Tag Archives: holiday

Nakita, The Dutch Lady

To give your home a breath of fresh air, visit The Dutch Lady at Georgetown for some top notch handmade European linen and other home décors.

Nakita, the owner of the boutique was born in The Netherlands and studied lace and embroidery from the finest artisans in Bruges, Belgium since a very young age. Her work stays true to the amazing craftsmanship of her European heritage, yet incorporates a unique splash of her vivacious personality.

Fresh and elegant, these lovely linens will catch your eye with their delicate beauty and inspire you with their effortless styles.

With holiday themed embroideries and romantic patterns of lavender, lilies and roses, The Dutch Lady not only represents a living attitude of effortless chic, but also brings a hint of timeless European exquisiteness to your adobe.

Shhhh… the beautiful hand-embroidered linens are all on a liquidation sale – extremely affordable prices starting at $4!

Holidays at Atlantic Station

Atlanta’s Atlantic station might be the place to meet with friends or family this season, but it’s also a great place to cross some things off of your to-do list while basking in some holiday cheer. The open-air holiday shops at Atlantic station offer everything from stocking stuffers like jewelry and handcrafted soaps to fine art for your home. There are wine tastings, lunch specials, happy hours, and DJs among the festivities. Stay for the snowfall, weekdays at 7:30 and weekends 6-9 hourly. If you’re lucky you might even get a photo op with Santa any weekend through Dec.24th.

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Macy’s Dickens Village& Holiday Light Show

http://social.macys.com/believe2010/#/events/santa-land-philadelphia

Macy’s carries on a Philadelphia tradition with a life-size recreation of Victorian London, where you can walk through and imagine yourself in A Christmas Carol. It is on the 3rd floor of the new Macy’s downtown store which is located in the old John Wanamaker building at 1300 Market Street. The the 6,000-square-foot exhibit has remained a popular holiday attraction with more than 100,000 visitors each holiday season with 10,000 on Black Friday alone.

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A Victorian Christmas

http://www.visitphilly.com/events/philadelphia/victorian-christmas-open-house-at-pennypacker-mills/

Head out to Philadelphia’s beautiful countryside for a free guided tour of Pennypacker Mills, the 18th-century mansion used by General George Washington as temporary headquarters during the Revolutionary War. You will discover an old-fashioned Victorian Christmas as you’re guided through the beautifully decorated mansion, which was once the residence of Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker, the twenty-fifth Governor of Pennsylvania. Share in the holiday spirit with your family and friends as you enjoy the warm glow of oil lamps, festive decorations and a candy-making demonstration.And you should prepare your Christmas wish list beforehand — Santa will pay a visit to Pennypacker Mills to join in the holiday cheer!

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Holiday Cruises

Toast to the holidays on the high seas this year with December Holiday Cruises aboard the spirit of Philadelphia. There’s a festive atmosphere, harbor view, a buffet, holiday music for dancing and even four different levels of holiday spirit to choose from.

http://spiritofphiladelphia.com/Philadelphia/december-holiday-cruises

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Reindeer Romp San Francisco

There’s just something about seeing reindeer in real life that will kick your holiday spirit into high gear! From now until January 1, you can see reindeer at the San Francisco Zoo. The four reindeer — Holly, Velvet, Peppermint and Belle — will be on display during normal zoo hours. I’m not sure if they will prance, but they will certainly graze on holiday-themed treats and entertain zoo visitors with their large antlers. Free with admission to the zoo.

Http://www.sfzoo.org/openrosters/view_homepage.asp?orgkey=1859

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San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

Celebrate with the San Francisco Symphony orchestra, holidays with the symphony December 2nd-31st. They’ll be timeless classics and sentimental holiday favorites. This year, the San Francisco Symphony offers a warm and inviting array of concerts — perfect additions to your holiday traditions. Join us for timeless classics and sentimental holiday favorites, sure to add joy, smiles, and holiday memories to share with those you love.

http://www.sfsymphony.org/season/festival.aspx?id=46530&utm_source=Sidebar-Events&utm_medium=Banner-290&utm_campaign=Holiday

