December 2016  - Vuecrest View Newsletter

    Here are some examples:

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   "I see the moon, the moon sees me, down thru the leaves of the old oak tree,

And, yes indeedy, I really DO see the moon! Check it out on Dec. 14, weather permitting (Why do we always have to say that around here?!!) when it will be bright and close in the night sky. It will become full within hours of reaching its closest point to Earth and, as a result, appear absolutely gigantic! Such "super moons" may happen several times a year, and this will be the last one for 2016. Want to know more? Start with this "stellar" vocabulary: perigee, apogee, syzygy...and... my-oh-my, oh-gee!

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"So, have yourself a merry little Christmas, now"

                  Mara

December 2016 - Vuecrest View Newsletter Vuecrest Board of Directors for 2017 Elections were held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting on November 3rd, 2016. Jonathan Kagle was re-elected to another three-year term, and Mark von der Burg will be a newcomer to the Board and co-chairman of the Architecture Committee. In accordance with Vuecrest Bylaws, President and Vice President were nominated and voted upon by the Board of Directors at the December Board Meeting. Marc Lapsley was elected as President, and Janet McClure as Vice-President. Barbara Cosgriff was appointed as Treasurer and Nyla Wang will continue as Secretary. Board Meeting The January Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 5th at 7 pm. Our hosts will be Janet and Mark McClure at 1014 Belfair Road. Everyone is welcome to attend. Board Meeting Hosts for 2017 Please volunteer to host a Board Meeting at your home. Just open your front door to welcome 8-12 board and committee chair-people and watch how the business of our community is conducted. Board Meetings are always on the first Thursday of every month at 7 pm. Refreshments are nice but not essential. To sign up, contact our secretary, Nyla Wang (secretary@vuecrest.net). Annual Assessments Be on the lookout! Annual Assessments will be mailed by USPS to each homeowner during the month of December. Block Watch We have a problem in Bellevue with home and auto break-ins. These can occur any time of day or night, and have been reported in Vuecrest. Take every precaution to protect your precious property. Go to our website, vuecrest.net<http://www.vuecrest.net> and register for the Block Watch sign-up. Bellevue Reporter The weekly newspaper comes free to a slot under our mailboxes on in our driveway. For some, these papers are a nuisance and are unwanted. If you are OOT, this is a clear signal to intruders that no one is home. If you would like to stop receiving the Bellevue Reporter, you may contact them at :425-453-4270 or visit their website: bellevuereporter.com. Construction Sites At the present time, there are many construction sites in Vuecrest, both new homes and remodels. Our Building Guide on construction provides rules and regulations during the construction process. These include: 1. A large debris container must be on-site. It may not be on the street or on a neighbor's property. 2. All debris that falls off-site must be cleaned up at the end of the day. 3. Radios and other entertainment equipment must be at an appropriate noise level. 4. All subs and construction workers must keep their vehicles parked on one side of the street and in an appropriate parking area. 5. Construction hours are: 7AM - 6PM, Mon-Fri, and 9AM-6PM on Saturdays. No construction related noise is allowed on Sundays or holidays. 6. Mailboxes and driveways are to remain clear at all times. If you see inappropriate activity at construction sites, please report this to architecture@vuecrest.net<mailto:architecture@vuecrest.net> Big Thank You To Aleta Taylor for placing the Halloween Safety Signs! A Sad Goodbye We mourn the loss in November of long time Vuecrest resident and former Director, Greg Gransberry, and extend our condolences to his family. TID-BITS! Christmas Carols! We know them so well, and we probably started to learn them even before our ABC's! In fact, it's pretty likely that for those born between March and December, these wonderful holiday tunes were first heard in utero! So here we are in the season of Silver Bells and Fa-la-la's, but what does it all mean? Our ability to know them by such sheer rote means that they afford us the opportunity for multi-tasking - we could sing Jingle Bells to our cat at the same time that we're on hold for Puget Power, checking updates on Facebook...and even power-snacking on a chocolate bar! And Christmas carols have such variety - Just like today's music may be