Holiday VortexHealing Group Healing, Voluspa: A Ghost Dance for 2012, Christmas Fantasy In the Woods, San Jose Rep’s A Christmas Carol, Scrooge: The Haunting of Ebenezer, The Christmas Ballet, Frank Bette Center for the Arts Holiday Boutique, San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker, David Sedaris’ Santaland Diaries, The Spirit of Christmas at Winchester Mystery House, Belrose Holiday Tea Party, ’Tis the Season for Science, Holiday Open House at the Ainsley House, A Ceremony for the Solstice Moon, A Christmas Carol Staged Reading, History: the Musical, Wavy Gravy and His Guided Mistletoes, The Hard Nut, The Golden Girls: The Christmas Episodes, Nature and Soul Retreat for Winter Solstice, Winter Solstice Celebration, Winter Solstice in Muir Woods, Ushering in the New Age of Aquarius, Solstice 2012: 100 Hearts Drumming the Rhythm of Rebirth, Winter Solstice Ritual, Mayan Moon Goddess Ixchel, Fairy Winterland, Mittens and Mistletoe: A Winter Circus Cabaret, Santastic!, ‘Twas the Night Before Sketchfest, A Christmas Carol at McConaghy House, Diana’s Grove Winter Solstice Ritual for Women, Winter Solstice Concert, Birthdance 2012, A Witchy Class, Women of Windham Hill Winter Solstice Concert, Night Wakes Dawn, Holiday Lego Show, The Great Dickens Christmas Fair!, Holiday Sing-Along With Santa, Berkeley Artisans Holiday Open Studios, Wacky Winter Wonderland, A Visit from the Clauses, Spiral Yule, Tea and Tarot, No Tea and Chanting In December, CAYA Fun For Everyone: Snowshoeing, Shamanic Journeys for Interfaith Mystics
______________________________________
Holiday VortexHealing Group Healing
with Dragonfly Adularia
Wednesday, December 19, 7:00PM
Solas Brigid Studio, 403 Burk Street, Oakland
$20 Love Donation or pay what you can
for more information, please contact Dragonfly at Dragonfly@ArunaBliss.com
http://arunabliss.com
http://www.vortexhealing.org
“Come join us for a Holiday VortexHealing group healing wiith Dragonfly Adularia.
Winter Solstice is a magical time to manifest the energies of transformation in your life
through VortexHealing and some help from the Angelic healing realm.
Dragonfly, Wizard of the Merlin lineage, will facilitate a dynamic session for unfolding magical transformation. This is your chance to learn more about this amazing and very powerful form of energy work, designed to transform the roots of emotional consciousness, heal the physical body, and awaken spirit within the human heart. The Merlin lineage is full of the magic of divinity, focused on deep healing and awakening to our true nature.
Join us in this 2012 light acceleration, spiritual awakening and special time to make magic together.”
______________________________________
Voluspa: A Ghost Dance for 2012
presented by Dance Brigade
Wednesday-Thursday, December 19-20, 7:30PM
Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th Street, San Francisco, 415-826-4441
$12-$20
http://www.dancemission.com/performances.html
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/300408
“Dance Brigade, Kirssy Keefer's provocative dance company, is pleased to announce Voluspa: A Ghost Dance for 2012, a ritual dance performance that explores/marks the 2012 end of the world/regeneration prophecy found in many cultures and articulated perhaps most explicitly and famously by the Mayan calendar. Whether it be the Mayan, the Hopi, the Norse, the Book of Revelation, Wovoka, or contemporary climate scientists, many cultures have the destruction/regeneration story rooted deeply in their mythology. Though prophesy and truth-telling artists will come together to acknowledge and pay tribute to past and present struggles and work towards renewal, bringing our current tumultuous times starkly into focus. Dance Brigade will host the two-night ritual performance at Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco with the final evening lasting until 12:30am so that together we can mark December 21st, 2012, the winter solstice and end of the Mayan calendar.
Show begins outside. Please dress warmly!
This show is a benefit for Dance Mission Theater
Wednesday, December 19th:
Dance Brigade
Grrrl Brigade
Dance from Imperial Silence: A Dead Opera
NAKA Dance Theater
Popoka'tepetl
Nicole Klaymoon
MamaCoatl
Vicki Noble /Carolyn Brandy Transformational Healing Circle
Thursday, December 20th:
Dance Brigade
Grrrl Brigade
Danza Xitlalli
Dances from Imperial Silence
NAKA Dance Theater
Sarah Bush Dance Project
Nicole Klaymoon
Anne Bluethenthal and Dancers
Arenas Dance Company
Vicki Noble /Carolyn Brandy Transformational Healing Circle (Please note that on Thursday the healing circle will go until 12:30am, so that together we can mark December 21st 2012, the winter solstice and end of the Mayan calendar.)”
______________________________________
Tilden Park Christmas Fantasy In the Woods
Wednesday-Sunday, 5:30-8:30PM
Tilden Park Merry Go Round, Shasta Road, Berkeley
$2.00 per ride or $10.00 for 7 rides
http://www.eastbayloop.com/tilden-park-merry-go-round-christmas-fantasy-in-the-woods
http://www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden
“The 14th Annual Christmas Fantasy experience at Tilden Park features an extensive array of outdoor holiday light displays and decorations covering the merry go round and surrounding grounds. Experience spectacular sparkling Christmas trees with an array of themes ranging from more traditional Santa Tree to the more eccentric Vampire or Mardis Gras decor.
Delicious holiday sweets and seasonal warm beverages are served nightly. The holiday spirit continues with carolers, holiday character appearances, and visits from Santa and his live reindeer! Visit any night until December 23. Santa comes nightly, except for Wednesdays.”
______________________________________
San Jose Rep’s A Christmas Carol
Wednesday-Sunday, December 19-23,
Wednesday 7:30PM, Thursday-Friday 8:00PM, Saturday 3:00PM, Sunday 2:00PM
San Jose Rep, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
see website for ticket details
http://www.sjrep.com/plays/1213/carol12/index.php
“Rick Lombardo’s musical adaptation of this classic holiday story is a feast for the senses, full of popular Victorian carols, lavish period costumes, and actors playing over a dozen traditional instruments.”
______________________________________
Scrooge: The Haunting of Ebenezer
Wednesday-Sunday, December 19-23,
Wednesday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 5:00PM
playing through December 30
The Boxcar Theatre Studios , 125A Hyde Street, San Francisco
$16
http://www.boxcartheatre.org/scrooge.php
“Boxcar Theatre brings their brand of the Christmas spirit to the tenderloin with this reimagining of Dickens iconic Holiday tale.
On a cold Christmas eve a solitary man journeys into the darkness of his haunted soul to confront the ghosts of his past, and the source of his self imposed misery. Will a chilling brush with his own mortality be enough to earn his redemption? With but one small ember of humanity still burning within his cold heart, he must find a way to free himself from the chains of his own making before it is too late.
This one-man performance strips away the sentimentality while remaining true to the wit and fire of Dickens' masterpiece of storytelling - his glorious language, vivid characterization and compelling social conscience.
