Baby, It's Cold Outside!
By: Lesley White-Buefort, Travel Writer
The retail world seems to have a calendar that moves at light speed. I have just begun to accept the fact that summer is gone, at least until next year, but ALREADY store displays and television programming seem to have been taken over by Christmas! Thanksgiving seems to have been bypassed altogether!
Whether you observe Christmas, Hannukah or Kwanzaa, the holiday season will arrive, whether you are “ready” for it or not. We can choose to pretend it does not exist – though that may prove to be an exercise in futility. The one thing we cannot avoid here in New England is WINTER! Meteorologists try to predict how many snowstorms, how many inches of snow, and how many record-breaking cold days we will have – usually with a lot of room for error. My suggestion – ignore the cold temperatures, bundle up in those new winter boots and that toasty fur-lined leather coat and enjoy the TON of winter and holiday activities throughout our area!
If you have a knack for balancing on two thin blades of metal and spinning around ice rinks, then New England is a perfect place for you! There are opportunities for ice-skating all around us. If you lack the skills or the skates, that is not a problem! Many facilities can provide you with rental equipment or classes to get you up and running. If the brisk outdoors is your idea of fun, several New England Farms offer sleigh rides – providing there is sufficient snowfall. An accompaniment of hot cocoa always helps to keep you toasty!
If, like me, you practice the fine art of avoiding the cold, nearly every corner of New England offers indoor entertainment and holiday fun! Boston’s landmark jazz venue, Sculler’s presents a full line-up of contemporary and traditional jazz. On December 6, British Guitarist Peter White takes to an intimate stage with a Christmas performance, and Boston non-profit OrigiNation Inc., known for their dynamic and innovative dance and theatrical programs, presents their annual Kwanzaa Concert on December 16th and 17th at Roxbury Community College. If you are in the mood for a hip-hop holiday – BalletRox reprises their FAMOUS Urban Nutcracker for the 15th year!
Providence’s Festival Ballet presents a Christmas favorite – the ever-timeless Nutcracker runs through December 11. Newport’s mansions are the perfect place to get a glimpse of Christmases past – purchase a pass and see the mansions in their holiday splendor. You may choose to postpone your drive to Newport until February for the Newport Winter Festival – activities include Beatlemania and the Sam Adams Chili cook-off.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s Players’ Ring Theater present their twist on a Christmas classic – Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is always a crowd pleaser! Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth offers holiday strolls, opera broadcasts and films, and most of all, great shopping! The Boston Globe calls this annual event “one of the Top Ten Things not to miss in New England”.
Billings Farm & Museum in Vermont is the perfect setting for a traditional Christmas. They are also the site of the 2011 Woodstock Vermont film series. Find a cozy inn in the area for dining and relaxation and you have all the ingredients for a perfect romantic getaway!
Whatever you celebrate, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa to you and your loved ones!
More information about these groups and events can be found at the following websites:
Theater Events
Festival Ballet Providence, The Nutcracker: http://www.festivalballet.com/v2/nutcracker_story.php
Players Ring Theatre - http://www.playersring.org/
Ice Skating
Boston Skating - http://www.bostonfrogpond.com/
Maine Public Skating - http://familyice.org/publicskating
New Hampshire Ice skating -http://www.rinktime.com/skating_rinks/nh/new_hampshire_skating_rinks_arenas.cfm
Live entertainment
Sculler’s Jazz Club - http://www.scullersjazz.com/attractions/detail.htm?id=1089
Origination Inc, Annual Kwanzaa Concert- http://www.originationinc.org/calendar.htm
Festivals
Newport Winter Festival - http://www.newportevents.com/winterfest/
Destinations
Newport Mansions - http://www.newportmansions.org/events/christmas-at-the-newport-mansions
Portsmouth, NH, Vintage Christmas- http://vintagechristmasnh.org/about/
Billings Farm- http://www.billingsfarm.org/
Charities
East End House Toy Drive - http://www.eastendhouse.org/news-events-and-information/events/holiday-toy-drive-0
