relocation of Marc’s Tattooing to 342 Adams Ave.

GreenBeing is owned by Cristin Powers, a Scranton native and 2007 graduate of Marywood University. The “green” retail store will offer environmentally friendly clothing, accessories, and handmade items by Pennsylvania designers. Products offered will be made with regard for the environment and sold with the local community in mind. GreenBeing believes in doing business in an environmentally and socially responsible way.

During the opening celebration on Friday, Oct. 3, GreenBeing will host a First Friday exhibit with organic food and wine; live music by Rogue Chimp; and artists:

• Nicole Erin Carey (Nicole’s Threads) - Reconstructed clothing and collected fabrics;
• Kathy DellaValle (Artwork by KD) - Recycled plastics and aluminum accessories;
• Tomlynn Fallon (Worn) - Screen-printed reused tee’s and collected pieces of fabrics;
• Rebecca Kinsey (Little Red) - Accessories constructed from reused fabrics and other materials;
• Nicole Kulp (Recycle My Dress) - Reused, recycled, and reconstructed dresses;
• Chrissy Manuel (Shoplift!) - Hand-painted vintage handbags and luggage;
• Amanda Vonson-Fernandez (Oh Sweet Josephine) - Reconstructed vintage jewelry; and
• Cristin Powers – Handbags constructed from burlap and other recycled materials.

For more information, contact Cristin Powers at 499-3642 or visit www.shopgreenbeing.com.

Haunted houses are opening around the area and Halloween events being scheduled so it’s a great time to check out the work being done by the Paranormal Researchers of Scranton.

In the past few months, the group has investigated an old farm house and cemetery in Dalton, the Marquee Cinemas, Washburn Street Cemetery and West Mountain Sanatorium.

Paranormal Researchers of Scranton use video cameras, still cameras, EMF meters, digital thermometers, audio recorders and other equipment to find absolute proof of paranormal activity. The non-profit group offers a “PROS Family Plan” to help up and coming paranormal research groups get on their feet.

The group is always looking for new members and potentially haunted locations. PROS is ready to help the people of Pennsylvania and its surrounding areas that believe that their homes or businesses are haunted. If you know of a location the Researchers should investigate or would like to join, call 570-955-0513.

Dress Me Up Jewelry and Accessories Boutique, 1355 North Main Ave., Scranton, will celebrate its first anniversary on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and everything in the store is on sale.

Dress Me Up offers bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings, scarves and handbags. Their selection of designer handbags includes Melie Bianco, Big Buddha, Mad Bags and Little Earth.

Stop by on Saturday and celebrate the first anniversary of another downtown success story.

Being a key political territory in an important swing state has brought national attention to Northeastern Pennsylvania and this weekend conceptual artist Lisa Levy will bring bi-partisan support to stressed Scranton voters with her “Psychotherapy Live” show.

Levy has performed “Psychotherapy Live” at venues around New York City and at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival, Scotland. She will be in Scranton on Saturday, Sept. 20, tentatively at the corner of North Washington and Spruce streets at 1 p.m. Update: Levy will perform at the entrance to the Mall at Steamtown from 1-7 p.m. She thanks Paige Balitski, Director of the Scranton Film Office and the management of the mall for making this arrangement possible.

Audience members under emotional duress from the campaigns are invited to participate in psychotherapy sessions on Levy’s couch. She says she “…doesn’t want to influence voters;” she only “wants to aid in making the decision that’s right for each American.”

Stop by and check out Levy’s unique performance art on Saturday in the downtown area. Just look for the couch.