Make a pilgrimage to the tenderloin for a story that still resonates even in the most hardened, unsentimental of us Scrooges.”
______________________________________
The Christmas Ballet: Smuin Ballet’s Holiday Favorite
Wednesday-Sunday, December 19-23 - final week
see website for detailed schedule and ticket information
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission Street, San Francisco
http://smuinballet.org/holiday-2012-2013
http://smuinballet.org/files/2012/09/Calendar_12-13b.pdf
http://tickets.smuinballet.org/TheatreManager/1/login&event=211
“The Christmas Ballet: The Bay Area’s hottest holiday ticket returns with NEW choreography from Choreographer in Residence Amy Seiwert, Smuin dancer Jane Rehm and former Smuin dancer Darren Anderson, and more. An ever-changing carousel of mischief and elegance, The Christmas Ballet is a perfect gift for audiences of all ages.
Stunning classical ballet, rollicking character numbers, and that Smuin sass combine for a seasonal celebration like no other. From Bach and sacred carols to klezmer, gospel, and Elvis, The Christmas Ballet has something for everyone. Be sure to treat yourself and your loved ones to this Bay Area holiday tradition!”
______________________________________
Frank Bette Center for the Arts Holiday Boutique
Wednesday-Monday, December 19-24, 11:00AM-7:00PM - final week
Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru Street, 510-523-6957
http://www.frankbettecenter.org
“8th Annual Holiday Gift Boutique: Celebrating Fine Craft during the Holiday Season
Hey, what a great way to shop locally! Our Holiday Boutique at the FBCA will be overflowing with terrific gifts and holiday artisan cheer to share with friends and family. Come on over and peruse the charming and beautiful items offered this year!
Handcrafted Gifts created by some of Northern California's Finest Artisans: Jewelry, Ceramics, Glass, Fiber Arts, Wood, Mixed Media, and Paper Arts. So much fun, and so much more interesting and lovely than the churned-out, millions-of-the-same "stuff" you find in the big box stores!”
______________________________________
San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker
Friday, December 19 - Friday, December 28,
see website for detailed schedule and ticket prices
War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
http://www.sfballet.org/tickets/production/overview/nutcracker
“On Christmas Eve, 1944, the audience at San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House experienced the American premiere of Nutcracker. An instant sensation, the ballet launched a national holiday tradition.
San Francisco Ballet’s sparkling production of Nutcracker, set here in our own City by the Bay, has introduced audiences of all ages to the magnificent world of ballet. This holiday season, experience the beauty and athleticism of SF Ballet’s international cast of world-class dancers in Nutcracker, a San Francisco tradition since 1944.”
______________________________________
David Sedaris’ Santaland Diaries
Wednesday, December 19 - Saturday, December 29
see website for schedule details
Eureka Theater, 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco
$40
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/294629
“Santaland Diaries - 11th Smash Year!!!
Combined Artform is celebrating eleven years of the San Francisco tradition, Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris and adapted to the stage by Joe Mantello. David Sinaiko puts on his elf hat and boots to return to the Eureka Theatre as everyone's favorite elf, Crumpet. No one captures the craziness of the holidays like David Sedaris. Come see the show that critics and audiences love and keep coming back for more and spend the holidays with Combined Artform at the Eureka Theatre.
Nominated for a SF/Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Best Solo Performance.
Called by some America's premiere humorist, Sedaris creates a brilliant evocation of Christmas as seen from the other side through the eyes of a Macy's elf. Our hero confronts the screaming children, bossy parents, flaky elves, and apathetic Santas with hilarious results!”
______________________________________
The Spirit of Christmas at Winchester Mystery House
Daily and Select Evenings, December 19-30
(closed December 25)
Winchester Mystery House, 525 South Winchester Boulevard, San Jose
see website for schedule and ticket details
http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84q4YbI1fTU
“Come celebrate the wonder of Christmas at Sarah Winchester's fabulous 160-room mansion, elegantly decorated for the holidays.
Sparkling lights dance off of priceless art glass windows
Garlands, wreaths and candles grace the mantels of 13 fireplaces
The gardens and gables are aglow with thousands of twinkling lights
Music fills the air and lifts the spirits
Over 30 festive trees are abundantly adorned with hand-crafted ornaments, collected from around the world and created by local artisans. Each tree is designed to complement the room's character and decor, while reflecting the heritage of Santa Clara Valley and the Bay Area.
Featuring:
Silver Snowy Owls, Daisies, Citrus, Art Glass Ornaments, Peacocks, Cherry Blossoms, Fleur De Lis and Blue Velvet… and the ultra glitzy $25K Storage room!
More Fun Activities (not included with admission)
Half-acre outdoor straw labyrinth for kids of all ages
Train Rides
Wine Tasting and Toasting
Family Christmas Photos
Daytime Tours
Daily 9:00AM-5:00PM, November 22-December 31
Tour Length: 60 Minutes
$30 Adults (13-64), $27 Seniors (65+)
$20 Children (6-12), 5 and under free
An all new Mansion Tour experience with exquisite, designer Christmas trees, decorations, shimmering lights and all new information about Mrs. Winchester's priceless art glass windows.
Evening Events
Select Nights, 6:00PM-8:00PM, December 13-30
Tour Length: 30 Minutes
$20 Adults (13-64), $17 Seniors (65+)
$15 Children (6-12), 5 and under free
Multiple live performers on each event night from the 13th through the 23rd, from youth choirs, brass trios, roving carolers, solo violinists and more! Explore the Mansion by candlelight, as exquisite, designer trees paint the rooms with a festive glow. Holiday music fills the mansion. Evening entertainment on select nights.”
______________________________________
Belrose Holiday Tea Party
Mondays-Saturdays throughout December, 1:00-4:00PM
The Belrose Theatre, 1415 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael
$25 per person
reservations required, please call 415-902-5188 or e-mail 2TeaOrNot2Tea@att.net
http://www.thebelrose.com
http://www.thebelrose.com/Belrose_News.html
“Tea Parties at The Belrose are Back!
Come enjoy 4 weeks of The Belrose Tea Party with family, friends, and co-workers.
Mondays through Saturdays, 1:00-4:00PM
$25 for this experience includes:
A Pot of Fine Organic Tea
Tea Sandwiches
Petit Fours
Cookies and Scones”
The Belrose Theatre is a beautiful and truly magical place!
______________________________________
’Tis the Season for Science
Daily, December 19-January 6
California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
see website for schedule and ticket details
http://www.calacademy.org/holidays
http://www.calacademy.org/holidays/?t=2
“Enjoy wintry festivities and family fun that explore the diverse and often surprising ways that birds, bears, and other animals survive and thrive in winter. Share warm tidings at the Academy’s seasonal celebration November 16, 2012 through January 6, 2013.
Celebrate Winter
Returning for a third year is our special exhibit, ’Tis the Season for Science. Enjoy indoor snow flurries twice an hour in the Piazza. Examine mounted specimens of a polar bear, snow geese, monarch butterflies, and more, and discover how these animals survive using one of two winter strategies - heading south or staying home.
Live Reindeer
Meet a pair of live reindeer in the East Garden. Don’t be confused by their antlers. Reindeer are the only species of deer in which both males and females have antlers.