pop, or rock or rap or country; Christmas carols, too, have their different styles; some are peppy and spirited (God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, Deck the Halls), some are humorous and child-oriented (Jolly Old St. Nicholas, All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth), others are jubilant and triumphant (Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful) and many more are serene and rich with the Christmas spirit (O Holy Night, We Three Kings, Silent Night). Though there are some newer carols, which I'll mention later, the majority are really very old, and borne out of the same "flukiness" of their day, as are our contemporary ones. Here are some examples: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Perhaps the oldest on record, this carol dates back to 1650. It was penned by an unknown writer in a "people's-rebellion" to the church's insistence that carols be heavy, dismal, funereal and sung only in Latin. In the opening stanza: "God rest ye merry gentlemen", the word "merry" at the time, meant "strong and mighty" (think Robin Hood, and his "merry" men, tho' merry they may have been, R.H. was more interested in their bellicose nature) and the word "rest" meant "make/keep". This sheds light on the awkwardness of the sentence, as we now hear it as an exclamation, that is, exhorting the men to stay strong. To clarify it even more, a comma needs to be inserted, and you have the full meaning: "(May) God make you mighty, (comma) Gentlemen!" It wasn't until the 19th century, thanks to Queen Victoria's love of carols, that it was published for use in the Anglican Church and with its upbeat melody, and snappy tempo, it became popular throughout Europe and America. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - This famous carol was originally written as a poem in a collection by Charles Wesley in 1739. At that time, it was titled "Hark! How All the Welkin Rings"; "welkin" meaning heaven/ home of angels, from Middle English. Almost 15 years later, Wesley's colleague, George Whitefield, revised and rewrote certain parts, changing the title to how we know it today. Almost 100 years after that, the great composer Felix Mendelssohn ( yes...you know him...and so does every bride! He wrote the so-famous-it's-almost-trite recessional tune called "The Wedding March" from Midsummer Night's Dream) wrote some cantata music for the 400th anniversary of the Gutenberg press. Fast forward to 1855, when Dr. William Cummings, an organist, decided to pair the lyrics from the Wesley/Whitefield poem with the Mendelssohn cantata, thereby creating one of the most popular carols of all time. Mendelssohn, who died in 1847, was quoted as saying: death is a place "where it is to be hoped there is still music, but no more sorrow or partings". Indeed, Felix, your music today lives on and brings us such unique joy, particularly in the months of June and December! Twelve Days of Christmas - First published in England in 1780, this carol is known as a "cumulative" song, that is, each verse builds upon the previous one. And, as the grandeur of the gifts increase with each stanza so does our annoyance factor as we are held hostage to its endless repetition. Nevertheless, we slog our way thru it at least once a year and then feel that self-righteous smugness, knowing we need not do that again for another 365 days. (wheww...) Deck the Halls - This jaunty tune dates back to sixteenth century Wales, where its melody and most of its lyrics were taken from the New Year's Eve song "Nos Galan." Lines like "Oh! how soft my fair one's bosom/ Fa la la la la la la la la," were transformed into Yuletide wishes like "Deck the halls with boughs of holly/ Fa la la la la la la la la.".This musical makeover was accomplished by Scottish folk music scribe Thomas Oliphant<http://folkmusic.about.com/od/holidayfolk/fl/Deck-the-Halls-Traditional.htm>, who built his reputation on old melodies with new lyrics. In 1862, his "Deck the Hall" was published in Welsh Melodies, Vol. 2. He'd go on to become a renowned translator of songs as well as a lyricist. But Oliphant's version is not the one most commonly sung today. Now called "Deck the Halls," (that is, in plural) lines like "Fill the meadcup, drain the barrel," have been swapped for "Don we now our gay apparel." This variant became popular from revised music sheet printings<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deck_the_Halls#mediaviewer/File:Deck_the_hall.png> made in 1877 and 1881. Both "Deck the Hall" and "Deck the Halls (plural) are equally popular, though in America we tend to sing the plural version. Silent Night - In 1818, Josef Mohr was the pastor of the Church of St. Nicholas at Oberndorf, a