Twin Cities Calendar for December 2007

S	M	T	W	Th	F	Sa
						1 AIDS Day Craft & Gift Fair Craft Fair - JBBC Craft Fair & Fudge Gopher Bball M Gopher Hockey W Holiday Art Fair Macalester Choir MCAD Art Sale Moscow Ballet Reindeer Run Santa Run Tomtenissefrukost
2 Vikings Acapella Choir Christmas Carol John Trones	3 Gopher Bball M Modest Mouse	4 Hanukkah Winds of Christmas	5	6 Taste of Many Cultures	7 Jingle Ball Macalester Symphony Ronnie Milsap	8 Gopher Bball M Holiday Art Sale Holiday Festival Klingon Christmas Carol Monster Trucks New Standards Santa Claus Breakfast Sara Renner Christmas St Johns Concert Youth Symphonies
9 Vikings at SF Hanson Skandia Fest	10 Lemonheads Misfit Christmas Park HS Choir	11	12 Gopher Bball M Handel's Messiah Kenny G	13 St. Lucia Day Handel's Messiah Holiday Pops	14 Real Christmas Traditions & Sirens	15 Abbey Invitational Gymnastics Boston Brass Xmas Kantorei Choir Lucia Celebration Santa Pub Crawl Scotch Tape Svenkarnasdag Girls Choir Trans-Siberian Orchestra
16 Christmas at First Fair to Midland Handel's Messiah Kantorei Choir Michael McDonald Misfit Christmas South of the River Christmas Wu-Tang Clan	17 Vikings Holiday Pageant	18	19 Clay Aiken	20 Uof M semester ends Double Up Van Morrison	21 Powwow Rose Ensemble	22 1st Day of Winter (yeah, right) Four Letter Lie Gopher Bball M Rose Ensemble
23 Vikings Handel's Messiah Messiah Sing-Along Rose Ensemble	24	25 Christmas Christmas Run	26	27	28 Winter Waddle	29 Kwanzaa
30 Vikings at Denver	31 New Year's Eve BoDeans Bret Michaels Crystal Ball Louie Anderson New Years at Como Zoo Sinbad Trampled by Turtles		Nov 23-Dec 23 - Holidazzle, Minneapolis Nov 25, Dec 2, 9, 16 - Pet Photos with Santa, Mall of America Nov 29-Dec 1 - craft show - Landmark Center, St. Paul Nov 29-Dec 2 - music - St. Olaf Christmas Fest, St. Olaf College, Northfield Nov 29-Dec 2 - play - Gifts of the Magi, Concordia Academy, Roseville Nov 29-Dec 16 - play - Of Mice And Men, Park Square Theater Nov 29-Dec 2, 6-9, 13-16, 20-23 - play - Fat Man Crying, Mpls Theater Garage Nov 30-Dec 1 - craft show - Midtown Global Market, Chicago & Lake, Mpls Nov 30-Dec 1, 2, 7, 8 - play - Christmas Window, North Heights Lutheran Church Nov 30-Dec 2 - gymnastics - Peppermint Twist, Minneapolis Convention Center Nov 30-Dec 2 - music - Songs of the Season, North Central University Nov 30-Dec 2 - play - A Christmas Carol, Treasure Island Nov 30-Dec 2 - show - St Paul Ice Fishing & Winter Sports Show Nov 30-Dec 2, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 - play - It's A Meaningless Life, Minneapolis Theater Garage Dec 1-2 - craft fair - Christmas Bazaar, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Osseo Dec 1-2 - craft fair - Holiday Bazaar & Psychic Fair, Lake Harriet Spiritual Center Dec 1-2 - craft fair - JustGiving Holiday Fair, St. Thomas the Apostle Church Dec 1-2 - music - One Incredible Moment, Emmaus Lutheran Church, Bloomington Dec 1-2 - music - St. Olaf Christmas Fest, St. Olaf College, Northfield Dec 1, 2, 8, 9 - music - Welcome Christmas carol contest Dec 1-2, 6-9, 13-16 - play - A Christmas Carol Feast, Harriet Island Dec 1-2, 7-9, 14-16 - play - My Three Angels, Theatre in the Round Dec 1-2, 7-9, 14-16 - craft show - Oakdale Center Dec 1-22 - play - Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Stepping Stone Theater Dec 1-2, 4-16, 18-23, 26-29 - play - A Christmas Carol, Guthrie Theater Dec 1-2, 6-9, 13-16, 20-23, 27-31 - play - Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol Dec 1-2, 5-9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-31 - comedy - Stuck in the Manger with You, Brave New Workshop Dec 1-Jan 21 - show - Holiday Flower Show, Marjorie McNeely Conservatory Dec 4, 8, 14, 19, 21 - basketball - Timberwolves, Target Center Dec 6-30 - play - 1940's Radio Hour, Hennepin Stages Main Floor Dec 7-8 - dance - Hamline Dance Ensemble Showcase, Hamline U. Dec 7-9 - music - Christmas at Northwestern, Northwestern College Dec 7-9 - music - The Blenders - Holiday Soul Tour, Pantages Theatre Dec 7-9 - play - Nutcracker, Concordia University Dec 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 - play - A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd, Mounds Theater Dec 7-9, 13-16, 20-23, 26-29 - play - A Christmas Carole Petersen, Ordway Dec 8-9 - music - Christmas Pops, Lakeville Area Arts Center Dec 8-9 - speedskating - John Rose Open, Roseville Oval - picture Dec 8-15 - music - Lorie Line & Pop Chamber Orchestra, Orpheum Dec 9-10 - music - Winter Concert, Lakeville North High School Dec 11-30 - Sound of Music, Ordway Dec 12-16, 19-23, 27-30 - play - Nutcracker (Not So) Suite, Ritz Theater Dec 14-15 - music - National Lutheran Choir, Bascilica of St. Mary's Dec 14-16 - play - Disney High School - Ice Tour, Xcel Energy Dec 14-16 - play - All Wrapped Up, E.M. Pearson Theatre, Concordia University Dec 14-16 - play - Nutcracker, O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, St. Catherine's Dec 15-16 - play - Nutcracker: The Rat King, Northrop Auditorium Dec 15-16 - play - One Bethlehem Night, Bloomington Jefferson High School Dec 19-20 - music - Clay Aiken Christmas, Orchestra Hall Dec 20-24 - play - Nutcracker Fantasy, State Theatre Dec 21-22 - music - Brenda Lee, Treasure Island Casino Dec 21-22 - play - Bethlehem Revisited, Salem Lutheran Church, Stillwater Dec 21-24, 29-30 - play - Gospel According to Scrooge, Chaska Community Center Dec 24-Jan 1 - St Paul Public Schools winter vacation Dec 24-Jan 4 - Minneapolis Public Schools winter vacation Dec 29-30 - festival - Hmong American New Year, Metrodome Dec 30-31 - comedy - Don Rickles, Mystic Lake

