Life

While parents may sometimes despair of their children getting enough shut-eye, especially with age-old stalling tactics of another story or another glass of water, children in the U.S. appear to be getting the recommended amount of sleep.

Tokyo retained its tasty title on Wednesday as the Michelin guide's world gourmet capital, although the number of three-star restaurants fell slightly.

? Welcome to the Calendar listings. Theatre, dance, live music, nightspots and other performances appear in day-by-day listings, with family activities and ongoing exhibitions under "Attractions.

Saturday marks the start of a month of Christmas celebrations at Butchart Gardens. The gardens' Magic of Christmas program is marking its 26th season. The light-up ceremony at 5 p.m. Saturday kicks off the Magic of Christmas.

A Touch of Salt Spring Christmas Show, Nov. 30, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Dec. 1-2, 10 a.m.-5 p .m. Panorama Recreation Centre, 1885 Forest Dr., North Saanich. Admission $5 for three day pass. Handicap accessible, Park'n'Ride. atouchofsaltspring.

ON STAGE Kafka the Musical Where: Little Fernwood Hall, 1923 Fernwood Rd. When: To Dec. 16 Tickets: $10, $14 at 250-5906291 and ticketrocket.org ($2 online surcharge) It all started as a joke, really.

You'll pay 6.1% more this year for the gifts in the carol

More than 8,800 bottles of wine from the cellar of Spain's world-renowned elBulli restaurant will be auctioned in Hong Kong and New York next year in sales that could exceed $1 million, Sotheby's said on Wednesday.

They may be a big hit at kids' birthday parties, but inflatable bounce castles and houses can be dangerous, with the number of injuries soaring in recent years, a U.S. study found.

Let it snow, let it snow ... but only in Centennial Square. Regardless of the weather forecast, the City of Victoria and the Downtown Victoria Business Association guarantee there will be plenty of the white stuff Saturday afternoon.