Take a break from trimming the tree, hanging the lights and fighting with your in-laws about who’s hosting Christmas dinner. Let someone else do all the work while you check out some of the area’s premier holiday events.
EM’S PICKS:
» Remembering Bing: Not only did this man have a velvety voice capable of melting hearts, he wasn’t bad looking either. The Chesapeake Arts Center will present “Remembering Bing,” a holiday special that celebrates Bing Crosby’s Hollywood domination. Singer/actor Jamie Zemarel portrays the crooner in this cabaret musical revue. Details: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park; $15 to $18; 410-636-6597.
» Plaid Tidings: I’m a little sick of all the “Christmas classics” — nutcrackers and light shows and “Messiahs.” OK, a lot sick. Which is why I’m so glad that Toby’s Dinner Theatre Columbia is performing “Plaid Tidings,” a charming, witty musical that’s perfect for those weary of the same old holiday stuff. The Plaids, a 1950s singing quartet who perish in an unfortunate Catholic school girl bus accident, return from the afterlife to perform a myriad of holiday classics. Details: Various times through Jan. 4 at Toby’s Dinner Theatre Columbia, 5900 Symphony Woods Road, Columbia; $32.50 to $51; 1-800-888-6297.
JESS’ PICKS:
» Stoop Holiday Hoopla: The phrase “holiday high jinks” usually makes me vomit. But in the hands — or rather mouths — of seven Stoop Storytellers such as cartoonist Kevin “KAL” Kallaugher and Mayor Sheila Dixon, their true, personal stories of holiday high jinks should amuse, entertain or at the very least make you feel better about your own personal lows during the most wonderful time of the year. Details: 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore; $20; 410-783-8021; www.stoopstorytelling.com.
» MICA Art Mart: If you pride yourself on finding the one-of-a-kind treasures to shower on friends and families during the holidays or tuck away to give as impromptu gifts throughout the year, you should go to the Maryland Institute College of Art’s second annual Art Mart. The four-day sale offers illustrations, paintings, prints, posters, sculptures, mosaics, stationery, T-shirts, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, books, toys and wrapping paper designed and created by more than 200 MICA students, faculty or staff members. Details: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday; MICA’s Brown Center’s Leidy Atrium and Falvey Hall lobby, 1301 Mount Royal Ave., Baltimore; free; 410-225-2300.
Nothing says I love you like sock monkeys
Cancer, AIDS, tapeworm — my older sister diagnosed me with them all from second to fourth grade. And she continued the “fun” throughout my childhood by replacing fairy tales with thoughts of evil baby monkeys crawling all over me at night in the bedroom we shared. So, of course, I’m going to the American Visionary Art Museum’s Sock Monkey Saturday, where I’ll make tiny monkeys to hide around my sister while she sleeps when she comes home for Christmas. Saturday’s free monkey-making starts at 11 a.m. All you need are two pairs of clean socks. The Visionary at 800 Key Highway in Baltimore will provide the rest — instructions, thread, stuffing, sewing needles, etc. For more info, visit www.avam.org. – Jessica Novak
The Dr. Phil of cocktails
If you’ve ever frozen with panic wondering whether it’s better to shake or stir a cocktail, then tonight’s event may prove helpful. “Mistology: The Science Behind the Cocktail” explores the entertaining and educational side of cocktail creation.
“We try to take the intimidation that people have of hosting that cocktail event at home,” said Tim Laird, chief entertaining officer at Brown-Forman Corp., a global marketer and producer of wine and spirits. “Some people are still intimidated by mixology, so we have our course to try and take the fear out of it.”
During tonight’s 7 o’clock event at the Walters Art Museum, Laird will unlock age-old drink-mixing mysteries, like how champagne keeps its carbonation, why bartenders always pour alcohol first, and if garnishes really influence the taste of a cocktail.
Thanks to lady-killer James Bond, “The question — shake or stir? — comes up quite a bit,” Laird said. “What’s funny about that is we give a scientific answer, but you can probably start the biggest argument with bartenders just by asking them what their preferred method is.”
And what’s the CEO’s favorite drink? “The one that I have in front of me at the time is the one I enjoy most.” Laird said.
Tickets to the event are $10 and benefit the museum. For more info, visit www.thewalters.org. – Emily Campbell
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At least Army looked tough
Christmas came early this year for the Army and Navy football teams — in the form of new uniforms designed by a little-known sports apparel company by the name of Nike. Unfortunately, they’re only wearing these special-edition threads once. Navy’s look changed, but its performance didn’t, as it defeated Army, 34-0, for its seventh straight victory over the Black Knights. Pan and Praise’s Emily debates with The Examiner’s business reporter, Andrew Cannarsa, about the new attire.
Emily: Isn’t the exciting part of the Army-Navy game the intense rivalry of the teams? I have friends who have served in the Navy and the Army, and they all insist on screaming their unit’s motto until they are blue in the face. It seems pointless to debate uniforms. But here goes. I really liked Army’s faded camouflage pants and helmets. The replacement of the name plates with “DUTY. HONOR. COUNTRY.” seems appropriate, given the teamwork that all military units need to keep America safe. Navy kind of got a raw deal — I didn’t see much difference (apparently they slapped on a few patches and ran a stripe down the pants). Then again, the game was a shutout. So they probably aren’t complaining.
Andrew: The game is without a doubt a tremendous source of pride to everyone serving in both branches, their families and friends and Americans across the country, especially during war. There probably isn’t a cooler atmosphere in college football — Army-Navy ranks right up there with Michigan-Ohio State and Alabama-Auburn.
As far as the uniforms go, Army’s use of camouflage on their helmets, pants and jersey numbers was brilliant. It made Army look tougher on the field, even though the Midshipmen ran past the Black Knights as if they truly couldn’t see them. I liked the subtle touches on Navy’s uniform, and Nike knows it’s the little things that die-hard fans go crazy over when purchasing “collector’s” gear like these uniforms.
Army might have won the style points, but Navy brought the substance on the field.