Christmas in the Twin Cities can be found at churches and malls and houses in-between.

Christmas music can also be found through the world-renown St. Olaf Christmas Fest in Northfield on Dec 1st & 2nd. Handel's Messiah is being performed by the Minnesota Orchestra at the Bascilica of St. Mary's on Dec 12th and at the Cathedral of St. Paul on Dec 13th and at Orchestra Hall on Dec 23rd. A Welcome Christmas carol contest is performed by VocalEssence at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater, MN on Dec 1st, Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis on Dec 2 and 9, and Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina, MN on Dec 8th. Rose Ensemble Concerts bring early-American Christmas music to the Church of St. Luke, Basilica of St. Mary, and the Trinity Lutheran Church. Other Christmas music includes the National Lutheran Choir at the Bascilica of St. Mary's on Dec 14th & 15th and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Target Center on Dec 15th and the Jingle Ball with Avril Lavigne at the Target Center on Dec 7th and even more listed above. Plus, you can ring your own bell for the Salvation Army.

Christmas church music can also be found in -
Bloomington - One Incredible Moment at the Emmaus Lutheran Church, 8443 Second Ave S - Dec 1 (7pm) & Dec 2 (4pm)
Burnsville - Let Heaven and Nature Swing at the Faith Covenant Church, 12921 Nicollet Ave - Dec 14 & 15 (7:30pm)
Columbia Heights - Christmas at First at the First Lutheran Church, 1555 - 40th Ave NE - Dec 16 (4pm)
Coon Rapids - Kantorei Choir Christmas Concert at Faith Lutheran Church, 11115 Hanson Blvd NW - Dec 15 (7:30pm)
Eagan - Holiday Concert at the Advent United Methodist Church, 3945 Lexington Ave S - Dec 9 (4pm)
Eden Prairie - Christmas at Woodale Church, 6630 Shady Oak Rd - Dec 7 (8pm), 8 (8pm), 9 (2pm)
Eden Prairie - Juletide at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie, 16515 Luther Way - Dec 16 (3:30pm)
Eden Prairie - Glory of Christmas at Grace Church, 9301 Eden Prairie Rd - Dec 18 (7pm)
Edina - Christmas Concert at the Edina Community Lutheran Church, 4113 W 54th St - Dec 11 (7pm)
Edina - Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis at the Normandale Lutheran Church, 6100 Normandale Rd - Dec 9 (4pm)
Excelsior - Minnesota Boychoir at the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 301 Oak St (County 19) - Dec 15 (7pm)
Forest Lake - Minnesota Boychoir at the Faith Lutheran Church, 886 North Shore Dr - Dec 16 (3pm)
Forest Lake - Christmas Concert at the Maranatha Assembly of God, 247799 Forest Blvd - Dec 16 (7pm)
Golden Valley - Glorious Impossible at the Calvary Lutheran Church, 7520 Golden Valley Rd - Dec 2 (4:30 & 7pm)
Lakeville - An Evening in December at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church, 10658 210th St. W - Dec 1 (7pm) & Dec 2 (6pm)
Lakeville - Christmas Festival at the Christiania Lutheran Church, 26691 Pillsbury Ave - Dec 9 (7pm)
Lakeville - Prepare Ye at Hosanna!, 9600 163rd St W - Dec 8 (7:30pm) & Dec 9 (6:30pm)