Snowman Theater
Come inside an immersive digital dome shaped like a giant snowman to explore the science of Earth’s seasons. Children ages five and older will gain a new perspective on our planet and enjoy a close-up look at animals adapting to seasonal changes.
New programs for all ages are geared toward animals in winter, including:
Reindeer Rendezvous
Daily at 12:00PM
Ever wonder how reindeer are able to travel so far? Get up close with live caribou and discover why these animals are known as the Nomads of the North, migrating up to 3,000 miles per year.
Holiday Migration Quest
Daily at 1:30PM
Team up and investigate the winter migration patterns of gray whales and monarch butterflies by participating in a friendly game show-style trivia contest.
Specimen Spotlight: Migrating Monarchs
Thursdays at 11:30AM
Discover the amazing life cycle of monarch butterflies, which migrate thousands of miles each winter, and view beautiful specimens in the Academy’s Naturalist Center.
For a complete list of programs, see our Daily Calendar tab.”
______________________________________
Holiday Open House at the Ainsley House
Thursday, December 20, 5:30-8:00PM
Ainsley House, 51 N Central Avenue, Campbell
$15
http://www.downtowncampbell.com/eventinfo.php?eventid=18093
http://campbellmuseums.org/glittering-and-gold-christmas-at-the-ain
http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/museum/index.htm
“This December, the historic Ainsley House in Downtown Campbell will be transformed into a magical holiday wonderland! Please join us for one of two special nighttime open houses (December 16 and December 20), where the lights and the decorations can be fully enjoyed in all their splendor. Visitors will take a self-guided tour through the decorated Ainsley House and be treated to refreshments in the Carriage House.
In the beautiful, historic Ainsley House in Downtown Campbell, all of its 15 rooms will be transformed into a warm, enchanting celebration of Christmas. The house will be decorated by local interior designers, house decorators, florists, and volunteers and feature a special holiday boutique, full of unique delights for holiday shoppers.”
______________________________________
Sherehe Ya Mwedzi: A Ceremony for the Solstice Moon
Thursday, December 20, 7:30PM
The Sacred Forest, Oakland, RSVP for exact location
for more information, call 510-827-3997 or e-mail iyamahea@thesacredforest.org
Free
http://thesacredforest.org/events
“Inspired by African spirituality, our Full Moon Ceremonies honor the Moon and the Water Spirits. The ritual commemorates hope and renewal through song, healing movement and mbira meditation. Participants are encouraged to bring their own symbol of renewal to place on the altar upon arrival. No fee for admission, and all are welcome. Directions forwarded upon our receiving your RSVP.”
______________________________________
A Christmas Carol staged reading
by Charles Dickens, adapted for B8 by Maureen-Theresa Williams
Thursday, December 20, 8:00PM
Cue Productions Live, 1835 Colfax Street, Concord
$20, $15 Students and Seniors
http://www.b8company.com/events.htm
“Butterfield 8 presents a world-premiere adaptation of A Christmas Carol, created for the company by Co-Artistic Director Maureen-Theresa Williams. This staged reading uses only the original text to paint a verbal picture of Charles Dickens' London, in the style used to create B8's popular Pride and Prejudice.
Join us for an evening of Victorian holiday cheer, and a new telling of the story you only think you know!”
______________________________________
History: the Musical
Thursday-Saturday, December 20-22, 8:00PM - final weekend
The Un-Scripted Theater, 533 Sutter Street, 2nd floor, San Francisco
$20 general admission, $10 students and seniors
http://un-scripted.com/shows
“A full-length, fully improvised musical production set against the backdrop of the scope of Western history. Each of its 17 performances will be set in a different time period, stepping through time, beginning with the Neolithic Period, and ending in the 1960s. Each will feature a lively, unique look at the people and themes that have led us to our present moment.
The Un-Scripted Theater Company creates smart, innovative, and entertaining improvised theater that delights audiences and advances the craft and art of improvisation.”
______________________________________
Wavy Gravy and His Guided Mistletoes
Thursday-Sunday, December 20-23 - final weekend
Thursday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 3:00PM
The Marsh, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley
$15 - $35 sliding scale
http://www.themarsh.org/wavy_gravy.html
http://www.wavygravy.net
http://www.campwinnarainbow.org
http://www.seva.org
“Wavy Gravy recounts his life and times, spilling proverbial beans, and promises at least some reference to the holidays. There are hints of Claude Rains Deer, or should that be Clawed Reindeer, and a vague mention of Insanity Claus. That, along with a photo of a sprightly Wavy - in full St. Nick regalia, merrily jumping into a cop car outside San Quentin for protesting the death penalty - is all the information we have. Not to be missed!
Best known to millions as the inspiration for a Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor - ‘I am an activist clown and former frozen dessert,’ says Wavy - it is through his good work on behalf of the planet and its least fortunate residents that Wavy Gravy has achieved his own brand of sainthood.
His friend and satirist Paul Krassner has called him ‘the illegitimate son of Harpo Marx and Mother Teresa.’ Wavy says, ‘Some people tell me I'm a saint, I tell them I'm Saint Misbehavin'.’ (which is also the name of Michelle Estrick’s critically-acclaimed documentary on Wavy). All performances will benefit Seva Foundation and Camp Winnarainbow.”
______________________________________
The Hard Nut
presented by Mark Morris Dance Group
Thursday-Sunday, December 20-23 - final weekend
Thursday-Friday 7:30PM, Saturday 2:00PM and 8:00PM, Sunday 3:00PM
Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley
see website for ticket details
http://calperformances.org/performances/2012-13/holiday/mark-morris-dance-group-hard-nut.php
http://markmorrisdancegroup.org/performances/614
http://calperformances.org/visit/venues/zh.php
“A swirl of dancing snowflakes... a heartwarming Waltz of the Flowers... a hilarious and slightly skewed family holiday party! Be part of this popular Bay Area holiday tradition as Mark Morris's classic The Hard Nut - a retro-modern take on the beloved Nutcracker tale - returns to Zellerbach Hall. The seasonal favorite has enchanted audiences for more than 20 years, and still has the power to delight.“
______________________________________
The Golden Girls: The Christmas Episodes
7th Annual All Drag Xmas Exdrag-a-ganza
Thursday-Sunday, December 20-23,
Thursday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 7:00PM
playing through December 30
Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street, San Francisco
$30
http://goldengirlssf.eventbrite.com
http://www.victoriatheatre.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature&v=JH0pd3q6pNU
“The San Francisco Golden Girls All Drag Smash Hit is back for The Holidays.
The popular all-drag production of the popular ‘80s sitcom features San Francisco drag personalities, Heklina, Cookie Dough, Matthew Martin and Pollo Del Mar; as TV’s favorite Miami retirees Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche and Rose.
Manuel Caneri and Laurie Bushman also guest star.”