village near Salzburg, Austria. After an evening Christmas program on the 23rd, Mohr took a longer way home that took him over a hill overlooking the village. Reveling in the silence of the wintry night and the Christmas play he had just seen, it brought to mind a poem he had written a couple of years earlier, and decided those words might make a good carol for his congregation at their Christmas Eve service. The next day, he visited the church organist, Franz Gruber, who had only a few hours to come up with a melody for a guitar. On Christmas Eve, the little Oberndorf congregation heard Gruber and Mohr play their new composition. The carol spread across northern Europe, and in 1834, singers performed Silent Night for King Frederick William IV of Prussia, who then ordered his cathedral choir to sing it every Christmas Eve. Twenty years after "Silent Night" was written, the song was brought to the United States, to New York City's Trinity Church. Silent Night is now sung in more than 300 different languages around the world. O Holy Night - The author of these beautiful lyrics is Placide Cappeau, a wine commissioner and part-time poet who lived in a small village near Avignon, France. Though he rarely attended Mass, he undertook the request of a local parish priest to write a Christmas poem, and on a trip to Paris, in 1847, he penned "Cantique de Noel". Through friends in Paris, Placide connected with composer Adolphe Adam, and upon his return several days later, Placide presented it to the parish priest, who arranged to have it played on Christmas Eve, 1847. The song was immediately very popular and incorporated into Christmas services throughout France. However, it was soon rejected, as a false rumor spread that Placide was an atheist, a socialist and Jewish. In 1855 John Dwight, a Unitarian minister, translated "Cantique de Noel" into English and it was readily adopted by the American public. In 1906 Reginald Fessenden (a former employee and lab technician for Thomas Edison) transmitted a short broadcast. Fessenden read verses from the gospel, played the violin to O Holy Night as he sang the last verse, live; thus giving this magnificent carol the honor of being the first Christmas song ever played on the radio. Santa Claus is coming to Town -Penned by James "Haven" Gillespie, this jolly tune was first performed on American singer Eddie Cantor's radio show in 1934. But for all its mirth, its inspiration came from a place of grief. History has it, that Gillespie was a vaudevillian-turned-songwriter who'd fallen on hard times. Gillespie got the call to pen a Christmas tune for Cantor just after learning his brother had died. Initially, he rejected the job, feeling too overcome with grief to consider penning a playful holiday ditty. But a subway ride recollecting his childhood with his brother and his mother's warnings that Santa was watching changed his mind. He had the lyrics on paper in 15 minutes, then called in composer John Coots to make up the music that would become a big hit within 24 hours of its debut. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - A carol that is at once hopeful and mournful, it' s lyrics were penned by Hugh Martin for a scene in the 1944 movie musical Meet Me In St. Louis. Judy Garland sings<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yudgy30Dd68> the bittersweet song to her little sister, trying to cheer her up as both lament their family's move from their hometown. But Garland and director Vincente Minnelli weren't happy with Martin's early drafts which included lines like: "Have yourself a merry little Christmas/It may be your last.... Faithful friends who were dear to us/Will be near to us no more." Martin initially refused to revise the lyrics, but eventually relented and gave the song a more hopeful leaning, first for the movie, then again in 1957 and then again, at the request of Frank Sinatra. For Ol' Blue Eyes, he changed "We'll have to muddle through somehow" to the jollier "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough." The song has since become a standard, in both forms. "Muddling" may be more realistic, but I'll vote for reaching that "highest bough"! The Christmas Song - Its lyrics immediately makes you think of winter: "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire/Jack Frost nipping at your nose..." The unusual part is that it was written by a pair of Jewish writers during the heat of summer in Toluca Lake, California, 1945. Bob Wells and Mel Tormé were trying to "stay cool by thinking cool." Bob wrote down a few ideas, including chestnuts and folks dressed up like Eskimos. Since he had grown up in Boston, he had vivid memories of street vendors selling paper cones of hot