Next week is a busy one for local businesses, with the pre-Thanksgiving rush—people getting new clothes, new haircuts and stocking up on food, wine and other purchases—followed by the official kick-off to the holiday shopping season, Black Friday, and the 21st-century creation, Cyber Monday, when online companies offer special deals to entice the first round of holiday spenders.

In between, on Saturday, Nov. 24, is a new holiday launched by American Express: Small Business Saturday aims to draw attention to and celebrate the importance of the small, locally owned businesses in communities around the country—the little guys, or medium-sized guys or even the big guys that started here in Charlestown, chose to stay and contribute in many ways to the neighborhood.

Charlestown certainly has its fair share of great small businesses. Today, and all next week, Patch wants to celebrate these guys.

If you're a small business owner, and you're planning a big sale, special deal or event in the coming weeks, tell us about it by emailing becca.manning@patch.com, tweeting @CharlestwnPatch, posting a note on our Facebook page or leaving it in the comments below.

And if you're a Charlestown resident, tell us what small business you can't live without. Where do you shop till you drop? What restaurant serves up the best food? Where do you go for that important first coffee of the day? What local business just knows how to do customer service?

Tell us about your favorite Charlestown business in the comments below.