Oh, Xmas Tree

Comments (0) By Jason Budjinski Thursday, Nov 24 2005

Is it that time of year again?

You wont find any Keebler elves in Palm Beach this Tuesday.

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SAT 11/26 Thanksgiving is upon us, and that means one thing — Christmas trees! Wait... already? Well, yes. And lots of 'em too, from the posh streets of Palm Beach to the artful avenues of Delray Beach. Yep, the season is here, and there are plenty of holiday-themed happenings to tide you over till Yuletide. Here are two worth checking out.

Back in the day (the day meaning the 1980s), the National Enquirer's Lantana office was the site of that big-ass, 150-foot Christmas tree. When that came to an end, many a wide-eyed youngster was left wondering if Santa was just a tabloid ruse. Fortunately for the kids hanging around the 100-foot tree at Old School Square (51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach) this Saturday, such holiday horrors never existed. As far as they know, every year has a tree-lighting ceremony, costume parade, music, pumpkin patch, arts and crafts, games, and a Trick-or-Treat Village. The fun starts at 6 p.m. Call 561-243-7922.

Not to be outdone, the Town of Palm Beach brings back Worth Avenue's Annual Holiday Promenade, featuring live bands, choral groups, food and drink, a Santa Claus (er, the Santa Claus), and Nutcracker ballerinas dancing like ornate window displays. The free event takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the corner of Hibiscus and Worth avenues. Call 561-659-6909. — Jason Budjinski

Painted Past

Marshall reflects on his roots

WED 11/30 When Peter Marshall painted a portrait of Jamaican Gov. Gen. Sir Clifford Campbell, the Kingston-born artist had yet to receive formal training. But that didn't stop Marshall's painting from finding a home in the Royal Collection at the King's House. Does that make him a natural? Yeah, you could say that. But it doesn't matter how Marshall learned to paint — his work speaks for itself, from the identity-questioning Three in One to the social realism of Reflections of My Caribbean Past. Now that he's a resident of the States (a local boy, no less), Marshall's here to share scenes from his upbringing. "Reflections of My Caribbean Past" is shown from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at BankUnited (101 N. Clematis St., West Palm Beach). Call 561-228-8854, or visit www.artistshowcase.org.. — Jason Budjinski