______________________________________
Nature and Soul Retreat for Winter Solstice
with Jan Edl Stein, MFT
Friday, December 21, 9:30AM-4:00PM
Green Gulch Farm and Zen Center, 1601 Shoreline Highway, Muir Beach, 415-383-3134
$118 early registration up to two weeks before the event, $140 within two weeks of the event
http://www.holosinstitute.net/nature-soul-day-retreat.htm
http://www.holosinstitute.net/people/Jan.htm
http://www.sfzc.org/ggf
“Nature and Soul: A day of retreat where nature mirrors our inner landscape
This seasonally offered retreat is a day of renewal and rediscovery, as we open ourselves to the land around us in addition to the landscapes within us. This is a deeply experiential daylong retreat for restoration of health, psyche and spirit, offering a renewal of the soul's intention and a re-connection with the elements of nature that support us. We will slow down and take in the beauty that surrounds us and let nature reflect the shapes and patterns that are held in the psyche.
The day is a combination of indoor experiences that involves guided meditation and inner journey process and outdoor, land-based contemplative practices. The experience as a whole is an embodied example of eco-therapy. Each retreat day reflects themes of the season in the meditations, journeys and our approach to the elements we discover in nature.
No previous experience is necessary.
The retreat takes place in the beautiful setting of Green Gulch Farm and Zen Center, with its splendid coastal range flora, meandering gardens, Japanese architecture, and easy walk to the beach. An organic, vegetarian lunch (included in registration fee) is offered to the group in the dining hall. Retreat fees include lunch and refreshments.
Details on how to prepare for the day an a confirmation of registration will be sent one week before the event.
Retreat leader, Jan Edl Stein MFT, is the director of Holos Institute and a licensed psychotherapist with many years of experience in guiding people into deep explorations in their own psyche as they open to deeper levels of perception in the natural world.
Winter Solstice: Honoring the still point within and finding ease with darkness. In this darkest day of the year, we will seek out a place of wisdom that resides in stillness and shadow.”
______________________________________
Winter Solstice Celebration
Friday, December 21, 3:00PM
Three Trees Retreat, 809 F Lewis Road, Watsonville
All are welcome. Donations accepted if you choose
for more information and to RSVP, please contact Jack and Sequoia Cheney at 510-557-4981
http://threetreesretreat.com/index.php
“You are invited to a very special Winter Solstice Celebration honoring this time of less daylight, personal re- evaluation and internal growth. Join us for a day of creation featuring sacred artwork, a traditional sweat lodge purifying body and spirit and inviting new pathways and perspectives.
Come join the community. Bring your hearts, your minds, your hopes and dreams to honor the winter season.
What to bring: Family including children (they will love the art work) layered clothing. Food, water, instruments, and your sense of humor.
For the sweat Lodge:
Men: Shorts and a towel.
Women: Loose dress or shorts and shirt that cover Knees and elbows and a towel.
For all: Bring tobacco wrapped in red cloth as an offering to the Lodge leaders and Fire keepers. Honoring all our relations.
Cost: All are welcome. Donations accepted if you choose
When: Friday, December 21 This will be a two part ceremony.
3:00PM: Sacred Art work
6:00PM: Sweat Lodge - fire starts at 5:00PM
3:00PM We will have a brief ceremony around the fire welcoming winter and inviting the blessing of the 7 directions, followed by sacred art work. We will be making Death and Life Arrows from colored string, shells, feathers and natural items found at the ceremony site. This ceremony is based in prayer and intention. We thoughtfully create art objects that represent what we want in our lives.
Death arrows embody the those things we wish to release or leave behind in the upcoming season. As the end of the Mayan Calendar is here... what are you releasing as we move into a new vibration?
Life arrows embody those things we wish to invite and set intention for in the coming season and year.
6:00PM Traditional Sweat Lodge - fire starts at 5:00PM
8:30-9:00PM: Community potluck meal
Call in the Magic...
Join us as we are reminded of our connection to all of Mother Earth's sacred elements and the privilege of our existence as spiritual creators.”
______________________________________
Winter Solstice in Muir Woods
Friday, December 21, 3:00-8:00PM
Muir Woods, 1 Muir woods Trail, Mill Valley
Free
http://californiarevels.org/calendar
http://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm
http://www.pelicaninn.com
“Solstice is at 11:12AM UTC, 3:12AM PST, but our celebration will be later that day in the afternoon. It will feature skits and songs followed by the Abbot's Bromley antler dance through Muir Woods.”
______________________________________
Ushering in the New Age of Aquarius
a Yule Celebration facilitated by Oberon Zell Ravenheart and Morning Glory Zell
presented by Sonoma County Pagan Network
Friday, December 21, 7:00PM
Luther Burbank Art and Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa
$3-$5 donation requested, no one turned away for lack of funds
http://www.scpagans.org/yule.html
http://www.oberonzell.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Morning-Glory-Zell-Ravenheart/112898725402834
“Pagans, New Agers, Mayans and Gaeans throughout the world are coordinating a vast global unified Visioning meditation on Winter Solstice of this year to usher in the new Age of Aquarius and catalyze the Awakening of Gaea.
We come together with a common purpose: to heal the pain of separation and transform the world by awakening our planet - our beloved Mother Gaea - into consciousness.
This evening's ritual will be led by Morning Glory and Oberon Zell, who have been preparing for this galactic event for decades. In fact, we have all been getting ready… Have you noticed the changes? Can you feel it happening? Not sure what lies ahead? We invite you to join us in community so that we may greet these changes in our World together. To Rejoice Together!
Oberon Zell has accomplished many things in his long and colorful career. A modern Renaissance man, Oberon is a transpersonal psychologist, metaphysician, naturalist, theologian, shaman, author, artist, sculptor, lecturer, teacher, and ordained Priest of the Earth-Mother, Gaia. Those who know him well consider him to be a true Wizard in the traditional sense. He is also an initiate in the Egyptian Church of the Eternal Source, a Priest in the Fellowship of Isis, and an initiate in several different Traditions of Witchcraft. He holds academic degrees in sociology, anthropology, clinical psychology, teaching, and theology.
Morning Glory Zell is a Witch, Priestess, and Goddess historian with an ever-growing Goddess collection of 300 votive figurines from around the world and throughout history. She is a published poet, songwriter and author. Morning Glory has created ceremonies of every kind and scale, from simple baby blessings and rites of passage, to spectacular events.
Gift Exchange
There will be a gift exchange for those who wish to participate. We encourage you to re-gift treasures that you are willing to pass on to another fortunate soul (please choose something you'd actually like to receive and not last year's fruit cake). Make or bake a special treat or, bring something new (under $10) which is nicely gift-wrapped. If it's gender- or age-specific, please attach a note to that effect.
Potluck Feast
Since our gathering is at the dinner hour, we ask that you bring a potluck dish and/or non-alcoholic brew to share that serves 4-6 people. Let’s treat ourselves to a good meal. Please bring your own place setting. There will be hot water available for tea.
We ask non-members to make a donation of $5-$3 to help us cover operating costs. No one turned away for lack of funds.”
