ATLRetro

Atlanta Traditions: Plus ca change, but thank goodness Atlanta—the city so quick to tear down its landmarks—has a few holiday traditions that have endured and a few more that have come back. While we’re supposed to be all grown-up, because Christmas brings out the kid in all but the surliest Scrooges, our favorite has to remain Priscilla the Pink Pig. Though nothing can match the sheer terror I felt as a child at the thought of riding what was then a suspended monorail on the roof of Rich’s Department Store downtown. The first time I flatly refused, left the line and made my parents take me home. Fortunately, my courage grew significantly over the next year, and I can proudly I say I earned my “I Rode the Pink Pig” sticker with my dad. Then Rich’s was bought up by Federated Department Stores in the 1970s, the downtown Rich’s eventually closed, and the Pink Pig became history. Fortunately history can repeat itself, and some brilliant exec resurrected the tradition at Lenox Square to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. While it’s quite not the same as a train ride, Priscilla’s face still retains that cheerful grin of delight among the vintage sets in a big tent for a new generation of kids. Our only complaint—the Macy’s name attached to the front. We don’t hate Macy’s and understand, but this tradition, as well as the Great Tree, will always belong to Rich’s, and we’d feel better if it was “presented by Macy’s” or something more subtle and respectful of their Atlanta born-and-bred origins.

Another Atlanta tradition that disappeared for a while is Christmas at Callanwolde. From Dec. 5-18, the 27,000-square-foot Gothic-Tudor-style mansion, built by the Candler family in 1920 and now an arts center, opens its doors so we can enjoy its breathtaking interior in seasonal splendor as decorated by top local interior and floral designers. Special events include an ongoing Charming ARTifacts craft market, music played on the home’s magnificent vintage Aeolian Pipe Organ, kids activities from Santa Breakfasts to Teddy Bear Teas, and Cabaret Nights with Libby Whittemore on Fri. Dec. 9 and Janet Metzger on Fri. Dec. 16. A gala $75-per-person Premiere Party on Sun. Dec. 4 from 7-10 p.m. features jazz vocalist Marsha DuPree and the Ron Taylor Band.

For more than 50 years, the Atlanta Ballet has been presenting its version of THE NUTCRACKER to delighted audiences of all ages, and if you haven’t experienced it in the magical setting of the Fabulous Fox Theatre, you haven’t experienced Christmas in Atlanta. It may not be as glittery as the Radio City Rockettes Holiday Spectacular in New York, but in additional to creative costumes and fanciful sets, it’s guaranteed to snow! This year’s run is Dec. 8-24.

Finally, it’s not quite a tradition yet, but the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company’s AN ATLANTA CHRISTMAS by Thomas Fuller brings back poignant and funny memories of Christmas traditions in our city at the Academy Theatre in Avondale Estates from Dec. 10-18. Watch for an ATLReview preview by ARTC VP David Benedict, co-producer/co-director of the show earlier that week.

He’s A Mean One, But Let’s Be Merry Anyway: The Broadway Musical version of DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS slinks into the Fabulous Fox Theatre Nov. 29-Dec. 4. Then 7 Stages makes naughty the new nice with its KRAMPUS XMAS SPECTACULAR, an anti-holiday rock and roll musical featuring the German anti-Claus that runs Dec. 8-10. “This is the best damn Christmas show there is,” says 7 Stages Artistic Director Del Hamilton. “It’s bloody and spooky like Halloween; and light and pink like Valentine’s Day; and down and dirty like strip joints. There’s something for everyone. Well, maybe not the younger kids. And there’s free beer [from sponsor Pabst Blue Ribbon] at the end!” Watch out for a bloody red preview with our Kool Kat of the Week Rob Thompson soon. Dad’s Garage offers a new take on the humbug Christmas classic with INVASION: CHRISTMAS CAROL, opening today and running through Dec. 23. This nutty interpretation of the Dickens’ favorite throws all the conventional aspects of the story out the window, replacing them with a delicious improv flavor as different spirits visit every evening, to the surprise of even the cast!

Get Your Gifts from Independent Artists & Shops: We’ll be unwrapping a series of gift guides highlighting local shops and artists over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, check out several Decatur events. On Thurs. Dec. 1, eat, drink, be merry and shop at Decatur’s PushPushTheatre’s Artist Market from 4-11 p.m. Entry fee is just $5 (which supports the theatre), and there will also live entertainment, beer, wine and bar specials. Another great reason to come out—ATLRetro has a booth and we’ll have a bunch of our cool new T-shirts with our rockin’ DerekArt logo, some rare vintage paperdolls and other vintage and vintage-inspired items. Help us support our costs to bring valuable vintage info to you and pay our writers and artists! On Dec. 1, 8 and 15, shops in the City of Decatur stay open late and offer discounts, wine and snacks on Terrific Thursdays. Kudzu Antiques Vintage Home Market inDecatur will be throwing its annual weekend holiday shopping parties on Sat. and Sun afternoons with live music, wine, snacks and sales.

