Smart people watch for bargains, sales, and shopping parties during the holiday season.

Start your engines smart people.

Sanford and Son’s Holiday Open House and Sixth Avenue’s annual Late Nite Shopping party happen Thursday, Dec. 18.

Down at Sanford and Son you’ll get the opportunity to create unique gifts for your fans — I mean family and friends. Make vintage typewriter key bracelets, scarves from recycled wool (remember that carbon footprint), ornaments, personalized buttons, and masks, for starters. Or just point to something lovely at one of the Middle Floor Merchants shops and say, “I want it.” Get your “want” on from 3-9 p.m.

Sixth Avenue businesses will be staying open until 9 p.m. for holiday shopping hours tomorrow.

Posh Home offers oh la la home décor, fanciful room accessories and killer, affordable stocking stuffers — simply fabulous scented candles with seriously long burn time, French milled mini-soaps, bath salts and crystals.

Red Line has smoking hot chick apparel and (gasp!) clothes for guys, too. Have you seen the pop art mannequins in the window?

And right next door, Jewell Day Spa is there to ease all your troubles with massage, body wraps, facials, and more in their soothing Asian/East Indian atmosphere. Grab up lotions and potions from the lobby.

Urban Gourmet and Garden just might have the most extensive loose tea assortment in the county — occupying an entire huge wall displayed in large jars and sold by weight. You need a ladder to reach the top stuff. Maui Surf is a fragrant favorite — coconut, chocolate and macadamia nut transforms a cup of tea into a mini-vacation.

The Shoe Show has fawn brown flat heeled boots with gold chain accents and black Mob-girl knee-high boots on sale for a measly $30. Meow! Buy those for you and get cutie pie chunky, colored rings for $5 for friends. Get 15 percent off at all shops with event card (available at Shakabrah during the day). Enjoy complimentary gift wrap and refreshments.

Congratulate yourself for your savvy shopping and unwind at Chopstix and Jazzbones ladies night parties afterward.

[Sanford and Son, 743 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.272.0334]
[Posh Home, 2502 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.5001]
[Red Line, 2503 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.9910]
[Jewell Day Spa, 2501 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.5224]
[Urban Gourmet and Garden, 2602 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.3111]
[The Shoe Show, 2614 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.1412]