Mahtomedi - Star of Wonder at the St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Rd - Nov 30 (6:30pm) & Dec 1 (10am)
Maple Grove - Christmas Concert at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 18500 Cty Road 101 - Dec 15 (7:30pm)
Minneapolis - Bethlehem's All-Church Christmas Concert at Bethlehem Baptist Church (dwntn), 720 13th Ave S - Dec 9 (7pm)
Minneapolis - A Child's Christmas at Central Lutheran, 333 12th St S - Dec 15 (3:30pm)
Minneapolis - Christmas Concert at Calvary Baptist Church, 2608 Blaisdell Ave S - Dec 14 (7pm)
Minneapolis - Christmas Concert at the Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3901 1st Ave S - Dec 20 (6:30pm)
Minneapolis - Christmas Festival at the Basilica of St. Mary, 88 N 17th St - Dec 14 (4:30 & 8pm) & Dec 15 (8pm)
Minneapolis - Christmas of Nations at Central Lutheran, 333 12th St S - Dec 9 (3:30pm)
Minneapolis - Evensong at First Baptist Church, 1021 Hennepin Ave - Dec 16 (6pm)
Minneapolis - Exultate – Tidings of Joy at the Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church, 5011 31st Ave S - Dec 9 (4pm)
Minneapolis - Handel's Messiah at the Basilica of St. Mary, 88 N 17th St - Dec 12 (7:30pm)
Minneapolis - Rose Ensemble Concert at the Basilica of St. Mary, 88 N 17th St - Dec 22 (8pm)
Minneapolis - U of MN Chamber Singers & Concert Choir at the Grace University Lutheran Church, 324 Harvard St SE - Dec 11 (7:30pm)
Minnetonka - Messiah Community Sing-Along at the Ridgewood Church, 4420 Hwy 101 S - Dec 8 (3:30 pm)
Richfield - Hope for Christmas at the Hope Presbyterian Church, 7132 Portland Ave S - Dec 7 (7:30pm)
Roseville - Carol Sing at the Roseville Covenant Church, 2865 Hamline Ave - Dec 17 (7:30pm)
Roseville - Christmas Concert at the Centennial United Methodist Church, 1524 Country Rd C2 W - Dec 9 (3pm)
Roseville - Festival Christmas Concert at the Roseville Lutheran Church, 1215 W Roselawn Ave - Dec 15 (7:30pm)
Roseville - Project Opera Winter Concert at the Roseville Lutheran Church, 1215 W Roselawn Ave - Dec 9 (4pm)
St. Paul - Advent Procession at Saint Paul’s Church on the Hill, 1524 Summit Ave - Dec 2 (4pm)
St. Paul - Christmas Concert at the Saint Paul Apostolic Tabernacle, 207 Lexington Parkway N - Dec 16 (3pm)
St. Paul - Festival of Readings & Carols at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave - Dec 16 (3pm) & Dec 24 (10:45pm)
St. Paul - Handel's Messiah at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave - Dec 13 (7:30pm)
St. Paul - Lyra Baroque Orchestra at the Olivet Congregational Church, 1850 Iglehart Ave - Dec 22 (8pm) (pic)
St. Paul - Rose Ensemble Concert at the Church of St. Luke, 1079 Summit Ave - Dec 21 (8pm)
Stillwater - Rose Ensemble Concert at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 115 N 4th St - Dec 23 (3pm)
Wayzata - A Child's Christmas at the Wayzata Community Church, 125 Wayzata Blvd E - Dec 9 (3:30pm)
West St. Paul - Christmas Concert at the Riverview Baptist Church, 14 Moreland Ave E - Dec 1 (7pm)
Woodbury - Christmas Festival at the Woodbury Lutheran Church, 7380 Afton Rd - Dec 7 & 8 (7:30pm), Dec 9 (4pm)

