by Rachel Brodsky

There's no getting around it--the holiday season is upon us. And while you could hunker down in your apartment, grow a beard and hibernate till February, perhaps one of the best ways to navigate the utter insanity of these next four weeks is to find a decent way to deal with it. Enter Etsy's Handmade Ho Down, where this Thursday, popular Bay Area artisans will gather at 1015 Folsom Street to sell their handmade wares. Etsy can't shorten your gift list any, but they can make the process a bit easier (and make it so you won't have to visit the mall, aka Holiday Hell).

For those of you who don't know, Etsy.com is a happening online community where vendors from all over can sell handmade crafts and goods. In that case, it only makes sense that the SF Etsy Street Team would round up the city's best artists to display their wares and have a party while they're at it. In addition to the displays of sweet homemade goodies at Handmade Ho Down, expect to enjoy "a full holiday bar," DJs spinning sweet tunes, live art demos and free SWAG bags presented to the first 200 guests. All this and more for the low low price of free.

It is also worth mentioning that all raffle (yes, there's a raffle) proceeds from Thursday's Ho Down benefits DrawBridge, a Bay Area arts program for homeless children and others in need. So when you stop at Etsy's Ho Down, feel free to donate your unused art supplies or make a small contribution.

Where: 1015 Folsom
When: Thursday, December 3
Time: 6:00pm-12:00am
How Much: Free!