Exclusive | Going My Way: Hometowns and Holidays

One of my favorite holiday traditions has nothing to do with Santa, Jesus or the decking of halls. It's about enjoying tasty, warm liquids with good friends, while wearing layers, which you rarely get to do in Los Angeles. Yes, I love it when the Starbucks cups turn red.

I know that doesn't exactly scream "Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men" but oh well. It makes me feel Christmassy. As does going to see the yearly production of Bob's Holiday Office Party, an uproarious play about a gaggle of small town boozers, one of whom takes a dump on stage -- sort of.

I also cherish my yearly visit to Candy Cane Lane with my friends Brett and Danny. Candy Cane Lane is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley where the local edict seems to be, Decorate your house like crazy or move the f#@% out! So we get fajita-ed up at Mexicali restaurant in Studio City, grab a Starbucks, then pile in Brett's SUV and head to CCL. Each year, we forget which freeway exit to get off on, so we call our friend Jerry, a Valley boy from way back who claims he's now too cool for CCL, to remind us. We've already set a date for this year's outing but frankly, I'm worried about the toll our tanking economy will have on Candy Cane Lane. This year, it may consist of a couple of flashlights pointed at a cardboard Shrek. It'll still be fun though, because it always is.

We all have our holiday rituals; some offbeat, some traditional. So in the spirit of sharing, I've reached out to some friends in different cities to find out what they love about the holidays in their hometowns.

Paul J. Williams's Dallas
Though his stand-up comedy can sometimes be sly and biting, Paul J. Williams has nothing but love in his heart for his hometown of Dallas at Christmastime. "It's one of my favorite times of the year," says Williams, who is a regular emcee for RSVP Vacations and produces the comedy show at Aspen Gay Ski Week. "Couple that with the incredible affection I have for my city and you get a perfect combination." Awesome, so where do we start? "NorthPark Center. This mall is a gay man's fantasy anytime of the year. Christmas just kicks it up a notch. There are always cute boys to look at there and the lavish decorations turn it into a holiday wonderland."

And if it's outdoor pleasures you're after, Williams recommends a carriage ride through Highland Park. "Seeing all the decorated mansions always gets me in the holiday spirit. I have a hilarious memory of taking a carriage ride with a dear friend who is one of Dallas's many lipstick lesbians. We were sharing the carriage with another couple and they wanted to know if our kids were in the Highland Park Schools! Sure, my girlfriend could pass for straight, but me? That was a real Christmas miracle."

Melissa Carter's Alanta
For Melissa Carter, who co-hosts Atlanta's popular morning radio program The Bert Show, Atlanta during the holidays isn't so much a feast for the senses as a buffet. "Atlanta's made out of suburbs so I think the beauty of Christmastime is to go to each neighborhood and see what they have to offer. Whether it's Buckhead, Dunwoody, Decatur, or Roswell, each town has its own tree-lighting ceremony and it's fun to see plays like A Christmas Carol because each neighborhood playhouse has their own twist on things."

And if all that 'hood-hopping makes you hungry for a little country cookin', Carter knows just the place: the Swallow at the Hollow restaurant. "It's basically a simple cabin with wooden tables and chairs but they have the best food. If you want to feel the Southern part of Atlanta, it's a great place to have some cocoa and dessert and listen to some live music." You had us at swallow, Melissa.

Part One | Part Two