12 minute read
Thursday, Dec. 1-Saturday, Dec
by okcfriday
FUNDRAISERS
Dec. 30 • NYEE 2022 Darci Lynne, Oklahoma ventriloquist, singer, actress and 2017 America’s Got Talent winner comes home to perform her last show of 2022 for the Oklahoma Opry’s end of the year fundraiser. Join Darci Lynne and friends Friday, Dec. 30, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for the New Year’s Eve Eve fundraiser and concert. Tickets range from $45 $250 with VIP Sponsorships available at oklahoma opry.com. Oklahoma Cultural Treasure, Queen of Rockabilly and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member, Wanda Jackson will also be honored this evening with the Wanda Jackson Trailblazer Award. This award in her name will then be given annually to a person who has been a trailblazer in their field.
THIS WEEKEND
Dec. 3 • Saints Santa Run The annual Saints Santa Run is a familyfriendly holiday run that brings young and old and even pets to downtown Oklahoma City for a festive 5K. The Santa Run returns to it location at SSM Health – St. Anthony (1000 N. Lee Ave.) in Midtown on Saturday, Dec. 2 • Makers at the Market Makers at the Market is a new monthly market in the Paseo Arts District featuring local artists and makers taking place every First Friday of the month from 5 – 9 pm. We welcome vendors who make their own items, curate vintage, make their own food, etc. This market is outdoors and runs rain or shine. Nearby parking and indoor restrooms are available.
Dec 3. The event includes a 5K run/walk 9:30am, 1mile fun run 9am and a free 50yard kids’ dash 8:45am and is a great way to stay active and spread holiday cheer this season. Participants in the 5K run/walk or 1mile fun run will receive a commemorative Saints Santa Run tshirt and finisher medal. Runners can dress like Santa or in a holiday costume for a chance to win cash prizes. For details and to register, visit DowntowninDecember.com.
Dec. 3 • Cowboy Christmas Parade Stockyards City Main Street would like to invite everyone to come to historic Stockyards City for the annual Cowboy Christmas Parade on Saturday. The festivities kick off at 10 am with the Slash O Ranch Longhorns leading the parade. Also included in the parade are equestrian groups, music, the Shriners, antique cars, community groups, pageant royalty, the famous Cowboy Santa and much more. The parade begins at Penn and Exchange. Following the parade, there will be other activities. You can get your picture made with Cowboy Santa at Stockyards Central Event Center, 2312 Exchange Ave. Oklahoma Opry performers will be providing live entertainment and there will be a Made in Oklahoma Market until 3 pm. For more information visit stockyardscity.org.
Dec. 23 Coming Home for Christmas The Holidays are all about family and friends enjoying the magical sights and sounds of the season. The OKCPHIL presents a spectacular program of Holiday favorites with Grammy and Emmy nominee Michael Feinstein, Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate, Oklahoma’s own Susan Powell and your Oklahoma City Philharmonic at the Civic Center. Fri. Dec. 2, 8 pm and Sat. Dec. 3, 2 & 8 pm.
Send calendar events to jennifer@okcfriday.com
Paycom Center Events/Shows: TransSiberian Orchestra Dec. 8 Luke Combs Dec. 910 Parker McCollum Dec. 30 Cirque du Soleil: Corteo Feb. 912, 2023 Blake Shelton 2023 March 17, 2023 Thomas Rhett Aug. 17, 2023 Zoo Amphitheatre: Matchbox Twenty 2023 June 21, 2023 Civic Center Music Hall: OKCPhil Christmas Dec.23 A Canterbury Christmas Dec. 4 The Nutcracker Dec. 10 Magical Cirque Christmas Dec. 2223 CATS Dec. 30Jan. 1 Book of Mormon Jan. 1315 ‘23 Jesus Christ Superstar Feb.1419 ‘23 The Texas Tenors Mar.1718 ‘23 Frozen Mar.22Apr.2, 2023 Other Events/Shows/Awards: Lyric’s A Christmas Carol Nov.16Dec.23 The Christmas Express Dec. 218 HipHop Nutcracker Dec. 211 Ranky Tanky Dec. 6
Cowboy Christmas Ball Dec. 16 Red Earth Treefest – Thru Dec.29 Okla. Opry NYEE 2022 Dec. 30
The holidays are finally here, ushering in a slew of new Christmas movies. I watched as many as possible over Thanksgiving to see how the new movies shape up against modern classics. While there are no instant classics like my personal favorite Elf, there are several fun movies with great actors that will get you in the holiday spirit. Here are a few to get you started.
Spirited, Apple +’s hilarious retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, is the best of the bunch. Will Ferrell is perfectly cast as the ghost of Christmas present looking to have a big impact by redeeming a soul that has been labeled unredeemable. Ryan Reynolds is fabulous as the unredeemable media consultant and Octavia Spencer is great as his assistant with a conscience. The chemistry of the actors provides a strong base for a movie filled with exciting special effects and surprisingly fun song and dance numbers.