Christmas High School music can be found at -
Bloomington High School South - Holidays Around the World - Dec 12 (7:30pm)
Central High School - Winter Choir - Dec 13 (7pm)
Eagan High School - Jazz Band Performs at the Wescott Library - Dec 20 (6pm)
Edina High School - Holiday Concert - Dec 11 & 13 (7:30pm)
Hastings High School - Holiday Vocal Concert - Dec 15 (4pm & 7:30pm)
Hill-Murray High School - Christmas Concert - Dec 18 (7pm)
Mounds View High School - Holiday Concert - Dec 18 (6:30pm & 8:30pm)
Park High School - Holiday Choir Concert - Dec 10 (7pm)
Stillwater High School - Holiday Concert - Dec 17 (7pm)
Tartan High School - Holiday Choir Concert - Dec 10 (7pm)
Wayzata High School - Choir Concert - Dec 10 & 11 (7:30pm)
Woodbury High School - Holiday Concert - Dec 17 (8pm)

Saint Lucia music can be heard on Dec 15th at the Lucia Celebration, a Swedish pageant at the Augustana Lutheran Church. And the Svenkarnasdag Girls Choir will be at the Ikea restaurant in Bloomington on Dec 13th from 4-6pm and at Ingebretsen's Scandinavian Gifts in Minneapolis on Dec 15th from 11-1pm.

Christmas plays and ballets are led by A Christmas Carol and the Nutcracker Suite. A Christmas Carol will be at the Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Centennial Showboat, Ordway (Carole Petersen), Treasure Island Casino, University of Minnesota - St.Paul (Klingon), Wigington Pavillion on Harriet Island (Inspecting Carol), and other locations. The Nutcracker Suite will be performed at Concordia University, O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, Northrop Auditorium, Orpheum, Ritz Theater (Not So Suite), State Theatre, and a Nutcracker display is in the downtown Minneapolis Macy's. A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd will be on TBS and at the Mounds Theater in St. Paul. All Wrapped Up dances through Concordia University. Bethlehem Revisited plays the Salem Lutheran Church in Stillwater. Misfit Christmas plays local churches. My Three Angels will be at the Theatre in the Round. One Bethlehem Night plays the Bloomington Jefferson High School.