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Noir City Film Festival

Skip the crowds and long lines this holiday season and head straight to the Castro Theatre for Noir City Xmas and celebrate the season with a double bill on Dec. 15th. They’ll be showing Remember the Night (1940) and Mr. Soft Touch (1949). These films are a tease to the Noir City Film Festival set to be launched Jan. 21st.

http://www.noircity.com/

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Holiday Fair at Grand Central Terminal

In many ways Grand Central is the heart of New York City, but for many locals (and commuters!) it’s also home to the best holiday market in town. The Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair is one of the city’s few indoor (read warm) markets featuring over 70 vendors selling jewelry, home décor accessories, clothing and toys. Through December 24th.

http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/go/mallevents.cfm?eventID=2145364365

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New York Train Show

See New York City in a different way at the NY Holiday Train show at the New York Botanical Garden through Jan 9th. There’s a quarter-mile of track along 140 New York City landmarks including the original Yankee stadium, St. Patrick’s cathedral and even a new flight center at the JFK airport. Each structure is crafted from small dried plants! And for extra holiday spirit check out the Discovery Center for Gingerbread Adventures where you can learn about the plants that give life and spice to the season’s favorite edible people.

http://www.nybg.org/home-holiday-train-show.php

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La Diva Cucina Holiday cooking and cocktail class at South Beach

Cherry basil mojito, anyone? La Diva Cucina’s cooking philosophy is small bites, big drinks and who wouldn’t love that this holiday season? You can learn tips and recipes to throw a cool cocktail party. The class welcomes all levels and promises to provide for those who want to sit back and relax as well as for those who want to jump in the kitchen. The holiday class is Dec 29th, call for location! 305-297-8121.

www.ladivacucina.com

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Wild Holiday Fun at Zoo Miami

Get wild this holiday season at Zoo Miami. From Dec 17th-30th you can put on some 3D glasses and enjoy animal-shaped lights as you stroll through the 12 nights of Zoo Lights. Have dinner with Santa on Dec 23rd where children will have the chance to make their own ornaments and receive a holiday gift. Kids can even watch animals receive their specially prepared gifts.

http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/

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Downtown on Ice

If LA leaves you feeling too warm this winter head to Pershing Square to cool down Dec 11th and 12th. The city treats you to the Downtown on Ice program, the winter holiday festival. It’s a frozen winter wonderland in the middle of southern California. They’ll be concerts, crafts and ice skating exhibition.

http://www.laparks.org/pershingsquare/

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Dallas Arboretum

Celebrate the Christmas tree this winter by paying homage to it’s relatives at the Dallas Arboretum. This year’s holiday festival includes “The Magic of Santa,” a showcase of hundreds of unique and extraordinary interpretations of the Santa Claus image from several private collections. Stay for some holiday tea from a 3 course menu in a festive setting available everyday at 11am and 2pm through December 31st. Watch out for the live reindeer and frosty and Rudolph roaming the gardens!

http://www.dallasarboretum.org/

Dallas Arboretum

Hammond’s Candies 10th Annual Candy Cane Festival

What represents the holiday season better than that red and white striped sweet treat the candy cane? Indulge your inner child at Hammond’s Candies 10th annual Candy Cane Festival on December 11 from 9am- 5pm. Hammonds is an old pro, manufacturing chocolates and hard candies since 1920. Santa will be there with trolley rides, gingerbread cookie decorating, carnival games, crafts, face painting, moon bounce, and food vendors and you’ll have a chance to take a free tour of the factory and sample candy made right before your eyes!

http://www.hammondscandies.com/

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3. True Celtic Celebration at Irish Fair & Music Fest March 6-7

Picture 5They say when one door closes another one opens. Well that’s the case for the St. Patrick’s Day. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade was cancelled in LA, meaning you’ll just have to celebrate it for not one, but two days at the LA Country Irish Fair and Music Festival. Enjoy a truly Celtic weekend filled with local Irish dance groups, clan gatherings, sheep herding demonstrations, highland-style athletic games, food, products and lots of music on multiple stages. Of course, there will be the fair share of beer as well! There’s not better way to truly experience some old time Irish celebration than at the LA County Irish Fair.

