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| Stealing Christmas, a part of this complete breakfast. |
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
11 December 2011
Song of the Day - 11.Dec.11
07 December 2011
Mixtape Madness #10: A Very Merry Mixtape Madness
According
to the novel High Fidelity the making of a good mix tape, like
breaking up, is hard to do. Furthermore, a good mix is never
finished. You never know when you will come across a song that
changes the dynamic of the mix you just completed. There is a
litany of intricacies to crafting the ideal mix no matter what the
mix’s intended purpose should be. This feature is merely a guide on
the cosmic highway of mix making, and while experienced, the
writer does not claim to be an expert.
A Very Merry Mixtape Madness
All around the country, local soft rock and easy listening radio stations have switched their format to 24/7 Christmas music. Unfortunately, these playlists that pass for radio stations these days play a steady stream of Christmas crap, and there is no good reason for it. There is a ton of great Christmas tunes out there. My iTunes library alone contains seven hours of holiday cheer. While I'm not ready to present all seven glorious hours, I will give you a small sample of the type of yuletide tunes the What rocks out to.
06 December 2011
The What's Last-Minute Gift Guide
READS
Who isn't a fan of quirky little books? Quick, entertaining little reads like Grandma's Dead ($9.99 on Amazon) are everywhere. Urban Outfitters usually has a decent selection, or if you're shopping at the couch mall, try Amazon.
PRIMER - Gifts for Guys
17 December 2010
Weekly Top Five - 17.Dec.10
In High Fidelity, the characters compare their top fives in a variety of categories. Being big fans of both the film and novel, we here at the What bring you our Weekly Top Five, a feature focused on five fantastic things that you should become familiar with.
With the holiday season in full-swing, it's about the time during which companies host their annual holiday parties. Often one will here tales of some outrageous behavior from these parties and my be inclined to participate in said behavior. What you need to remember is that while you may not be working, you will be surrounded by coworkers, supervisors, and executives and your behavior should be appropriate for this crowd. With that in mind, here are five things to avoid at your holiday party.
5. Talk the taboos: Shop, Sex, Politics, Religion - This rule can be limiting, but it has to be done. The office party is no place to discuss your views on sex, politics, or religion. Furthermore, avoid "talking shop" at all costs. Yes, you are with coworkers. But this is not work. You are all there to have a good time, not to talk about what you do at work all day. Everyone already knows what you do, find something that is interesting without being controversial to chat about and you will be set.
4. Stick to one group - Although this is somewhat contrary to the above rule, this is still an office function that can lead to some great networking opportunities. Don't limit yourself to your work friends, you'll talk to them Monday morning. Mingle! Socialize! Introduce yourself to people, strike up conversation. I'm not saying you should go up to the boss and casually slip in mention of a promotion, but a little chat could go a long way. Keep the conversation polite, intelligent, and light, and most importantly, be the one to initiate it and end it. It will look good on your part that the people you work with and for see you as someone who can interact with everyone in the organization.
3. Dress like a fool - "Dress festive." Two very simple words that are often misinterpreted. Imagine this: It's March and your up for your promotion. Do you want your boss to remember you as the guy from the holiday party with the musical tie or the girl with the reindeer antlers or as the young professional who was dressed to the nines? Gents, keep it simple with a shirt and tie, perhaps even a vest to spruce things up a bit. Ladies, a nice cocktail dress (err on the conservative side for this event) will do just fine. Red is a good color for anyone to wear to a holiday party. Oh, and no sweaters.
2. Hook up - Holiday parties can be full of temptations. Avoid them. I don't care how hot any of your coworkers are, now is not the time or the place to set such escapades in motion. If someone attractive catches your eye during the office shindig, leave it at a nice compliment about how they look that evening (keep it PG) and maybe save the rest for a few weeks into the new year when you ask if they'd like to get a drink after work some time.
1. Get drunk - I get it, open bars are tempting. You've been spending all of your hard-earned money on gifts for friends and family and, quite frankly, you deserve free booze! As much as it pains me to say it, it's best to avoid the bar at your party. Maybe have a drink or two to serve as a sort of "pre-game" for an after party at a local bar, a neutral territory where you can let loose a bit more.
A staff holiday party can be a lot of fun. It gives you the chance to show off a side that may not be well known to your coworkers. It also provides an opportunity to subtly impress the decision-makers where you work. Just remember to keep it simple and respectable, and you should be alright. Have fun!