Hark the Honkytonk Angels Sing: Notice we didn’t say country. The folks we list here take their inspiration from old-time country-western, Appalachiana and recharge it with a sound that never grows old. The Whiskey Gentry serve up their Third Annual Merry Y’All Tide Celebration on Fri. Dec, 2 at Variety Playhouse. The annual holiday shindig also features Packway Handle Band, Shovels and Rope and My Three Keanes, and all proceeds benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Read our exclusive preview from the Whiskey Gentry here. Ghost Riders Car Club headlines the Star Bar Toys for Tots benefit on Fri. Dec.16, supported by some of Atlanta’s best old-school country, Redneck Underground and garage bands including the vivacious BareKnuckle Betties, Grinder Nova, Bully, Midway Charmers and Slim Chance and the Convicts, as well as DJ Dusty Booze and Chinchilla the Killa. Best of all, admission is free with an unwrapped Christmas toy valued at $10 or more. Catch up our Kool Kats on Spike Fullerton of the GRCC or Julea Thomerson of BareKnuckle Betties.

Burlesque Means Naughty & Nice: On Fri. Dec. 2, Snow Queens of Burlesque dazzle in Santa Baby, a special wintry holiday edition of Mon Cherie’s Va-Va Voom series at The Shelter featuring special guest celebrity emcee Devin Liquor and performances by Kool Kat Fonda Lingue, Stormy Knight, Biloxi Brown, Katherine Lashe, Scarlet Page and more! On Dec.11, catch Devin Liquor, Aqualencia Litrè and Regina “Boom Bomm” Simms at Friends on Ponce for a show benefitting Toys for Tots and The Atlanta Community Food Bank. Then, on Sat, Dec. 17, it’s a tough choice between the 5th annual Tits for Toys for Tots show, produced by Syrens of the South, at the Five Spot, and Davina and the Harlots’ Christmas Cabaret at the Highland Inn Ballroom. Headlined by burlesque legend Gabriella Maze, returning after almost 30 years, the former features a glitzy all-star line-up of some of Atlanta’s top performers including Fonda Lingue, Talloolah Love, Katherine Lashe, Ruby Redmayne, Kittie Katrina, Knoxville’s Kisa Von Teasa, Lola LeSoleil and more. Admission is $20 or $20 with an unwrapped toy worth at least $5 for Toys for Tots. The latter, themed The Desperate Housewives of the North Pole, tells the plight of poor Mrs. Claus through a variety of acts including special guest appearances by our favorite ragtime man Blair Crimmins, Jessica “Sugar” Cayne Urick, Aqualencia Litre, Ninja Puppet Theater and St. Mikal the Mediocre Santa. In addition to gals that shimmy in their skivvies, prizes and pictures with Santa also are promised, and be sure to bring your dancing shoes so you can enjoy pre- and post-show music spun by DJ Doctor Q of The Artifice Club!

Visions of Sugar Plums & Sweet…Transvestites: Fabrefaction Theatre Company unwraps a special Christmas-themed version of Richard O’Brien’s THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. Brad and Janet’s car still breaks down, but this time Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s castle is relocated to the north pole and costumes and sets reflect a holiday spectacular spirit.

Get in that Old-Time Gospel Spirit: The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s annual ASO Gospel Christmas concert takes place Fri. Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. and Sat. Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. Patdro Harris’ THE NATIVITY: A GOSPEL CELEBRATION retells the original Christmas story with soul-stirring music and dance from Nov. 30-Dec. 30 for Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company at Southwest Arts Center. Meanwhile up at Theatre in the Square in Marietta, A SANDERS FAMILY CHRISTMAS uses gospel music of the bluegrass vein to tell the story of a sunny-voiced Southern family just before the start of World War II.

Santa Meets Psychotronic for the Whole Family!: That jolly old elf arrives at the Plaza Theatre on Sat. Dec. 3 to host two Santa’s Super Saturday Shows, kids matinee at 1 p.m. and grown-up evening show at 10 p.m. Show your kids what the holidays were like when you were a kid or relive the wonder of believing in Santa with vintage Christmas cartoons and shorts and a 35mm screening of cult classic SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS (1964), as well as live stage show by Santa and Blast-Off Burlesque (no wonder that old elf is jolly), Christmas carol singalongs, goody bags, snacks, cider, and a chance to get a 5 x 7 photo of you and Santa. Kids matinee admission is $5 and 10 p.m. show is $10; get $2 off with each new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. All proceeds benefit Toys for Tots and the nonprofit Plaza Theatre, Atlanta’s oldest continuously-running independent cinema.