Nineties heartthrob Freddie Prinze, Jr., from She’s All That, Scooby Doo, and Star Wars: Rebels, takes the lead in Netflix’s romantic comedy Christmas with You. The story is about an aging pop star played by Aimee Garcia that decides to surprise a fan for Christmas and ends up stuck in the small town because of a blizzard. The cast is primarily Latino. And, the movie does a nice job of weaving Latino culture into the holiday story, adding an element of freshness to the genre.
Falling for Christmas, the new Lindsay Lohan comeback vehicle on Netflix, is absolutely worth a watch. The story is slight and cliché, but the joy of watching child star Lindsay Lohan find her way back to acting is brighter than any of the movie’s faults. Lohan starred in The Parent Trap, Freaky Friday, and Mean Girls before falling into tabloid fodder when she reached her mid20s. Luckily, this movie offers her a nice opportunity to get back to basics. In the movie, Lohan is joined by Chord Overstreet from Glee as her love interest and Jack Wagner of General Hospital as her father.
A Christmas… Present is Oklahoma’s high-profile holiday entry. Produced by Oklahomans Brent Ryan Green, Talia Bella, and Randy Wayne, the drama was filmed on location this fall in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Claremore, and Owasso. Several outstanding local crew members were given lead roles, including make-up department head Sharon Tabb, casting director Ricki Maslar, gaffer Matt Bauske, and actor extraordinaire Darryl Cox.
A Christmas… Present stars Candace Cameron Bure, an actress who rose to fame during the 1980’s starring on the family sitcom Full House for eight seasons. In addition to reprising her role on Fuller House from 2016-2020, Bure is also considered the Christmas movie queen, having starred in eight Hallmark Christmas movies since 2014. This is Bure’s first production for Great American Family, a move that has recently become controversial because of an interview she gave to the Wall Street Journal that implied she left Hallmark because they included too many LGBTQ characters in their stories.
Luckily, if you do like gay people in your movies, Single All the Way, from Netflix, is a fun modern Christmas movie that puts the single gay son in the center of the action. Stars Michael Urie and Philemoon Chambers are joined by a hilarious cast, including Jennifer Coolidge and Kathy Najimy. Not every movie is for everyone. But, it’s nice to see so many different choices.
Happy Holidays!
Community Orchestra announces fun, free and joyous evening of holiday hits
Metro area residents can enjoy holiday music, knock out their holiday shopping lists and support a local nonprofit all in one evening at the Oklahoma Chamber Symphony’s Sounds of the Season concert and silent auction on Saturday, Dec. 10 at First Church OKC, 131 NW 4th St. The free concert features familiar tunes including Greensleeves, Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Christmas Eve/Sarajevo, Chanukah Divertimento and ends with a Christmas carol sing along.
The Sounds of the Season concert also provides attendees an opportunity to bid in a silent auction on a number of thoughtfully curated gift baskets featuring goods and services from local businesses. Proceeds from the silent auction benefit the Oklahoma Chamber Symphony Association, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the operating needs of the Oklahoma Chamber Symphony.
“This concert gives families a chance to enjoy a fun, free and relaxing night out while also offering an opportunity to knock a few things off of their holiday to-do lists,” said Jessica Dietrich, Oklahoma Chamber Symphony Association board president. “Our musicians are excited to bring merriment and cheer to our local community.”
Prior to the concert, attendees can cruise down historic Automobile Alley for the district’s holiday open house and experience its stunning light display during the Lights On Broadway event from 4 - 7 pm. Various retail shops and restaurants will feature buzz-worthy window displays, in addition to pop-up activities, special promotions and family-friendly programming.
Pre-concert festivities will begin at 7:00 pm with a silent auction and hot chocolate bar. Admission is free. Approximately 90 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. Sounds of the Season: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Christmas Overture, op. 74 Victor Hely-Hutchinson: A Carol Symphony Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on “Greensleeves” Vaughan Williams: A Vaughan Williams Christmas Jonathan Allentoff: Chanukah Divertimento Trans-Siberien Orchestra/arr. Philips: Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 Trans-Siberien Orchestra/arr. Philips: A Mad Russian’s Christmas Leroy Anderson: A Christmas Festival (sing-along)
THIS MESSAGE SPONSORED BY THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES:
FURNITURE DESIGN SUPPLIES PRINTING Oklahoma City (405) 947-5676 www.warrenproducts.com
Michael Nelson; Riley Leigh Richardson, daughter of Lisa and Brad Richardson; AnnaKate Eliza Ross, daughter of Amy and Frank Sewell and Jeff Ross; Ashley Marie Schwarz, daughter of Dana and Keith Schwarz; Sterling McCall Senner, daughter of Deborah and Scott Senner; Margaret Hayes Sullivan (Hayes), daughter of Lauren and Andy Sullivan; Margaret Corinne Tidholm, daughter of Mary and John Tidholm; and Anna Lee Young, daughter of the late Lee Young and Alison Young.
The escorts and their parents are:
Baker Cole Burns, son of Lindsey and Brandon Burns; Carter Steven Cole, son of Janna and Steven Cole; James Edward Brooks Cook II, son of Sara and James Cook; Andrew Jackson Elerick, son of Keri and Christopher Elerick; Range Faulkner, son of Brittany and Drew Faulkner; Michael Warren Feighny, son of Amy and Jim Feighny; Robert Maxwell Hardberger, son of Crystal and Derek Hardberger; Matthew Edward Harper, son of Penny and David Harper; Nicholas Zane Hermen, son of Tamara and Jeffrey Hermen; Thomas Edward Hughes, son of Mary Jane and Ronald Hughes; and William Gray Jackson, son of Maryanne and Paul Jackson.
Also, Jacob Henry Johnston, son of Erin and Craig Johnston Parker Scott Kays, son of Shelley and Jason Kays; Brandon Matthew Knight, son of Charlie and Thomas Knight; Grant Harrison McLain, son of Janet and Scott McLain; Michael David McLaughlin, son of Christina and Robert McLaughlinl Matthew McClintock, son of Niki and Michael McClintock Preston Monroe Nelson, son of Kerry Stephens; Nelson and Stanton Nelson; Faisal Mekki Saheli, son of Mekki and Weama Saheli; Richard Spencer Simms, son of Richard Simms and Whitney Simms; Martin Davidson Smith, son of Karen and Martin Smith; Cooper Thomas Terlip, son of Laura and Guy Turlip; and Christopher Meade Hendee, son of Caroline and Durward Hendee.
After the debs are presented, guests dance to the music of Souled Out and the evening concludes with a late breakfast.
Fields and Futures is the recipient of the charitable proceeds of this year’s ball, which is a local nonprofit designated by Club President Preston Nelson. The Bachelors Club of Oklahoma City has raised more than $1,015,000 for local charities through its annual Charity Ball.
“We are looking forward to another lively Ball and donating to Fields and Futures, a charity that makes such an impact in Oklahoma City’s youth,” said Ball Chairman Erika Mattison.
According to tradition, Bachelors Club members invite the women to be debutantes on Thanksgiving Day. They present each debutante personally with an invitation and a rose and toast them with a glass of champagne.
The Bachelors Club of Oklahoma City was founded in 1938 by a group of young men who wished to promote the social and philanthropic undertakings as well as leadership in the Oklahoma City area. The debutante presentation began in 1945 as a way to raise funds for various Oklahoma City charities. It has been held annually, except in 2020 due to the pandemic, since then.
While other Bachelors Club debutantes were surprised at their homes on Thanksgiving morning, Sterling Senner was on a cruise with her family. Here, her father, Scott, donned his tuxedo and surprised her with champagne at her cruise ship room door. Surprising Bachelors Club Debutante Ashley Schwarzl, second from right, on Thanksgiving morning are Bachelors Club members, from left: Matt Harper, Faisal Saheli, Grant McLain, Bachelors Club President Preston Nelson and Henry Johnston.
VILLAGE
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across the country,” he said. “The search committee then narrowed those applications to the top six and invited them to interview with us via Zoom.
The three finalists have been invited to The Village early this month for in-person interviews with members of the city council and department heads. The candidates are to be given a tour of the city to see the projects currently underway in the city including the $8 million Civic Plaza project – the largest single capital improvement project in the 72year history of the city. “Following these visits, the City Council will make a final decision and extend an offer to the selected candidate,” said Wilkinson. “We have every belief that a new city manager will be in place during the first quarter of 2023.”
Mayor Wilkinson said the council will work closely with Stone during this period to “ensure a smooth transition.”
“I speak for the whole City Council when I say a sincere ‘thank you’ to Bruce for his nearly 37 years of unwavering dedication to our city,” he said.
On the NWOKC chamber calendar:
Holiday Luncheon/Annual Meeting
Thursday, Dec. 15 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Ted’s Cafe Escondido Banquet Room 2836 NW 68 (Across the street from restaurant) Join us for a festive lunch and the Chamber's Annual Meeting. Register by Dec. 12 by visiting www.nwokc.com
Christmas Community Coffee
Wednesday, Dec. 21 8-9 a.m. First Bethany Bank & Trust 6500 NW 39th Expressway Bethany, Okla. You're invited for the Christmas Community Coffee hosted by First Bethany Bank & Trust It's a holiday tradition and lots of fun! This event is free and guests are welcome.