Staff Holiday Party Don'ts
5. Talk the taboos: Shop, Sex, Politics, Religion - This rule can be limiting, but it has to be done. The office party is no place to discuss your views on sex, politics, or religion. Furthermore, avoid "talking shop" at all costs. Yes, you are with coworkers. But this is not work. You are all there to have a good time, not to talk about what you do at work all day. Everyone already knows what you do, find something that is interesting without being controversial to chat about and you will be set.
4. Stick to one group - Although this is somewhat contrary to the above rule, this is still an office function that can lead to some great networking opportunities. Don't limit yourself to your work friends, you'll talk to them Monday morning. Mingle! Socialize! Introduce yourself to people, strike up conversation. I'm not saying you should go up to the boss and casually slip in mention of a promotion, but a little chat could go a long way. Keep the conversation polite, intelligent, and light, and most importantly, be the one to initiate it and end it. It will look good on your part that the people you work with and for see you as someone who can interact with everyone in the organization.
3. Dress like a fool - "Dress festive." Two very simple words that are often misinterpreted. Imagine this: It's March and your up for your promotion. Do you want your boss to remember you as the guy from the holiday party with the musical tie or the girl with the reindeer antlers or as the young professional who was dressed to the nines? Gents, keep it simple with a shirt and tie, perhaps even a vest to spruce things up a bit. Ladies, a nice cocktail dress (err on the conservative side for this event) will do just fine. Red is a good color for anyone to wear to a holiday party. Oh, and no sweaters.
2. Hook up - Holiday parties can be full of temptations. Avoid them. I don't care how hot any of your coworkers are, now is not the time or the place to set such escapades in motion. If someone attractive catches your eye during the office shindig, leave it at a nice compliment about how they look that evening (keep it PG) and maybe save the rest for a few weeks into the new year when you ask if they'd like to get a drink after work some time.
1. Get drunk - I get it, open bars are tempting. You've been spending all of your hard-earned money on gifts for friends and family and, quite frankly, you deserve free booze! As much as it pains me to say it, it's best to avoid the bar at your party. Maybe have a drink or two to serve as a sort of "pre-game" for an after party at a local bar, a neutral territory where you can let loose a bit more.
A staff holiday party can be a lot of fun. It gives you the chance to show off a side that may not be well known to your coworkers. It also provides an opportunity to subtly impress the decision-makers where you work. Just remember to keep it simple and respectable, and you should be alright. Have fun!
10 December 2010
PRIMER - 2010 Gift Guides
This week Primer Magazine published its annual gift guides, one for the ladies and one for the gents. As usual, the guys and gals at Primer are right on the money with the best possible gifts for the college grads on your list. Swing over to Primer's website to check them out!
For the Ladies:
For the Gents:
For the Ladies:
For the Gents:
03 December 2010
Weekly Top Five - 2.Dec.10
In High Fidelity, the characters compare their top fives in a variety of categories. Being big fans of both the film and novel, we here at the What bring you our Weekly Top Five, a feature focused on five fantastic things that you should become familiar with.
Last week we skipped the Weekly Top Five in order to enjoy some turkey. This week we're back with a special bonus edition top ten list to make up for it! Being that it is now December, here are the What's top ten Christmas movies.
10. The Santa Clause (1994) - This movie surprised me, and I did not really discover it until about ten years after it was released. I am, however, glad that I did finally watch it as it's a great Christmas movie, and Tim Allen is actually a fantastic Santa. The sequel is good too, but I can't vouch for the third film in the series.
9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) - To pretty much everyone born after this was made, Burl Ives is known only in his snowman form. Ives is a wonderful narrator, taking you through the familiar story of Rudolph, with a few welcome variations from the song (misfit toys, Yukon Cornelius, etc).
8. A Garfield Christmas (1987) - I'm sure people will be taken aback that this special makes the list while It's A Wonderful Life and White Christmas do not. Well, this is my list. Make your own list. But do be sure to watch this when you get the chance. Garfield shows his softer side bonding with Jon's Grandma. If nothing else, watch it to see how wacky Jon's family is.
7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (1970) - It just would not be Christmas without a full helping of the Rankin/Bass specials. Fred Astaire narrates this telling of Santa's origins, complete with some groovy seventies music.
6. Year Without A Santa Claus (1974) - Sometimes the sequel outdoes the original. Such is the case here, as this Rankin/Bass production outshines the previous one, thanks largely in part to the Heatmeiser and Snowmeiser singing their own praises.
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) - While the 2000 version of this film was very good, it still isn't quite at the level of the original animated special. Boris Karloff takes a break from being creepy to narrate this Dr. Seuss tale that features one of the funniest theme songs ever.
4. Elf (2003) - The more of these lists I do, the more I realize 2003 was a fantastic year for films. Elf is one of very few recent attempts at a new Christmas tale that worked. This movie is hysterical, and if smiling is your favorite, you're sure to love this film.
