ETX View Magazine for Nov Dec 2021

ETX VIEW YO U R VIE W O F E AS T T E X AS

H O L I D AY E D I T I O N

LO N GV I E W | T Y L E R | K I LG O R E

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Longview Regional so I could watch my grandchildren grow up.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Shining a spotlight on holiday joy

Christina Cavazos

I

t’s the most wonderful time of the year, but at ETX View we’ve been in the holiday spirit a little bit longer.

In fact, it was a warm, sunny day in August when a jolly old elf entered our office with a warm smile and a hearty “ho ho ho” that immediately gave our team a dose of Christmas cheer.

We’ve been enjoying the holiday spirit ever since. Now, we’re excited to share that joy with you in the Holiday Edition of ETX View.

On the cover, you’ll find a man who really needs no introduction. He’s known by many names but in this area, we like to call him Santa Flavious. As Santa Flavious visits with children and adults across East Texas, he serves as a beacon of hope and joy during the holiday season. We found his joy infectious and we hope you will, too.

In keeping with the holiday theme, we are highlighting three amazing police officers in our community in our Making a Difference feature.

Chuck Boyce of Tyler, Luke Altman of Longview and Stephen Goodson of Kilgore lead Blue Santa programs at their respective police departments.

Through the Blue Santa program, hundreds of children experience joy at the holidays.

To shine a spotlight on the true reason for the season, in our Calendar & Culture section, you’ll

ETX VIEW M

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PRESIDENT Stephen McHaney PUBLISHER Justin Wilcox

DESIGNER Ted Townsend WRITERS Christina Cavazos Jo Lee Ferguson Courtney Stern Zak Wellerman

EDITOR Tim Thorsen

PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Cavazos Les Hassell Sheri Hendrick Sarah A. Miller John Murphy

ETX VIEW EDITOR Christina Cavazos

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Dawn-Renée Rice

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Alyssa Purselley-Hankins 903-596-6295

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learn about activities planned at local churches to celebrate Christ’s birth.

For our fashion shoot, we partnered with Barron’s in Longview for sweater weather clothing and accessories. Other features include those about community leaders, holiday 5Ks and holiday table settings.

And, of course, our ever popular food and drink section shines a spotlight on our favorite cold weather beverage: coffee. Just like many of you, we enjoy a good cup of joe. But perhaps what we enjoy most is the environment of community at our local coffee shops, which invite patrons to sit, talk with friends, work and create in a welcoming environment. We’re excited to introduce you to some of our favorites.

We hope you enjoy reading this edition of ETX View and we wish each of you a very happy holiday.

Enjoy!

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C H R I S T I N A C AVA Z O S c c a v a z o s @ m ro b e r t s m e d i a . c o m THE COVER Santa Flavious enjoys donning a red hat and suit as he brings joy to children and adults across East Texas during the holiday season.

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY Michael Cavazos COVER DESIGN BY Ted Townsend © 2021, M. ROBERTS MEDIA 100 E. Ferguson, Suite 501, Tyler, TX 75702

903.323.0230

800.256.5009

etpcu.org

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CONTENTS 8 Santa’s Season

56 Peters Fashion

Santa Flavious spreads Christmas cheer across East Texas.

Our models showcase sweater weather styles ideal for the holiday season.

66 Coffee & Culture

Learn about East Texas coffee shops that are transforming communities with a good cup of joe.

38 38 Texas-Style Christmas Peters Autosports travel takes you on a journey to the Christmas Capital of Texas at the city of Grapevine.

18 18 Blue Santa

Tyler, Longview and Kilgore police departments give back to East Texas children through police program.

50 Holiday Runs

From Turkey Trots to Jingle Jogs, there are a variety of 5K runs this season that support a good cause while helping you stay healthy.

80 Holiday Table Settings

28 A Good Cause

Take a look at décor ideas for your holiday table.

As chair of the 2021 Mistletoe & Magic, Chelsea Cooper is bringing a holiday shopping event to Tyler for a good cause.

88 Reason for the Season Learn about East Texas churches that have planned special holiday activities to celebrate Christ’s birth.

32 Never-Ending Christmas

Don Greenwood owns a store in downtown Gladewater, where it is Christmas year-round.

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92 Calendar

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A listing of events in East Texas in November and December.

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Here

Comes

!

Santa Flavious . . . enjoys making holidays special for East Texas families

S T O RY B Y C H R I S T I N A C AVA Z O S | P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M I C H A E L C AVA Z O S

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He’s known by many names . . .

In French, he’s known as Père Noël. In Spanish, he might be called Papa Noel. In Dutch, he’s known as Sinterklaas. In English, he’s called Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Saint Nick.

Most simply know him as Santa Claus.

But in East Texas, he’s

Santa Flavious.

Flavious.

Flavious is an East Texas man who keeps his identity concealed as he dons the traditional red hat and suit. His high-end suit paired with his authentic beard makes children and adults alike think they’re really looking at the jolly old elf.

But being Saint Nick is about more than just a costume. It means truly becoming Santa Claus and all that he represents as a beacon of hope and joy during the holiday season.

“Working with children in my ‘alternate’ life for the last 15-plus years has prepared me to enjoy making kids smile as Santa all the more,” Flavious said. “I truly love this thing called Christmas, the season of hope, and everything and everyone that comes with it.”

When Flavious was a child, he recalled, his mother enjoyed hosting and decorating for Christmas. For him, the Christmas seed was planted early and grew as he watched his family enjoy celebrating the holiday.

“I eventually grew up and even became a father myself,” he said. “However, the wonder that Christmas brought never left me. Watching that same joy through little eyes only strengthened the hold that Christmas had on me.”

When his son was in high school, Flavious was

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asked to participate as Santa in a Christmas play.

The costume, he said, was “decent” but the beard was “not real” due to short notice of the play.

“If I had been given some advanced notice, I could’ve given Gandalf a run for his money,” he said.

The effect was the same: He enjoyed playing Santa.

What he perhaps most enjoyed was seeing his father attend the high school production. His father, who also resembled Santa, had children convinced that he was “the” Santa Claus, Flavious recalled.

“At that point, it had been just over a year since my Mom passed away and with her, my Dad’s passion to celebrate Christmas,” he said.

But that night, Flavious watched as his father sat beside a woman dressed as Mrs. Claus who was posing for pictures with children. The children requested pictures with him and he went with the flow.

“And there he was, during the show, seated in the front row, as his son, ‘Santa’ made an entrance from the back of the auditorium. I looked at him and, much to the laughter of the audience, asked | CONT. ON PG. 12

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him, ‘Are you trying to put me out of a job, sir?’”

Flavious recalled. “Many people forgot their cares that afternoon, not the least of which was my Dad. I had such a great time, especially interacting with the little ones.

“And so, I secretly hoped for more opportunities to portray this magical character.”

It was years later, in 2015, when another opportunity finally arose. He received a call from a local photographer whose Santa had canceled for a Christmas photo session. The costume was already rented and Flavious had a full beard at the time, so he agreed.

Flavious enjoyed interacting with children at the photo shoot.

So he did. He purchased his own Santa outfit and came up with his Santa moniker, Santa Flavious. The name Flavious is derived from his childhood. A young woman he grew up with claimed she had a friend named Flavious.

“I said, ‘That’s a ridiculous name, and I don’t believe you until I see him.’ Well, I never saw him.

For the longest time, it was an inside joke,” he said. “So when it came time to become Santa, I thought, do I do like most of the other Santa’s (who use their name) and go Santa Bob, Santa John, Santa Ralph … Something that is just Santa with their normal name, or do I come up with something crazy ridiculous that will stick in people’s memories.”

That’s when he thought about the name from

“Really and truly, it was just really cool. I just watched these little kids light up and they legit thought, ‘This is Santa,’” he said.

After the shoot, he asked the photographer to take an 8-second video of him dressed as Santa singing a parody song. He put the video on his personal social media account. After a couple of weeks, the video had received more than 1 million views.

That was the moment he realized he could be Santa for more than just one photo shoot.

“That was really the catalyst of the whole thing.

I enjoyed it. I was warming hearts,” he said. “And I was wearing a rented costume on a moment’s notice. I thought, imagine if I really put my passion into this thing.”

his childhood — the name that had never left his memory.

“I was like, it’s got to be Santa Flavious,” he said.

In 2016, he also found a sidekick in Joshua the Elf, also known as Josh Mandreger of Longview.

That year, the dynamic duo — both of whom are musicians in their free time — went on to entertain East Texas audiences.

In the five years since, they’ve entertained audiences big and small across East Texas and beyond. They’ve been part of such crowd-drawing events as the Longview Ambucs Christmas Parade and the Longview Community Christmas Tree Lighting. In Kilgore, they’ve been seen at the | CONT. ON PG. 14

| CONT. FROM PG. 10

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Here

Comes

2021 Santa Flavious Planned Public Appearances n Nov. 21:

Longview Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Heritage Plaza n Nov. 30:

Hallsville Chamber of Commerce Pictures with Santa at Guarantee Bank in Hallsville n Dec. 2:

Longview Ambucs Christmas Parade in Downtown Longview n Dec. 3:

Longview Symphony Christmas Concert at the Belcher Center in Longview n Dec. 4:

Breakfast with Santa at First United Methodist Church of Longview n Dec. 4:

Christmas at the Courthouse at the Gregg County Courthouse n Dec. 10:

Storytime with Santa and Friends at the Longview Public Library n Note:

Events are subject to change because of COVID-19 considerations.

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| CONT. FROM PG. 12 city’s annual Mingle & Jingle and the Rangerettes Christmas show. In Tyler, they’ve appeared at the Smith County Child Advocacy Center. The duo has also been to Hallsville, White Oak, Gladewater and Henderson while traveling as far as Dallas and North Richland Hills for appearances. They’ve also performed a number of private and charity events, and even partnered with Pflugerville Public Library for a virtual story time with Santa in 2020.

They strive to make each and every visit special for the children and adults they are entertaining.

“I absolutely love doing this. You see the little hearts melt and the eyes light up,” he said. “It’s good stuff.”

When he visits with children, Flavious said

longing for something in their lives. Those are the tough cases,” he said. “You absolutely want to leave that child with something genuine, whether it’s just an extra tight hug or some kind of word of affirmation.

“I am a strong proponent of the underdog.

The underdog is high on my radar. When I see or feel or sense someone that’s disenfranchised, that is absolutely my heart’s cry to leave them with something good when they walk away.”

Flavious enjoys interacting with adults just as much as children. In Longview, a visit to Buckner Westminster Place — a retirement community — left him with special memories.

“Watching folks in the Memory Care Unit just lean on you and hug you,” he said. “It really is true

Leo, 6, Phoenix, 4, and Joshua Onteveros, 2, of Longview have their photo made with Santa Flavious and Josh the Elf during Pancakes With Santa at First United Methodist Church. he receives typical requests for whichever toy is popular that year. He’s also received some requests for “crazy stuff, like full-blown weapons.”

But he’s also experienced the “heartbreaking” requests, such as children who simply ask for their Dad to come home.

“And then you have to say exactly the right thing. You try to give them as positive of an answer without making a promise that you absolutely have zero control over,” he said. “As a Christmas ambassador, you might say, ‘I will absolutely see what I can do about that.’”

In what he describes as his “alternate life” (the one in which he’s employed full-time), Flavious has worked with children for more than 15 years.

“You can see it written all over a child when they’re walking up to you — that brokenness, that

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what they say, from children 1 to 92. That’s good stuff, man. I get to do that.”

At Buckner, he asked a 104-year-old woman what she wanted for Christmas.

“She told me she had everything she ever needed,” he said.

Whether he’s visiting with children or adults, Flavious strives to make every experience memorable — as if each person is the only one he’s interacting with that day.

“Five years later, it is my love for this season that drives me to make every encounter memorable for all, especially the heavy-hearted,” he said. “If I can make someone smile, whether young or seasoned (like my Dad), even when they’re walking through a valley, then that’s the kind of Santa I want to be.

I think my Mom would’ve loved that, too.”

WITH

Santa Flavious What’s your favorite Christmas song?

“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Not because of its popularity, but because of its often overlooked “underdog” theme. It helps to think of the lyrics side by side with the 1960s’ claymation TV show about Rudolph that we’ve all seen a dozen times or more. You take someone who’s been discarded and marginalized because they’re different and not like the majority. You make them feel like they have no choice but to run to the island with all the other “misfit toys.”

That story just resonates with me.

Don’t we still do that today? It breaks my heart.

I once sang a slow, ballad version of that song at an event and invited everyone that had ever been “Rudolphed” to come closer so I could sing it over them. Many stepped forward. I saw a grown man in the back weeping. Yes, he was crying to “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Can you imagine his story?

If we could all see the potential of these beautiful “misfits” from the beginning, then maybe we would entrust them to “guide our sleighs tonight” much sooner. What kind of world would that look like?

If you had to choose one toy to give out to everyone, what would it be?

The Slinky, of course. It’s a classic.

What kind of milk with your cookies?

Whole milk, obviously.

What advice would you give to aspiring Santas?

1. Don’t ever put your glasses on to where you’re looking through them. Santa always has to look over the glasses. It just makes you so much more Santa-like.

2. Don’t ever wear your hat completely horizontal. It’s got to be slanted. It gives you more character. It’s just more welcoming to see an angle on your forehead. It just looks cooler, man.

3. This one is the most important: Make every single encounter special and like that’s the only child you’re seeing that day. Pour everything into that encounter with that child.

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

I like “Home Alone,” although that’s not a traditional Christmas movie. I also love the original “Miracle on 34th Street,” because the Santa Claus in that movie sings and speaks Dutch in one portion of the movie. My mother was half Dutch. So when he sings (in Dutch in the movie), it’s like that’s my mom and those were my Christmases growing up. The little girl who’s sitting in his lap is so surprised because she doesn’t speak English and it just melts my heart.

What’s your favorite cookie for children to leave out?

It might be easier to say what kind not to leave out.

It might be easiest to mention the kind that I abhor and that would be peanut butter. That’s not going to be a popular response. My favorite would probably be chocolate chip, but snickerdoodles aren’t bad either.

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Blue

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POLICE PROGRAM brings

Christmas jo y to children in East Texas

S T O R I E S B Y Z A K W E L L E R M A N A N D C O U RT N E Y S T E R N P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M I C H A E L C AVA Z O S A N D L E S H A S S E L L

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ach year, hundreds of children across East Texas have a happy Christmas thanks to the men in blue.

Through the Blue Santa program, police departments across East Texas provide holiday gifts to children in need in the community.

Children can become part of the Blue Santa program in a variety of ways.

For example, a police officer might recommend a child. An individual or organization, such as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), may also offer a recommendation.

Thanks to community donations, officers across Tyler, Longview, Kilgore and

beyond are able to provide holiday gifts for children in their respective programs.

Tyler Police Department Officer Chuck Boyce has served as a mentor to other officers across East Texas, who lead Blue Santa programs. Boyce said Blue Santa is special because of the lives it impacts.

“If we were to give 99 Christmases out and we only made a difference for one, I would continue doing it,” he said.

“Because it’s about that one.”

In the coming pages, learn more about Boyce, of Tyler, as well as the officers who help oversee the Blue Santa programs in Longview and Kilgore. | CONT. ON PG. 20

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Blue

| CONT. FROM PG. 19

Tyler Police Department A

CHUCK BOYCE

After the 2008 housing crisis, Tyler Police Department Officer Chuck Boyce came to East Texas from Tennessee in need of a new career and seeking to help people.

He was a home builder for 15 years, and as homes were going for 30 cents on the dollar, he and his wife “literally lost everything.” He knew a friend in Tyler who had a job in law enforcement, and the job sounded appealing.

His desire to help others led to not only serving as a police officer but also becoming heavily involved in and now leading the Tyler-area Blue Santa program.

Blue Santa provides a shopping spree for nominated kids to shop at Walmart with first responders in December.

Children become a part of Blue Santa in four different ways: an officer choosing a child, the kids who have come over the years, children from CASA or the children’s advocacy center, and those who enter through a self-nomination process.

Boyce, Tyler Patrolman’s Association FOP Lodge 182 Blue Santa committee chairperson, said both the officers and children enjoy Blue Santa. He added that it’s a gathering place for officers.

“I mean we have more fun than I think the kids do. Some of the shenanigans that happen that night because we don’t get together that much,” Boyce said. “The only time we all get together is at funerals.

So this is something joyous for us to all get together for.”

Boyce began serving with Blue Santa when he was going through a training program. He started helping a sergeant who was gathering bikes for children, and he got involved with Blue Santa the same year through the FOP Lodge.

For him, he hopes to always be a part of Blue

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Santa, and he’s trying to get younger officers involved to continue the program.

“Blue Santa’s just good. You’ll hear your negatives and you’ve got to take them,” he said. “Some of the negatives are that some of those kids don’t need it.

OK, I’ll give you that maybe they don’t need it on a monetary level. They need it on another level. They need it on the level of trusting the guys in blue.”

Boyce hopes through Blue Santa the kids see that officers are human, not machines.

“We’ve got to change that perception and I think that’s what it does,” he said. “I think it breaks those barriers down, and it also fills the need. A lot of those kids are not going to have Christmas if we don’t do it.”

Boyce emphasized that impacting the kids through Blue Santa is about the quality of the child’s experience rather than quantity.

“Even if 99 out of 100 kids did not need it monetarily or any other level, it’s not about those 99, it’s about the one that did need it,” he said. “If we were to give 99 Christmases out and we only made a difference for one, I would continue doing it. Because it’s about that one.”

Being a part of making a difference feels good, Boyce said.

“It’s a high, and it’s a good high,” he said. “Life’s got ups and downs, and this just happens to be an up.”

One of his Blue Santa favorite activities is the photo booth. He’s looking forward to the day when a new police recruit brings one of those photos to say, “This is me back in the day.”

“That’s when I know that we have gone full circle and have nailed it,” Boyce said. | CONT. ON PG. 22

Being a part of making a difference feels good. “It’s a high, and it’s a good high . . . Life’s got ups and downs, and this just happens to be an up.”

Chuck Boyce

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Blue

| CONT. FROM PG. 20

Longview Police Department I

LUKE ALTMAN

n the summer, Longview Police Officer Luke Altman put on a fuzzy Blue Santa costume to promote a fundraiser that netted $13,000 in donations for a program that will support children this holiday season.

“It was insane,” Altman said, smiling as he recalled the May fundraiser for the Blue Santa program.

Altman is the chairman of the Longview Police Department Blue Santa program. Through Blue Santa, police officers select children in need that they meet throughout the year to receive Christmas gifts.

In the past, the goal was to help 100 children. Last year, about 150 children were served.

“This year, we’re going to be able to move probably closer to 250 kids,” Altman said.

Altman gives credit to the community, whose donations sustain the program.

“It just blew up this year,” he said, citing a BOSS Crane fundraiser and other donors. “A lot of people, they want to help kids and they don’t always know where to go or how to help.”

Altman grew up in the East Bay area in California with police officer parents. At one point, he thought he might be a firefighter.

“Growing up, I never saw myself being a police officer,” he said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do so I went into the Air Force.”

He ended up being stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base which brought him to Texas.

After six years of active duty in the Air Force and being in military police, he decided to take the role of civilian police officer. He joined the Longview Police Department in 2007.

“It’s a wonderful profession,” he said. “It’s honorable. It gives you a sense of duty.”

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When Altman became involved in Blue Santa, he said, Tyler Police Officer Chuck Boyce served as a mentor to him as he navigated the program.

When Altman first got involved, Longview Police officers were assigned a child to shop for as part of Blue Santa. Then Altman, his family and sometimes volunteers would wrap the gifts.

However, Altman said it could be difficult to know exactly what the children wanted or needed. He told Boyce he thought the program needed to be reorganized and he saw how Tyler police officers shopped with the children.

“It was cool that they got to shop with the kids,” Altman said. “It was a no brainer.”

In 2020, Longview Police shopped with children in small groups. The event was broken down into two days with five families scheduled each hour. Each child was matched with an officer and they shopped at Walmart.

While 2020 served as an experimental year, Altman said the program will operate similarly this year.

“I think this year I’ll feel better because I’ve already ran through it once,” he said. “Last year, I was nervous because you’re nervous about it not working or something going wrong. It went well. I learned a few lessons along the way to make it run even smoother for this year so we’re excited.”

He hopes to grow it into more of an event with photo booths, hot chocolate stations and activities.

“I think officers or civilians that get involved in the Blue Santa program, it seems like a lot of work until you go shop with the kids, then it all pays off,” Altman said. “You can see their faces and the excitement.” | CONT. ON PG. 22

Altman gives credit to the community, whose donations sustain the program.

“It just blew up this year,” citing a BOSS Crane fundraiser and other donors. “A lot of people, they want to help kids and they don’t always know where to go or how to help.”

Luke Altman

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Blue

| CONT. FROM PG. 22

Kilgore Police Department

K

STEPHEN GOODSON

ilgore Police Detective Stephen Goodson’s office at the police department is decorated with police related decor, Batman signs, artwork and even a canvas of a 17th or 18th century king with his face on it.

“These were all gifts,” he said, chuckling. The canvas of Goodson as a monarch was given by his son with the stipulation that it had to be hung in his office.

Goodson works in the Criminal Investigation Unit.

By a filing cabinet in the office, there is a clear bag containing a blue Santa Claus suit. By November or December, the whiteboard by the door will be covered with names of children and assigned officers for the Kilgore Police Association’s Blue Santa Program.

“I try to put female officers with female children and male officers with male children,” he said. “I don’t know anything about makeup.”

Goodson was introduced to the Blue Santa program about eight years ago by Tyler Police Officer Chuck Boyce.

“Tyler was having a Blue Santa program and he asked me if I would come up and help,” Goodson said, adding he didn’t really know what the program was but he knew what kind of person Boyce was.

“Chuck would literally give you the shirt off his back.

Literally, that dude, I have never seen him have a bad day. He’s always smiling, always cheerful and he goes out of his way to help his fellow person.”

Goodson said he was in awe of the Blue Santa Program in Tyler and that’s how it began in Kilgore.

When officers are out on calls and they encounter children in need, they keep a list of the names and contact information to add to the Blue Santa list.

Sometimes the families have been victims of crimes.

“I keep that list in my drawer here,” he said.

The Kilgore Police Association takes donations from the public to fund the program in addition to officer donations.

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“When I first started it, we weren’t able to get like six children,” Goodson said. “Through our funding and everything, last year, we have grown to where I have 25, 30 children, and these are all children that are in the city limits.”

Goodson can’t do it all alone. Kilgore Police Association President Sgt. Tim Dukes and the association’s Sergeant at Arms Detective Joey Johnston help make sure everything runs smoothly.

Goodson is the vice president of the association.

All the funds donated are spent locally in Kilgore.

“If I’m going to be completely frank, there have been times that officers have even just paid themselves,” Goodson said. “We’ll chip in a little extra to make sure they get the Christmas they want, too.”

The goal is to take care of the items they need, such as a new coat or boots, and the toys they want.

Each child also gets a bicycle.

Dukes takes bikes from an impound lot, paints and repairs them in his spare time, and they are given to children at Christmas.

“He refurbishes them and they look brand new,” Goodson said. “They are beautiful.”

In December, they pick a date and assign each family a time to bring the children to Walmart. Then the officers shop with the children.

“These officers, they don’t get paid to do this,” Goodson said. “They do this on their own time.”

Goodson is from Tyler and has been with Kilgore Police for 14 years, starting off as a patrol officer and working up to detective in Major Crimes. Goodson decided to become a police officer because he wanted to help people.

“It sounds idealistic and I know it sounds kind of corny,” he said. “We support our community and we love our community.”

All the funds donated are spent locally in Kilgore.

“If I’m going to be completely frank, there have been times that officers have even just paid themselves . . . We’ll chip in a little extra to make sure they get the Christmas they want, too.”

Stephen Goodson

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COMMUNITY LEADER

Chelsea Cooper brings

Misletoe & Magic C

to Tyler for a good cause

helsea Cooper has a love for helping people in need and building relationships. That passion comes together at both her job as a financial adviser and through volunteering at the Junior League of Tyler.

For seven years, she’s worked at Merrill Lynch in Tyler helping individuals and their families reach their financial goals. She is a third-generation financial adviser at Merrill Lynch, following in the footsteps of her grandmother and her father.

“We basically build a relationship with our clients. We try to figure out what they want to do long-term with their money and we help them figure out the best ways to do that,” Cooper said. “I enjoy helping my peers understand and know how to set themselves up for a successful financial future.”

Having others reach financial success is just a small part of what drives her ambition. For Cooper, her driving factors continue to be giving back and building connections.

“I just love to help people and I think that kind of

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spills over to volunteer work as well,” she said.

Cooper has been a part of the Junior League of Tyler for four years. She’s serving as chair for the 2021 Mistletoe and Magic, a holiday shopping event and the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser held annually in December.

Mistletoe and Magic, a Tyler-area staple in its 43rd year, became a special event for Tyler native Cooper over time as she built a lifetime of memories.

“I’ve danced in it as a little girl all the way up until the drill team in high school. My family has a business with a booth so I helped out at the booth every year,” Cooper said. “There’s 43 years’ worth of memories to have been made there. It kind of brings the holiday spirit to life.”

Funds raised at Mistletoe and Magic help the Junior League donate to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County, Alzheimer’s Alliance of

| CONT. ON PG. 30

Chelsea Cooper, chair for the 2021 Mistletoe and Magic shopping event in Tyler.

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| CONT. FROM PG. 28 Smith County, Mentoring Alliance, East Texas Food Bank, Literacy Council of Tyler and others.

As lead organizer this year, Cooper’s planning binder is filled to the brim with budgets, catering contracts and more.

Due to the demolition of Harvey Convention Center, the marketplace is moving to the Rose Garden Center from Dec. 1 to 4 and returning to an in-person event after a virtual market last year due to COVID-19. The gala is set for Nov. 13 at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler.

“Last year, with all the changes we had to make, one of the things we talked about missing the most (was) the spirit of giving,” she said. “It reminds you that there are people in need and there is a greater purpose.”

She added by just buying a $10 ticket, people can give back to Smith County and Tyler as the funds get re-plugged in through Junior League of Tyler projects and local nonprofit organizations. “(Tyler is) a fabulous place to live and there are so many people that are so giving,” Cooper said.

“Every holiday season that rolls around, you know that at Mistletoe and Magic you can finish your Christmas shopping while giving back to a good cause.”

When she started at the Junior League, she wanted to get involved with Mistletoe and Magic as soon as possible because of her fond memories and seeing her sister Nicole Robbins chair the committee in 2019.

“Once I was able to join and get involved, I knew Mistletoe and Magic was where I wanted to be and so I put some feelers out,” she said. “You’ll get asked to be on the committee but definitely, I sought it out.”

In her second year with the league, Cooper was

placed on the silent auction committee for Mistletoe and Magic. Ever since then, she has been involved in the annual fundraiser.

In the theme of Mistletoe and Magic, she also loves Christmas and often decorates for the holiday before Thanksgiving.

“I’m one of those people. I just love the season, and I love the joy it brings. I love being with my family and I’m fortunate that most of my family lives here,” Cooper said.

She is married to Patrick Cooper and they have a 2-year-old daughter, Ellie Grace Cooper. Her husband’s mother chaired Mistletoe and Magic in 1992.

Outside of work and the Junior League, Cooper is also involved in the Texas Rose Festival as graphics chair this year. She’s attended the queen’s coronation since 1998.

Cooper said the Junior League of Tyler is filled with incredible, hard-working women and the group allows members to help the community.

“I’ve grown up here and always wanted to plant my roots and give back to a community that I love so much,” she said. “I felt like the Junior League of Tyler was the perfect place to do it.”

On average annually, Mistletoe and Magic brings in $300,000. Since Junior League’s beginning, the group has given back to 220 agencies in Tyler and Smith County and donated over $8 million.

Junior League of Tyler offers grants for nonprofits each year to help those in need. Funding also goes toward Junior League’s Care Closet (a place for middle school girls to get hygiene products), Girl Power (an event to empower young girls) and summer reading camps.

Cooper added Junior League of Tyler funds also helped start such organizations as the Hospice of East Texas, the Discovery Science Place and Tyler Museum of Art.

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“(Tyler is) a fabulous place to live and there are so many people that are so giving. . . Every holiday season that rolls around, you know that at Mistletoe and Magic you can finish your Christmas shopping while giving back to a good cause.”

Chelsea Cooper

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COMMUNITY LEADER

Don Greenwood, owner, Greenwood’s Year ‘Round Christmas Store.

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Never-Ending Holiday

Gladewater store celebrates Christmas year round

T

here are legends behind Christmas ornaments and Don Greenwood knows nearly all of them.

For 22 years, Greenwood has owned and operated Greenwood’s Year ’Round Christmas Store in downtown Gladewater.

At the store, it’s Christmas all year as Greenwood specializes in holiday ornaments made of glass as well as other decorations. Greenwood sells holiday decorations from a variety of vendors, some of which are rare in East Texas.

“You can go to Dallas or Houston or Chicago and you may find stores that are larger (in terms of square footage) than ours but you will not find the selection that we have anywhere else,” Greenwood said.

“You will not find a Christmas store with a selection as good as ours.”

Greenwood’s downtown Gladewater store is filled from floor to ceiling, back to front with thousands of Christmas

ornaments and other holiday decorations, such as Jim Shore figurines and Department 56 holiday villages.

His personal love for holiday decorations started decades ago when he and his wife, Jan, married. Christmas wasn’t a special time in Greenwood’s family when he was growing up. His father passed away when he was 9 and he can recall celebrating Christmas prior to that.

“Daddy liked Christmas,” he said. “I’ve got a tree at the house decorated just like the ones when I was a kid, with the same type of ornaments.”

After his father passed away, his mother remarried. The family didn’t celebrate Christmas after that.

When Greenwood married himself, his wife wanted to celebrate Christmas – as did their children. So they started

| CONT. ON PG. 35

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“You can go to Dallas or Houston or Chicago and you may find stores that are larger (in terms of square footage) than ours but you will not find the selection that we have anywhere else. . . . You will not find a Christmas store with a selection as good as ours.”

Don Greenwood

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| CONT. FROM PG. 33 celebrating again. But it wasn’t until Greenwood started collecting glass ornaments himself that he really came to enjoy the holiday again.

“My wife and I have been collecting glass ornaments for over 40 years now,” he said.

He recalled his wife purchasing a glass ornament for $8 during a sales meeting at his former company in Tulsa, Okla. He “griped at her” a bit for the cost. But from that one glass ornament, a collection started.

Greenwood came across glass ornaments crafted

by Christopher Radko and fell in love with them and their intricacy.

“If you look at the Radko ornaments, you can tell it’s a quality ornament. It’s a piece of artwork,” he said.

Today, Greenwood carries Radko at his store as well as other brands, such as Old World.

Radko ornaments were more expensive – about $38 at the time and costlier now. But Greenwood liked them and purchased one.

“From there, we went and started collecting glass ornaments and kept on going,” he said. “Our collection got bigger and bigger and bigger and no two are alike.”

Years later, while living in Gilmer, Greenwood and his wife decided they wanted to open a business. A building in downtown Gladewater became available.

At first, the couple considered opening an antique shop as Gladewater is known as the Antique Capital of East Texas.

“But then we thought, why be like everybody else?” he said.

They thought about their personal collection of holiday ornaments and decided that would be something different that would be a good fit.

Since opening, the business has stayed much the same though its selection of ornaments has grown.

However, the online marketplace has impacted Greenwood’s, especially in recent years. Thanks to online groups, holiday ornament collectors share information about where they find rare or hard-to-find items.

In Greenwood’s case, a man in Minnesota contacted him looking for a specific item that Greenwood had. He sold it and shipped it to him.

That person told someone in Oklahoma, who then contacted Greenwood. When Greenwood shipped the item to Oklahoma, shipping prices were a bit cheaper than Greenwood had originally quoted so he included $5 in the package and told the person that shipping cost less and he was refunding some money.

“He took a picture of that and posted it to a group with people from all across the country and he said, ‘You need to buy from him. He’s honest,’” Greenwood recalled. “I found out about that from other people because they started calling.”

Greenwood experienced an explosion in business from online referrals who called him.

Additionally, when customers walk into his store, Greenwood knows he has an ornament that just about everyone will like. Many customers visit from across East Texas as well as from elsewhere in Texas and the country. Because of Gladewater’s antiquing history and specialty, the town sees thousands of visitors each year from across the country.

With his vast selection, Greenwood has an ornament for just about every person who comes through his doors.

Greenwood said most glass-blown holiday ornaments have a “legend” behind them and he knows many of them by heart. He shares those with his customers as he explains to them that there is more to the story behind the simple ornaments.

The pickle, for example, is one of the most popular ornaments in the world and has a legend that dates back to ages ago.

“A long time ago, when parents would decorate for Christmas, they would hide a glass pickle ornament on the tree,” Greenwood explained. “So when the kids got up on Christmas morning, instead of running and getting their presents that were already under the tree, they would look for the pickle ornament.

Whoever found the pickle ornament received a special present.”

At 76, Greenwood said he enjoys interacting with his customers, sharing stories and helping them find an ornament they will enjoy.

“I enjoy forming a relationship with the customers and getting them to laugh,” he said.

Greenwood’s Year ’Round Christmas Store is located at 111 E. Pacific Ave. in downtown Gladewater.

For information, call (903) 844-2201 or find the store on Facebook.

S T O RY B Y C H R I S T I N A C AVA Z O S PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL

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TRAVEL

Grapevine Carol of Lights.

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T

he holidays are often marked with tradition, whether it’s family gettogethers, tried-and-true recipes passed down from one generation to the next, or driving around your local neighborhood to see the houses lit up with twinkling lights.

Some families take trips out of town to visit relatives and some stay home. But after nearly two years that have seen many staying inside or close to home due to the pandemic, maybe it’s time to try something different with a trip to Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas.

S T O RY B Y D AW N - R E N É E R I C E PHOTOS COURTESY OF C I T Y O F G R A P E V I N E , T H E G AY L O R D T E X A N A N D T H E G R E AT W O L F L O D G E

F E AT U R E P R E S E N T E D B Y

| CONT. ON PG. 40 November/December 2021 | etxview.com

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Grapevine Carol of Lights and Parade of Lights.

Live performances at the Palace Theatre and Grapevine’s Vintage Railroad’s North Pole Express.

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| CONT. FROM PG. 39

GRAPEVINE

With 40 days of events, plenty of activities and shopping, there is something for everyone to enjoy during the holiday season.

Every year, Grapevine celebrates Christmas in the most spectacular way. “(It’s) a busy, fun time for six weeks here in the Christmas Capital of Texas. With over 1,400 events, there is always something going on for all ages,” said Sharron Rogers, Grapevine Place 2 City Councilwoman, who also serves as Mrs. Claus during this festive event.

“Having presented to the Texas Senate committee requesting designation as the Christmas Capital of Texas, which the Texas Senate unanimously conferred to Grapevine, it is an honor to play Mrs. Claus for our citizens and visitors alike,” Rogers said. “It is a magical time in Grapevine with thousands of lights and decorations in our historic downtown and celebrations galore!”

With 40 days of events, plenty of activities and shopping, there is something for everyone to enjoy during the holiday season.

Grapevine is only a few hours away from East Texas, and you can easily take care of all of your Christmas shopping needs amongst

the inspiring decorated streets and shops. Stroll down Historic Main Street or discover the 1.8 million square feet of shopping delight at Grapevine Mills.

Learn about Grapevine’s charming past, take in a live performance at the Historic Palace Theatre, and experience the excitement of a train ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s North Pole Express.

“Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s North Pole Express has become an integral part of the Grapevine Christmas experience,” said Ken Adams, train supervisor for the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. “It celebrates the magic and wonder of Christmas and encourages kids of every age to extend that ‘magic feeling’ that comes with the Christmas season.”

Aside from the North Pole Express, Grapevine also offers wine trains, as the city is also known for its wineries.

“Our Christmas Wine Trains offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season,” Adams said. “It is a great way to spend time with friends and family, while sampling some of the fine Texas | CONT. ON PG. 45

F E AT U R E P R E S E N T E D B Y

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Families can step away from modern life and into the pioneer past with a trip to Nash Farm in Grapevine.

Christmas Wine Trains in Grapevine offer the opportunity to sample fine wines from Texas wineries.

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| CONT. FROM PG. 41

Learn about Grapevine’s charming past, take in a live performance at the Historic Palace Theatre, and experience the excitement of a train ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s North Pole Express.

wines in our beautifully decorated coaches.”

According to Adams, the train coaches are approaching 100 years in age. “(It) is truly impressive, but seeing them decked out for the Christmas season is breathtaking. They really come to life,” Adams said. “Seeing the joy and wonder on a child’s face, when they catch their first glimpse of the train, is one of my favorite parts (of) our Christmas excursions.”

Families can step away from modern life and into the pioneer past with a trip to Nash Farm. Visitors will delight in late 19th century life on the farm.

“Christmas on the farm at Nash Farm is a great way for the family to experience the simpler traditions of the season,” said Cody Jolliff, manager of heritage museums and education programs. “Guests enjoy cookies baked in the 1890s stove, make tree decorations, and explore the farm in winter with livestock and living history programs.”

Holiday events in Grapevine include the 42nd annual Historic Parade of Lights at 7 p.m. Dec. 2; Victorian Christmas Tours at Nash Farm on Dec. 4; and the Christmas at

Grapevine Craft Show on Nov. 27-28.

“Grapevine is the place to be anytime during the Christmas season,” Rogers said. “The Christmas parade is a joy, and the Carol of Lights when we officially light up the town is a sight to see. I look forward to welcoming everyone to the Christmas Capital (of) Texas.”

Experience the joy of Christmas in Grapevine between Nov. 22 and early January 2022. For more information to plan a trip, visit the website www.GrapevineTexasUSA. com/Christmas.

GREAT WOLF LODGE A trip to Grapevine isn’t complete without a visit to Great Wolf Lodge, a resort that features an indoor water park. During the holidays, when guests enter the grand lobby of this popular tourist attraction, they are transported to a winter wonderland at the annual Snowland Celebration.

Escape the fall and winter weather outside at Great Wolf’s spacious 84-degree indoor water park and take part in the holiday spirit in their grand lobby.

Enjoy daily snow showers, twinkling lights, and a variety of | CONT. ON PG. 47

F E AT U R E P R E S E N T E D B Y

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The Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine brings a winter wonderland indoors with its annual ICE! exhibit.

New this holiday season at Great Wolf Lodge are candy cane chalet-themed cabanas at the water park.

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| CONT. FROM PG. 45

Families will have the opportunity to make unforgettable memories between attractions at Great Wolf Lodge such as MagiQuest, Oliver’s Mining Co., and Northern Lights Arcade to the exciting water adventures at Ft. Mackenzie, Whooping Hollow, and River Canyon Run.

fun and festive seasonal activities ranging from dance parties to story time.

“Core elements like resort décor and snow in the lobby are definitely going to be in the mix again this year,” said Jason Lasecki, vice president of corporate communications for Great Wolf Lodge.

This year, the lodge has a fun, new experience to enjoy, he noted.

“We’re actually introducing a new concept this Snowland season,” Lasecki said. “(It’s) a candy cane chalet-themed cabana for the water park, one where it will actually snow inside the cabana. The best part is $10 from each cabana booked is going to be donated to Make-AWish.”

The Make-A-Wish foundation grants wishes to children with critical illnesses.

Families can start reserving these holiday-themed cabanas, which are available at select resorts, beginning Nov. 19. Each cabana is decorated with holiday-themed décor, including a candy cane striped holiday tree. A wreath-shaped inflatable tube is also included for use to float down the Crooked Creek lazy river.

Regardless of the water park’s consistent warm temperature, snow will magically fall inside the cabana all day. Guests who reserve these unique cabanas will receive a special retail bundle containing vouchers for holiday-inspired beverages, keepsake mugs, commemorative ornaments and more.

No holiday celebration is complete without a visit from Santa, of course.

Santa shows up in holiday splendor after Thanksgiving, meeting with all the children who want to whisper their requests in his ear.

When booking a visit to the lodge, families get to enjoy two days of play in the park. All the fun and exciting Snowland adventures and activities are included as part of the overnight stay.

Families will have the opportunity to make unforgettable memories between attractions such as MagiQuest, Oliver’s Mining Co., and Northern Lights Arcade to the exciting water adventures at Ft. Mackenzie, Whooping Hollow, and River Canyon Run. Download the Great Wolf Lodge app for a schedule of events. For more information, visit the website www.greatwolf.com/grapevine.

F E AT U R E P R E S E N T E D B Y

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WELLNESS

Lindale Turkey Trot.

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Turkey Trots & Jingle Jogs

Holiday 5Ks allow East Texans to stay healthy, enjoy togetherness

’Tis the season to run 5Ks. For some people, the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve are a time to let loose and enjoy the social life before recommitting to a healthy routine.

Though maintaining an exercise routine can be difficult during the holiday season, there are fun ways to make running a part of the schedule.

Thanksgiving often serves as a kickoff for family fun runs with turkey trots taking place across East Texas. Then a variety of holiday runs will continue to usher in the season.

The 5K runs offer ways for family and friends to get together and contribute to a good cause, as most of the 5Ks serve as fundraisers for various community organizations. | CONT. ON PG. 52

S T O RY B Y C H R I S T I N A C AVA Z O S PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL, SARAH A. MILLER AND JOHN MURPHY

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| CONT. FROM PG. 51

Gobble Wobble Newgate Mission will kick off the holiday running season by hosting its 17th annual Gobble Wobble on Nov. 20.

Newgate Mission is a nonprofit organization in Longview that serves those who are homeless, low-income and marginalized. A day mission, Newgate typically serves more than 200 people each day.

The Gobble Wobble is Newgate’s largest fundraiser, according to the nonprofit organization. The proceeds help the mission provide food, clothing and support to those it serves throughout the year.

The Gobble Wobble features a 1-mile fun run, a 5K and a 10K. There is no fee to participate in the Gobble Wobble; however, donations are requested to support the mission.

Registration is available in advance or on the day of the race. Gobble Wobble T-shirts may be purchased during online registration only.

On race day, Nov. 20, registration will

Tyler Turkey Trot.

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begin at 8 a.m. The race itself begins at 9 a.m. at the Paul G. Boorman Trail. Parking is available at Austin Bank.

For more information about Newgate Mission or the Gobble Wobble, visit www. newgatemission.org.

Tyler Turkey Trot On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, Tyler will invite its residents to run first and have pie later when the 19th annual Turkey Trot returns.

The Tyler Turkey Trot offers a 5K run and a children’s dash. The in-person race will begin at Racquet and Jog, 5403 S. Broadway Ave. in Tyler. The children’s dash starts at 8:15 a.m. with the 5K kicking off at 9 a.m.

Those who register for the 5K will receive a long-sleeve T-shirt and medal; it will be a chip-timed race. Children who participate in the dash will receive a children’s T-shirt and medal.

Proceeds from this year’s Tyler Turkey Trot will benefit For The Silent, a Tyler nonprofit

organization that is dedicated to ending sex trafficking.

To learn more about the Tyler Turkey Trot, visit www.tylerturkeytrot.com.

Lindale Turkey Trot Also on Thanksgiving Day, the city of Lindale will invite its residents to participate in a holiday morning run when the Lindale Turkey Trot returns.

The Lindale Turkey Trot is a 5K, chiptimed race that benefits the Lindale ISD Education Foundation. The education foundation strives to support Lindale schools, teachers and students by providing funding for innovative programs and initiatives that enrich educational and leadership opportunities.

A new component of this year’s event is a kid’s race in which children 12 and younger can race around the parking lot at E.J. Moss Intermediate School.

Advance registration is available online.

5K registration is $25; however, the price | CONT. ON PG. 54

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| CONT. FROM PG. 53 increases after Nov. 14. Participation in the children’s run costs $15.

Lindale Turkey Trot festivities begin about 8 a.m. Nov. 25 in the parking lot of E.J. Moss Intermediate School, 411 E. Eagle Spirit Drive.

For more information about the Lindale Turkey Trot, visit facebook.com/ LindaleTurkeyTrot.

Athens Turkey Trot In Athens, an organization is inviting the community to run for water on Thanksgiving Day. Hope Springs Water is a nonprofit organization based in Athens that strives to help the developing world through clean water, improved sanitation and hygiene education.

Funds raised from the Athens Turkey Trot support the organization.

The Athens Turkey Trot features a 1-mile walk, a 5K for children 12 and younger and a 5K for those 13 and older.

Race day registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

Nov. 25 at The Cain Center, 915 S. Palestine St. in Athens. The 5K will begin at 8 a.m. and the 1-mile event will start at 8:05 a.m.

Advance registration is available online.

Amiyah Johnson and other Gobble Wobblers warm up before the start of the 15th Annual Gobble Wobble.

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The 5K costs $45; participation in the children’s 5K costs $35 and registration for the 1-mile walk is $25. For those who preregister, packet pick up will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 24 in the Groom & Sons parking lot, 219 S. Palestine St. in Athens.

For more information about the Athens Turkey Trot and Hope Springs Water, visit www.hopespringswater.org.

Jacksonville Jingle Jog East Texans are invited to don their favorite Santa Claus hats and reindeer ears for the fifth annual Jacksonville Jingle Jog 5K and Fun Run. The race is presented

by Christus Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Jingle Jog is open to adults and children who want to run or walk.

There is no fee for children to participate in the fun run. Registration for the 5K costs either $20 or $25, depending on whether participants wish to be timed. The timed registration fee is $20.

The event begins at 8 a.m. Dec. 4.

A special guest is planned for the event as Santa will arrive by helicopter for the Jacksonville Jingle Jog. For more information about the Jacksonville Jingle Jog, visit bit.ly/3v8h5w4.

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FASHION

Cute & Cozy

Christmas

C

ooler temperatures, holiday lights and maybe even a light dusting of snow are signs that it’s winter and time to pull out your favorite sweater weather clothing and accessories. | CONT. ON PG. 59

FASHION PRESENTED BY

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Abby Sullins wears a Puff Sleeved Cinnamon Sweater, $99; and Amber Chenille Pom Hat, $27 all from Barron’s in Longview.

A Cute & Cozy

Christmas | CONT. FROM PG. 56

Lacy Barron wears a Johnny Was Plaid Shacket, $310; and Fabulous Faux Fur Ivory Sand Neckwarmer and Pom Hat, $59 and $69, all from Barron’s.

It’s time to dust off your favorite hats, scarves and mittens to stay cute and cozy this holiday season.

For the November/December fashion shoot, ETX View partnered with Barron’s in Longview. Originally founded in 1972 by Jim and Julia Barron as a bookstore, Barron’s has expanded in both its size and its offerings over the years. Second generation owners, Brandon and Lacy Barron, now operate the store and restaurant that invites the community to browse for gifts at the shop and have dinner at the adjoining café.

Models Lacy Barron and Abby Sullins donned the trendiest sweater weather fashion and accessories from Barron’s for this fashion shoot. From cozy faux fur coats and pom hats to cute sweaters and ponchos, Barron’s has the latest trends that will have you feel cute and comfortable this winter.

Special thanks to our models, Barron’s and to Peters Chevrolet for partnering with ETX View for this fashion shoot. | CONT. ON PG. 62 S T O RY B Y C H R I S T I N A C AVA Z O S PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES HASSELL

FASHION PRESENTED BY

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A Cute & Cozy

Christmas | CONT. FROM PG. 59

FASHION PRESENTED BY

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Left, Lacy Barron wears a Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Fringed Poncho, $199; Johnny Was Silk Scarf, $99; Wyeth Maroon Western Hat, $79; and Liverpool Denim, $98, all from Barron’s. Abby Sullins wears a Johnny Was Plaid Button-Up with Velvet Back, $265; Caramel Ombré Felt Hat, $39; Turquoise Accessories, $24 and $17; and Liverpool Denim, $98, all from Barron’s. Above, Lacy Barron wears a Fabulous Faux Fur Teal Coat, $199; Black Felt Hat, $39; Ellie Black

Woven Tote, $97; and Enewton Gold Jewelry, all from Barron’s. Right, Abby Sullins wears a Knit Floral Pullover, $82; Ivory Felt Hat, $39; and Enewton Gold Jewelry, all from Barron’s.

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Raffle (detail) by Nancy Lamb

The Black Dress

Henry & Moore Fine Jewelry

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2

1 It's time to get toasty & snuggle up with the most scrumptious goodies from Shop Barron's. Lacy Barron has picked out a few favorites that will leave you feeling all the warm fu ies this holiday season

3

LACY'S

These little bundles of joy are sure to be a hit on Christmas Day

LIST

1 Sweet Shop Hot Cocoa Bombs 2 Fabulous Faux Fur Accessories 3 Fur Baby Snuggle Suit 4 Corkcicle Commuter Cup

5 4

Keep it HOT with Corckcicle

5 Barefoot Dreams Blanket

SHOP BARRON'S TUE-SAT | 10-5 903.663.2060 405 W LOOP 281, LONGVIEW, TX WWW.SHOPBARRONS.COM November/December 2021 | etxview.com

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FOOD

Transforming East Texas communities!

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It’s a rich, dark liquid that we love. It’s part of our daily life and we enjoy it from morning to night.

But our love for coffee isn’t just about the taste and the caffeine. It’s about the coffee shops themselves that are a home away from home for many people.

A few years ago, downtown Tyler, downtown Longview and downtown Marshall began transforming and revitalizing into the thriving communities they are today.

There was a common thread in those three separate revitalization stories. Each downtown was impacted by a modern, craft coffee shop that

opened its doors to welcome the community inside.

“We wanted to bring good coffee to the scene and we wanted people to gather in a way that there was a sense of belonging,” said Connor Walters, one of four co-founders of Silver Grizzly Espresso in downtown Longview. “Out of that sense of belonging people start connecting with others, creating more, having more business ideas, having more meetings. It starts that cycle of creativity and people investing on the cultural level.”

Five years after Silver Grizzly Espresso opened its doors, downtown Longview is booming with more than a dozen new local businesses

and increased foot traffic as people come to meet up, shop and create in the heart of the city.

The Foundry Coffee House in Tyler and Joe Pine Coffee Co. in Marshall also have led to similar stories in their respective downtowns as they offer a unique cultural environment in which people can gather.

Some years later, more craft coffee shops are popping up across East Texas, each reaching new demographics and introducing more people to the world of specialty coffee.

This is a look at a few of our favorite coffee shops in East Texas. | CONT. ON PG. 68

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SILVER GRIZZLY ESPRESSO

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hen Silver Grizzly Espresso first opened its doors in Longview in 2016, downtown Longview was a virtual ghost town. There were few businesses open and little foot traffic on a day to day basis.

Longview. The coffee shop was made possible by four business partners – Connor Walters, Vincent Purvis, David Samford and Vance Freeman – who had different backgrounds but a common thread.

All four grew up in and around Longview and wanted to invest in their community.

“Our families are here. Our community is here,” he said. “We wanted to invest in this area and make it a space where people enjoyed living and felt a sense of

to open downtown because it was relatively dead at the time, Walters said they researched the impact local coffee shops can have on the city’s central hub.

“One of the foundational components to revitalization in any area is that it almost always starts on the back of a specialty coffee shop or a microbrewery done really well,” he said. “If they’re done really well, and specifically built as destination locations versus serving volume (like drive-thru locations),

Today, downtown Longview is bustling with activity as people flock to the area to enjoy the local offerings. Dozens of new businesses have opened in the past two years, largely spurred by the volume of people now visiting downtown Longview.

Much of that traffic can be attributed to Silver Grizzly Espresso, which opened five years ago with a goal of bringing craft coffee and a community meeting place to

belonging.”

The idea began in 2014 as the four men sought to fill two primary voids in the community.

They wanted the coffee shop to serve as a gathering place for the community, but they also wanted to bring specialty coffee to Longview.

There were a couple of craft coffee shops arising on the scene in Tyler but there were none in Longview at the time.

While they were a bit hesitant

then it’s a place that people come for an experience. People will travel for an experience.”

That was what they sought to build in downtown Longview and seeing research that showed it could help spur revitalization added to their mission.

Silver Grizzly Espresso opened its doors in 2016 at the corner of Tyler and Center streets. Within about six months, the business began seeing more patrons visit

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for the craft coffee and the relaxed, friendly atmosphere. On a cultural level, Silver Grizzly gave people a place to meet and feel like they belonged. Its patrons brought friends and family to visit and, in time, business was booming.

“We were intentionally hoping to build foot traffic here and we had a vision for other people to be encouraged to start their work here and for their places to actually succeed off the back of places like this and Oil Horse,” Walters said.

shop is focused on transparency in the supply chain.

“You’re connecting with farmers and paying people a proper wage but also doing justice to the coffee itself and really marrying science with coffee in a very intentional way,” Walters said.

At Silver Grizzly, coffee beans are ethically sourced and Walters works with individuals he knows who visit farms in other countries, such as Guatemala and Ethiopia, during harvest season.

cuppings, which are tastings similar to wine and beer flights.

Silver Grizzly sells its coffee online and it’s now shipping across the U.S. A focus on wholesale accounts is helping to stabilize business so the downtown Longview coffee shop stays open long-term.

“We’re trying to continue to curate a really good experience at the shop,” Walters said. “And a lot of our focus continues to be on the roastery. … Our big focus at the

Oil Horse Brewing Co. is located across the street from Silver Grizzly Espresso.

Today, downtown Longview is thriving thanks to businesses that opened after Silver Grizzly and Oil Horse. Today, people visit downtown Longview to shop, eat, enjoy craft beer and coffee.

As for the coffee itself, Silver Grizzly remains committed to offering a high quality product. Part of the “third wave” of coffee, the

Silver Grizzly purchases green coffee. It’s the pit of a coffee cherry that starts out green and is turned brown during the roasting process.

In 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, Silver Grizzly opened its own roastery at which it roasts the beans to create its coffee. The roastery hasn’t been open to the public but a focus for the business in 2022 is to make the roastery more available. Walters said he’d like to see them offer coffee

moment is to grow our wholesale accounts and retail online. In doing that, it’s going to help stabilize our business for the long run. The more we can stabilize staff and start to create career opportunities, the more that we can stabilize our team here which allows us to invest better into the community and do a better job.”

To learn more about Silver Grizzly Espresso, visit silvergrizzlyespresso. com.

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EVERGREEN COFFEE & DESSERT

Sasha Conner spends her afternoon working at Evergeen Coffee & Dessert.

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nother Longview coffee shop is contributing to revitalization in the city – but in a different neighborhood.

Evergreen Coffee and Dessert opened in March 2020 in Longview’s Pine Tree neighborhood. It quickly became one of the most popular hangouts in Pine Tree and the coffee shop is thriving today.

It and surrounding businesses have brought renewed life to the Royal Forest Shopping Center off Gilmer Road and have sparked a community hub where young residents can gather to study, work, create art, talk and cultivate ideas.

“I didn’t expect it to be this busy or grow this fast, but I’m really happy,”

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said Seajin Kim, owner and founder of Evergreen Coffee and Dessert. “I’m just trying my best to bring quality service and product to this area and offer a new place for people to come.

A lot of people are trying to support local right now, and they’re bringing their friends and spreading the word.

This community has been amazing.”

He began working on Evergreen Coffee and Dessert in October 2019, making all of the coffee shop’s modern, wooden tables by hand and piecing together eclectic pieces of art combined with macrame wall hangings, dreamcatchers and string lights. It all combined to bring a warm, modern, trendy vibe to the Pine Tree area.

The coffee shop opened in March 2020. Shortly after opening, Kim and his staff had to quickly adapt to curbside service only as the COVID-19 pandemic began and businesses were asked to close to in-person dining.

“When we first opened, it was crazy.

We were worried, but we got a lot of

support from the community,” Kim said.

He believes the community responded to the quality of the drinks and options that Evergreen offers.

Evergreen offers traditional coffee options, including staples like lattes and cappuccinos. Caramel macchiatos and Evergreen’s custom Tiger Latte are top sellers. But the coffee shop also features a wide variety of other drinks for those who may not like coffee or may want something different. The shop offers smoothies and teas, but its bubble — or boba — tea remains one of the top sellers.

In addition to beverages, Evergreen also offers a variety of desserts, including macaroons that come from Dallas, many dessert offerings from Edible Art and banana pudding made in house.

To learn more about Evergreen Coffee and Dessert, visit www. facebook.com/evergreencoffee. longview/.

CREMA COFFEE CO.

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ne of the newest specialty coffee houses in Tyler is catering to East Texas residents who are gluten free.

Crema Coffee Co., which opened in July on Three Lakes Parkway, serves an exclusively gluten-free menu of both food and beverages.

Crema’s owner and founder Michaela Ta has Celiac disease, which causes an immune reaction to consuming gluten.

“She wanted to be able to have everything on the menu and she wanted to bring that to town for other people,” said her husband, Eric Ta, who also serves at the coffee shop. “It’s great for people to come by. People almost break down when they realize, ‘I can have whatever I want. I don’t have to second-guess everything.’ It’s great to give people

that and to hear their reaction.”

Michaela Ta was a barista for seven years, working at an independent coffee shop and a chain coffee shop, prior to opening Crema. During the pandemic, she decided she wanted to start a coffee blog to teach people how to make specialty drinks at home. She gathered recipes and equipment for her endeavor.

Then, one day, she and her husband drove by Three Lakes Parkway and noticed a business had closed down. They began looking at the space and began envisioning a coffee shop in it.

“We just fell in love with the spot and she did what she could to renovate and make it look the way she wanted,” Eric Ta said. “Then, all the recipes that were going to be on the blog ended up being on the menu here.”

Crema Coffee Co. features traditional drinks and a unique signature menu. The coffee shop’s

top three sellers are the Carmellia, a latte with caramel sauce, caramel syrup and vanilla syrup topped with house made whipped cream and caramel sauce; the Irish de Leche, a house cold brew with chocolate undertones sweetened with Irish cream and topped with dulce de leche cold foam; and the Cookies and Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew, a house cold brew with chocolate undertones sweetened with light vanilla syrup and topped with cookies and cream cold foam.

“We can do a pourover or anything like that, but we like to mix and match things and create drinks that you won’t find anywhere else,” Ta said.

In addition to its drinks, Crema features pastries created by a local pastry chef and a relaxed atmosphere where people can come to work or relax.

For more information about Crema Coffee Co., visit www. facebook.com/cremacoffeecotylertx.

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THE FOUNDRY COFFEE HOUSE

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even years ago, Bethel Bible Church had a dream to serve people and the community while also playing a role in helping to revitalize downtown Tyler.

reintroduce ourselves,” said Loren Roe, who manages The Foundry.

“We’re certainly the oldest craft coffee shop in East Texas. There’s a lot of really exciting stuff happening today in terms of craft coffee with more shops popping up, which is good. The new shops are bringing new things to the table and meeting different demographics.

There’s more than enough room

said. “In the era of COVID, we found that it’s good to have an outdoor music venue that is in the shade. We have that and we can fit a few hundred people out there comfortably. So we’re really working on developing that and engaging the community in different ways.”

The staple of The Foundry is, of course, its quality coffee.

When Bethel Bible Church

The church, whose original location was in South Tyler, acquired property downtown for a new location and chose to use the first floor of that space to open a coffee shop that would serve as a community meeting space.

With its modern décor and inviting atmosphere, The Foundry Coffee House quickly became one of the most popular coffee shops in the city. Today, The Foundry is continuing to offer new programs and is, in a sense, re-introducing itself to the community.

“We’re working really hard to

for everybody, but for us, this period of time is almost like a reintroduction.”

In the past few months, The Foundry has worked to freshen up its space by repainting the front of the building, buying some new furniture and having a mural painted in its outdoor patio garden.

With an outdoor stage to host live bands, The Foundry held its annual garden party this fall which featured a lineup of several bands.

“Our next pivot and what we’re working on for the spring is lining up an actual concert series,” Roe

opened the coffee shop in 2014, the church hoped to offer the best coffee in East Texas in a space that would engage the community.

Prior to 2014, Bethel Bible Church had just one location in South Tyler. The church was experiencing rapid growth and decided to pursue a multi-site model so it could engage various communities, Roe explained. Today, the church has five campuses.

Three are in Tyler; one is in Whitehouse; one is in Henderson.

The downtown location, which opened in 2014, was the church’s

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second. At the time, downtown Tyler was virtually dead with limited foot traffic. A few local businesses existed but there were many empty spaces.

Similar to other craft coffee shops, the church hoped The Foundry could serve as an inspiration for downtown revitalization.

“We wanted to serve the best

the week. Day to day, the coffee shop becomes a second home for business professionals, college students, community leaders and a wide variety of patrons.

“It’s really exciting,” Roe said.

“We’ve always opened our doors to be hospitable and to have a place where people can meet.”

The Foundry’s menu features a variety of popular coffee drinks,

menu changes seasonally, but in the fall, it featured such items as a cinnamon pumpkin donut, pumpkin cream cheese donut and a variety of cookies.

The Foundry is selective about where it sources its coffee. It primarily uses coffee crafted by Porch Culture Coffee Roasters, which rents space inside The Foundry. Porch Culture ethically

coffee in East Texas, but more than that we really wanted a place that would serve people well and that would bring life back to downtown,” Roe said.

In offering a community meeting space, The Foundry sought to be a “third place” for the community.

Two primary social environments are the home and the workplace; a “third place” is a community space where people can come to socialize outside of work and the home.

With a large building, The Foundry has space that can be reserved or rented throughout

particularly traditional favorites.

Its most popular drinks tend to be lattes with one of The Foundry’s scratch-made syrups, which include mocha and vanilla flavors. In addition to traditional favorites, The Foundry also features some non-traditional drinks. The shaken cappuccino, for example, started as a seasonal beverage but became so popular that the coffee shop decided to keep it on the regular menu.

Additionally, The Foundry features pastries made from scratch in an off-site kitchen. The pastry

sources its coffee beans, which Roe said is also important to The Foundry.

“We know the story of where our product is coming from. That’s very important,” he said.

In addition to quality craft coffee and a meeting space, The Foundry also features a small art gallery featuring works by local artists. The exhibits change out every couple of months and offer a way to highlight emerging East Texas artists.

To learn more about The Foundry Coffee House, visit foundry-coffee.com.

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BIG SHOT COFFEE HOUSE

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t Big Shot Coffee House, the java is good and the customer service is even better.

Owner Lydia Baskin opened the Gresham coffee shop earlier this year with a focus on serving quality drinks and offering friendly customer service.

“At any coffee shop the coffee needs to be good, but I think the most important thing is your interaction with the people,” she said. “Everybody I hire is super personable and they want to get to know you. I really drive that home. I think knowing who you’re helping and interacting with each other is important. … I think it’s crucially important that the human level isn’t lost.”

Baskin spent 10 years in the coffee industry before opening Big Shot

Coffee House. She got her start by working at the Downtown Coffee Lounge, a former coffee shop in downtown Tyler. She did a stint at Starbucks, then she opened her own catering business where she offered espresso and coffee. Later, she worked at Coffee City USA, a local coffee roaster. At Coffee City USA, she helped manage the coffee bar.

When the pandemic hit, her catering business came to a halt and Coffee City USA temporarily closed its coffee bar. Baskin realized she wasn’t in her element when she wasn’t making drinks and interacting with customers.

She saw a former hot dog stand in Gresham. She transformed the former yellow and red building into a more modern atmosphere with a sleek white exterior. Big Shot Coffee House opened in January and has been pleasing customers ever since.

“It has been crazy successful,” she

Lydia Baskin of Big Shot Coffee House prepares a White Chocolate Lavender Latte.

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said. “It surpassed my expectations.”

Customer favorites include the White Chocolate Lavender Latte with oat milk and the java shakes.

“We make our own ice cream,” Baskin said. “Our ice cream’s really good and we use that in the java shakes and we use that for our affogatos, too.”

Baskin uses Coffee City USA for her beverages. Because she worked there, she’s intimately knowledgeable of how the company’s roasting process works. She offers both a dark roast and a light roast, noting that “each offers something different, depending on the drink.”

Her goal is for the coffee shop to remain successful for at least the next five years and to continue reaching more customers during that time.

To learn more about Big Shot Coffee House, visit www.bigshotcoffeehouse. com.

BRADY’S COFFEE

Jim MIller spends his afternoon at Brady’s Coffee.

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he longest serving coffee shop in Tyler, for 25 years Brady’s Coffee has been committed to serving a quality cup of joe while staying true to the basics of coffee.

Owner James Brady opened the coffee shop on Feb. 6, 1996.

“A day that will live in infamy,” he said with a laugh.

Brady credits some of his success to serving quality coffee that tastes the same each time customers stop by.

“We serve a consistent product and they know what to expect here,” he said.

Part of what people expect at this

Brick Street District coffee shop is Brady himself. Passionate about coffee, friendly and sometimes a bit sarcastic, Brady has been a mainstay at the coffee shop. He’s come to know his loyal customers as they have come to know him over the years.

The idea for Brady’s Coffee emerged more than 25 years ago as Brady and a friend were sitting at a former coffee shop in Tyler and began discussing a possible closure for that business. They decided to pursue opening a coffee shop together; however, the friend backed out along the way and Brady decided to continue running with the idea.

“I just picked up the idea and ran with it,” he said.

Today, he gets all of his coffee beans from Distant Lands, which has a roasting facility in Tyler.

“They are my sole supplier of beans and they are incredible,” he said.

“Without that (quality beans), we’re nothing.”

At Brady’s, he tries to stick to keeping coffee true to its natural form with classics such as cappuccinos and lattes poured to perfection.

However, he does offer some innovative, specialty drinks. The Dirty Zebra, for example, is a fan favorite.

The Zebra is a mixture of mocha and white chocolate while the Dirty Zebra trades the white chocolate for caramel.

The Cinnamon Dolce Latte is another favorite; it’s part cinnamon, part vanilla, made breve style with half and half and finished with a crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.

At the shop, customers can also purchase beans by the pound and tea by the ounce to take home. The quiet coffee shop’s walls are adorned with artwork, created by local artists, that is for sale.

To learn more about Brady’s Coffee, visit bradyscoffee.com.

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JOE PINE COFFEE CO.

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he letters “ETX” stand for East Texas but they also represent the core values of a coffee shop in downtown Marshall that is helping transform the community.

Joe Pine Coffee Co. was established four years ago in downtown Marshall by two families – Geoffrey and Jill Davis and David and Stacey Splawn – who came together out of a love for their community to create a meeting space for people to gather.

“One of the things all of us have in common with coffee is we understand how important it is to have a good coffee shop to build a sense of community. That’s one of the things we love,” David Splawn said. “We love

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coffee but also just love the coffee shop and the community it creates.”

The Splawns had previously operated a coffee shop in West Texas.

They moved to East Texas about eight years ago when David accepted a position as a professor at East Texas Baptist University. In East Texas, they met the Davises who hail from the area.

Jill Davis had a dream of opening a coffee shop one day. She’d grown up making coffee for her parents and also enjoyed a time while living in South Dakota that she and Geoffrey enjoyed regular morning coffee at a shop about two blocks from their home.

With David and Stacey’s knowledge of how to run a coffee shop, the two families decided to take a leap of faith and start the business.

Since opening its doors four years ago, Joe Pine has quickly become a mainstay in downtown Marshall. With an inviting atmosphere and a quality

cup of coffee, the goal is for patrons to feel like guests. That’s, in part, because of three guiding principles that are foundational to Joe Pine abbreviated by the letters “ETX.” “Our values are: Everyone is important. Transforming community.

Experience is paramount,” Jill Davis said.

“Everyone is important” is the idea of making someone feel comfortable when they walk through the doors, as if they were a guest in one’s home, she explained.

“Transforming community is speaking to the idea that we’re teaching people about coffee. We do pay a higher price for our coffee but it’s really because we’re supporting families from around the world,” Davis said. “The other side of that is we’re trying to transform the Marshall community and bring them together

and overcome some of the barriers that we experience.”

“Experience is paramount” is the belief in serving quality coffee and offering excellent customer service that will leave customers with a memorable, positive experience.

To craft its java, Joe Pine works primarily with Texas roasters that have good relationships with the farms from which they source, David Splawn explained.

“So what that means is our coffee is very rare, unique, you can’t get it anywhere else, it’s also very fresh. It’s also some of the best coffee in the world,” he said. “You can get good coffee at other places but you can’t really get anything better than what we have here.”

It also creates a sustainable model for the farmers growing the crops that produce the coffee beans. They receive a good wage and are able to

contribute to their community, Splawn said.

Lattes tend to be the most popular seller on Joe Pine’s menu and people typically add one of Joe Pine’s housemade syrups to them. Joe Pine’s seasonal Whiskey Pecan Latte, which will be available through the winter, is a crowd-pleaser. Meanwhile, bakery items also are made from scratch and Geoffrey Davis noted that quiche is a popular seller among the shop’s food offerings.

Looking toward the future, David Splawn said they would like to reach more people through Joe Pine.

“That could be more space, but it could also mean partnering with other businesses in town to help build downtown as more of a destination and more of a community place,” he said.

Stacey Splawn said she believes Joe Pine has helped create a space for the

community to meet where there wasn’t previously one.

“When I had lunch with David when we first met, he said don’t do it.

Opening a coffee shop is the hardest thing you’ll ever do,” Geoffrey Davis recalled. “He wasn’t wrong. It has been probably the hardest thing we’ve ever done but it’s also been the most rewarding thing we’ve ever done, too.”

Jill Davis said she’s met some of her closest friends through Joe Pine and all four co-owners credited much of the coffee shop’s success to a supportive community and to their team, which strives to create memorable experiences for their guests.

“We have an amazing team and we always have,” Stacey Splawn said.

“We’ve been really fortunate for that.”

To learn more about Joe Pine Coffee Co., visit www.joepinecoffee.com.

Right, Geoffrey and Jill Davis along with David and Stacey Splawn of Joe Pine Coffee Co. in Marshall.

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VISUAL

Table Décor Ideas

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he holiday season is here and that means it’s time to pull out the decorations from storage.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro who wows the family every year or creatively challenged like me whose go-to move is hanging a wreath on the front door, we’ve got some ideas to help you out.

This year, you can make your holiday table truly Pinterestworthy with lighting or your favorite holiday trinkets. Fall colors never go out of style, of course, but cool jewel tones are in for Christmas this year. Think blue, purple, champagne, bronze or silver, and white.

“Thrill, fill and spill,” according to Mark Cureton, certified Texas nursery professional and greenhouse manager at Ellis Pottery in Longview.

You want to vary heights, grouping items together, such as candles, that are higher and lower than each other. Cureton recommends decorating in odd

numbers, too. For example, placing three pumpkins or three lanterns of various sizes creates a more balanced, aesthetically pleasing look.

And speaking of lanterns, lighting is a key element this holiday season. It will undoubtedly make those jewel tones sparkle and shine. Think candlesticks, battery-operated twinkle lights and LED candles, to name a few. The uplighting adds drama and high impact, showing off your cleverly decorated table and centerpiece.

The folks at Casa Flora in Longview recommend mixed

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Create an elegant and classic table setting for your guests with the season’s color using birch and red berries, or go woodsy and rustic with wood slices as placemats. Set your holiday dinnerware on top, pair it with holiday linen and cutlery for a charming look and feel.

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More than just a lighting store EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR HOLIDAY HOSTING AND GIFT GIVING

| CONT. FROM PG. 81 foliage for your holiday table, stating it’s this year’s floral trend.

“Add your favorite trinkets such as pine cones, artichoke, Christmas ornaments or succulents,” said Carissa Wilkinson, floral designer. “This will dress up your table with minimal stress.”

Wilkinson also recommends adding floral and foliage to the chandelier above your table for an elegant look, along with a single floral on each place setting.

“Taking the elements from the center of the tablescape arrangement and drawing your eyes up to the chandelier and back down to each of the seats will create the flow that intrigues your guest,” Wilkinson said.

And lastly, she recommends misting your fresh foliage every day to achieve the most extended life source possible and check daily water levels in your containers.

Create an elegant and classic table setting for your guests with the season’s color using birch and red berries, or go woodsy and rustic with wood slices as placemats. Set your holiday dinnerware on top, pair it with holiday linen and cutlery for a charming look and feel.

Keep it natural and minimalistic with no-frills dinnerware, greenery and linens, adding flair with a small smooth stone embellished with your guests’ names using a metallic marker. Go bold with colorful, festive dinnerware, but keep the linens, tablecloth and décor simple to enhance the dinnerware design.

Plaid is a style that never grows old and indeed invokes the image of a brisk fall day or the cold winter. Use

| CONT. ON PG. 85

SCAN FOR COUPON 2900 GILMER RD. LONGVIEW | (903) 295-9516 | THEGALLERYOFLIGHTS.COM

November/December 2021 | etxview.com

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Table Décor Ideas

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| CONT. FROM PG. 83 plaid-designed placemats and linens, including pine cones and birch, in your centerpiece. Light some candles or lanterns and enjoy a holiday meal with the family.

Tap into your creative juices and repurpose old wine bottles as a centerpiece. Clean them out, spray paint them white, pop in a few sprigs of gold and red holly and voila! You’ve created a warm, cozy and inviting holiday table for your friends and family.

Serve your favorite holiday meals on dinnerware that includes jewel tones, holiday themes or a simple look, so your table is the canvas.

This year, some of the hottest looks for Thanksgiving include elegant porcelain, pumpkins, farmhouse white, delicate fall detailing and squareshaped platters perfect for passing food around the table without spillage.

Enjoy your Christmas meal on dinnerware, such as porcelain with holly berry details or Santa Clause, snowmen or Christmas trees, that complements your meal and your tablescapes. The solid color red with gold trim or hues of red, green and gold work well. Serve your guests on your vintage dinnerware grandma used to use. Personalized plates with the family name might be fun, too.

Whether you’re an experienced pro or a first-timer, your holiday table will pop with color and invoke the holiday season with these holiday table decorating tips.

| CONT. ON PG. 86 November/December 2021 | etxview.com

85

Table Décor Ideas Bougie on a Budget

F

or this feature, ETX View partnered with Bougie on a Budget for a stylized holiday table shoot.

“Bougie on a Budget was designed to bring interior design into the homes of people who really don’t think they can afford it,” co-founder Hillary Davidson said. “Interior design is usually associated with affluence and wealth, and that’s absolutely not the way we do it.”

At Bougie on a Budget, Davidson works with clients based on their budget and works to stretch every dollar.

If a client has a $500 budget for a bathroom makeover, she strives to make it look like a $3,000 project.

Davidson has more than three decades of experience in interior design and has worked across the country, including in Alabama and Connecticut. She brought Bougie on a Budget to East Texas – her roots – about a year and a half ago.

For this holiday table photoshoot, ETX View also worked with such businesses as Manly’s Furniture, which provided a table; Casa Flora, which provided a holiday floral arrangement; Louis Morgan No. 4, which provided holiday place settings; and Ellis Pottery, which provided holiday decorations.

Bougie on a Budget arranged the items for this photoshoot into a beautiful holiday table setting.

Bougie on a Budget serves Longview, Tyler, Shreveport and greater East Texas. For information, visit bougieonbudget.com or find the business on Facebook and Instagram.

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CALENDAR & CULTURE

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W East Texas churches plan holiday activities

ith each holiday season, East Texas churches host events throughout December to focus on the original reason for the season: the birth of Christ.

The events, which will be held throughout December, offer a time for family and friends across the region to connect with each other and with God. The Christmas story will be celebrated in re-enactments and song around the region.

Here’s a look at a few East Texas churches planning special holiday activities. | CONT. ON PG. 90

S T O RY B Y J O L E E F E R G U S O N P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M I C H A E L C AVA Z O S A N D S H E R I H E N D R I C K

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Drive through nativity at Forest Home Baptist Church in Kilgore.

| CONT. FROM PG. 89

Drive-Through Story of Christ – Forest Home Baptist Church in Kilgore Forest Home Baptist Church will begin setting up for its drivethrough nativity the week after Thanksgiving, with the event set for 6-9 p.m. Dec. 9, 10 and 11 at the church at 15746 County Rd 173 N. in Kilgore.

“We just feel like the Lord’s called us to do it,” said Patrick Monk, the church’s minister of education.

The free event greets carloads of people with oil derricks, and Santa Claus, with music provided by the adult choir and a train area manned by the church’s youth. It’s

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the back area of the drive-through that focuses on the story of Jesus, by portraying different Biblical scenes: the prophecy of Jesus’ birth; Gabriel and Mary; a market scene that could be Nazareth or Bethlehem; and the shepherds in the field with angels telling them about Christ’s birth; a Nativity scene; another with the Wise Men; and then Jesus praying in the garden.

The event started small and grew over the years, with about 100 to 140 people working as some 1,200 cars drive through each night.

“Our people love doing it,” Monk said.

“Messiah” sing-along Marvin United Methodist Church – Tyler Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler will continue a tradition this year of hosting a community sing-along of the section of Handel’s “Messiah” that tells of the birth of Christ and culminates with the famous “Hallelujah” chorus. The concert will be hosted at 5 p.m. Dec. 5 in

the church’s main sanctuary.

Several local churches previously offered similar singalongs, but Kara Story, the church’s music and fine arts director, said Marvin United Methodist Church is currently the only one that continues to do so.

“Marvin has such a great, longstanding history of good, traditional, classic music,” she said, for decades, since about the 1940s. “We’re just keeping the tradition.”

Before COVID-19 hit, 500 to 600 people would participate in the communitywide event. The church skipped the event in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Story said the church’s large sanctuary has several sides and balconies for seating. Masks are encouraged but not required, and people may practice social distancing by sitting in the balconies.

“Messiah” was written in 1742.

“It’s one of those classics,” and contains all the typical Christmas texts from the Bible that people recognize.

The church also will host its free noontime Christmas concerts each Wednesday in December, starting

Chris Tomlin concert at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler. at 12:05 p.m. The 30 minute concerts are followed by a free soup and sandwich lunch.

This year’s performers are: Dec. 1 – three Tyler Junior College Chorales, the Chamber Singers, Harmony and main concert choir; Dec. 8 – Yule Trio, with Kara Story and her husband, Jonathan Story, and Jonathan Chavez; Dec. 15 – the church’s Robinson Hand Bells choir; and Dec. 22 – Rose City Brass, featuring a quintet of professors from the University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College.

Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler will mark the season with lots of music.

Check the church’s website https://www.gabc.org/ for ticketing details about the Dec. 3 and 4 Chris Tomlin concerts at the church.

Then, on Dec. 5, the church will host a community event with a large Christmas tree in the parking lot, food trucks, hot chocolate and activities for children, with a

community Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m.

Then, the biggest event, The Christmas Program, performed by the church’s worship ministry will be staged at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Dec 12 and 7 p.m. Dec. 13.

The event attracts about 13,000 people each year.

Mobberly Baptist Church in Longview Mobberly Baptist Church’s “Sounds of the Season” concerts will return this year, after missing 2020 because of COVID-19.

“It was sad to us that we weren’t able to (host the concert in 2020),” Melinda Burns, the church’s worship coordinator, said earlier this year. “Right now, if all goes as planned, we are planning on having that again this year.”

The concerts are at 7 p.m.

Dec. 10-11 and 3 p.m. Dec. 12.

Burns said the concerts feature the church’s full choir and orchestra, with the last half of the program focusing on all sacred music with a dramatization of the Nativity.

“Mobberly has been known

for doing musical productions for years, but particularly around Christmas - I guess we started this 10 to 12 years ago as far as a yearly or annual program at Christmas,” Burns said. “We have looked at this always as a gift to the community. It’s important to us to point to the reason for the season, and it’s non-threatening to come to something like this and be entertained and yet hear truth, hear the real reason that we celebrate Christmas.”

The church also will host a dinner Sunday for people served by different ministries in the area, such as Hiway 80 Rescue Mission and the women’s shelter.

Music on the Square – First Presbyterian Church in Longview First Presbyterian Church in downtown Longview will once again host its Music on the Square Christmas concert series, over three days at lunchtime in the sanctuary.

Check the church’s website for additional information at https:// www.fpclongview.org.

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CALENDAR events

NOVEMBER/DEC. Items on the calendar are subject to change because of COVID-19 considerations. Verify activities with event organizers.

ARP OLD FASHIONED COUNTRY CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. DEC. 4

Arp City Park www.arpcommunityevents.org

CHRISTMAS PARADE + TREE LIGHTING 6 P.M. DEC. 4

Parade in downtown Arp Tree lighting follows parade at Arp City Park www.arpcommunityevents.org

AVINGER AVINGER WINE FESTIVAL 11 A.M. TO 6 P.M. NOV. 6

Downtown Avinger www.avingerwinefestival.com

Henderson Syrup Festival

BULLARD FREEDOM 5K BULLARD EDUCATION FOUNDATION 9 A.M. NOV. 6 Bullard High School 1216 S. Houston St. www.itri365.com

CHRISTMAS KICKOFF FESTIVAL DEC. 3-4 Downtown Bullard bullardtexas.net

CANTON YESTERLAND FALL FESTIVAL NOW THROUGH NOV. 7

Yesterland Farm 15410 I-20 www.yesterlandfarm.com

DOWNTOWN CANTON FARMERS MARKET 8 A.M. TO 12 P.M. NOV. 6, 13, 20

Downtown Canton www.cantonmainstreet.org/ farmers-market 92

November/December 2021 | etxview.com

FIRST MONDAY TRADE DAYS DEC. 2-5 First Monday Grounds 800 First Monday Lane www.firstmondaycanton.com

HOLIDAY MAGIC: THE CHRISTMAS BAZAAR 7 P.M. TO 9 P.M. DEC. 4 Canton Marketplace 1455 N. Trade Days Blvd. www.cantontexaschamber.com

LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE 6:30 P.M. DEC. 11

Downtown Canton www.cantontexaschamber.com

CARTHAGE 75TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE 7 P.M. DEC. 6 Downtown Carthage www.carthagetexas.us

STELLAR SPELLER COUNTY BEE 7 P.M. DEC. 7

The Esquire Theater 114 W. Sabine St. www.carthagetexas.us

DAINGERFIELD CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK 6 P.M. DEC. 15-18 Daingerfield State Park 455 Park Road 17

EDGEWOOD EDGEWOOD HERITAGE FESTIVAL 8:45 A.M. TO 4 P.M. NOV. 13 Downtown Edgewood heritageparkmuseumetx.org

GILMER 1650 FALL MARKET 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M. NOV. 13 12468 FM 1650

TTR TURKEY TROT NOV. 19-21

Barnwell Mountain 6284 Texas 155 www.barnwellmountainra.com

YULEFEST + CHRISTMAS PARADE DEC. 4

Activities all day Christmas parade at 6 p.m Downtown Gilmer www.gilmerareachamber.com

GLADEWATER HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M. NOV. 13

Downtown Gladewater www.gladewaterchamber.org

GLADEWATER CHRISTMAS PARADE 6 P.M. DEC. 14 Downtown Gladewater www.gladewaterchamber.org

HENDERSON HERITAGE SYRUP FESTIVAL 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. NOV. 13 Downtown Henderson and Historic Depot Grounds www.visithendersontx.com

CHRISTMAS PARADE + COMMUNITY TREE LIGHTING 6 P.M. DEC. 2

Downtown Henderson www.visithendersontx.com

“JUNIE B. JONES IN JINGLE BELLS BATMAN SMELLS” DEC. 3-5 AND DEC. 10-12 Henderson Civic Theatre 122 E. Main St. hendersoncivictheatre.org

JEFFERSON FALL HISTORY, HAUNTS AND LEGENDS NOV. 5-6 Jefferson Convention and Visitor Center 305 E. Austin St. visitjeffersontexas.com

CASINO NIGHT BENEFITING TOYS FOR TOTS 6 P.M. NOV. 21 Jefferson Convention and Visitor Center 305 E. Austin St. visitjeffersontexas.com

JEFFERSON CHRISTMAS PARADE + TREE LIGHTING 6 P.M. NOV. 27 Downtown Jefferson visitjeffersontexas.com

JEFFERSON CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF HOMES DEC. 2-4 AND DEC. 9-11 Various homes in Jefferson jeffersoncandlelight.com

JEFFERSON WASSAIL WALK NOON TO 7 P.M. DEC. 4 Downtown Jefferson visitjeffersontexas.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE EXPRESS TRAIN 12:30 P.M., 2:30 P.M. AND 6 P.M. DEC. 31 Historic Jefferson Railway 400 E. Austin St. visitjeffersontexas.com

KILGORE TEXAS RADIO HALL OF FAME REUNION WEEKEND + INDUCTIONS NOV. 5-6

Texas Museum of Broadcasting and Communications 1301 S. Henderson Blvd. www.trhof.net

DOWNTOWN KILGORE VINTAGE MARKET NOV. 6 Downtown Kilgore kilgoremercantile.com

REEL EAST TEXAS FILM FESTIVAL NOV. 6-14 Texan Theatre 201 S. Kilgore St. www.reeleasttexas.com

A VERY DERRICK CHRISTMAS 3 P.M. TO 8 P.M. NOV. 13

Downtown Kilgore www.kilgoremainstreet.com

CHRISTMAS EXPRESS TRAIN NOV. 26-27, DEC. 4, 11, 18, 25 Historic Jefferson Railway 400 E. Austin St. visitjeffersontexas.com

| CONT. ON PG. 94 November/December 2021 | etxview.com

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| CONT. FROM PG. 93 BLUEGRASS & BLUE BELL ACOUSTIC JAM 4 P.M. TO 9 P.M. NOV. 13 AND DEC. 11 Kilgore Mercantile & Music 105 N. Kilgore St. kilgoremercantile.com

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB DINNER & BINGO 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. NOV. 18 AND DEC. 16

LINDALE VINTAGE MARKET DAYS PRESENTS FIRESIDES & FLANNEL NOV. 5-7 Picker’s Pavilion at Blackberry Square 205 E. North St. www.visitlindale.com

LINDALE TURKEY TROT 8 A.M. NOV. 25

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 314 N. Henderson Blvd.

