AUTHOR: ARTSY CHOW ROAMER

My Favorite Things

A HOLIDAY ROUND UP

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with string
These are a few of my favorite things”

Rodgers and Hammerstein – Lyrics to My Favorite Things

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and since this is the first time in a long while that we might be able to consider getting out and about for the holidays, I decided to share some of my favorite things that you might want to consider.

I feel like things are different now and my round up should reflect that but still offer an homage to memories of holidays past. This list will give you both local and travel opportunities so you can take advantage of some new-found freedoms (if fully jabbed that is). You can also pick up some cool gift ideas…so let’s get to it! 🎅

• HIP HOP NUTCRACKER

A modern contemporary performance, Hip Hop Nutcracker completely reimagines the 129-year-old ballet set to the music of Russian composer, Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky. Many may not know that the choreography was originally based on a much darker story called The Nutcracker and the Mouse King written by Prussian author E.T.A. Hoffman which found Marie (renamed Clara for the ballet) stuck in doll land forever as her nightmare comes to life.

Featuring hip hop pioneer Kurtis “The Breaks” Blow, the first dancer to be signed by a major label in 1979, Kurtis proves he can still dance with the best as MC of the production after 42 years and a heart transplant! A 33-city tour kicked off in San Diego on November 6th.

You can catch a performance in Atlanta at the fabulous Fox Theater on December 14th which everyone knows is a magical spot to experience any special holiday event. Other locations in the Southeast include Durham, Charlotte, Charleston and Jacksonville. Pick up your tickets on their website and get more information on the event and enjoy the video below for a taste of what to expect.

• LA RUE 1680

As the weather turns colder and hot drinks become the choice of the day, it stands to reason that I might look for gift options for the tea drinkers in my family and friends circle. Anyone who knows me knows that I love all things English and that means a good “cuppa” and some binge watching of Bridgerton and The Crown on Netflix.

Stephanie Synclair, female entrepreneur extraordinaire, has created a delicious line of loose leaf tea products and curated accessories in La Rue 1680 with all us anglophiles in mind. Specialty holiday blends like New England Pumpkin Spice and Winter White Chocolate are sure to please when sitting by the fire and enjoying the medicinal benefits of this delicious hot drink.

Exploding onto the scene in October 2020, La Rue made quick fans in Drew Barrymore and Carson Kressley for flavors like Casablanca Street, Hibiscus and Peach Paradise. Synclair has been featured in Vogue and on CNN and the Today show as the Queen of tea.

For the gift sets she can’t seem to keep in stock, choose the Bridgerton Collection. Queen Charlotte’s Court includes these classics with a twist like Indian Street Vanilla Chai, Italian Cream Earl Grey and Moroccan Mint.

Try the starter set or The Cadeau du Père Noël gift box with four exclusive holiday blends in loose leaf or bags. Look for recipes that include teas for the holidays and make your own goodies for the peeps on your list too. In the meantime, enjoy the video below for a taste of Bridgerton if you aren’t already a fan.

• SAN FRANCISCO PLAYHOUSE

Cozily ensconced in the 125-year-old Gothic style building of the Kensington Park Hotel, the San Francisco Playhouse is considered to be one of the finest community performance venues in the US. Co-founders Susi Damilano and Bill English have built a small power house packing big drama by staging “world and regional premieres, Broadway and off-Broadway hits and thought provoking plays and musicals”.

Sporting warm orange seats in two levels, a remarkable stage and an attached bar from which to enjoy your favorite signature cocktails while mingling with other patrons, the theater looks and feels more than a little like old world European places I have visited over the years of my artsy adventuring.

So I had to include their offering of Twelfth Night for the holiday season. Running from November 24th through January 15th, this musical version of William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy was conceived by Kwami Kwei-Armah with the jazz funk stylings of Shaina Taub.

Grab your tickets to this fun contemporary adaption of the classic story of mistaken identity and self-discovery while enjoying busy Union Square in this fabulous city of hills with world-class food. San Francisco is a perfect choice for holiday celebrations. Read more about this gem of a playhouse on this blog post.