4. Chi-Town’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 13

Picture 16It’s that time of year again that Chicago paints the city green – or at least in Grant Park- for Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Held every year on the Saturday leading up to the holiday, this is truly a family affair for people and families regardless of their ties to Ireland. The official grand stands to view the parade are at the beautiful Buckingham Fountain, where you’ll find floats, marching bands and even bag pipers in kilts.

For an added hue of celebration, at 10:45 a.m. the Chicago River will by dyed green near Wacker Drive between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive.

Expand Your Repertoire at The Washington Ballet

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For those lookPicture 14ing to broaden their cultural horizons, schedule an evening full of the arts with a show-stopping performance by the internationally renowned Washington Ballet. TWB, as it’s known, has developed a celebrated reputation for its repertoire of contemporary performances, as well as its interpretations of notable 19th century pieces.  TWB has translated classic literary works such as Don Quixote, The Great Gatsby and the legendary Nutcracker into flawlessly choreographed modern ballets that continue to entertain the Washington community.

With performances at The Kennedy Center, The Harman Center for the Arts, and its very own intimate Washington Ballet England Studio Theatre located just off Wisconsin Avenue, TWB always entertains its audience with a myriad of talented performers with roots from around the world, as well as a continuous calendar of exceptional shows.

Insider Tip: Although TWB encourages all to attend performances for the betterment of the performing arts community, don’t forget to follow proper ballet etiquette, especially in Washington.  For inexperienced first timers, be sure to wear formal attire for Opening Night performances, and “business casual” for all other shows.

4. All the Capital Celebrates MLK Jr 1/10-/18/10

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech resonated and transformed the world from the stage at Lincoln Memorial in DC. So what bPicture 8etter way to celebrate this historic man’s birthday than in the nation’s capital.

There are a plethora of events taking place to commemorate MLK’s life and work all across the capital. The Choral Arts Society will be kicking off the celebrations for a tribute on January 10th, a Georgetown tribute, an observance at the Department of Interior, and of course a service will be taking place where it all started at the Lincoln Memorial. There’s also a film festival and a holiday weekend family festival in the days leading up to the big holiday. Phew!

Figure Skating at The Frog Pond

Every Bostonian knowBOSponds some of the best winter fun can be had at the Frog Pond in The Boston Common. While it’s no Rockefeller Center, it does provide a great time for the everyone. Located in America’s oldest park, ice skating here has become a favorite pastime for both residents and visitors. Saturday nights are the busiest times of the week with a nearly all adult crowd and romantic couples.

The entire area is lit up at night with spectacular holiday decorations and the twinkling lights. The nearby trees and stately homes lining Beacon Hill will surely guarantee a memorable time to be had by all.

In the warmer months, the Frog Pond is filled with just six inches of water transforming it into a wading pool with a spray fountain for adventurous individuals.

Rick Bayless Loves to Walk Under the Picasso

Frontera Grill’s Rick Bayless is a big fan of Chicago’s outdoor areas, but there’s something special about Daley Plaza that never gets old for him.  Daley Plaza is a great place to go year-rouCHIdaleyplazand, with events happening every season. From Halloween activities to the great Christmas tree to ethnic festivities to remembrance ceremonies for Memorial Day, there is always a reason to visit the area.

Even when there’s not an event going on, Rick Bayless told citybuzz he likes to head over to Daley Plaza due to a certain Spanish artist:

One of the places that I’ve never tired of walking through, and we have some really beautiful ones in Chicago, is the area right around Daley Plaza because we have that incredible Picasso sculpture… It’s really fun because they are enormous sculptures and they almost invite you to be part of it, to climb around in them, to interact with the sculpture in a way that I think the artist really want you to do. They are not something that’s sort of often and distant, but something that invite you into them.

Rick Bayless loves the sculpture in Daley Plaza, but we’re sure he also loves the Chicago farmer’s market that calls the plaza home from May through October.