______________________________________
Solstice 2012: 100 Hearts Drumming the Rhythm of Rebirth
Dr. Ginger Mills, John Carosella, and Todd Zimmerman
Friday, December 21, 7:00PM-Midnight
Stillheart Institute, 16350 Skyline Boulevard, Woodside, 650-851-6622
Ceremony $50, Ceremony and Day Retreat $75
http://www.fireflywillows.com/solstice2012
http://www.stillheart.org/index.php/calendar/26/954-Solstice-2012-100-Hearts-Drumming-the-Rhythm-of-Rebirth
“Celebrate our 2012 planetary new beginning and the end of the Mayan Calendar's Great Cycle. This very special event brings 100 hearts together to link what was and what is to be. Join in the power of community and sacred ceremony as we shed our collective past. Drum, Dance and Sing in celebration as we usher in this new age of collaboration and unity. A musical journey to shift and change, the evening will be guided by musicians and sound healers with crystal bowls, sound healing and the power of drums and flutes!
Truly, this opportunity will come only once in your lifetime! Be a part of the Rebirth.
$50 per person. $75 to include an afternoon retreat at Stillheart.
Also, rooms are available at Stillheart if you would like to book a personal retreat around this event.
Questions?: Please contact Dr. Ginger Mills, Vitality Gateway Healing Center 650-369-7304.”
______________________________________
Winter Solstice Ritual
with Labyrinth Circle
Friday, December 21, 7:30PM
Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar Street, Berkeley
Free
for more information, please contact Lauren Renee Hotchkiss at laurhot@gmail.com
http://bfuu.org/events/upcoming-events
“Please join us on the longest night of the year for a Winter Solstice Ritual - on the day of the actual Winter Solstice. We will be celebrating Yule and the beginning of the sun's rise again to its full power. This family-friendly event is for both experienced ritualists and those who want to learn more about the holy day.
Bring potluck snacks and drinks, and a cauldron gift (under $5) if you want to. Blessed Be.”
______________________________________
Celebrate Winter Solstice and Mayan Moon Goddess Ixchel
with Daughters of the Goddess
Friday, December 21, 7:30PM
Oakland location given upon RSVP
$15 newcomer discount/$30 one time exchange
See website for more information and to RSVP
This ritual is for cisgendered women
http://www.daughtersofthegoddess.com/exchange_participation.html
http://www.misssey.org
“The days are changing, growing ever shorter! We marvel at how early the darkness comes to us each night - making its appearance earlier and earlier as the days progress toward the coming High Holy Day. The changes show all around us. The four-legged animals have grown their thick winter coats, the squirrels are running from place to place collecting the last remaining nuts, and only the most dedicated, devoted crickets sing their sweet songs in the evening hours. We give praise and thanks to the dark time and join hands in Sacred Sisterhood as we welcome the return of the Light!
The Winter Solstice is a glorious point on the Wheel of the Year for it is the shortest day and the longest night. We embrace the darkness with open hearts and introspection. Just as the deciduous trees lose their leaves, but stay very much alive, we too move a bit slower, we look within, and we honor the quiet. We know that just as the Wheel of the Year turns, moving our precious Earth into different phases of Her life, so too does the Wheel move our Lives. Now we rest, we let our roots grow, and we sit in Her Winter radiance. As we embrace this darkest evening, we also welcome the Sun which will return tomorrow in small amounts - moving ever toward its full on blaze of Summer Solstice!
As we call out to to the Sun with a warm embrace, we will gather at the altar of Ixchel, the Mayan Goddess of the Moon, Water, Midwifery and Fertility. She is The Cave of Life and She is Lady Rainbow. She is the womb from which life is born ~ and the midwife who assists womyn in childbirth. As Lady Rainbow She creates the rain that cleanse the Earth, readying it for new life. Ixchel has been precious and central to womyn's lives for thousands of years. She hears the prayers of womyn, She heals them, She brings peace into their hearts.
Ten miles north of Cancun, Mexico lies the Isla Mujeres/Island of Women, so named by the Spanish who came upon the island during their explorations of the Mexican region. What they found astonished them, but probably doesn't astonish us: thousands of images and statues of womyn and a Temple to Ixchel! Many womyn also went on sacred pilgrimage in canoes to the island of Cozumel, another island sacred to Ixchel. Here they prayed to Her for their health, the health of their offspring, and the health of their food crops.
As we journey together on this magickal evening, we will be working with powerful energetic and astrological forces. December 21, 2012 is the final day of the Mayan Long Count Calendar, also called The Great Cycle. The Mayan people work with three separate calendars simultaneously: The Long Count Calendar, The Divine Calendar and the Civil Calendar. The Divine Calendar is a 260 day cycle which is used to determine High Holy Days and ceremonies. The Civil Calendar is a 365 day solar calendar which is divided into 18 months. The Long Count Calendar is an astronomical calendar used to track Universal Time. This is a 2,880,000 day calendar and the current cycle began in 3114 BCE. So on this evening, we celebrate the Return of the Sun and the end and beginning of the Great Cycle. With Ixchel at Center, we will move from one phase of spiritual consciousness into the next. We live at a most miraculous time!
Holding and guiding us in this new phase of our lives will be the Capricorn Sun, which reminds us to check in with our responsibilities to family, tribal traditions and life's purpose - resolving to walk forward with integrity and remember our highest goals. The Moon in Aries helps us to be in touch with our Fire - to work with our passions and our tempers to create the change we wish to see in our intimate and larger worlds.
For the altar please bring a white or red candle and any of Ixchel's symbols, such as the rabbit, the jaguar, the rainbow, and the Moon! Also please bring any images that you have of Ixchel! This year, as part of our continued magick to help end human trafficking, we will be tithing to MISSSEY, a local non-profit organization dedicated to motivate, inspire, support, and serve sexually exploited youth in the Bay Area.
Each Winter Solstice we have a Peace Candle Exchange. If you wish to participate in the exchange, please bring a novena candle (tall glass jar candle) decorated for peace! If you have taken the oath of Peacekeeper in our Temple, please come to the ritual prepared to share a few words about what this oath means to you and how it has impacted your experience!”
______________________________________
Fairy Winterland
Friday-Sunday, December 21-23, 12:00PM-7:00PM
Children's Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland
$8 per adult + one child
http://fairyland.org/events-and-performances/annual-events
“In December, Fairy Winterland celebrates the winter holidays of many cultures: Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Diwali, and Chinese New Year. Join us for stories, crafts, a festival of lights, and a visit from Santa.
For one modest admission fee - $8 for each adult and child over the age of 1 - you’ll enjoy:
Performances by our renowned Storybook Puppet Theater
A Festival of Lights Parade each day at 6:30PM
Special holiday storytelling, magic, and entertainment
A daily visit from Santa Claus
Holiday-themed arts and crafts
Unlimited rides
And many more special surprises!
The park is open from noon to 7:00PM during Fairy Winterland (weather permitting).”
______________________________________
Sweet Can Circus presents
Mittens and Mistletoe: A Winter Circus Cabaret
Friday-Monday, December 21-24,
Friday 8:00PM, Saturday 4:00PM, Sunday-Monday 2:00Pm and 4:00PM
Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th Street, San Francisco, 415-826-4441
see website for ticket details
http://www.sweetcanproductions.com/MnM.html
http://www.dancemission.com/performances.html
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/293742
“Back by popular demand - it's the third annual Mittens and Mistletoe: A Winter Circus Cabaret. Come in from the cold, and join our circus family for an hour of glad tidings and cheer! Celebrate winter and the return of light with a light-hearted, charming, and funny variety program suitable for all ages. Produced and directed by San Francisco's beloved Sweet Can Productions, and starring bay area's finest circus artists, you're sure to be enchanted.”