3. Love Actually (2003) - This British ensemble romantic comedy doesn't necessarily define itself as a Christmas movie, but it takes place over the holiday and has a fair amount of holiday tunes on the soundtrack. No matter who I am with, this film is always a crowd-pleaser, so give it a shot this holiday season.
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) - This is an absolute classic. Somehow this special manages to touch on a number of serious subjects surrounding Christmas while remaining cute, warm, and light-hearted (as every holiday movie should). It truly wouldn't be Christmas without this popping up on your television.
1. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - Say what you will, but I have a degree in film and I say, without question, that this is the greatest film ever made. The Jim Henson Company, in an early partnership with Disney, take a classic and make it their own in this wonderful retelling of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. I highly recommend enjoying this in a room lit by Christmas lights and filled with the aroma of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, you will not regret it!
Clearly, many Christmas movies and specials did not make the list. It was difficult for me to narrow it to ten, and to disinclude movies like A Muppet Family Christmas and specials like Frosty the Snowman. Feel free to include your own top five or top ten lists in the comment section below, I'd love to see your favorites!
Christmas Movies & Specials
10. The Santa Clause (1994) - This movie surprised me, and I did not really discover it until about ten years after it was released. I am, however, glad that I did finally watch it as it's a great Christmas movie, and Tim Allen is actually a fantastic Santa. The sequel is good too, but I can't vouch for the third film in the series.
9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) - To pretty much everyone born after this was made, Burl Ives is known only in his snowman form. Ives is a wonderful narrator, taking you through the familiar story of Rudolph, with a few welcome variations from the song (misfit toys, Yukon Cornelius, etc).
8. A Garfield Christmas (1987) - I'm sure people will be taken aback that this special makes the list while It's A Wonderful Life and White Christmas do not. Well, this is my list. Make your own list. But do be sure to watch this when you get the chance. Garfield shows his softer side bonding with Jon's Grandma. If nothing else, watch it to see how wacky Jon's family is.
6. Year Without A Santa Claus (1974) - Sometimes the sequel outdoes the original. Such is the case here, as this Rankin/Bass production outshines the previous one, thanks largely in part to the Heatmeiser and Snowmeiser singing their own praises.
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) - While the 2000 version of this film was very good, it still isn't quite at the level of the original animated special. Boris Karloff takes a break from being creepy to narrate this Dr. Seuss tale that features one of the funniest theme songs ever.
4. Elf (2003) - The more of these lists I do, the more I realize 2003 was a fantastic year for films. Elf is one of very few recent attempts at a new Christmas tale that worked. This movie is hysterical, and if smiling is your favorite, you're sure to love this film.
3. Love Actually (2003) - This British ensemble romantic comedy doesn't necessarily define itself as a Christmas movie, but it takes place over the holiday and has a fair amount of holiday tunes on the soundtrack. No matter who I am with, this film is always a crowd-pleaser, so give it a shot this holiday season.
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) - This is an absolute classic. Somehow this special manages to touch on a number of serious subjects surrounding Christmas while remaining cute, warm, and light-hearted (as every holiday movie should). It truly wouldn't be Christmas without this popping up on your television.
Clearly, many Christmas movies and specials did not make the list. It was difficult for me to narrow it to ten, and to disinclude movies like A Muppet Family Christmas and specials like Frosty the Snowman. Feel free to include your own top five or top ten lists in the comment section below, I'd love to see your favorites!
09 November 2010
Christmastime in the City
Whether you like it or not, it's that time of year. The time of year when the stores bring out a dazzling array of red and green stuff and your mailbox fills with a heaping load of catalogs. While most of us are still coming down from a Halloween high or looking forward to a delicious turkey dinner in two weeks, the commercial world is busy telling us all that it's Christmastime. For city-dwellers, this is especially exciting. Most major cities have fantastic holiday traditions, and Philadelphia is no exception. Following are the top yuletide stops for you to make in Philly this holiday season.
Macy's Christmas Light Show
Since 1956, the light show has been presented in the main gallery of the Wanamaker building. This breathtaking display was narrated by John Facenda, the voice of NFL Films, for many years before a new narration was recorded by Julie Andrews in 2006. Andrews' narration is paired with the beautiful blinking lights telling classic holiday tales such as the Nutcracker and Frosty the Snowman featuring musical accompaniment from a live organist playing the massive organ. This show will air every hour between 10AM and 8PM daily from the day after Thanksgiving until New Year's Eve. Get there early for a good seat!