Two Kings, One Church: No man ever loved Christ’s birthday more than Elvis Presley, so it just seems so right that the Inman Park Methodist Church is celebrating both men with Elvis & Jesus, A king meets The King. Enjoy the King of Rock n Roll’s holiday favorites sung by Atlanta’s own king of swing, Big Mike Geier (Kingsized and Tongo Hiti), the TCC (Taking Care of Christmas) Choir and tough-guy Angel Gabriel (even too cool for a halo and played by Tom Bell) for a hour and 15 minute performance Sun. Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. and Fri. Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. The celebration is free, but contributions are gratefully accepted to support for the United Methodist Children’s Home.

Deck the Halls: One of our favorite pastimes during the holidays is getting a chance to sneak a peek behind the doors of some of Atlanta’s historic homes. Two of the best holiday home tours take place the first weekend of December. Decatur’s Holiday Candelight Tour of Homes (Fri. Dec. 2 and Sat. Dec. 3) features seven homes in the historic neighborhoods of Glenwood Estates and Winnona Park, as well as two historic chapels and the Clairemont Holiday Marketplace. On Sat. Dec. 3 and Sun. Dec. 4, take the Marietta Pilgrimage Tour organized by the Marietta Welcome Center & Visitors Bureau and Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society, now in its 25th year. The historic Davison’s (later Macy’s) Department Store building at 200 Peachtree in downtown Atlanta gets a festive new lease on life as the headquarters of CHRISTMAS ON PEACHTREE, featuring 70,000 square feet of fun family-friendly activities, live music and dance, food and shopping. Expect to meet favorite characters from THE CARTOON NETWORK, the signature sponsor, and part of the proceeds support Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Open through New Years Eve.

Oh, Christmas Trees & the More, the Merrier! Nothing says Retro Christmas than over-the-top light displays and insane amounts of decorations crammed into the smallest possible yard, house or—in the case of Der Biergarten—restaurant. The Luckie-Marietta district German restaurant has pulled out all the stops with nearly 10,000 ornaments, 72 nutcrackers and 26 Christmas trees! Decorations are in place every night through Jan. 8, or come on Dec. 8 for the Nikolaustag Holiday Celebration featuring grown-up reindeer games like beer pong on the patio, hide the pickle (a real German tradition where a pickle ornament is hidden on a tree for prizes), $5 liters of draft beer, comp appetizers and a DJ from 5-7:30 p.m. At Fernbank Museum of Natural History, enjoy WINTER WONDERLAND: CELEBRATIONS & TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD, featuring trees and other displays from cultures around the world, through Jan. 8. Martinis & IMAX officially takes a break in December but returns for one special Salsa Night allowing evening viewing of WINTER WONDERLAND on Dec. 16. Other special events include Caroling and Cupcakes Weekend Dec. 3-4 with performances by the Georgia Boys Choir and Atlanta Ballet, ornament-making crafts, a special appearance by holiday mascot Santa-saurus and cupcakes!

BABES IN TOYLAND: No, we don’t mean another burlesque show, but the magical Christmas classic ballet in its 21st annual performance by Atlanta Dance Theatre at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center on Dec. 9-10. Bring the kids and come join Tom, Mary and all their Storybook friends as they journey through Toyland to the Toymaker’s shop, while dodging the evil antics of villain Barnaby and his cohorts.

Jingle Bell Rock: Go back to the ‘60s and ‘70s with the 3^rd Annual Yacht Rock Revue Holiday Special at Buckhead Theatre on Fri. Dec. 9. A veritable variety of sounds from rock to country-western to blues are on the menu of Atlanta’s Holiday Hootenanny at Variety Playhouse on Sun. Dec. 18 featuring a who’s who of the Atlanta music scene and well-known regional and national acts including Jimmy Hall, Tommy Talton, Col. Bruce Hampton, Ret., Charlie Starr, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Ike Stubblefield, Grant Green Jr., Jeff Sipe, Count M’Butu, Caroline Aiken, Yonrico Scott, Johnny Mosier, Diane Durrett, David Blackmon, Ralph Roddenbery, Donna Hopkins, Wildman Steve, Benji Shanks, Ted Pecchio, Gaurav Malhotra, Copious Jones, plus more surprise guests!

