Deb's Monthly Review - December 1999 - Festivals for Travelers, Artsy Site of the Month, Special Review, more

Deb's Monthly Review

December 1999

Festivals for Travelers, Sites of the Month, Special Feature, Quotes, Opinions, Rants, Praises.
Unless otherwise noted, opinions are solely that of the editor.

Special Quote
"Life is much like Christmas--
you are more likely to get what
you expect than what you want."
--Tom Collins

To parents, teachers, and other guardians of children:
The Review is a place where adults or kids should be able
to stop by and browse.
But, remember - I have no control over outside links.
For happiest results, please surf the Web with your kids!

The Artsy Site Of The Month: iculture Music and Opera Canadian music news and views.		Personal Home Page Of The Month: The Official Petester Pages Efficient design with his interests without being egocentric. And the man appears to check his own work which I like!
Web Page Design Site Of The Month: Smart Design For Online Tutorial presented in slide show style.		Seasonal Site Of The Month: Hanukkah Tales The seven-day celebration based on traditional African values.
Just Fun Site Of The Month: Baker Boulanger Recipe Index I can almost guarantee something here will speak to you this holiday season.		Downright Serious Site Of The Month: Holiday Safety Avoiding electric shock and tinsel tasting this season.
Historical Site Of The Month: The Star of Bethlehem Backgrounds on astronomy, astrology, theology and history combine for a thoughtful article.

December Events

For December Travelers

December 2-5, and December 16-19, 1999

The Lights Before Christmas

Fernwood Botanical Garden, 13988 Range Line Road, Niles, Illinois.

105 acres of gardens and nature preserve at Fernwood will

be the location for this mile-long nature walk with luminaries, carolers,

Santa and refreshments.

More Information: Call 616-695-6491
NOTE: Nearby in Cheboygan you can go caroling and have hot
chocolate on December 2. Call 616-627-7183 for details.

December 3-4, 1999

Festival Of Trees

Convention Center, Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Silent Auction of trees, wreaths and gingerbread houses.

Music, dance, food, vendors, Santa.

Further details: Call 800-253-2255.

December 3-5, 1999

Festival Of Lights

Pierce Park and surrounding area, Chelsea, Michigan.

Tree lighting, live nativity, Santa joins the fun, visit artists'

studios, gingerbread house displays, carols, hayrides,

sleigh rides (if weather cooperates).

Further details: Call 734-475-1145.

December 4-5, 1999

Plaquemines Parish Fair and Orange Festival

Fort Jackson, Buras, Louisiana.

Citrus exhibits, Cajun music, orange peeling contests, carnival

rides, 5k race, arts and crafts.

More information: Call 504-564-2951.

December 4-5, 1999

African American Arts and Crafts Festival

John B. Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

7th occurence of the event.

To find out more: Call 508-877-8601.

December 4-5, 1999

International Tamale Festival

Old Town area, Indio, California.

Well over 100,000 people attended last year. This year features

include a parade, about 70 food vendors, 200 more vendors

of arts and crafts, tamale judging, 5K/10K run, and musical

offerings from the Coasters and Dr. Loco's Rockin' Jalapeno Band.

Approximately 250,000 tamales will be sold at this event, so get yours.

More information: Call 760-342-6532.

December 6-10, 1999

Festival Of The Bells

East Jordan, Michigan.

Parade, live nativity, caroling, stories, open houses.

Additional information: Call 213-536-7351.

December 10-12, 1999

Glow Fest

Price Solms Park, New Braunfels, Texas.

Hot air balloons launch from 5-7 a.m.

Details: Call 830-625-2385.
Note: I am a bit unsure about the dates for this one.
Please do call to confirm before you attend.

December 10-12, 1999

Festival of the Bonfires

Knights of Columbus Fairgrounds, Lutcher, Louisiana.

Food entertainment, crafts, bonfires burning along the

banks of the Mississippi River in the 10th annual celebration

of this festival.

Further information: Call 225-869-9752 or 225-869-4303.

December 18-20, 1999

Kwanzaa Fest

Jacob Javits Convention Center, West 34th Street, New York, NY.

Fashion showcase, appearance by Tito Puente, Harlem Jazz

and Music Festival, art, furniture, media presentations.

More details: Call 212-216-2000.

SPECIAL REVIEW

Where To See The Christmas Lights
or
"Is That The Runway Down There Or Just The Greeleys' Roofline?"
Here are some links that will take you to displays.

Kisers Kuntry Christmas in Reynolds, Pennsylvania.
Sacramento Christmas Lights, all in or near Sacramento, California.
The Sharp's House Of Lights in Savannah, Georgia.
Ryland Court in Elk Grove, California.
Santa on Hobson Pike near Nashville, Tennessee.
Andy and Barb's Christmas Wonderland on Lee Manor Drive in Manassas, Virginia.
Wade Johnson's Christmas Decorations in Aiken, South Carolina.
McAdenville, North Carolina.
City of Christmas in Keokuk, Iowa.
Christmas Lights in Central Texas
St. Nicholas Light Display in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Bill and Peg's Lights, in Lobethal, South Australia.
Candy Cane Lane in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

I don't have web links listed for these, but they are rumored to be worth driving to or through. Some larger displays may require an admission fee or request a donation. You might want to check with a local Chamber of Commerce for more information.

Hillery Drive in Phoenix, Arizona.
4105 West Pasadena Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona.

Courthouse in Ashdown, Arkansas.
Sacred Jouney in Lights (donations accepted) in Eureka Springs, Arkansas (501-253-8952).

On San Antonio on Chino, California.
Candy Cane Lane (east of Forest Avenue between Morse Drive and Beaumont Avenue) in Pacific Grove, California.
The Mission Inn, Mission Inn Avenue, in Riverside, California.
1200 block of Camino Ramon, Willow Glen area in San Jose, California.
191 Herlong Avenue in San Jose, California (please bring canned foods donations!)
ZooLights at Oakland Zoo (admission charged) in Oakland, California.
Pebble Creek Drive in Rocklin, California.

Downtown Hartford area in Hartford, Connecticut.
Fantasy of Light in New Haven, Connecticut.

Downtown Rehoboth Beach Delaware.

4500 block of West Dale Avenue in Beach Park (Hillsborough County), Florida.
Linebaugh Avenue in North Tampa, Florida.
3420 11th Avenue, Tampa, Florida.
Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida.

Magical Nights of Lights at Lanier Islands, Georgia.

Bishop Street downtown area in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Celebration of Christmas in Rock Springs Park, Alton, Illinois.
Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Illinois.
Olney City Park in Olney, Illinois (call 618-392-2241).

Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Winter Wonderland in Ashland, Kentucky.

Gingerbread Bayou Village in Hyatt Regency, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Angel Hair Christmas Lobby, Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans (open 24 hours: call 529-4848 for details).

Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Michigan.
Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Domino's Farms, Earhart Road, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Wayne County Lightfest on Hines Drive in Westland, Michigan.

Walk The Wild Lights at Minnesota Zoo (admission charged) on County Road 38 just south of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Branson Hills Parkway in Branson, Missouri.
Sheperd of the Hills "Trail of Light" on West Highway 76 in the Ozarks region, Missouri.
Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo, Wells Drive in St. Louis, Missouri.

Rhapsody of Lights in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Gibson Road in Henderson, Nevada.

East Militia Road at Rebel Road (please bring $1 donatino), in White House Station, New Jersey.

Holiday Lights (admission charged) at Bronx Zoo in Bronx, New York.

2700 block of Overton in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Sertoma Park in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Melrose Drive in Wooster, Ohio.
Whispering Christmas at Fort St. Clair on Camden Road in Eaton, Ohio.
4983 E. 71st Street in Cuyahoga Hills, Ohio (may have limited hours).

Gore Boulevard in Lawton, Oklahoma.
Fuqua Park in Duncan, Oklahoma.
Honor Heights Park in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Joe B. Barnes Regional Park in Midwest City, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City Zoological Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Randlett Park in Anadarko, Oklahoma.
Wintersmith Park in Ada, Oklahoma.

Peacock Lane in Portland, Oregon.
The Grotto, corner of Northeast Sandy Boulevard and 85th Avenue in Portland, Oregon.

Koziar's Christmas Village in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
Duquesne Light ZooLights at Pittsburgh Zoo (admission charged) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Radisson Grand Resort in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
King Street in Charleston, South Carolina.
Victor Park in Pacolet (donations accepted), South Carolina.
The Riverbanks Zoo on Greystone Boulevard in Columbia, South Carolina.

37th Street in Austin, Texas.
John Stiff Park in Amarillo, Texas.
Holidays in Lights at Exit 610 on I-20, outside of Marshall, Texas.
Lakeside Park in Marble Falls, Texas. (call 830-693-4449 for information)
Newton County Courthouse in Newton, Texas.

Shelly Road in Richmond, Virginia.

Northeast 30th Place, in Bellevue, Washington.
17th Street and 18th Street in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Sunrose Place in Mill Creek, Washington.
The 9000 block of 22nd Avenue NW in North Seattle, Washington.
Lake Wilderness Country Club area homes in Maple Valley, Washington. (bring a donation for the food bank!)
Corners of 32nd Avenue NW and NW71st Street in Ballard, Washington.

Hawks Nest State Park in Ansted, West Virginia (call 304-658-5212 for details).
Lacey's Lights in Beckwith, West Virginia (304-574-1111 for more information).

Lakeside Park in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. Do some digging of your own to find the best lights in the area where you live or the area in which you spend the holidays.
I can't vouch for the accuracy of the above listings. When possible, call ahead, especially when it involves commercial or civic events.
If you know of a great place I missed, let me know!

A few other December events of note:

Aretha Franklin headlines "Christmas At New Bethel" at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan.

Yuletide at Winterthur Museum Library and Gardens in Wilmington, Delaware (800-448-3883 for days and hours).

"The Nutcracker" by Ballet Idaho in Boise, Idaho (208-343-0556).

Lewis and Clark Caverns will give candlelight tours several dates in December, in Three Forks, Montana (call 406-444-2654 for details).

On December 18 The Total Experience Gospel Choir is doing "Soulful Sounds Of Christmas" at Shoreline Community College in Seattle (call 206-546-460 for times and tickets).

Billy Joel will be in concert December 12 at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa (Ticketmaster handles tickets.

Tony Bennett will perform at the Wilshire Theater in Beverly Hills, California on December 21 (Ticketmaster handles tickets).

The Harvard Glee Club will join Wellesley College Choir for a Christmas Vespers Concert December 5 at 8 p.m. at Houghton Chapel, Wellesley College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts 617-495-5730 for information).

Chicagoland Toys For Tots Motorcycle Parade will be December 5. This fundraising event is in its 22nd year and does a great work to make Christmas a little more special for lots of children.

Kwanzaa Candle Lighting at 7:30 p.m. December26-31, at St. Joseph's Historic Foundation in Durham, North Carolina (call 800-845-9835 or 919-683-1709).

Latkes
I tried to find a tried-and-true recipe for these, but couldn't.
Epicurious: Crispy Traditional Potato Pancakes (latkes)

Jelly Doughnuts For Hannukah
Sufganiyot

Collard Greens And More
Kwanzaa Recipes

Kwanzaa Recipes With A Healthy Attitude
Kwanzaa Menu

Rich Easy Christmas treats
Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies.

Here's another way to add lights to your Christmas decorating fun.
Festive Christmas Lanterns

And one more lights project
Holiday Light Ball

Happy Holidays!
Happy New Year!

Blessings To You As You Celebrate In Peace And Joy
The Christmas Story

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Archive of past Monthly Reviews.

September 1997
October 1997
November 1997
December 1997

January 1998
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March 1998
April 1998
May 1998
June 1998
July 1998
August 1998
September 1998
October 1998
November 1998
December 1998

January 1999
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May 1999
June 1999
July 1999
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September 1999
October 1999
November 1999

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