Despite the lack of snow and healthy, functional families, even South Floridians can't escape associating Christmas with some Rockwellian image of small-town America. Lights strung up along Main Street. Ice skaters gliding past the local fishing hole, now frozen over in the heart of winter. Carolers bundled in scarves and gloves, toting their songbooks from house to house to spread Christmas joy.
It's enough to make a body nauseated. Unless you're the sort of person who likes that kind of thing. And there's nothing wrong with that, you sap. Perhaps your best chance to step into a Rockwell painting takes place in Delray Beach this Thursday, when that town's regular "Art & Jazz on the Avenue" event gets a holiday face-lift.
All the galleries, gift shops, and bands that make up a typical Art & Jazz on the Avenue are still in place.
But along with all the usual happenings, you can also catch the lighting of Delray's 100-foot Christmas tree at 5:15 p.m., together with ice skating, horse-and-carriage rides, and a holiday carousel. Ol' Norman couldn't have painted anything better. Admission is free. Call 561-279-1380. -- Dan Sweeney
The Biz 101
Everything you wanted to know about recording
TUE 12/16
So you've been gigging around town, getting rave reviews in all the local music press (as if they know anything, yeah?), but that final pinnacle of success -- the recording contract -- never seems to materialize.
Well, what did you expect? That it would just land in your lap out of the blue? Sounds like you need "Record Business 101." The seminar, taught by Bill Thies, a man with 15 years of major-label production and negotiation experience, takes place at the Hyatt Pier 66 (2301 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale) at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Admission is $150, with band and group rates available, but just think how low that price is given the million-dollar recording contract you'll no doubt have in a matter of days! Call 386-428-2046.
