Toys are an awfully big part of Christmas. Whether you’re giving them or receiving them, there’s always something new to play with waiting under the tree. I’ve never had much patience when it comes to, well, anything, so lucky for me I have the uncanny ability to know what’s underneath the wrapping paper. Sometimes I can do it with a shake, sometimes by sight, and sometimes with a surreptitious peek under said wrapping paper, but I’m almost always right.

Where do you find the best toys nowadays? The big box stores? The Internet? Sure, I shop both. But it really depends on what you’re looking for. In Part II of “Geek Christmas,” I’d like to talk about two local Fort Wayne stores – Clem’s Collectibles and Intergalactic Toys – where you can find treasures old, new, and nerdy, the kinds you can’t often find anywhere else. (Did you read Part I? Check it out here.)

My great non-comic obsession is collecting Minimates, tiny, Lego-like figures the collection of which is, quite frankly, addicting. While Art Asylum and Diamond Select Toys produce several lines of licensed figures, my favorite – and the longest-running – are those based on Marvel Comics characters. I have four display cases just for Minimates, all of which are full and getting fuller. Clem’s is one of my two “go to” places for Minimates (the other being Toys R Us, which offers series of Minimates not offered in specialty shops). Clem’s carries several other toy lines, as well. You can also find new and back issues of comics, board games (think strategy games like Axis and Allies), card games, and tons of sports memorabilia. Located in Jefferson Pointe, it’s a great place to find something special for the collectible lover in your life.

My favorite Christmas, the one of which I am fondest, is Christmas 1983. Whenever the season starts to wear thin or I’m feeling a bit cynical, memories of that Christmas renew in me the holiday spirit. I could distill from that day the essence of what it meant to be a kid: innocent, carefree, and hopped up on Star Wars, Stomper trucks, and Frankenberry cereal. Walking into Intergalactic Toys, located across from Georgetown Square, gives me that same feeling (minus the Frankenberry, of course). They have classic and current toys: some unopened, some out of the package, but all fun. The first time I visited, I spent probably three hours there. It’s the kind of store that thrives because the owners and employees care as much about toys as the collectors themselves. It’s worth your while to check them out.

There’s still plenty of time this holiday shopping season to check out these great local collectible stores. For more information about both, check out www.clemscollectibles.com and www.intergalactictoys.com. Happy hunting!

The public is invited to celebrate the holiday season with the University of Saint Francis (USF). Below are a few events you don’t want to miss:

• Christmas in the Castle, Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8 &9. : Historic Brookside, the former Bass family mansion, will be decorated for Christmas by local florists and designers. Visitors can view all three floors of the mansion as it comes alive for Christmas. Tickets can be purchased on the days of the event in the North Campus lobby (across Spring Street from Brookside). Ample free parking is available at the North Campus. Golf cart shuttles will be available for those with mobility difficulties. Admission is $5 per person, $20 maximum per family of up to six people, including parents and children. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.sf.edu/christmas.

• Fair Trade Alternative Shopping Bazaar, Sunday, Dec. 2 from noon-5:30 p.m.: Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) present high-quality, fairly-traded hand-crafted items from disadvantaged producers all over the world at the Fair Trade Alternative Shopping Bazaar at the North Campus. Fairly-traded items are sold by artists who earn a fair price in producing them, receive access to credit and training, and maintain long-term relationships with organizations rooted in the principles of human dignity and economic justice.

• Living Nativity, Sunday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.: As Advent begins, members of the university community present a living Nativity as a witness to the power and presence of God’s incarnate love in the world. The character of Saint Francis will narrate the Christmas story as it unfolds, and all gathered will sing “Silent Night.” The living Nativity will be presented in the amphitheater next to the Pope John Paul II Center. Parking is available off Leesburg Road, and there is no admission charge. A petting zoo with the animals for the living Nativity will be available for children from 5-5:50 p.m. free of charge at the living Nativity site.

• Lighting of the Lake, Sunday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.: Vigil lights will encircle the area of Mirror Lake closest to Spring Street for a shining symbol of Christmas. Those who wish may dedicate one or more luminaries at $10 per luminary to a loved one, in memory of someone special, in recognition of a special occasion, or just to wish a student good luck with final exams. Call (260) 399-8037 to order luminaries by Dec. 1. There is no charge for admission.

