SANTA SAYS >>>>

Those bold and brassy horn-players over at the Gig Harbor Orchestra are ditching the rest of orchestra. But don't worry - it's for one night only. Without the addition of those pansy woodwinds and strings (I kid!), the Signature Brass Quintet has a chance to shine in all its strong, honking glory - though they will be accompanied by soprano Meg Daly and organist Jeff Orr.

Get blasted into the holiday season Dec. 10 as the quintet performs traditional carols, popular tunes, and classical masterpieces with a horny spin. All puns aside though, the quintet will perform a swing version of "Jingle Bells," Pachelbel's "Canon" displayed through an unbelievable number of carol themes and "Do You Hear What I Hear" interpreted like Ravel's "Bolero."  A highlight will be when the Quintet and Jeff Orr combine for Handel's "Concerto for Organ." 

From the sublime "Christmas Concerto" by Corelli of the Baroque era, to the mariachi sounds of "Feliz Navidad," the concert will be entertaining and festive.

[St. John's Episcopal Church, Saturday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m., free, donations accepted, 7701 Skansie Ave., Gig Harbor, gigharbororchestra.org]

PLUS: 2011 South Sound Holiday Happenings

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PLUS: 2011 Super Best of Tacoma Bought and Sold Readers' and Staff picks

PLUS: 2011 Best of Olympia Bought and Sold Readers' and Staff picks

SANTA SAYS >>>>

Today is Black Friday. Do you know where your hand sanitizer is?

Go Local Tacoma and the national Shift Your Shopping campaign reminds the looming Black Friday swarm to take it easy on the big box stores and see what's being sold at the Mom 'n' Pop.

I'm buyin' local this Xmas, thereby "strengthening the North Pole economy, creating local toy jobs and building communities." Yes, building, bringing people together ... unlike the GOP's order of importance on immigration policies, which was, quote, "[to be] richer, better, and more inclusive."

Oh my.

The Weekly Volcano folks have the word on this whole Shift Your Shopping movement here.

And the local rag also has a toy bag full of local gift suggestions here. Help generate up to two to three times as much economic activity in the community, and get some sweet gifts too.

PLUS: 2011 Super Best of Tacoma Bought and Sold Readers' and Staff picks

PLUS: 2011 Best of Olympia Bought and Sold Readers' and Staff picks

PLUS: 2011 South Sound Holiday Happenings

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SANTA SAYS >>>>

If you are wondering why there is a snowboarding article on my blog, it's because Santa can ride the hell out of a board. Think about it. I'm surrounded by snow every freakin' day. And the elves have built a sick course out behind my castle.

If you are unfamiliar with North Pole ski and snowboard culture, the big competition up here is Frosty's Triple Crown offering residents the chance to demonstrate the moves and skills they've practiced on the course, and compete for money, prestige, and possibly, the big award: The Winter Warlock Cup. The Warlock was the first one up here to land a McTwist.

I'm not quite as good the elves. I think it's because my board sucks.

I have my eye on a new board with a South Sound legend's name on it: The new Temple Cummins' GNU Billy Goat C2 BTX. It comes with revolutionary freeride and power freestyle C2 BTX geometries. I'm talking a camber and banana technology combo for a radical all terrain ride.

It's sweet. The elves won't know what hit them.

No surprise Northwest Snowboards carries this awesome plank - The Cummins family owns the joint.

[Northwest Snowboards, 2805 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.564.5974]

[Northwest Snowboards, 2413 Harrison Ave. SW, Olympia, 360.357.3727]

[Northwest Snowboards, 6820 Kimball Dr., Gig Harbor, 253.853.5255]

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SANTA SAYS >>>>

With Thanksgiving looming large, you must succumb to the siren song of the approaching Holiday season.

The folks at the Weekly Volcano have posted its first round of holiday events in the South Sound. Yes, they present this list awfully early this year. That's so them!

Click here for the scoop on movies, plays, dance, concerts, outdoor activities and festivals coming your way between now and the end of the year - plus other events that defy categorization and enough Nutcrackers to satisfy even those dance enthusiasts who don't know the difference between a pas de deux and the shag. There's also a searchable database of events here.

