Hot Weekend Picks

It is your last weekend before the official start of the holiday season. Take it easy this weekend before the tryptophan kicks in. Pretty soon we all will be cookie baking, holiday shopping and attending multiple parties in one evening.

Christmas trees and figgy pudding aside, the holidays are about giving. And of course, you can get a head start on good deeds and philanthropic giving before the Black Friday stampede.

Friday: Hold off on hanging the Christmas lights and displaying the Hanukkah menorahs. Take out the pink tutus and pink ribbons first. The Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk is strolling through La Jolla. The race, which raises awareness and money for breast cancer research, starts at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Friday morning. Organizers estimate that participants will walk through the La Jolla Shores area between 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and through Bird Rock between 11:30 and 2:15 a.m. Just look for the sea of pink and be prepared to cheer them on or donate online.

Saturday: Lace up your sneakers. This next event is good for your soul and your health. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is hosting more than 60 walks Saturday morning. St. Jude is a nationally recognized pediatric treatment and research center that treats children from all 50 states.

La Jolla Patch and Carlsbad Patch will be out participating in "Give thanks. Walk" at Westfield Plaza Camino Real. The event raises funds for St. Jude, a facility that brings hope to children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through its specialized treatment for some of the youngest, strongest and most inspiring patients.

Come out to walk with Team Patch or donate online.

Sunday: You can raise money for the American Cancer Society just by eating pizza and drinking beer. Make a reservation or walk into 's for Italian grub including pastas and more health conscious choices and 10 percent of your bill will be donated to the .

Piatti's is super committed to giving back. It donates over $100,000 each year to local schools and select charities, according to its website. 

Bah, Humbug: Alternative weekend picks including heading off to the latest Harry Potter film at the in La Jolla Village Square, tidepooling with at Scripps Institution of Oceanography or really mastering child's pose at at the .

Check out La Jolla Patch's full calendar of events.