THE BUZZ
Portland Symphony Orchestra presents 35th year of Magic of Christmas December 12th-21st
T
he Magic of Christmas returns to Merrill Auditorium this year as the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) celebrates the 35th
anniversary of its annual holiday concert. Audiences will be sur- rounded by the sounds of the season at the performance, conducted by PSO Music Director Robert Moody and Assistant Conductor Norman Huynh. This year’s Magic of Christmas welcomes the return of the Organ Prelude with Ray Cornils on the newly refur- bished Kotzschmar Organ. This year’s Magic of Christmas is filled with traditional favorites like “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” and classics from The Nut- cracker, as well as rhythmic pieces from the music of African tribes and the ever-popular “Let it Go” from Frozen. The concert will feature performances from the Magic of Christmas Chorus, directed by Richard Nickerson; vocalist Susie Pepper; the Simply Three string trio; Ray Cornils on the Kotzschmar Organ; the Falmouth Library Ukulele Ensemble (FLUKES); the Inanna, Sisters in Rhythm percus- sion and vocal ensemble; and dancers from the Maine State Ballet. The Organ Preludes begin one hour before each concert, with the exception of the Sunday December 14 concert at 1:00 PM, which features a pre-concert performance by students from the Maine Suzuki Association. For more holiday cheer, explore PSO’s concert online extras: Sleigh Ride and memories of 30 years of Magic of Christmas, online at
PortlandSymphony.org. The concert is sponsored by Holiday Inn by the Bay, IDEXX
Laboratories, L.L. Bean, and Whole Foods Market. Tickets range from $25-70 and are available through PortTIX at (207) 842-0800 or
www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Special pricing for students, seniors, and groups may be available.
Reduce, Recycle, Reuse this Holiday Season
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educe: Give gifts that require little or no packaging, such as the gift of your time (cooking, babysitting, or gardening), a chari- table donation, or tickets to an event. When decorating, use Energy Star energy efficient lighting such as LED outdoor holiday lights, which require 1/50th of the electric- ity of conventional lights and last 20-30 years. Put lights on a timer or turn them on only when someone’s home. When traveling during the holidays consider taking public
transportation, carpooling with friends or relatives, and combining several errands into one trip.
When going shopping, bring reusable cloth bags or tell store
clerks you don’t need a bag for small or oversized purchases. Or combine your purchases into one bag rather than getting a new bag at each store. Recycle: Planning a holiday feast? Think organic veggies, fruits, meat or sustainable seafood. Consider giving a membership to your local community supported agriculture (CSA) program, which provides locally-grown produce year-round. At the end of the meal, remember to compost and recycle. Avoid using disposable dishes and utensils when entertaining friends and family, and if you must use them, buy them made from recycled or compostable material. When sending or giving cards or stationary, look for paper with the highest percentage of post-consumer recycled content. Or make your own cards from paper you’d throw away. Reuse: Use cool wrapping materials. Reuse maps, the Sunday comics, and posters. Wrap gifts without a box. And remember to save ribbons, bows and bags to reuse next year. If you want to celebrate with a tree, consider a tree that can be
replanted later. If you celebrated with a cut tree, after the holidays, look for ways to compost your tree instead of sending it to a landfill.
Hot in Winter: Kennebunkport Offseason Events Offer Something for Everyone
to holiday celebrations (did someone say “lobster elves?”) and demonstrations of athleticism, Kennebunkport, Maine debuts a wide-rang- ing event lineup this winter, drawing fun-seeking travelers of all ages. Cold weather happenings include: Christmas Prelude. December 5 - 14, 2014. Dock Square. The annual celebration that made Kennebunkport HGTV’s #2 Christmas Town in America returns to Dock Square for its 33rd year, bringing residents and visitors together for a two-week holiday celebration. Craft fairs, music, festive dining specials and more are capped off with the annual tree lighting, which draws thousands. Later that weekend, Santa and his “Lobster Elves” make their entrance via lobster boat and the festivities continue into the second week with fireworks and the beloved Pooch Parade.
W
e’re letting the cat out of the bag this winter: Kennebunkport is the place to be. Sure, summer on Maine’s southern coast is idyllic, but in the winter guests get to experience the destination from a local’s perspective: from gallery receptions and world-class cuisine
www.EssentialLivingMaine.com
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