______________________________________
Santastic!
Santa’s Fantastic Musical Revue
Saturday, December 22, 11:00AM and 2:00PM - final weekend
The Retro Dome, 1694 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose, 408-404-7711
see website for ticket details - several packages available
http://www.theretrodome.com/index.php/what-s-on-stage-santastic-2012
http://www.theretrodome.com/index.php/what-s-on-stage-santastic-2012/pricing
“Santa’s Fantastic Musical Revue
For ages 3+
A 45-minute all-singing, all-dancing stage show followed by 60 minutes of interactive Imagination Stations and a Visit with Santa and his Elves.
Each year in Christmastown, Santa hosts a huge holiday party - but when Rudolph takes a detour and can’t get Santa to the stage for showtime, Santa’s favorite show stopping elves save the day by jumping in to play all the roles, keeping the audience entertained while Santa makes his way home. Santastic! wraps up the most beloved scenes and melodies from Rudolph and Frosty to that mean one, Mr. Grinch - all of which are guaranteed to delight even the biggest Scrooge! There’s audience participation and plenty of other holiday cheer packed into this celebration of all things Santa! PLUS, at the end of each performance, the guest of honor makes it snow!
Santastic! features a talented ensemble of triple threat youth performers to tackle Motown, big band, and rock ’n roll versions of popular holiday songs and stories in this 45-minute one-act musical. After each performance, the cast will lead an hour of post-show activities including Photos With Santa and his elves and Interactive Imagination Stations for making holiday cards, cookie decorating and more!”
______________________________________
‘Twas the Night Before Sketchfest
An SF Sketchfest Christmas
Saturday, December 22,
Elf at 12:30PM, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas at 3:00PM,
Scrooged at 5:30PM, Bad Santa at 8:30PM
Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco
http://sfsketchfest.com/x/twas-the-night-before-sketchfest-an-sf-sketchfest-christmas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(film)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmet_Otter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrooged
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_santa
“SF Sketchfest, the people who bring you the San Francisco Comedy Festival, present The Good (Emmet Otter; Elf), The Bad (Bad Santa) and The Humbug (Scrooged) of classic holiday entertainment in a full day of programming at the Castro Theatre featuring special guests,
costume contests and more! A little something for everyone! Events are individually priced or buy the all-day pass for $40!
Elf
10th Anniversary Screening
All Ages! Bring the Kids!
12:30PM, $10
Will Ferrell stars as the lovable and naïve Buddy, raised by an elf at the North Pole, who journeys to New York to meet his estranged human family. He gets a tough and funny lesson about the real world, all the while maintaining his infectious enthusiasm and changing those around him for the better. After all, ‘Smiling is his favorite!’ Rated PG.
SF Sketchfest and The Jim Henson Company Present
Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas
35th Anniversary!
and The Bells of Fraggle Rock
with special guest Dave Goelz
All Ages! Bring the Kids!
3:00PM, $15 Adults, $10 Kids 12 and under
Celebrate Christmas with the whole family at this special screening of Jim Henson’s classic tale about Emmet and Ma, who are poor but loving musical folk in Frogtown Hollow. Emmet Otter will be preceded by a rare chance to enjoy the classic holiday episode of Henson’s beloved Fraggle Rockseries, The Bells of Fraggle Rock. On hand to kick off the afternoon with an introduction will be famed puppeteer Dave Goelz (Boober from Fraggle Rock, Will Possum from Emmet Otter). Rated G.
Scrooged
25th Anniversary Screening
with special guest Bobcat Goldthwait
5:30PM, $15
Bah-Humbug, the Bill Murray way! Scrooged, the dark comic update of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, stars Murray as Frank Cross, a cynical television programming executive visited by three eccentric ghosts on Christmas Eve, who force him to look back on his life, and the one-that-got-away (Karen Allen). Before the screening, special guest Bobcat Goldthwait will be on hand for a discussion and audience Q&A. Rated PG-13.
Bad Santa (Director’s Cut)
with special guests Terry Zwigoff, Tony Cox and Lauren Tom
Featuring Bad Holiday Storytelling presented by Porchlight and Peaches Christ Productions
Recommended for mature audiences
8:30PM, $20
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Terry Zwigoff (Crumb; Ghost World) presents his director’s cut of the darkly comic Bad Santa, the story of conmen (Billy Bob Thornton and Tony Cox) who dress as Santa and his little helper to rob department stores. Pre-show will feature rare clips and photos along with “true bad holiday” stories. Afterward, Zwigoff, Tony Cox (Thornton’s partner-in-crime Marcus) and Lauren Tom (Marcus’s materialistic wife, Lois) will discuss the film. Come dressed in your baddest Santa gear. Rated R.”
______________________________________
A Christmas Carol at McConaghy House
Saturday, December 22, 4:30PM and 7:30PM - final weekend
McConaghy House, 18701 Hesperian Boulevard, Hayward
Tickets are $25. Seating is limited. Call 510-581-0223 for tickets.
http://www.haywardareahistory.org/events/view/166-a_christmas_carol
“A Special Theatre Performance
Don’t miss this unique theatrical experience of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale A Christmas Carol inside the McConaghy House. The audience moves from room to room following actors and musicians as they bring the story to life. This one hour show will combine the telling of Dickens' ghost story with the home’s preserved Victorian-era beauty in a celebration of the Christmas spirit. Join the performers after the show for a merry cup of hot cider.”
______________________________________
Diana’s Grove Winter Solstice Ritual for Women
Saturday, December 22, 5:30PM
dhyana Center Lofts, 186 N. Main Street, Sebastopol
$10-$30 suggested donation. No one turned away for lack of funds.
for more information, please contact Deb Zygielbaum at ritual@sonic.net
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dianas-Grove/310054726846
http://dhyanacenter.com
“Join us as we dance out the old year and the old ways of being, and give birth to the vision of our more perfect future.
Vegetarian potluck dinner follows the ritual. Please bring a prepared potluck dish, utensils, networking materials, and, if inspired, a short, seasonally appropriate offering to share during the ritual.
This is a Dianic Wiccan ritual for women only, and is celebratory and participatory. If you are new or want more information, please contact our High Priestess Deb Zygielbaum at ritual@sonic.net or call Caren Catterall at 707-869-9528 before the day of the ritual.”
______________________________________
Winter Solstice Concert
with Solstice Women’s Vocal Ensemble
Saturday, December 22, 7:00PM
The Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut Street, Berkeley
$15 Adults, $10 Children/Seniors
http://www.solsticesings.com/calendar.html
http://www.finnishhall.com
“Let Solstice's holiday repertoire ease you into the peace and warmth of the season with our first Winter Solstice concert of the year, and consider picking up our brand new holiday recording Winter Solstice (released later this fall) to stuff your stockings with!”