Christmas comedies include the Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Stepping Stone Theater, Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol at Hennepin Stages Upper Level, Sister's Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of Magi's Gold at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, Stuck in the Manger with You at the Brave New Workshop, and Fat Man Crying and It's A Meaningless Life at the Minneapolis Theater Garage.

Christmas food is at the Tomtenissefrukost (Breakfast with the Elves) at the American Swedish Institute on December 1st. The Santa Claus Breakfast at O'Gara's on December 8th. Christmas dinners mix with Christmas plays through A Christmas Carol Holiday Feast at Treasure Island Casino and A Christmas Carol Feast (Actors Theater of Minnesota) at Wigington Pavillion on Harriet Island and The Christmas Window at North Heights Lutheran Church.

Christmas arts & crafts can be found on Saturday, Dec 1st at the Holiday Bazaar at the Landmark Center in St. Paul, the Roseville Women of Today Craft and Gift Fair at the Roseville Oval, the Craft Fair & Fudge Contest at the Harriet Alexander Nature Center in Roseville, and at the Artists' Circle Holiday Art Fair at the Ramsey Junior High gyms on Summit Avenue in St. Paul. The Minneapolis College of Art and Design - MCAD Art Sale (nothing priced over a thousand bucks) is Nov 30th & Dec 1st. What do you get for that friend whose Aura needs healing? Check out the Holiday Bazaar and Psychic Fair at the Lake Harriet Spiritual Community Center on Dec 1-2nd. Also on Dec 1-2nd, the Christmas Bazaar is at the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Brooklyn Park-Osseo and the JustGiving Holiday Fair is at the St. Thomas the Apostle Church gymnasium. On December 8th, the Stevens Square Center for the Arts has their Holiday Art Sale and the Minnehaha Academy has their Holiday Festival. And at the Oakdale Center, the Gingerbread Show's Craft Show is on Dec 1-2, 7-9, & 14-16th.

Christmas athletics is represented by the Santa Run to benefit legal aid at the Minneapolis YMCA on Dec 1st. Registration is required. Pick up your santa suit after 2pm. The race starts at 4pm. That same December morning, the Reindeer Run takes place at the Lake Harriet bandshell starting at 8:30am. You can do both, if you can finish the Reindeer Run before the start of the Santa Run. You can run around Minneapolis all day. The Santa & Ms. Claus Pub Crawl (What's her first name? Is she the victim of the Noah's wife syndrome -- no first name?) will crawl its way across town with the help of light rail on Dec 15th from noon to 9pm. On Christmas Day you can run around Lake Como in St. Paul for charity. And when the year is done, a skating party, the New Year's Eve Celebration on Ice, is at the Roseville Skating Center on Dec 31st from 2-10pm.

Back on naming Ms. Claus, I propose Nicole, after a character in my novel. So it would be Saint Nick and Nicole Claus.
Don't even start on Kris Kringle, a mispronunciation of Christkindel, which means Christmas gift-bearer.

Christmas plants (and oodles of varieties of poinsettias) can be found at the Holiday Flower Show in the warmth of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park. Snow covered pine trees can be found in both Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Augustana Lutheran Church, 704 11th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Basilica of Saint Mary, 88 N 17th St, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Brave New Workshop, 2605 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave, St. Paul, MN 55102

Clarence W. Wigington Pavilion, Harriet Island, 200 Dr. Justus Ohage Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55107

Guthrie Theater, 818 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Hennepin Stages, 824 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, Como Park, 1225 Estabrook Drive, St. Paul, MN 55103

Mounds Theatre, 1029 Hudson Road, St. Paul, MN 55106

Northrop Auditorium, 84 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Ordway Center, 345 Washington Street, St. Paul, MN 55102

O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, College of St. Catherine, 2004 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105

Roseville Skating Center, 2661 Civic Center Drive, Roseville, MN 55113

Skoglund Center Auditorium, St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfield, MN 55057

State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55402

SteppingStone Theatre, 55 Victoria Street North, St. Paul, MN 55104

Target Center, 600 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55454

Treasure Island Resort & Casino, 5734 Sturgeon Lake Road, Welch, MN 55089