Since moving here three years ago, one of the seasonal things I've learned to look forward to is bakery/boutique Sweet Surrender's annual holiday open house.  Three years ago, they had folks go back into the kitchen to grab samples of cake and cookies to munch while browsing the holiday decor.  Two years ago, we missed it, at home with a newborn.  Last year, they moved it to their new downtown home furnishings boutique, Urban Chateau, complete with towering trays of sweets under a candle-lit canopy.  Last week, Sweet Surrender's holiday displays inside were complemented by beautiful arrangements of cakes, cookies, and old-fashioned candies, all free for the snacking.  They even had champagne flowing from a fountain.

Bummed that you missed all the free samples of the locally-made goodies you can order for your upcoming gift-giving and party-throwing needs?  Well, the generous folks behind these open houses have renamed their downtown shop Fiorini: The Art of Home, and they'll be hosting another open house, complete with their famous baked goods and bubbly, tomorrow, Thursday, Novemember 16, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 1918 19th St. (just west of F St.).

If that's not enough browsing and nibbling for you, The Gourmet Shoppe, Cafe Med's retail and catering shop, will be hosting its Open House Holiday Party almost at the same time (Thurs., Nov. 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.), at 4809 Stockdale Highway.

Nothing goes with holiday shopping like free food and drink, right?

--Jason