Global Winter Wonderland

Last night my son and I went to Global Winter Wonderland which is at Great America in Santa Clara, CA.  The best part of this festival is the Peking Opera which is playing "Monkey King," directly from P.R. China.  This Peking Opera is on a U.S. 2012 tour and is Presented by China Performing Arts Agency and International Culture Exchange Group, Performed by Peking Opera Theater of Hebei, China.  Also, there were 60 gorgeous, gigantic Chinese lanterns depicting both holiday traditions and global icons.

Fun facts about the Chinese lanterns at the Global Winter Wonderland, 2012:
-Millions of LED light bulbs
-100 tons of various steels
-10 CBM of wood
-85,302 of electrical cables
-200,000 feet of silk materials
-35,000 pieces of recycled small glass bottles
-2,000 pieces of ceramic dining ware

This festival is great for families, as children are enthralled by the lights!  My son did not go on a single ride, though you can purchase a ride ticket for $10.00.   I got him one toy bubble gun which entertained him for 2 hours!  When it broke, we went back to the stand and he was given another one with a smile!  My son and I both enjoyed the Peking opera.  We had a snack and water at Biryani Bowl.

Resources:

Global Winter Wonderland, 2012
www.GlobalWonderland.org
facebook.com/Global.Winter.Wonderland
twitter.com/globalwonderlnd

Dining
Biryani Bowl
www.Biryanibowl.com
510-453-1521

Monkey King - A Peking Opera
Location:  Great America Theatre
Monkey King is about Sunwukong, a magically powerful but extremely mischievous "superhero."  Peking Opera encapsulates Chinese culture, history, literature, music, dance, acrobatics, stage fighting, and acting with the specialty arts of face painting and elaborate costumery.
My four year old son and I both loved it.  The words were spoken in Mandarin with subtitles in English easily seen on the side.  My son enjoyed it without hearing the subtitles.  This also inspired my son to start taking Mandarin classes in the fall!

Bubble Gun
No.0319A
No.0319B
Made in China

Holiday Strawberry Smoothie - This Is Yummy!

We made this yummy smoothie this morning, here is the recipe!

2 cups of plain or vanilla organic yogurt
1 bag of cascadian farm organic strawberries (or any frozen strawberries)
2 Tablespoons of fresh orange juice
1 Tablespoon of agave nectar or honey (I used  cadia organic agave amber nectar)

1.  In blender, place all ingredients.  Cover; blend on medium speed until smooth.
2.  Pour into glasses, serve immediately

Resources:

Cascadian Farm Organic strawberries, 10 oz.
Cadia organic agave amber nectar
Straus Family Creamery European Style organic vanilla nonfat yogurt

Dreaming of Historic Hotels

I've spent weeks getting ready for the holidays, yet I'm still working to create that perfect setting.  While I drink my coffee I dream now of going and staying at a historic hotel!  I like the website www.historichotels.org (NOT .com), because they have some fun choices such as the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs (which I visited a few years ago) and the El Tovar at the Grand Canyon.  It also lists the Queen Mary, where I've never stayed but have visited -- including for a friend's wedding reception.  It was a gorgeous setting for a wedding!

I'm dreaming of sitting in front of a huge, stone, historic fireplace with a hot drink and a good book in my hand.

I grew up in the midwest so when I think of the holidays I can't help but want to see snow drifting outside the window.  When I looked at the historic hotel website this morning I dreamed of staying at the Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri near Branson, Missouri.  A few of the lodging choices there include a knotty pine cottage and a log cabin.



Resources:

www.historichotels.org

Big Cedar Lodge Hotel
Ridgedale, Missouri

Here's a picture from the Big Cedar Lodge website:

Gingerbread House Kits

A bit more advanced than the prepared ginger bread house cookie kit (Dancing Deer box shown here):

is the Superstone Gingerbread Mold from Sassafras:

The mold itself has been discontinued by Sassafras.  You can sometimes find them on eBay and via other online resale resources.

Rather than prepared cookies, it came with gingerbread cookie mix.  You make the mix and then put it into the mold:

We're looking forward to using the gingerbread house mold soon...

Trader Joe's Gingerbread House Kits

Trader Joe's Gingerbread Making Kit box kits have everything needed to make Gingerbread houses!  They were easy and fun (you can make the house easily with your loved one or with your little one)!

Here's our house:

Resources:

Trader Joe's Gingerbread Making Kit

Stained Glass and Other Classes at Studio One in Oakland

The Studio One Art Center 365 45th Street in Oakland, CA offers classes in vocational and expressive arts.  This is a city-run program dedicated to the studio arts instruction for people of all ages.  It provides high-quality and hands-on art experiences for both children and adults - could be a fun date!  This studio has been offering classes workshops and labs since 1948.  They also offer Family Days, open houses, and art receptions.

Classes offered include the following:

-Ceramics
-Flower Arts,
 Stained Glass
-Bead Making,
-Painting,
-Mixed Media,
-Sculpture
-Glass fusing
-Jewelry
-Cartooning
-Photography
-Dance
-Life Drawing
-Calligraphy

Resources:

Studio One Art Center
365 45th Street
Oakland, CA
www.studiooneartcenter.net
(510) 597-5027

Victorian Christmas in Nevada City, California

News Alert!  Nevada City's famed Victorian Christmas event is this coming Sunday, December 23rd from noon to 6:30pm.  Nevada City has hosted its Victorian Christmas since 1978.  The event includes shopping, singing, and feasting.

[Picture from the Nevada City Chamber website.]

Nevada City is a beautiful small town in Northern California Gold Country.  Here's a link to a site that provides a virtual tour of Nevada City.

Here's a link to the schedule for the Victorian Christmas event.

Highlights include music all day.  A strolling drama group from 2-3.  Three different dancing groups from 2-3 (The Highland Dancers; Thunderfoot Cloggers; and Desmond Irish Dancers).  A show by the Nevada County Magicians Guild from 3-4, and "Peter the Magician" from 5:30-6:30.  A "Locomotion Circus" from 7-8:30, and Desmond Irish Dancers again from 6-7.  Lots to do!

Ever dream of having a fairytale wedding?

Have you ever dreamed of having a fairytale wedding?  Consider the place that inspired Walt Disney to follow his dreams to create Disneyland!

-whimsical sets
-ten acres of beautifully tended gardens
-colored fairy lights
-a nighttime stroll in this urban oasis is magical


Resources:

Children's Fairyland
699 Bellevue Avenue
Oakland, CA  94610-5055
www.fairyland.org
Magique Events
Contact Midge Walterhouse 510-410-6002
www.magiqueevents.com

Hubba Hubba Review at the Uptown, Oakland, CA

Every Monday in Oakland, CA at the Uptown there is a burlesque Hubba Hubba Review.  On New Year's Eve there is a full review.  Sounds like fun!