The new in town

PHOTOS BY DANNY FULGENCIO

Wandering through airports, malls and crowded streets, Woodrow Wilson High School grad Will Schutze quietly judges people. He asks himself, “What would Scrooge think?” He then finds a way to mock them.

This may seem like cause for concern, but Schutze is busy preparing for his role as Scrooge at NorthPark Center this month.

“Everywhere I go, I’m constantly walking and insulting people in my head, in that playful way, of course,” he says.

Wearing all black, the 30-year-old puppeteer will walk into the puppethouse stationed inside NorthPark Center and put the Scrooge puppet on his hand for his second season. He’ll hurl insults at children and spray them with water as a warning to get off his property. He’ll sarcastically compliment families’ thrifty tendencies, using the raspy old-man voice he has practiced for months.

Schutze will transform into Scrooge 10 times a day for the next month, and each time, he will remember his longtime mentor and East Dallas legend John Hardman, who embodied Scrooge and his disdain of the holidays for nearly four decades. The character created by the longtime neighbor and puppeteer became a holiday icon in Dallas — it’s not Christmas until Scrooge’s sharp tongue begins to thrash, welcoming in the season as only he could.

When Hardman lost his battle to cancer in 2015, Scrooge’s future at NorthPark became murky, until Schutze was asked to take over the role. He already had done a one-week stint at Scrooge when Hardman was in the hospital with pneumonia, so he was familiar with the technical aspects of the show.

But taking on a 38-year legacy of trash talk is no easy task, especially when it’s a constant reminder of what’s missing.

“It’s bittersweet because when I’m doing the show, I’m constantly thinking of John,” Schutze says. “But I find myself laughing at his jokes, and I feel like I can do that.”

Schutze now lives in Charleston, S.C., with his fiancé and cat, but he returns to Dallas twice a year for Scrooge Puppet Theatre and the “World on a String” show at the State Fair of Texas.

Although anxiety crept in before his performances as Scrooge last year, he’s looking forward to seeing the smiles — and maybe a few frowns — on shoppers’ faces this season.

“I think it probably should have been a whole lot of pressure,” he says. “But just the show itself is a lot of pressure when you have an entire audience staring at a puppet on your hand, and your job is to insult them and make them laugh.”

Schutze was first introduced to puppeteering after high school. Hardman’s wife, Patti, was his theater teacher at Woodrow who asked him to work at the “World on a String” show at the fair, another one of Hardman’s projects. Seeing the marionettes hanging from the back room ceiling fascinated him, and Schutze found his niche without even realizing it.

“They didn’t even have to be performing. Just hanging there, they really spoke to me,” he says.

More Seasonal Celebrations At Northpark

Hardman was the catalyst for Schutze’s career, which includes an appearance with his puppet show in Jon Favreau’s 2014 movie “Chef.” He initially moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, but is now a full-time puppeteer in South Carolina. He even creates his own marionettes.

He’s memorized Hardman’s list of comebacks and insults, remembers his advice, but his larger-than-life personality has left the largest impression on Schutze. He says Hardman was performing around the clock, even if he was just sitting at the dinner table with his family and friends.

For the seventh year, Gingertown Dallas brings design, engineering and construction firms together to create a gingerbread village. The live build competition on Dec. 6 benefits the Children’s Craniofacial Association.

“I’ve always wanted to be like that. I’m more naturally shy when I’m not performing,” Schutze says. “And I always kind of think about John when I’m trying to channel that sort of energy and tell jokes and crack people up. He’s an inspiration in all ways.” —ELISSA

Scrooge at NorthPark

CHUDWIN

Monday-Saturday, through Christmas. See northparkcenter.com for dates and times.

Christmas In Casa Linda

When temperatures drop and shoppers begin to pick up the pace, it’s fair to say the area of Casa Linda already has begun preparing for Christmas. This year, some changes have taken place, but the East Dallas neighborhood still will be a place where locals can go to feel the holiday spirit and give back to others.

During past holiday seasons, residents flocked to the annual tree lighting at Casa Linda Plaza, but this year, the event will be a no-go. The tradition came to an end last year when new owners EDENS Real Estate nixed the celebration, seemingly to save tenants the $37,000 bill, although they did not officially comment on their decision to end the event. EDENS told the Advocate they will instead sponsor the nearby Casa Linda Lights. The holiday luminary event was started by Casa Linda Estates neighbors to raise money for first responders and their families. On Dec. 10 and 11, volunteers will light 7,000 luminaries throughout the Casa Linda Estates to raise money for the Guns & Hoses Foundation of North Texas, which provides financial support to the families of firefighters and police officers who died in the line of duty.

In 2015 the luminaries in Casa Linda raised $7,000 for Guns & Hoses.

“What started as our neighborhood’s hope to create a beautiful holiday tradition in East Dallas has evolved into a great way to build relationships within the community and show our great thanks to local firefighters and police officers in the doing,” says Kara Kennedy, one of the event organizers.

In 2015 the luminaries in Casa Linda raised $7,000 for Guns & Hoses. The year before, $5,000 was raised for a local firefighter, Jeff Patterson, who suffered third-degree burns while fighting a house fire.

Close by, everyone can walk among rows of Christmas trees ready to be taken home to decorate thanks to nieghbor, Jeff Patton who is once again putting up a Christmas tree lot at the Casa Linda Plaza, 9446 Garland Road. The Christmas tree lot is open from Nov. 25 through Christmas Eve from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. More information can be found at facebook.com/pattonschristmastrees.

Casa Linda Lights

Dec. 10-11, after dark, Casa Linda Estates casalindaestates.com

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Not every holiday tradition is centered on shopping or Christmas treats. Sometimes the winter months means lacing up your sneakers, pulling on a warm hat and pounding the pavement with hundreds of other people. The BMW DALLAS MARATHON as well as the HALF MARATHON and BEHRINGER RELAY are celebrating 46 years of athletes running the city course. This year’s event happens on Dec. 11 with races stepping off at 8:05 a.m. F ind out more at bmwdallasmarathon.com

2 Though it takes place after Christmas, LA POPULAR TAMALE HOUSE will be ringing in the New Year by bringing back the black-eyed pea tamales. Why peas? Owner Jesse Moreno says they represent good luck and prosperity — a perfectly delicious start to 2017. The tamales will be sold Dec. 29–Jan. 3 at the restaurant, 5004 Columbia Ave Moreno warns that the wait for tamales can be up to two or more hours, so consider pre-ordering at 214.824.7617.

3 Christmas and local history are intertwined at the ALEXANDER MANSION, 4607 ROSS AVE., during the Dallas Woman’s Forum Holiday Celebration. The festivities also include an afternoon tea, the proceeds of which benefit local charities. The holiday celebration runs from Dec. 1–4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The tea takes place Dec. 7–10 and 14-18 at noon. Call 214.823.4533 or visit dallaswomansforum.org for tickets.

4 BAD CHRISTMAS SWEATERS — the gaudier, tackier and more three-dimensional, the better, are all the rage thanks to ugly Christmas sweater parties. Thankfully there is The Ugly Christmas Sweater pop-up shop, which offers a concentrated inventory of tasteless Santa and snowflake emblazoned knits. It opens late November at 6333 E. Mockingbird, suite . Get more at uglychristmassweater dallas.com