The Weekly Volcano will also offering four print holiday guides, the first hitting the street Wednesday.

Once you've baked enough cookies to last until Easter, spent three weeks worth of paychecks, and played all of your Christmas albums backward, break out those wool socks and long underwear and hit the area for something new.

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SANTA SAYS >>>>

I can see you in my Magic Snowball. You're searching, once again, for a new perspective on Christmas. Something wholesome but not dull, interesting but not, ahem, excessively interesting. 

So there you are. 

And you see before you a slogan: "Enjoy holiday treats and beverages made from traditional recipes of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Croatia in tribute to Gig Harbor's early settlers."

And your holiday sensibilities are shocked. And then you read on, and you realize this is just what you were looking for. 

The goods and traditions of those noble people of the northern climes - who perfected the art of wearing candles on the head - will be on display this weekend during the Christmas Open House inside the Harbor History Museum. The gift shop will be loaded with traditionally-design glassware, books, calendars, figurines, games, puzzles and, yes, boats.

Apparently, there will be Croatian holiday costumes on display, too.

...

Again, I can see you in my Magic Snowball. I don't see you moving off the couch.

[Harbor History Museum, Nov. 18-19, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 4121 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor, 253.858.6722]

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SANTA SAYS >>>>

With the chaos of the holidays approaching, don't overlook the numerous charitable organizations in need of gift donations or financial contributions. A little philanthropy can go a long way.

Bartell Drugs's "Toy 'N' Joy" drive is one of the most recognized holiday giving traditions. Through the "Toy ‘N' Joy" program - with the help of the Salvation Army's toy warehouses - Bartell Drugs distributes holiday gifts to low-income children and youth the week before Christmas.

Beginning today, and running through Dec. 11, toys will be collected at all 58 Bartell Drugs locations

A number of donation options are available:

• Choose a "gift request tag" from the "Toy 'N' Joy" display in the store and return the gift to the donation barrel with the tag affixed to it.
• Donate new, unwrapped gifts appropriate for children younger than 17. 

To find the nearest Bartell Drugs, click here.

LINK: Fight homelessness in Pierce County

LINK: Volunteer at the Tacoma Rescue Mission

LINK: Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity

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SANTA SAYS >>>>

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!" - A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Yup, with the holidays approaching ol' Ebenezer Scrooge will soon be kicking a dog. In fact, he's in Paradise Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol, running Nov 25-Dec. 11. Warning: the Dec. 9 show is sold out.

Give your kids the chance to see the production with someone other than Daffy Duck in the cast. Journey back to Victorian London as you see the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future scare old Scrooge so badly he transforms from a mean, tight-fisted old geezer to a loving and giving, well um, old geezer.

Rekindle the spirit of Christmas when you see this uplifting production.

[Paradise Theatre, Nov. 25-Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, holiday dinner show 6 p.m. Dec. 10, $10-$22 online, $25-$40 dinner show, 9911 Burnham Dr NW, Gig Harbor, 253.851.PLAY]

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SANTA SAYS >>>>

If there's one thing I've learned over the hundreds of years it's bring your own wine when invited to an elf party. They make awesome toys but don't know the first thing about wine - especially sparking wine. It's enough I have to work my way through their tired artichoke dip and meatballs in mystery sauce. So I partake in the concept of BYOW. One to give, one to drink. If you practice safe wine, you'll be much happier.

Now, I need to research the best sparkling wines for this season. My Magic Snowball is on the fritz. Thankfully, Morso Wine Bar in Gig Harbor hosts a sparkling wine tasting Friday.

From 5-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, Morso will pour inexpensive sparkling wines to taste. Apparently, the wines being poured are Morso's "go to favorites" for holiday meals. 

Nice.

[Morso Wine Bar, sparkling wine tasting, Friday, Nov. 4, 5-7 p.m., 9014 Peacock Hill Ave., Gig Harbor, 253.530.3463.

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