Cain’s Ballroom is the reason I’m sitting here, in an office, typing about why Cain’s Ballroom is one of the best places on the planet to see a concert.

left, Wilco performs at Cain's back in the spring.

Wilco hit my beloved hometown’s hallmark venue during a hot spring night my freshman year of college. My friend Thomas and I drove the two hours from Norman to hear Jeff Tweedy (who wore a seemingly magical white suit stitched with roses) tell stories and sing some America’s finest avant-garde poetry. That night interlaced my love for the band, Cain’s and indie rock in general so tightly together into the fabric of my life that it sorta took on new meaning.

Well, Yahoo! News seems to agree with me today. It named Cain’s the ninth best place in America to see a concert, right up there with New York’s infamous Bowery Ballroom; the gorgeous Red Rocks venue in Morrison, Colo.; and even the Hollywood Bowl. Flip through their online photo gallery and see for yourself.

Photo from the Cain's Flickr page.

What's red and green and bedazzled all over? Mistletoe Market, that's what. (I'll be here all day with amazing jokes. You should hear the one about a grasshopper walking into a bar.) Mistletoe Market is the shopping event for the suburban set. It's not one that I ever buy much at, but I've gone nearly every year with a friend. Mostly for the people watching.

This year, The Junior League's annual market — which raised $160,000 for its community programs last time — is next Friday through Sunday. But, there's a new venue, the Cox Convention Center. Get all your Old World crosses and sparkly burnout tees from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 14-15, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 16.

And if you want to get the choice picks, the "Sip, Shop and Mingle" private preview party is held from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13. The preview party is $40 in advance, or $50 at the door.

Mistletoe Market kicks off the market season in the metro — all are a great spot to find holiday gifts. The Girlie Show will be held Nov. 4-5, and the Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar follows on Dec. 10.

And with that, I'm out of here. For once, it's not to shop. I am approaching my last day at Oklahoma Gazette before I move to Denver. Yeah, the place in Colorado. I've never actually been to the city, but that's half the fun, right? Just nod and say yes.

I'll leave you all with an interpretive dance to what you're most likely feeling: