Happy Holidays from ThirdCoast Digest
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For your viewing pleasure, we present this collection of stories that have made the 2011 holidays in Milwaukee such a joyous occasion. From everyone at ThirdCoast Digest, we’d like to wish you a safe and happy holiday to you and yours.
Performing Arts
Rep’s “Christmas Carol”: More than holiday comfort food: The Rep’s retelling of Charles Dickens’ familiar Scrooge tale amuses, entertains and says something that matters.
Milwaukee Ballet’s “Nutcracker”: A little cheekier this year: Michael Pink changes “The Nutcracker” just enough to keep you on your toes every December.
MSO Holiday Pops: A gentle Christmas: With Jeff Tyzik conducting, the MSO’s Holiday Pops are short on glitz and long on warmth.
MSO’s Hometown “Messiah” tour: Handel’s oratorio is a Christmas perennial in Milwaukee. And when the performers don’t treat it that way — great!
“Holiday Punch” goes straight to her head: Judith Ann goes to Off the Wall’s holiday show, gets punch-drunk.
Neil Haven’s R-rated Christmas show: “Who Killed Santa?” is just the thing for those who’ve have good, clean, family holiday fun up the wazoo.
Bel Canto “Christmas in the Basilica”: A Christmas concert in a glorious setting, captured in Robert Bundy’s images.
“Scrooge in Rouge”: So bad it’s good: In Tandem Theatre’s holiday music-hall sendup of “A Christmas Carol,” everything goes wrong in exactly the right way.
First Stage: “Junie B.” sets the perfect seasonal tone: Get into the holiday spirit with the help of some talented young actors and actresses at First Stage’s “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells.”
Jingle Thrills: Kids go to the theater: At First Stage’s “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells,” there’s a kid show in the lobby, too.
TCD features: Holiday edition
TCDIY: Holiday Gifting Pt. 1, 2, and 3: Let’s talk DIY gift ideas and strategy. These simple steps will get you through the holidays feeling like a champ.
Threads: Classing up men’s holiday fashion: Whether it’s a family gathering, work party or full blown black tie affair, Kimberly has all the right advice for men to dress for the occasion.
Threads: Last minute gifts for fashionistas: Is it time for your annual tradition of last minute shopping? Val Moody finds all the best accessories for for the fashionista on your list.
TCD Traveler: Christmas at the Lake: One hour north of Milwaukee you’ll find Elkhart Lake, a small town in the best possible sense, bustling with the annual Old World Christmas Market and much more to enjoy.
PODCAST: Spending the holidays at the theatre: Theatre thrives at the holidays, and to discuss what theatre means for Milwaukee this time of year, Mark talks with actor Matt Daniels of In Tandem Theatre.
Holiday sights and sounds
MillerCoors lights up the valley with a holiday show: Lacy Landre captures video from MillerCoors employee preview night, where execs throw the switch on the largest light show of its kind in the Midwest.
The life of the 2011 City/County Christmas Tree: TCD follows the City/County Christmas Tree from harvesting and decorating all the way to the lighting ceremony at Red Arrow Park in this special holiday video.
Starting the holidays off with a bang: Winter holiday lights celebrations kicked off in Milwaukee and TCD caught the fireworks show at Pere Marquette Park.
Ate some turkey and saddled up for Country Christmas: We awoke from our food coma on Thanksgiving night long enough to catch the Country Springs’ drive-thru lights and holiday scene displays.
TCD’s 2011 Local Gift Guide: Milwaukee has plenty of locally-owned stores to complete your holiday wish list. TCD’s presents the 2011 Local Gift Guide, just in time to finish your shopping.
TCD’s guide to holiday food drives: It’s better to give than receive, so warm someone’s spirit this holiday with a donation to any of these Milwaukee area food drives.
Farewell to 2011: TCD’s New Year’s Eve Guide: Looking to go out on the town this New Year’s Eve? TCD has your guide to Milwaukee’s best events to say farewell to 2011 and hello to 2012.
TCD’s Holiday Fun Guide: Looking to find ways to celebrate the holidays this week? Well, look no further. Tis the season for food, fun and family, and Milwaukee has events galore.
Staff Wish Lists
TCD’s Holiday Wish List: Local music: To: Music lovers, From: ThirdCoast Digest. Keep your ears happy well into 2012 with these picks from TCD staffers.
TCD’s Holiday Wish List: Local arts: To: Art lovers, From: ThirdCoast Digest. Tom Strini and TCD staffers hope to find a gift of the arts under the tree this Christmas.
TCD’s Holiday Wish List: Local dining: To: Foodies and gourmets, From: ThirdCoast Digest. Staff writers have some inspired choices for the best in local dining to add to your holiday wish list.
And more!
Heavy Metal Tannenbaum: The Harley-Davidson Museum asked area artists to create Christmas Trees to benefit Arts@Large, and the artists went hog wild.
Aluminum Christmas Tree: U.S. Patent #2,893,149: Judith Ann’s gleaming tree, enhanced by shiny gifts from Shimon and Lindemann.
“Santa Throws in the Towel”: A fairy tale for all times: A Christmas fairy tale from Judith Ann.