***Rick Bayless is an award-winning chef-restaurateur, cookbook author, and television personality. Known for his Mexican cuisine, Bayless has become hugely successful with restaurants like Chicago’s Frontera Grill and America’s only fine-dining Mexican restaurant, Topolobompo.

3. Christmas meets Cirque Du Soliel at Hunky Santa 12/1-12/24/09

Look no further for an alternative to the traditional Santa Claus you have long out-grown. Hunky Santa and the Candy Cane Girls put on a “Vegas-Style” production complete with Cirque du Soleil styled dance routines and acrobatics combined with a fashion show vibe with the star of the show being a Santa Claus with a six-pack (they do exist!).  With no intention of replacing Santa, this is a fun way to have a grown-up spin on the holiday in a chic – and interesting- Beverly Hills style.

4. Venetian Holiday in Long Beach 12/19/09

You don’t have to go to Venice to enjoy a well-decorated, romanticPicture 11 canal. Kick start the holiday season by taking a stroll along the canals of Naples Island, where people take pride in decorating their homes that line the water. Better yet, take a romantic gondola ride to view them in style.

On December 19th, people line the bridges and streets to view the small boat parade. The larger vessels that don’t fit in the canals can be viewed from the 2nd Street Bridge and along Alamitos Bay Marina. Throughout the holiday season, Naples Island in Long Beach is a sure bet for taking in the holiday spirit.

4. Like Broadway at Miami Ballet’s Nutcracker 12/11-12/23/09

The Miami City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is a cultural spectacular to see this holiday season. With a cast of more than 100, awe-inspiring sets and costumes, magical special effects, incredible music, and exquisite dancing by international ballet stars. The Miami City Ballet Company’s reputation has been enhanced with one of their dancers making the cover of Dance Magazine.

The dates are limited to make sure you plan ahead to see this stellar performance- and star dancers- this holiday season.

5. Sea Winter Nights & Lights 12/19/09-1/2/2010

It even snows in Miami for the holidays- albeit fake snow. At the Miami Seaquarium in late December, the annual Winter Nights and Lights Celebration will be celebrating this special time of year. Complete with a nightly snowfall, extended park hours and holiday themed shows and exhibits, this is the perfect place to grab the family and get in the spirit of the season in a unique way.

1. Celebrate German Style at Christkindlemarket 12/1/09-12/24/09

ChristkindelSanta-ClausThe Christkindlmarket is a German holiday tradition that has become a Chicago institution. Possibly the most popular holiday market in Chicago, the Christkindlmarket gives a unique shopping experience with an added twist of German food, drinks, and holiday entertainment.

Apart from your typical market fare that includes hand-blown ornaments and young designers showing their creations, there are a wide variety of German products like nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, beer steins, and popular Hummel figurines. With all the special events and shopping at Christkindlmarket, it’s no wonder that 2009 makes it its 14th year and continues to grow every year.

3. Christmas From 4 Corners of Globe in Chicago 12/1/09-1/3/2010

Christmas around the worldThe Museum of Science and Industry gives Chicagoans a two-for-one holiday deal, a Christmas spectacular from all around the world and a Holidays of Light exhibit as well. This 67 year-old tradition lights up the museum with decorations, holiday singers, and dancers. At the center of it all is a giant 45-foot tree with more than 50 trees representing Chicago’s ethnic communities. Throughout the entire season there are plenty events to celebrate each unique holiday!

On top of it is the Holidays of Light exhibition in its ninth year. Not your typical “light” show, this exhibit enlightens its visitors with showcasing the customs of cultures that celebrate holidays other than Christmas during the holiday season. The Museum of Science and Industry brings plenty of cheer from all across the globe to the heart of Chicago.

The 62nd Annual Lighting of Macy’s Great Tree

After completing a full day of running and eating, or maybe just the latter, check out one of Atlanta’s greatest Thanksgiving traditions: lighting the largest and fullest evergreen in Georgia. Pre-show festivities begin at 6:30, but the real show starts at 7pm where a choir and special guests will perform at the 62nd Annual Lighting of Macy’s Great Tree.