______________________________________
Birthdance 2012
Saturday, December 22, 7:00-11:00PM
Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland
see website for ticket details
for more information, please contact Lindsey Morriss at 808-937-7566 or lindseymorriss@gmail.com
http://citybadger.com/events/2012/december-22/birthdance-2012-oakland
http://birthdance2012-es2.eventbrite.com/?rank=357#
http://birth2012.com
http://humanisthall.net
“Honoring our Birth as a Collective Humanity through Dance, Celebration and Ritual
BirthDance2012 is: An intentional dancing celebration and journey of connection through music, movement and heart coherence marking our birth as Soulized, REALized human Be-ings dedicated to consciously evolving into harmony with self, other and planet. Dancing, breathing, and creating a coherent field for more compassion, peace and joy.
This is part of a global event intending to unite 100 million people for a global Birth Day empowering the movement to birth a new era.
We encourage you to come for the entire event to ride the wave of this cosmic journey!
PROGRAM:
7:00-7:10PM - Opening Circle
7:10-8:00PM - Cosmic Yoga
8:00-8:10PM - Theme of the Day
8:10-9:00PM - Dancing Freedom
9:00-9:15PM - Heart Ritual
9:15-10:45PM - DJ Rhythmystic
10:45-11:00PM - Sound Healing
11:00-11:11PM - Closing Circle
Also:
Food and Elixirs for Purchase
Live Art
Facepainting
Outdoor Fire”
______________________________________
A Witchy Class
Saturday, December 22, 7:00PM (and the fourth Saturday of every month)
Antioch Public Library, 501 W 18th Street, Antioch
Please RSVP - see Meetup page for more information
http://www.meetup.com/a-witchy-class
“Join us for a series of classes about the craft.
You will find a bit of everything; working within ritual space, energy workings, history, ethics - And there's more, there's always more!”
Thanks to Ardys for letting me know about this event!
______________________________________
Women of Windham Hill Winter Solstice Concert
sponsored by The Sacred Stream Foundation
Saturday, December 22, 7:30-10:00PM
San Francisco, exact location given with RSVP
$40 before November 20, $45 at the door
for more information or reservations, call 415-333-1434 or e-mail info@sacredstream.org
https://www.sacredstream.org/General-Resources/News.html
“The Women of Windham Hill gather once again for a Winter Solstice concert at the Sacred Stream. This time it is on the actual solstice! Last year, Barbara Higbie, Lisa Lynne and Liz Story, three of the most popular artists of the Windham Hill music label reunited for this special concert joined by renowned musicians in their own right, George Torterelli and Aryeh Frankfurter. Blending genres, instruments (including Celtic Harp, bamboo flute, piano, violin, acoustic bass and a nyckelharpa) and fine storytelling, this ensemble mesmerizes audiences with their first notes. Join us for this special event and you'll know why the Windham Hill Winter Solstice albums sold millions!
Please note that this concert is in a private home. A reception with the artists follows the concert.”
______________________________________
Night Wakes Dawn/La Noche Despierta El Amanecer
connecting to ancient wisdom to guide us through our endings and beginnings of 2012
presented by Loco Bloco and Brava! for Women in the Arts
Saturday-Sunday, December 22-23,
Saturday 7:00PM, Sunday 2:00PM
Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street, San Francisco
$10-$20 (group and youth discounts available)
http://brava.org/current-shows/current-shows/night-wakes-dawn/#.UNDBFeQ8B8E
http://www.locobloco.org/events.php
“Night Wakes Dawn is a musical, theatrical exploration of the beliefs and prophecies initiated by the Mayan culture surrounding December 21, 2012 and tells a story of how these larger spiritual beliefs and energies are reflected in the lives of families living in the Mission district today.
Featuring original music, choreography and narratives performed by Loco Bloco's Performance Ensemble and Youth Classes.
Loco Bloco is a youth development organization with the mission of promoting San Francisco's youth's healthy transition into adulthood by pairing them with professional artists and engaging them in the creation and performance of music, dance and theater traditions reflecting the cultural diversity of the Americas. Loco Bloco encourages its youth to use multicultural arts forms as a tool for their own empowerment and as a catalyst to help them overcome discrimination and bring about change in their communities.”
______________________________________
Holiday Lego Show
Saturday-Sunday, December 22-23,
and every Saturday-Sunday through January 6
Saturday 10:00AM-4:00PM, Sunday 1:00-4:00PM
Bay Area Family Church, 2305 Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor, San Leandro
$1
http://www.playbuildingbricks.com
“Everybody is welcome to see a Lego winter display this December.
This is a special Lego show. It is a fundraiser for the 7th and 8th grade Principled Academy students. All Proceeds will go to their Washington DC trip coming this spring 2013.
Come and enjoy the display and at the same time support the 7th and 8th graders.
Opening Dates and hours:
December 9, 2012 - January 6, 2013, Every Saturday (10:00AM - 4:00PM) and Sunday (1:00PM - 4:00PM)
Closed all other days
Location:
2305 Washington ave, San Leandro, CA, 2nd floor
Admission: $1 per person
The size of this display is smaller than last summer and there is NO Lego for sale, but there is plenty of Lego to play with!”
______________________________________
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair!
Saturday-Sunday, December 22-23, 10:00AM-7:00PM
and every weekend through December 23
Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, 2600 Geneva Avenue, Daly City
$25.00 - various discounts may apply, and season tickets are available - see website for details
Parking fees are $10.00 per car charged by the Cow Palace
Free shuttle available from Glen Park BART Station
http://dickensfair.com
https://www.facebook.com/DickensFair
http://www.youtube.com/user/DickensFair
http://www.cowpalace.com
"Celebrate the Holiday Season in Victorian London!
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair 2011 garnered splendid reviews! New guests, as well as regular patrons, flocked to the Fair in record numbers. The spirit and good feeling in the streets of our Victorian London was inspiring! We look forward to an even more spectacular Fair this year.
2012 marks the 200th Anniversary of the birth of our progenitor Charles Dickens. Our celebration at the 34th annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair is part of a world-wide recognition of his life and works. Join the party each and every day of this year's Fair! Begin your preparations here.
The bustling streets of London, immortalized for all time by the mighty pen of Charles Dickens, form the living backdrop of your excursion into Christmas Past. You are a living part of a Victorian Christmas card come to life!
A Bay Area tradition since 1970, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair returns to the San Francisco Cow Palace Exhibition Halls for five weekends in 2012, including the Friday after Thanksgiving, from Friday, November 23 through Sunday, December 23, from 10:00AM 'til 7:00PM.
Created by Ron and Phyllis Patterson, the fair is now produced by Kevin and Leslie Patterson and Red Barn Productions, who continue the family tradition of theatrical excellence through authenticity, participation, and playfulness.
Come wander the lanes of Victorian London, as the glow of twilight settles upon the city, with the scent of pine boughs and freshly baked scones floating in the air and the sound of carolers and holiday merrymakers accompanying your stroll.
London is larger - over 120,000 square feet to explore!
Visit shops bedecked with Christmastime finery and filled with unique treasures.