The Dickens Village at Macy's
When Strawbridge's shut its doors several years ago, many (including myself) feared that it marked the end for the Dickens Village. Luckily, Macy's wasted no time in moving the village across the street to the Wanamaker building, placing it in the same building as the Light Show for everyone's Christmas convenience. The village tells the story of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with 26 different scenes from the famous novel. Over 100 animatronic characters bring the tale to life as you read actual text from the novel on sign posts set throughout the miniature version of 1840's London. A new feature added by Macy's comes at the end of the exhibit, at which point you are escorted into a room to have a quick chat and a photo with Father Christmas himself!
Deck the Alley
When visiting the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the United States, many people wish they could see the inside of the historic Elfreth's Alley houses. Well, on December 4th, you will finally get your chance! As many as 14 of the residents living on the alley will graciously open their homes for touring. Outside, expect to see carolers in period garb and classic Christmas decor. Inside, you will find refreshments (often provided by the fantastic Race Street Cafe) and a book signing with David Papp, author of the children's book The Scarlet Stockings Spy. Tickets are selling fast, so do not hesitate to pick yours up!
Light Displays
The Philadelphia region is home to a variety of impressive holiday decoration displays. Several blocks throughout the city, especially in Southwark and Manayunk, will work together to decorate, while other houses go all out on their own. One such house is located at Fairfax Road and Huey Avenue in Drexel Hill. This house puts on a display that would shame the Griswolds. From lights, to animatronics, to a life-size Santa in his sleigh complete with all of his reindeer, this place has it all. It's easily accessible from the Drexel Park stop on either the 101 or 102 trolleys from 69th Street, and well worth the trip into Delco.
Holiday Train Sets
Nothing says Christmas like a decent holiday model train setup, and there are several to check out in Philly. The Franklin Institute and Septa Museum will often present modest sets in their respective museum spaces. The best set in the city, however, can be found in the old Reading Railroad building. Enter the door next to Dunkin Donuts and you'll be greeted with the expansive set. With sections representing cities, suburbs, and rural areas, this set has it all. Also, kids (and adults) will get a kick out of being able to operate select parts of the display.
Links & Last Words
This list is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to celebrating the holidays in the City of Brotherly Love. We welcome your comments to address any of your favorite traditions we may have left out. Check out the links below for more information, and have a happy holiday season!
Macy's Christmas Light Show
The Dickens Village at Macy's
When Strawbridge's shut its doors several years ago, many (including myself) feared that it marked the end for the Dickens Village. Luckily, Macy's wasted no time in moving the village across the street to the Wanamaker building, placing it in the same building as the Light Show for everyone's Christmas convenience. The village tells the story of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with 26 different scenes from the famous novel. Over 100 animatronic characters bring the tale to life as you read actual text from the novel on sign posts set throughout the miniature version of 1840's London. A new feature added by Macy's comes at the end of the exhibit, at which point you are escorted into a room to have a quick chat and a photo with Father Christmas himself!
Deck the Alley
When visiting the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the United States, many people wish they could see the inside of the historic Elfreth's Alley houses. Well, on December 4th, you will finally get your chance! As many as 14 of the residents living on the alley will graciously open their homes for touring. Outside, expect to see carolers in period garb and classic Christmas decor. Inside, you will find refreshments (often provided by the fantastic Race Street Cafe) and a book signing with David Papp, author of the children's book The Scarlet Stockings Spy. Tickets are selling fast, so do not hesitate to pick yours up!
Light Displays
The Philadelphia region is home to a variety of impressive holiday decoration displays. Several blocks throughout the city, especially in Southwark and Manayunk, will work together to decorate, while other houses go all out on their own. One such house is located at Fairfax Road and Huey Avenue in Drexel Hill. This house puts on a display that would shame the Griswolds. From lights, to animatronics, to a life-size Santa in his sleigh complete with all of his reindeer, this place has it all. It's easily accessible from the Drexel Park stop on either the 101 or 102 trolleys from 69th Street, and well worth the trip into Delco.
Holiday Train Sets
Nothing says Christmas like a decent holiday model train setup, and there are several to check out in Philly. The Franklin Institute and Septa Museum will often present modest sets in their respective museum spaces. The best set in the city, however, can be found in the old Reading Railroad building. Enter the door next to Dunkin Donuts and you'll be greeted with the expansive set. With sections representing cities, suburbs, and rural areas, this set has it all. Also, kids (and adults) will get a kick out of being able to operate select parts of the display.
Links & Last Words
This list is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to celebrating the holidays in the City of Brotherly Love. We welcome your comments to address any of your favorite traditions we may have left out. Check out the links below for more information, and have a happy holiday season!
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