The Festival of Trees is returning to Fort Wayne this year and will be here for a total of seven days — November 21 through November 28, 2012.

The Festival of Trees is held at the Embassy Theatre and Indiana Hotel — the lobbies of each will be filled with 55 beautifully decorated designer Christmas trees that you will not want to miss out on seeing.

The festival was originally founded in 1984 and is a fundraising and community goodwill event that supports ongoing operational and restoration efforts for the Embassy Theatre Foundation, Inc.

This year, there will be multiple events going on during the festival. They are as follows:

• Night of Lights: November 21, 2012 from 6-9PM
• Festival of Trees: November 22, 2012 from 4-8PM
• Festival of Trees: November 23-25, 2012 from 12-8PM
• Breakfast with Santa: November 23 and 24, 2012 from 9:30-11AM
• Kingston Healthcare Senior Day: November 26, 2012 from 9AM-1PM
• Festival of Trees: November 27, 2012 from 9AM-1PM
• Kids Day at Festival of Trees: November 28, 2012 from 9AM-1PM

Tickets for the Festival of Trees cost $7.00 for each adult and $3.00 for each child under 12. You can purchase tickets at the Embassy box office, all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com and all MidWest America FCU locations. Breakfast with Santa tickets cost $12.50 and are on sale at the Embassy box office — you can also call 250-424-5665.

Breakfast with Santa Tickets: $12.50. On sale now at the Embassy box office or by calling 250.424.5665.

The Embassy Theatre is located at 125 W. Jefferson Blvd in Fort Wayne.

Come join us for this wonderful holiday tradition and be mesmerized by the wonderland of decorated Christmas trees with your family! See you there, and don’t forget your camera!

Join us in Franke Park for this year’s Fantasy of Lights from November 21 to December 31, 2012!

The fabulous display will be open Sundays through Thursdays from 6-9 PM and Fridays and Saturdays from 6-10 PM.

You’re sure to be in for a treat if you haven’t yet attended the Fantasy of Lights in Fort Wayne. If you have, you’ll enjoy the captivating displays that you’ve seen in the past as well as some new displays.

It is one of northeast Indiana’s favorite winter holiday events and it supports a great cause. Come out and drive through the enchanting Franke Park and let it fill you with Christmas spirit! There will be over 75 animated Christmas light displays, each depicting anything from children playing to Santa Claus to nativity figures, lined up down a 1.5 mile route for you to bask in and enjoy — all in the comfort of your vehicle with your family. It’s a great, affordable way to get out of the house and experience some Christmas cheer!

Fantasy of Lights was originally created to help raise funds to support programs for children and adults with disabilities and, since it opened in 1995, it has raised over $500,000! AWS Foundation sponsors the wonderful, breath-taking event. You can help show your support by coming out and having a great time! People of all ages are welcome and you’re encouraged to bring your loved ones to enjoy it with you!

If you’d like to see this year’s Fantasy of Lights, it will be in Franke Park at 3411 Sherman Blvd in Fort Wayne, IN (adjacent to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo). The price of admission is $5.00 per car, $10.00 per 15-passenger van and $25.00 per bus or trolley. If you’d like more information, please call (260) 456-2971, ext. 5874. or click here. We hope to see you there!

What are your favorite aspects of the Christmas season? Recognizing the birth of Christ? Taking in the splendor of the lights? The beautiful music?

You’ll find all of these things (and more) at the Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival at Plymouth Congregational Church in Fort Wayne. Volunteers have committed countless hours to make this event happen for the past 36 years. Specifically, 152 cast members, 75 musicians (including a choir and orchestra), and a crew of 65 are a all part of the performance. Behind the scenes folks, like seamstresses, are also instrumental in making the night a reality.

Over the years the pageant grew to include lords, ladies, knights, historical characters, cooks, hunters, and pages.  Later, shepherds and Wise Men were added to tell the story of the Nativity. Before long the performance was enhanced with carols, customs and other special touches to become what we know it as today.

Locally, Plymouth Congregational Church presents this festival as a gift to the people of Fort Wayne. You can catch a performance Dec. 28, 29 and 30 at 5:30 and 8 p.m. For ticket information, call the church office, (260) 423-9424.