E.J. Moss Intermediate School 411 E. Eagle Spirit Drive

KILGORE MINGLE & JINGLE NOV. 27

LINDALE ROTARY CHRISTMAS PARADE 5:45 P.M. DEC. 4

Downtown Kilgore www.kilgoremainstreet.com

KILGORE CRUISE NIGHT 3 P.M. TO 6 P.M. NOV. 27 AND JAN. 1

Picker’s Pavilion at Blackberry Square 205 E. North St. www.visitlindale.com

Downtown Kilgore kilgoremercantile.com

LONGVIEW

KILGORE CHRISTMAS PARADE 6:30 P.M. NOV. 30

SHERRY GIRYOTAS: SEEKING PLACE NOW THROUGH DEC. 22

Downtown Kilgore www.cityofkilgore.com

GEEKMAS CHRISTMAS IN KILGORE DEC. 1 Downtown Kilgore kilgoremercantile.com

CHRISTMAS IN KILGORE DEC. 11 AND DEC. 18

Downtown Kilgore www.kilgoremainstreet.com

LIBERTY CITY LIBERTY CITY 34TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE 2:30 P.M. DEC. 5

Parade begins at intersection of FM 1252 and Old Highway 135 www.sabinefiredept.com

Longview Museum of Fine Arts 215 E. Tyler St. www.lmfa.org

CARMELA’S MAGICAL SANTA LAND NOV. 5-JAN. 1

LONGVIEW JAYCEES TRADE DAYS NOV. 13-14 AND DEC. 11-12 Longview Exhibit Center 1123 Jaycee Drive www.greggcountyfair.com/ Trade_Days

WAGS AND WHISKERS FUR BALL 6 P.M. TO 10 P.M. NOV. 13

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center 100 Grand Blvd. www.longviewtexas.gov

“JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT” 7 P.M. NOV. 18-20 AND 2 P.M. NOV. 20-21 ArtsView Children’s Theatre 313 W. Tyler St. artsviewchildrenstheatre.com

GOBBLE WOBBLE 5K 8 A.M. (REGISTRATION), 9 A.M. (RUN) NOV. 20

6085 U.S. 259 North

DOWNTOWN LIVE 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M. NOV. 5

A VERY MERRY MARKET 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. NOV. 20

Heritage Plaza 219 E. Methvin St. www.visitlongviewtexas.com

HISTORIC LONGVIEW FARMERS MARKET 7:30 A.M. TO 11:30 A.M. SATURDAYS IN NOVEMBER 105 W. Cotton St. www.historiclongviewfarmersmarket.com

Oil Horse Brewing Co. 101 W. Tyler St. www.facebook.com/ Oilhorsebrewing November/December 2021 | etxview.com

Various homes in Longview easttexasbuilders.org/paradeof-homes/

Paul G. Boorman Trail, Loop entrance 121 Summers Drive www.newgatemission.org

PINTS & POSES 2 P.M. TO 3 P.M. NOV. 6 AND DEC. 4

94

EAST TEXAS BUILDERS ASSOCIATION’S FALL PARADE OF HOMES NOV. 5-7 AND NOV. 12-14

The Church at Lake Cherokee 11968 FM 2011 S

BEN WOOLLEY AND TAYLOR TUMLINSON 6:30 P.M. NOV. 20 Longview Museum of Fine Arts 215 E. Tyler St. www.lmfa.org

NEWSBOYS STEP INTO THE LIGHT TOUR 7 P.M. NOV. 20 Belcher Center 2100 S. Mobberly Ave. www.belchercenter.com

COMMUNITY TREE LIGHTING 4 P.M. NOV. 21

Heritage Plaza 219 E. Methvin St. www.visitlongviewtexas.com

FASHION & FIRS 5:30 P.M. TO 7:30 P.M. NOV. 30

Gregg County Historical Museum 214 N. Fredonia St. www.gregghistorical.org

LONGVIEW AMBUCS CHRISTMAS PARADE 6:30 P.M. DEC. 2

Downtown Longview www.visitlongviewtexas.com

LONGVIEW SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS CONCERT 7 P.M. DEC. 3

Wonderland of Lights downtown Marshall

Belcher Center 2100 S. Mobberly Ave. www.belchercenter.com

LOBLOLLY MODEL TRAIN FEATURING “THE POLAR EXPRESS” TRAIN DEC. 4-23 Gregg County Historical Museum 214 N. Fredonia St. www.gregghistorical.org

CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M. DEC. 4

SENSITIVE SANTA 9 A.M. TO 10:30 A.M. DEC. 5 Longview Mall 3500 McCann Road longviewmall.com

EAST TEXAS SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT 3 P.M. DEC. 5

Longview Exhibit Center 1123 Jaycee Drive www.longviewtexas.gov

Belcher Center 2100 S. Mobberly Ave. www.belchercenter.com

SWEET STRUCTURES AT LONGVIEWWOW 10:15 A.M. TO 2:15 P.M. DEC. 4

PAWS & CLAUS 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. DEC. 6

LongviewWOW 112 E. Tyler St. www.longviewwow.org

CHRISTMAS AT THE COURTHOUSE 5 P.M. TO 9 P.M. DEC. 4

Downtown Longview www.visitlongviewtexas.com

LONGVIEW MALL TREE LIGHTING 7 P.M. DEC. 4

Longview Mall 3500 McCann Road longviewmall.com

Longview Mall 3500 McCann Road longviewmall.com

HOLIDAY TEA ROOM & MARKET DEC. 7-10

Longview Museum of Fine Arts 215 E. Tyler St. www.lmfa.org

THEOLOGY ON TAP 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. DEC. 7 Oil Horse Brewing Co. 101 W. Tyler St. www.facebook.com/ Oilhorsebrewing

ARTWALK 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M. DEC. 9

Downtown Longview www.artwalklongview.com

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA 9 A.M. TO 10:30 A.M. DEC. 11 Longview Museum of Fine Arts 215 E. Tyler St. www.lmfa.org

COOKIES & CLAUS 1 P.M. TO 3 P.M. DEC. 11 Longview Mall 3500 McCann Road longviewmall.com

HOLIDAY SIP & SHOP 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M. DEC. 11 Longview Mall 3500 McCann Road longviewmall.com

A GREEN CHRISTMAS 4:30 P.M. TO 9:30 P.M. DEC. 11

The Green 207 S. Spur 63 www.longviewtexas.gov/parks

| CONT. ON PG. 96 November/December 2021 | etxview.com

95

Tyler Christmas Parade

WASSAIL WALK 1 P.M. TO 5 P.M. NOV. 27 Downtown Marshall www.facebook.com/ WonderlandOfLightsTX/

LIGHTING CEREMONY 6 P.M. NOV. 27 Downtown Marshall www.facebook.com/ WonderlandOfLightsTX/

“THE GRINCH” 1 P.M. DEC. 4

Memorial City Hall Performance Center 110 E. Houston St. www.facebook.com/ WonderlandOfLightsTX/

LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE 6 P.M. DEC. 4 Downtown Marshall www.facebook.com/ WonderlandOfLightsTX/

| CONT. FROM PG. 95 ED JURDI & GORDY QUIST 6:30 P.M. DEC. 11

Longview Museum of Fine Arts 215 E. Tyler St. www.lmfa.org

TIM HAWKINS 7 P.M. DEC. 11

Belcher Center 2100 S. Mobberly Ave. www.belchercenter.com

PAWS & CLAUS 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. DEC. 13 Longview Mall 3500 McCann Road longviewmall.com

CLASSIC ARMS PRODUCTIONS GUN & KNIFE SHOW DEC. 18-19

Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center 100 Grand Blvd. www.longviewtexas.gov

FIRST NIGHT GALA, BENEFITING ARTSVIEW CHILDREN’S THEATRE DEC. 31

The Summit Club 3700 Judson Road artsviewchildrenstheatre.com 96

November/December 2021 | etxview.com

MARSHALL

CHARLES DICKENS’ “A CHRISTMAS CAROL” 3 P.M. DEC. 5

VETERANS PARADE 10 A.M. NOV. 13 Downtown Marshall

Memorial City Hall Performance Center 110 E. Houston St. www.memorialcityhall.com

MARSHALL MAIN STREET CRUISE NIGHT 5 P.M. TO 9 P.M. NOV. 13

TEXAS BIGFOOT FILM FESTIVAL 11 A.M. TO 10:15 P.M.

YESTERDAY AND TODAY: THE INTERACTIVE BEATLES EXPERIENCE 7:30 P.M. NOV. 13

TATUM

Downtown Marshall www.marshalltexas.com

Memorial City Hall Performance Center 110 E. Houston St. www.memorialcityhall.com

MARSHALL SYMPHONY’S “AMERICAN LANDSCAPES” CONCERT 7 P.M. NOV. 20 Memorial City Hall Performance Center 110 E. Houston St. www.marshallsymphony.com

WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS NOV. 27-DEC. 23 Downtown Marshall www.facebook.com/ WonderlandOfLightsTX/

Memorial City Hall Performance Center 110 E. Houston St. www.memorialcityhall.com

CHRISTMAS IN THE PINEYWOODS 6 P.M. DEC. 3 AND DEC. 4

Martin Creek Lake State Park 9515 County Road 2181D tpwd.texas.gov

TROUP HOLIDAY IN THE COUNTRY 6 P.M. TO 9 P.M. NOV. 15 Downtown Troup trouptx.com

TROUP CHRISTMAS PARADE 6 P.M. DEC. 9 Downtown Troup trouptx.com

TYLER SECRETS OF THE GARDEN ART EXHIBIT THROUGH NOV. 7 Gallery Main Street 110 N. College Ave. www.downtowntyler.org

COREEN MARY SPELLMAN: WORKS ON PAPER EXHIBITION THROUGH DEC. 5 Tyler Museum of Art 1300 S. Mahon tylermuseum.org

MISTLETOE & MAGIC GALA 7 P.M. TO 11:30 P.M. NOV. 13 Willow Brook Country Club 3205 W. Erwin St. mistletoeandmagic.com

EAST TEXAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OPENING NIGHT WITH SYLVIA D’ERAMO 7:30 P.M. NOV. 13 UT Tyler Cowan Center 2835 Old Omen Road etso.org

TOM PAPA 7:30 P.M. NOV. 18

ROSE CITY FARMERS MARKET 8 A.M. TO 12 P.M. NOV. 6, NOV. 13, NOV. 20

UT Tyler Cowan Center 2835 Old Omen Road www.cowancenter.org

FOR KING AND COUNTRY 7:30 P.M. NOV. 6

Racquet & Jog 5403 S. Broadway Ave. www.facebook.com/ tylerturkeytrot

ETX Brewing Co. 221 S. Broadway Ave.

The Oil Palace 10408 Texas 64 East www.oilpalace.com

JOE NICHOLS MEMORIAL EXHIBITION NOV. 11-JAN. 2 Gallery Main Street 110 N. College Ave. www.downtowntyler.org

TYLER TRAIL RUN AT LINDSEY PARK 7 A.M. NOV. 13

Lindsey Park 12557 Texas 364 Spur West www.itri365.com

REMEMBRANCE RUN TYLER 8 A.M. NOV. 13 The Children’s Park of Tyler 110 E. Dobbs St. www.childrensparktyler.com

TYLER WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S 8 A.M. NOV. 13 UT Tyler 3900 University Blvd. act.alz.org

HIT THE BRICKS NOV. 13

Downtown Tyler www.downtowntyler.org/hitthe-bricks

TYLER TURKEY TROT 9 A.M. 5K, 8:15 A.M. KIDS RACE NOV. 25

BLACK FRIDAY BASH SIP & SHOP 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M. NOV. 26 Downtown Tyler sipandshoptexas.com

MISTLETOE & MAGIC MARKET DEC. 1-4

Tyler Rose Garden Center 420 Rose Park Drive mistletoeandmagic.com

A CELEBRATION WITH ZZ TOP 7:30 P.M. DEC. 1 UT TYLER COWAN CENTER 2835 Old Omen Road www.cowancenter.org

ROTARY CLUBS OF TYLER CHRISTMAS PARADE + TREE LIGHTING 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. DEC. 2

Downtown Tyler visittyler.com/rosecitychristmas/

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK 6 P.M. DEC. 3 The Children’s Park of Tyler 110 E. Dobbs St. www.childrensparktyler.com

DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN GOOD TURN AWARD LUNCHEON 11:30 A.M. DEC. 7

Green Acres Crosswalk Center 1607 Troup Highway www.tylertexas.com

DOWNTOWN TYLER’S HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE DEC. 9

Downtown Tyler visittyler.com/rosecitychristmas/

HIT THE BRICKS DEC. 11

Downtown Tyler www.downtowntyler.org/hitthe-bricks

AZALEA DISTRICT TRAIL OF LIGHTS DEC. 11-31

Homes throughout the Azalea District visittyler.com/rosecitychristmas/

NORMAN ROCKWELL EXHIBITION DEC. 19-MARCH 6 Tyler Museum of Art 1300 S. Mahon tylermuseum.org

WHITEHOUSE CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK + CHRISTMAS PARADE DEC. 4 Whitehouse City Park 309 E. Main St. www.whitehousetx.com

WHITE OAK CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M. DEC. 4 Savage Village + Crust & Crumb Bread Co. 1908 U.S.80 East

Have an event you’d like to submit for our calendar? Email ETX View Editor Christina Cavazos at ccavazos@mrobertsmedia.com with information. Submissions for January/February are due

by Nov. 20. Submissions for March/April are due by Jan. 20.

November/December 2021 | etxview.com

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BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Nothing will keep us from making your breast health a priority, whether you need a mammogram, help choosing the right physician or treatment plan, from chemotherapy to radiation to surgery.

We provide safe, high-quality care for every step of your journey, with a dedicated nurse navigator to walk each step alongside you.

with a health risk assessment that can be found by visiting CHRISTUShealth.org/BreastRisk, or schedule an appointment for your 3D mammogram today by calling 903.606.5433.

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CONNECTING TO

VISIT OUR CAMPUS PREVIEW DAYS Monday, October 11, 2021 Monday, January 24, 2022 Monday, February 21, 2022 TIGER DAY Saturday, November 13, 2021 Saturday, April 2, 2022

FIND MORE INFORMATION AT WWW.ETBU.EDU/VISIT 903.923.2000 | ADMISSIONS@ETBU.EDU | ONE TIGER DRIVE | MARSHALL, TEXAS 75670 100

November/December 2021 | etxview.com