Thursday, December 24
This holiday season, the Krampus is trying to steal first place as the grumpiest anti-Santa, but he's gonna have to get in line. For a few more days, local audiences have a chance to see the monster of all holiday monsters, Dr. Seuss' Grinch, in the Fort Lauderdale premiere of the cumbersomely titled touring production Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical. You know the story: On Christmas Eve, the bitter Grinch steals all the presents and holiday feasts from the merry residents of Whoville, expecting them to mourn the loss of their material possessions but receiving only love from his fraternal neighbors, who display that Christmas is about more than gifts. Lesson learned, heart grown, happy ending. Elaborate sets and colorful costumes bring the fairy tale to wicked and vibrant life
The iconic song "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," from the original Grinch TV special, joins nine other numbers, most written
Stop your grinning, and drop your linen. It's Christmastime, and things are about to get naughty in Broward County. If the holidays typically mean spending time with your family, then it's obvious you haven't hung out at Blondies in Fort Lauderdale. From Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, party the night away at Blondies' Naughty & Nice Party before going home to do the family thing, and then come back to do it all over again. From 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, get down with some Santa shot specials and free pool. And you know you want that free swag. Get some free koozies with each bucket of beer and free keepsake beer cups. Then, on Christmas Day between noon and 3 p.m., settle down with $3 mimosas and bloody marys. If you missed the free koozies and beer cups, there are more to be had. And since it's Christmas, you get to hang out with Santa Claus and snag a couple of free photos with him. It may be a family day, but that doesn't mean you can't have it on the beach.
Let the festivities begin. Blondies
Friday, December 25
The holidays are a magical time, from the lights on the house to a tree decorated with shiny ornaments hovering over a mountain of lovingly wrapped gifts. The stockings are hung by the, err, AC register with
The Christmas Day Brunch will take place from noon to 3 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom Foyer on Friday. The cost is $125 per adult, $39 per child (children ages 5 to 12). Reservations are required. Visit ritzcarlton.com, or call 954-302-6430.
Most Christian holidays are built on top of existing pagan celebrations. Easter started as a Spring Equinox commemoration. Christmas is the same, and the truth is, it's been about consuming food. Throughout most of Europe, December was
The eatery opens at 11 a.m. Festivities kick off at 6 p.m. Tsukuro is located at 225 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Inner Circle members receive 20 percent off their total bill and get a special fortune cookie with a gift to use in the new year. For membership, visit woobox.com. Call 954-523-1407, or visit tsukurofl.com.
The list of reasons you should keep or take up running during the holidays is practically endless — but stress release and warding off the holiday pounds are two of the best. It's also a good way to get a jump on those New Year's resolutions and — in Delray Beach anyway — it's a great way to meet new people. Though running is generally a solitary sort of activity (and sometimes that can be one of its best features), it doesn't always have to be. The folks at the Delray Beach Running Co. don't just want to sell you shoes; they want to build a happy, healthy community of pavement pounders. In addition to classes and workshops, they host weekly and monthly runs, some of which even end in drinking beer. The second-annual Christmas Day Fun Run ends in
The run sets out Friday at 7 a.m. sharp from (and returns to) the Delray Beach Running Co. store at 20 W. Atlantic Ave., Suite 101, Delray Beach. Call 561-270-7622, or visit rundelraybeach.com.
Saturday, December 26
It's not an easy accomplishment to channel both the folksy, observational commentary of a Seinfeld and the confrontational, cuss-filled approach of a Chris Rock. But Kevin Hart has been threading that
Hart performs at 8 p.m. Saturday at Hard Rock Live, located at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood. Tickets cost $70 to $150. Call 800-937-0010, or visit myhrl.com.
Oh boy. The Force has woken up, and with
B.H. Project's "Star Wars" takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday at Jump the Shark, 810 NE Fourth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-667-4126, or visit facebook.com/jumpthesharkevents.
Sunday, December 27
Often regarded as one of the world's most recognizable ballets (second only to The Nutcracker), Swan Lake has been performed in more than 25 countries in more than 150 versions since its premiere in Moscow in 1877. Still, our immediate, knee-jerk connection to it is through a Natalie Portman versus Mila Kunis frenemies treatment of Black Swan. Thanks a lot, pop culture and dwindling arts and theater department school budgets! If you want to get a little closer to the original ballet based on Russian folklore and German legend of a young prince who attempts to break the evil spell set upon the swan maiden, there is a unique opportunity Sunday afternoon when the State Ballet Theater of Russia brings the full-length ballet of Swan Lake in four acts to Parker Playhouse. Founded by former prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater Ballet Maya Plissetskaya, the State Ballet Theater of Russia presents this full-scale production with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.
Showtime is set for 3 p.m. Sunday at Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $31.50 to $61.50. Call 954-462-0222, or visit parkerplayhouse.com.
South Florida has always been a haven for local, budding music. Thanks to restaurants turned venues such as Dada, Kreepy Tiki, and Gigi's, there are always music-packed events that span multiple genres. An unexpected location, Topeekeegee Yugnee Park (otherwise known as T.Y. Park) is also an impromptu music venue as well, as local musicians of all levels come together to participate in a jam sesh. Hosted by South Florida Flow Jams, the event is called South Florida's Monthly Spin Jam and occurs during the last Sunday of every month. The
South Florida's Monthly Spin Jam is from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday. T.Y. Park is located at 3300 N. Park Road in Hollywood.