• A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS

A Magical Cirque Christmas is launched on a 27-city tour on November 30th by MagicSpace Entertainment. Incorporating the “comedic magic” of Lucy Darling whom David Copperfield calls “a true original with exceptional talent”, the show is considered a perfect date night or family fun outing.

Be awed by the vocal stylings of Therese Curatolo who sings Christmas classics in period styles while taking you on a grand journey in time along with a cast of world-acclaimed Cirque performers. If you have never seen a performance of Cirque de Soleil you have really missed something that should be on your bucket list and this cast will blow you away with their feats of balance, strength and daring.

Running through December 30th, you can pick up tickets to several different Southern cities; Columbia, SC for December 14th and 15th, Augusta, GA for December 16th and finally Greensboro, NC on December 17th. Check their website for other performance locations if living or traveling back to cities across the US. Take a look at the video below to see what you got to look forward to!

• ALMANAC HOLIDAY ADVENT BEER BOX

Since my Czech husband loves beer I am always looking for interesting gifts in that category for my peeps. Almanac has put together a 12 pack of 16 ounce selections in three different categories: all fresh, mixed and all sour.

California farm-to-barrel craft beer pioneers Almanac offers a fun and delicious way to give the craft beer enthusiast in your life a holiday surprise. Spanning a wide range of innovative craft beer styles including hazy IPAs, lagers, stouts, barrel-aged sours, and more the box gives you a new window to open for a tasty new surprise each day.

• DICKENS ON CENTRE

Dickens on Centre is Amelia Island’s signature seasonal festival celebrating the holiday classic novella, A Christmas Carol. Turning downtown Fernandina into a quaint English village with festive lighting and colorful decorations, patrons can enjoy food trucks, fireworks, a one-mile fun run and dining week.

New this year is an enchanting village picnic centering on the magic of snow globes and an adult only event favorite returns to the historic Lesesne House in downtown Fernandina Beach. Enjoy the beauty of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival and the Historic Home tour decorated for the season all with the charm offered in a Florida location.

Did I mention there are lots of booths set up so you can eat some traditional holiday treats and do a little shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts? Don’t forget to let the kids visit with Santa too! They welcome period dress for your meanderings around town and enjoy the video below with a little taste of Dickens on Centre.

• RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer returns live and in person to the Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts. The beloved stop-motion classic debuted on television in 1964 and immediately became a holiday hit that speaks to the misfit in all of us. It is a favorite of mine I never miss each year.

Rudolph, Hermey, Cornelius, Santa and the Abominable Snow Monster help children understand the fear of not fitting in only to discover that it is OK to be who we really are and everyone brings value to the table in some form.

For the first time since 2006, the rare puppets from the original Rankin & Bass production will be on view. The tickets will include the performance, museum admission and a Create-A-Puppet Workshop. You can see this wonderful adaptation from November 10th through January 2nd. Get your tickets on their website while November tickets are discounted. Enjoy the video below with a little tour of the Center.

• CONCLUSION

My favorite things list could have gone on much longer but I thought I picked out the absolute best for you here. All are appropriate for family outings and the best of fun for date night too. A few inspired gifts will make shopping easier for your list with no “unhappy returns” to contend with.

I wish the happiest of holidays for you and yours and nothing gets me in the mood faster then some creative takes on the usual holiday jingles. Take a listen to Straight No Chaser’s version of The 12 Days of Christmas and Pentatonix’ version of Mary Did You Know. I love a good a cappella group don’t you? (Pssst…The CD’s are great gift ideas for music lovers.)

If you liked what you read you might also like other posts under Artful Ideal where you’ll find all kinds of interesting tips about exhibitions, artists, dance, theater, music and more. Look for more upcoming posts on holiday fun and bucket list destinations. Until then…

Cheers,

Artsy Chow Roamer

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TO MY READERS: This post originally appeared in a shortened version in my newspaper column, The Curious Corner