5 Things: Think Local, Find a Home On Another Beautiful Day

1. Don't let Small Business Saturday be the extent of your support for the store next door. The day may be over, but there's no reason the sentiment can't remain.

After several years of recession, and as communities everywhere face budget shortfalls, high unemployment and a plummeting local economy, more consumers now understand how important it is to keep their money local. So if you head out to do some holiday shopping today — and throughout the season — why not check out some of the small shops you may pass on your way to the big box stores? To get you started, check out NK Patch's business directory.

Feel better about spending your money. Keep it here.

2. Feel like doing a little house hunting today? There are a couple open houses in town you may find interesting: http://patch.com/A-nWRq.

3. Venture a bit south to visit Santa at The Tower House, 46 Earles Court, Narragansett. Enjoy a brunch, receive a personalize gift and build a bear that Santa will give to all the good little boys and girls. The brinch costs $25 per child and $10 per adult.

4. URI fell short, dropping a heart-breaker to Boston University yesterday. They give it another shot agaoinst Cleveland State today at 2:30 p.m. Follow the game on Patch as editor Steve Greenwell live blogs all the action.

5. Today's the perfect time to get those Chistmas decorations up. Some clouds are due to roll in, but they won't put a damper on the spring-like weather, as temperatures soar into the mid-60s for another day.