Stop in for a hot toddy or a pint of Lagunitas at Mad Sal's Dockside Ale House, where the low-life hang out and the high-born drop in.
Raise a champagne toast to the holidays at Fezziwig's Warehouse, the most cheerful spot in London.
Enjoy rollicking entertainments on six stages and in the streets.
Feast on fine foods from the British Empire and beyond.
Rest a spell in Cuthbert's Tea House, for a sip of hot tea and cucumber sandwiches or scones.
Experience the joys of Christmas past at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair!”
______________________________________
Holiday Sing-Along With Santa
Saturday-Sunday, December 22-23, 12:00-1:00PM, pictures 1:00-4:00PM
final weekend
Peet’s Coffee and Tea, 1776 4th Street, Berkeley
http://fourthstreet.com/loft31.html
http://www.peets.com
“Holiday Sing-Along
12:00-1:00PM at Peet's
Join us as we sing our favorite holiday carols and hymns with SF City Chorus and Santa. Bring your friends and family for an old fashioned sing-song!
Pictures With Santa
1:00-4:00PM across from Peet's
After singing your heart out at Peet's, follow Santa across the street to take pictures with him. His helper will be there as well.”
______________________________________
Berkeley Artisans Holiday Open Studios
Saturday-Monday, December 22-24, 11:00AM-6:00PM - final week
locations throughout Berkeley - see website for map
free
http://berkeleyartisans.com
“Over one hundred professional artists, craftspeople and galleries at studio buildings in Berkeley, California will open their doors to the public during the 21st annual Berkeley Artisans Holiday Open Studios
.
All manner of fine art and craft will be shown, including blown glass, functional and decorative ceramics, ornaments, Menorahs, lamps and lighting, painted and custom furniture, garden art, floor cloths, one-of-a-kind clothing, textiles, dolls, leather bags, many styles of jewelry, sculpture, photography, paintings, original prints and works on paper, musical instruments, mosaics, work from recycled materials, and artisan food products. All work is handcrafted, and many pieces are one-of-a-kind.
This self-guided tour presents a unique opportunity to meet the artists, to buy original and creative gifts, and to see working craft studios. The art walk gives viewers a glimpse into the creative process, and the opportunity to sign up for classes and workshops. Many studios are in the same building, or are clustered within walking distance.
This much anticipated, popular event is known for the high quality of the work shown. A free Map and Directory is available showing all participants. This event is FREE.”
______________________________________
Wacky Winter Wonderland
at Playland-Not-At-The-Beach
Saturday, December 22 - Tuesday, January 1, 10:00AM-5:00PM
(Closed December 25)
Playland-Not-At-The-Beach, 10979 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
see website for admission details
http://www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org/calendar_01.html
“Playland-Not-at-the-Beach is open every weekend and most holidays, but for this last week of the year, we're going to let visitors in Monday through Friday. Join us for special activities and family fun for an entire week, so come see us more than once if you can. A great way to pack a bit more fun into the year before it is over. Whether you are 5 or 105, you deserve to have a bit more fun!”
______________________________________
A Visit from the Clauses
Sunday, December 23, 12:30PM
Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar Street, Berkeley
$1 donation requested, no one turned away for lack of funds
http://www.bfuu.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Santa_Claus
“After service, stay for a very special movie, Mrs. Santa Claus starring Angela Lansbury and meet our very own Ms. and Mr. Claus in person! (Wavy Gravy is invited to play Cynthia Johnson's hubby!) Children may sit on their laps and confide holiday wishes.
This heart-warming, joyous musical is multi-cultural, egalitarian, and not religious. It depicts a wonderful Chanukah celebration in 1910 NY, and Ms. Claus organizes child sweatshop (toyshop) workers like Mother Jones did, as well as helping Suffragettes.
Everyone welcome! Special treats for all ages from young to elder!”
______________________________________
Spiral Yule
Sunday, December 23, 3:00-8:00PM
BFUU Main Hall, 1924 Cedar Street, Berkeley
http://www.thespiralpath.org/calendar/view_entry.php?id=314&date=20121223
“Join members of the Fellowship of the Spiral Path as we celebrate the solstice at BFUU! Children especially welcome.”
______________________________________
Tea and Tarot
with Charlie London and Chas Bogan
Sunday, December 23, 4:00-6:00PM, and the fourth Sunday of every month
The Mystic Dream, 1437 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, 925-933-2342
Donations accepted to cover cost of tea
http://www.themysticdream.com
“Tarot lovers of every skill level will enjoy Tea and Tarot. Each month we will explore a new facet of working with the cards, examining multiple meanings, layouts, and learning how to express our insights with others.”
______________________________________
Tea and Chanting with Rabbit
No chanting this month - join us next month! Tuesday, January 22
http://www.sacredwell.com/classes-events
______________________________________
CAYA Fun For Everyone: Snowshoeing At Donner Lake Memorial State Park
Saturday, January 5
for more information, please contact Cross Sidhe at cayafunforeveryone@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/groups/CAYAFunForEveryone
Cross Sidhe says:
“Love the snow? Always wanted to see snow? Want to learn to snowshoe for free? Then come and join Caya Fun For Everyone’s first snow trip!
Snowshoeing is fun and easy. If you can hike you can snowshoe. That simple!
If you do not own snowshoes and poles then message me for rental info.
Cross country skiers are most welcome!
We will be leaving Crockett around 6:00AM. Crash overs can be arranged. We will be arriving at Donner about 9:00AM or later. We will be shoeing around the lake till we get to a mutual half way point. Afterwards we can sit back, take in the view, and play in the snow.
There will be no set time to go home.
I have three seats open in Hecate. Hecate is a 4x4 with severe weather tires. I do have chains and de-icer. If you are planning on meeting us there please have tire chains or cables. I have de-icer for your windshield wipers upon request.
Please help with gas of $25. If you are down on your luck then send me a private message.
If you are interested in coming or driving please message me. All seats will be confirmed.
For more CAYA Fun for Everyone trips and happenings. Please join the Facebook page
or send an e-mail to: cayafunforeveryone@gmail.com
Blessed Be!
Cross Sidhe”
______________________________________
Shamanic Journeys for Interfaith Mystics
with Katrina Leathers
Sunday, January 6, 3:00-5:00PM
El Cerrito, exact location given upon registration
Sliding scale $15-$25, limited to 6 people
to register, please contact Katrina Leathers at katrinaleathers13@gmail.com
http://onecircleministry.com/onecircleministry.com/Offerings.html
“Shamanic journeys have been practiced around the world for millennia, in our search for connection to the invisible forces of our world. Whatever your spiritual orientation, the shamanic journey can be a means to explore non-ordinary levels of reality, and make connections in that realm. This direct experience is a powerful source of teachings, guidance, and healing.
We will meet in a small group, in my office in the El Cerrito hills. You will learn the basics of shamanic journeying, and how you can integrate journeying into your own spiritual routine. We will spend about a third of our time in the journeys, and have plenty of time for personal reflection, sharing and questions.”
Thanks to Lorelei for letting me know about this event!
______________________________________
Have a Fantastic, Rhythmic, Healing, New Week!
Molly Blue Dawn
No comments:
Post a Comment