Not sure about your social calendar but mine is nearly as packed as old St. Nick’s.
It’s not so much that Tez and I have received a lot of personal invites—as much as there is simply so much to do during the Christmas season. (And contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as ‘too much’ turkey).
Last week involved three different tree light ups—downtown Kelowna, uptown Rutland, and of course the Crime Stoppers light up at Landmark Square.
The festive fun only gets better this weekend when the popular Willow Park Church in Rutland hosts, yet again, their wonderful Living Nativity event at their facility on Highway 33.
The event runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 7 to 9) and is designed for the whole family.
Tour through a recreated Bethlehem Town complete with living mannequins, music and a popular small petting zoo.
It’s a wonderful event and I strongly encourage you to attend.
Teresa and I are also trying to figure out how we can be two places at once come New Year’s Eve this year. Usually, I have no interest in going anywhere on New Year’s but my couch. But his year, we may have to clone ourselves.
My dear friend and highly talented Deb Stone and her exceptional band will be bringing in the New Year at one of my very favourite places to be – the Blue Gator.
Stone sings like a bird, with a tremendous vocal range from Patsy Cline to Janis Joplin and has a tremendous repertoire of original tunes as well.
However, complicating our choices this year is the fact that Rann Berry is part of a fabulous three show musical night set for New Year’s Eve at the Coast Capri Ballroom doing this,
Rann will perform his popular One Hit Wonders performance during the night while other acts will include Diamond Jones and his Las Vegas Revue, and the nine- piece R&B All Star Band performing a tribute to the Music of Motown.
Dubbed the Very Vegas New Year’s Eve Gala the Coast Capri Ballroom will be transformed into a Las Vegas Showroom style facility designed to dazzle patrons.
Should be a lot of fun and a great night of dancing.
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Here is an interesting idea for a unique Christmas present. Give you partner a trophy or a medallion as the true winner in your life and help a worthy cause in the process.
My friend Allan Lietz, of the Trophy Den, is celebrating his company’s 100th anniversary in Kelowna in a great way.
Alan is offering any Central Okanagan non-profit, society or charitable organization a $100 in-kind donation in stock from his facility on Lawrence Avenue.
You can chose event awards, name-tags, volunteer recognition, or anything else the Trophy Den sells.
I think that’s a brilliant idea and certainly a win-win scenario so contact Allan as soon as you can and find out more information.
•••
One more reminder for you to take part in the annual Charlie’s Angels Christmas List is also pending.
I encourage you to take a few minutes out tonight or in the next day or two and email me the names of people you consider personal angels in your life.
Most of us have a couple when we think about it; folks who have gone above and beyond in kindness to help others in the year.
Send their names to me and a brief reason why they are Angels, and I will run them in a column before Christmas.
It is your way of acknowledging someone who has done something nice without any expectation of a thank you.
Email your names and reasons to hodgepodge2@shaw.ca.
•••
Everywhere I go I get asked (as if I have a crystal ball or something) when the NHL strike is going to end.
My dart board of predictions says the talks will wrap up before this edition of the Capital News hits the street today, and that we will see NHL games start Dec.23.