chestnuts from their push carts. (I remember that too!). Mel sat down at the piano and plunked out a few melodies. Forty minutes later "The Christmas Song" was done! They quickly called Carlos Gastel, Nat King Cole's manager, and a year later it was recorded, much to Torme's (and Wells' and Nat King Cole's) "financial pleasure", as he stated in his biography. Silver Bells - It was 1941 and Paramount Studios had asked Jay Livingston and Ray Evans to come up with a Christmas song for the movie "Lemon Drop Kid", starring Bob Hope. Jay and Ray were uninspired. They felt Paramount was putting extra pressure on them, since their contract was about to expire. They also knew that traditional carols always won out, and new ones never seemed to gain any popularity. Suddenly, they noticed a small bell on the desk and recalled the Salvation Army's volunteers who would "tinkle" their bells on street corners. That's it! "Tinkle Bells, tinkle bells - it's Christmas time in the city..." and so, the song was written! Upon returning home that evening, Jay shared his excitement with him wife; it was not returned. "Are you out of your mind?" she exclaimed, "do you know what the word tinkle means??!" Needless to say, the title was immediately changed. The song was first sung by Bob Hope and became Livingston's and Evans biggest hit (followed by Que Sera, Sera, Buttons on Bows and Mona Lisa). Since its public debut in 1951, over 140 million recordings have been sold. Santa Baby - A great novelty song from 1953, and made famous by Eartha Kitt. This honey-do gift list tune was written by Joan Javits, niece of the long-time NY senator, Jacob Javits. Is it a popular song? You bet! Almost every year it's #1 on the "Worst Christmas Songs Ever" list! And just what is it this sultry babe really wants?? In 1953 prices, adjusted for inflation, her sable coat, '54 convertible, yacht, deed to a platinum mine, Manhattan duplex and a healthy sprinkle of Tiffany baubles would set poor Santa back over a TRILLION DOLLARS!...or just about the GDP of Liberia! Don't hurry down that chimney any too quick, Santa... it's gonna cost you! White Christmas - It was 1940 in warm and sunny La Quinta, California. Irving Berlin, already well known for his anthem "God Bless America", hollers to his secretary: "Grab your pen and take down this song. This is the best song I've ever written, heck...I just wrote the best song that anybody's ever written!" The first public performance of White Christmas was sung by Bing Crosby on Christmas Day, 1941, at the Kraft Music Hall. It was said that Crosby found the song quite ordinary, and it did not have much success that first year. By the following Christmas, after its release in 78 RPM disc, it was topping the Billboard charts, in part due to the wave of nostalgia sweeping the country. It's flip-side, "I'll Be Home for Christmas", resonated with the many families whose sons were fighting overseas (WWII). In 1954 the song was featured in a movie of the same title, establishing the song as a perennial Christmas chart-topper. It is said to be the biggest selling single record of all time, and though sales statistics were not kept from those early decades, it is calculated to have sold close to 100 million copies. Feliz Navidid - This well-known holiday staple was written by Jose Feliciano, and though it has been covered by many other well-known artists, Jose's rendition is clearly the one we know the best. Jose was born in Puerto Rico and came to New York at age 3 when his family immigrated to New York. Blind at birth, he started playing the concertina at age 6, self-taught, then the guitar, often practicing for 14 hours a day. He quit school at 17 to support his family and started to focus on his vocals. His gigs were in small clubs where any earnings came from "passing the hat". By sheer good fortune, a music exec dropped by on his last night at a club and immediately signed him to the RCA record label. By the age of 23 Jose was a Grammy winner. Feliz Navidad came about when his producer encouraged him to write a Christmas song. He had no interest but the Spanish words with a simple melody floated thru his head. It immediately occurred to him, that if the holiday tune were in Spanish, it would be played only on Spanish-speaking radio stations; and so he made it bi-lingual to reach a broader audience. It first aired in 1978 on the TV special "Christmas on Sesame Street". It continues to be a chart-topper every year and shows no hint of losing its popularity. It is a long-established tradition for Feliciano to close out Christmas Eve mass at a small church in Westwood, Conn. with his famous song. (Growing up in Stowe, Vt, home of the Trapp Family, I have fond memories of how they