Swing and Jazz Christmas: Does your holiday heart long for the days of Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, Nat King Cole and other ‘30s/’40s/’50s greats—or make you want to dance like you’re at the Holiday Inn? Never fear, Atlanta offers a Santa’s sack full of concerts and theatre productions to satisfy your timeless tastes. Reservations are strongly recommended for the popular Holiday Cabaret Night at Feast restaurant in Decatur on Sat. Dec. 3 featuring the powerful vocals of recent Kool Kat Kayla Taylor singing seasonal standards. The Atlanta Jazz Chorus under the direction of jazz saxophonist and minister Rev. Dwight Andrews join with some of the city’s finest musicians and singers, including Kathleen Bertrand and Alex Lattimore, to present Holiday Jazz Vespers at the vintage Rialto Center for the Arts on Sat. Dec. 10. Or for a merry mix of holiday standards and rock/lounge classics redone in Vegas-sized big band style, head to the Variety Playhouse that same night for the Kingsized Holiday Jubilee, backed by the gorgeous Dames Aflame Dancers. Be sure to bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. Holiday Friday Jazz at the High Museum of Art on Fri. Dec. 16 from 5 to 10 p.m. features saxophonist/vocalist/band leader Will Scruggs, who at age 28, has already shared the stage with Dave Brubeck and toured and recorded with Natalie Cole. Locally you may have heard him playing with Kingsized. Joe Gransden presents the first of two Big Band Holiday Shows with his 16-piece orchestra at Café 290 on Mon. Dec. 19. Then on Dec. 22, he’ll be at Eddie’s Attic for Joe Gransden’s Big Band Christmas Show, with special guest jazz vocalist Maria Howell.

THE 1940S RADIO HOUR is back at Marietta’s Theatre in the Square Dec. 17-Jan. 1 after a five-year hiatus with swing music, dance routines and heartwarming characters at a vintage radio station. The nostalgic 16th annual CHRISTMAS CANTEEN 2011 takes audiences down memory lane at the Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville. And A 1940s RADIO CHRISTMAS CAROL takes audiences back in time at Onstage Atlanta.

We’re All Misfits! The Center for Puppetry Arts’ official stage adaptation of the Rankin-Bass misfit Christmas TV classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is back for a second year with Rudolph, Clarisse, Hermie. Yukon and all the beloved characters. Read our interview with adapter/director and Center Artistic Director Jon Ludwig here. Through Dec. 31. Or there’s the black humor of THE SANTALAND DIARIES at Horizon Theatre Company, the true-life tale of writer David Sedaris’ writer’s odd job as a Macy’s Department Store elf.

Larry, Carols, Mo & Muppets! We already said there was no more magical way to enjoy the holidays inAtlanta but to visit the Fox Theatre. Too cash-strapped to make it to THE NUTCRACKER or THE GRINCH? Then mark your calendar for Mon. Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. for LARRY, CAROLS & MO, a free annual holiday event featuring a singalong with Fox organist Larry Douglas Embury playing carols on the Mighty Mo, plus a screening of THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, photos with Santa and snow on Peachtree Street and inside the Fox!

Chatham County Line.

I’m Dreaming of a Ragtime Electric Christmas. When the Chatham County Line Electric Holiday Tour hits the Variety Playhouse on Fri. Dec. 16, Atlanta’s own Blair Crimmins & The Hookers provide a ‘20s-style opening to Massachusetts folk-rocker Johnny Iron. Then Chatham County Line hit the stage for a full acoustic set, followed by an electric set with special guests.
You can read more about it on https://cliniccare.com.au/phentermine/, but don’t forget to establish necessary dosing with your attending doctor.

Jeffrey Butzker.

A Charlie Brown Christmas: The iconic ‘60s TV holiday special permanently made PEANUTS and Christmas synonymous, and the proof of that is not one, but two Atlanta events centered around the festive holidays songs and arrangements made famous by Vince Guaraldi in that special. “The jazz that comes from Charlie Brown is a happy jazz, it’s a feel-good jazz,” says five-time Grammy-nominated pianist David Benoit. Hear him play those tunes in David Benoit’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Georgia Tech’s Ferst Center on Fri. Dec. 16. Then Jeffrey Butzer and T.T. Mahony presents their Charlie Brown Christmas Tribute on Tues. Dec. 20 at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta, an art-deco former movie palace, at both 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.. The family-friendly Atlanta tradition also features Chad Shivers and Friends opening with ‘60s surf favorites from The Ventures Christmas Album.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE in Art Deco. The 1946 Frank Capra-directed Christmas movie classic, starring Jimmy Stewart, plays on the big screen at the Earl Strand Smith Theatre in Marietta on Wed. Dec. 21 at 8 p.m.

Holiday on the Rails: The Southeastern Railway Museum features a variety of family-friendly seasonal activities including a chance to watch THE POLAR EXPRESS movie aboard a real vintage train car. Intown at Atlantic Station, kids can enjoy charming miniature Steel Mill Express Train Rides, with a brand-new Santa’s sleigh car, for just $3, weather-permitting.