also closed out Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve with their angelic voices. This was before The Sound of Music made them famous; to us "Stowe-ites" the Trapps were just charming and talented "town-folk".) The Chipmunk Song - How can this "cantus horribilis" not be mentioned???!!! Oh, how we cringe when we hear that obnoxiously dysphonic "AL-VIN" screeching thru the radio, but then somehow, we can't quite manage to change the station. Suddenly we're all-in, contorting our faces, gnarling our words, mangling our sounds, because it's just too irresistible, too compelling, too ludicrous to do anything else! And how we just LOVE to HATE it! The Christmas Song ("Christmas, Christmas time is here, time for toys and time for cheer. We've been good but we can't last, hurry Christmas, hurry fast") won 3 Grammy awards in 1958 - (Well, how convenient is that??? One for Alvin, one for Simon, and one for Theodore to stash in their tree trunk!) This gruesome cacophony was written by Ross Bagdasarian (nom de plume: David Seville) and sold almost 5 million copies in the first 8 weeks of its release. All 3 chipmunks were named after executives of the Liberty recording label and were all one real person - David Seville! And where did these ridiculous rodents get their pipes? From an unusual electronic technique that David had mastered earlier with his previous hit single "Witch Doctor" ("...oo-ee-oo-ah-ah, ting-tang, walla-walla, bing-bang...). David Seville/Bagdasarian would sing in his normal voice, then speed-up the playback to produce the squealing high-pitched voices; at times, creating an almost unbearable duet between 2 separate recordings. The Chipmunks went on to fame and fortune, as evidenced by their many movies, TV specials, albums, and product endorsements. After the death of Ross Bagdasarian, his son Ross Bagdasarian Jr. "exhumed" the trio (too bad we didn't get a chance to vote on that!) as he and his wife became the next generation "vox-rodenti" and continued to build the franchise. QUICK QUIZ: Simon and Theodore both wanted a plane that "loops the loop". What was Alvin's big wish??! (yes...you KNOW this!) CHRISTMAS QUIRKLES! The world's largest Christmas stocking measured 106 feet and 9 inches (32.56 m) long and 49 feet and 1 inch (14.97 m) wide. It weighed as much as five reindeer and held almost 1,000 presents. It was made by the Children's Society in London on December 14, 2007. ***** Each year there are approximately 20,000 "rent-a-Santas" across the United States. "Rent-a-Santas" usually undergo seasonal training on how to maintain a jolly attitude under pressure from the public. They also receive practical advice, such as not accepting money from parents while children are looking and avoiding garlic, onions, or beans for lunch. ***** Christmas is a contraction of "Christ's Mass," which is derived from the Old English Cristes mæsse (first recorded in 1038). The letter "X" in Greek is the first letter of Christ's name, and "Xmas" has been used as an abbreviation for Christmas for close to 1,000 years. It is not slang, but a traditional Christian symbol, even though it seems to be the preferred contraction for marketing purposes. ***** According to the Guinness World Records, the tallest Christmas tree ever cut was a 221-foot Douglas fir that was displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle. ***** According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), there are 2,106 million children under age 18 in the world. If there are on average 2.5 children per household, Santa would have to make 842 million stops on Christmas Eve, traveling 221 million miles. To reach all 842 million stops, Santa would need to travel between houses in 2/10,000 second, which means he would need to accelerate 12.19 million miles (20.5 billion meters) per second on each stop. The force of this acceleration would reduce Santa to "chunky salsa." (makes me start to doubt if there really IS a Santa Claus??)***** During the Christmas season, nearly 28 sets of LEGO's are sold every second. ***** Christmas purchases account for 1/6 of all retail sales in the U.S. for the entire year. I'm sure if we all do our part this month, we could boost up that figure! I mean, aren't we duty-bound?- Shop local! ***** And speaking of shopping, "On the First Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..." If one's "true love" actually bought all of the gifts mentioned in song's verse, the bill would total $34,130, up from $33,933 in 2014 - making 2015 the priciest year yet. And it would cost $155,407.18 to buy the presents every time they are repeated in the song (364 gifts). That's up from $154,508.08 last year. Makes even shopping at Tiffany's a possibility, all in the name of "true love"! (oooh..perhaps they have a sale case with bargain baubles). ************************************** VINTAGE VUECREST Remember that oldie: "Walking the dog, I'm just walking the dog. If you don't know how to do, I'll show you how to walk the dog" (Rolling Stones / 1964). Here's a Vuecrester who knows how to "walk the dog(s)" and you've probably seen her do it plenty of times! It's Nancy Daly, who grew up at 9633 Vineyard Crest and attended Medina Elementary. Her home was the first of the "rebuilds" of the original houses when her parents bought it in 1964. She recalls those were the days when downtown Bellevue consisted of one tall building, and Vuecrest was considered "Dulls-ville". It was such a small neighborhood then; everyone seemed to know each other and kids biked almost everywhere. After completing her studies at Stanford, Nancy worked at IBM and lived in Medina. In 1989, she again settled in Vuecrest, this time just a little further west at 1023 Sunset Way. The little 1800 sq. ft. house needed some re-do, and the extra 1500 sq. ft. provided a large downstairs room, expanded main floor living area and a kitchen remodel. Now there was plenty of space for her 4 kids (Lauren, Caroline, John, Joseph) who are regular visitors (and occasional "lingerers"). These days, Nancy has her own business as a personal trainer (dalyfitness@msn.com<mailto:dalyfitness@msn.com>) and works out of her clients' home. She is clearly in great shape, and no doubt offers great motivation/inspiration/perspiration for those whom she coaches. Nancy plays league tennis at the Seattle Tennis Club, and is a member of the weekly 18-Hole Ladies Club at the Bellevue Golf Course (handicap 10, she didn't offer that, I had to ask). Nancy even "paid her dues" as an active Vuecrest board member (Vice-president as well as Good Neighbor) during her first 5 years on Sunset. So, what does she think of all the changes? "This is our world now, many people from many different places. Let's just embrace it". (You rock, Nancy!) She has no plans on ever moving - Vuecrest has been her home for many years, and she happily shares it with Laurel, and her beloved chocolate labs: pooch Georgia (5 years old) and brand new puppy Ginger (4 months, and TOO cute for words). And BTW, don't send her your dog for walkies...she's dog-gone tired of it! THE VC BOOK-NOOK All the hustle and bustle of the holiday season make finding a few minutes for a cozy 'curl up and read' next to impossible! Instead of just thumbing through yet another gift catalog, why not read (or re-read) a wonderful classic: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It is a very short, entirely approachable little book; many of you already know the basic story, but the book always seems timely and heartwarming. It is not a saccharine-sweet, "made-for-TV" narrative. The message is NOT limited to any certain religion or culture, and (surprisingly!) the story could take place any time of the year. Read it, and I promise that you won't help but feel that thrill of affirmation in the general goodness of mankind. (What election??!!??) As a classic, A Christmas Carol can be downloaded, for free, to e-readers. The library should have many 'real' copies, also (again, don't forget their e-book loan program). Our fledgling Vuecrest Book Club will meet next Tuesday, December 6, at Joy Lona's home, 9600 Evergreen Dr., at 7:30PM. We will discuss The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, by Jan-Philipp Sendker, and I know (!!) that we will enjoy talking about other great reads, too. Even if you don't have time to read the book (it's a very good one, by the way!), please feel free to join us. Readers love to talk to other readers! Melissa Hambleton ********************************** The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara There are many excellent reasons to read this Pulitzer Prize winning historical novel about the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg. 1) The background research for this novel is comprehensive and historically accurate. 2) The written text is wonderful to read and a tribute to a masterful story-teller. 3) Shaara brings the battle to life through the words and actions of key generals and colonels fighting for the Union and Confederate Armies. 4) The Battle of Gettysburg has many classic military maneuvers that have been used to train generations of our fighting men and women. 5) Even if you are not a "Civil War Buff", the brilliant dialog in this book will capture your imagination and transform you to those dramatic first three days of July, 1863. Shaara thoroughly details all of the important personalities and events, the mistakes and triumphs, and the tragedy of war to humankind. The book is available at the Bellevue Library. Personal footnote: I did my undergraduate training at Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia (Class of 1958). The lore of the Civil War was with us on a daily basis. The entire corps of cadets of VMI fought valiantly alongside the Confederate Army in the Battle of New Market May 15, 1864. Ten cadets were killed. Every New Market Day VMI has a full dress parade and each of the 10 is called out by name, to which a lone reply can be heard from his former company, "Died on the field of honor, Sir". DTP ********************************************* BE MOONSTRUCK! "I see the moon, the moon sees me, down thru the leaves of the old oak tree, please let the light that shines on me, shine on the one I love..." (Meredith Willson/ 1953) And, yes indeedy, I really DO see the moon! Check it out on Dec. 14, weather permitting (Why do we always have to say that around here?!!) when it will be bright and close in the night sky. It will become full within hours of reaching its closest point to Earth and, as a result, appear absolutely gigantic! Such "super moons" may happen several times a year, and this will be the last one for 2016. Want to know more? Start with this "stellar" vocabulary: perigee, apogee, syzygy...and... my-oh-my, oh-gee! (Very) HAPPY HOUR! Vuecrest's very own Joe Vilardi, 1001 Evergreen Drive is ready to welcome you for an evening of fine dining at his gourmet restaurant "Bis on Main" at 10213 Main St. It is all decorated-up for the holidays and just oozes Christmas charm (just like our Joe!) Take a peek at his irresistible dinner menu at www.bisonmain.com, and if your schedule is just too busy, consider dropping by for a late night happy hour in the bar and lounge: Mon-Thurs: late night Happy Hour starting at 8.30pm, Fri-Sat: Happy Hour starts at 9pm Sunday: Happy Hour all night long, from 4.30 til closing! Bis on Main is open 7 days a week for dinner, 5 weekdays for lunch, and has complimentary parking. Relax and unwind with their Happy Hour prices: 30%-40% off all bar menu prices and steep discounts on drinkies. Joe would love to see you! CELERBRATING THE HOLIDAYS On-going thru the month: Holiday traditions in the Northwest start on the water with Argosy Cruises. The Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship Festival is a holiday celebration that has been a Pacific Northwest tradition since 1949. Every year, the Argosy Christmas Ship sails to different Puget Sound waterfront communities, as choirs on board give 20-minute performances to those on shore, as well. Argosy Cruise Lines donate a portion of all ticket sales to benefit the Seattle Times Fund for the Needy. Get the schedule at: www.argosycruises.com. ***** Friends and families are invited to commemorate the holiday season at Woodland Park Zoo's fifth annual WildLights presentation.. This electrifying, after-hours event runs now through Sunday, January 1, 2017, 5:30-8:30 p.m. nightly (closed Dec 24/25). You will be mesmerized by the sparkling lights, faux snowball fights, Santa and his (real, live!) reindeer and other family delights. Open 36 nights - what a terrific family event! Tickets are available at zoo.org/wildlights<http://zoo.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=595a55739611c1b9dcbe0024b&id=a220335eb4&e=5f58012772>. ***** December 1-17: Enjoy a spine-chilling evening in Belltown as Theater Schmeater replays 3 episodes of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone (I still hear that familiar "dee-da-dee-da" that sent chills up my spine and a vivid fear of turning around...what was lurking behind me??). Shows on Th. Fri. and Sat. 8PM with one added show on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Quick! Get your tickets now...but DON'T TURN AROUND...someone may be watching you! ***** Going on thru Dec 24, it's the Reindeer (and Model Train) Festival at Swanson's Nursery. You don't have to be a kid to have a great time at this free event - (Quick Quiz: Can you name all NINE of those antlered beasties ... without singing the song??) *****It's time for the 33rd annual Nutcracker Suite by George Balanchine at McCaw Hall. Watch the tin soldiers as they come to life, taste Mrs. Stahlbaum's sweet marzipan candies and marvel at lithe and lovely Dewdrop as she leads the Waltz of the Flowers. It's all there for the beholding! Tickets at: www.pnb.org/nutcracker<http://www.pnb.org/nutcracker> . FYI: If you have a challenged "ballet-o-meter", or you're dead certain that the fluttering of those pink tutu's will put your darling spouse into a state of somnolence, consider attending the one hour version by the Evergreen City Ballet! These fine ballerinas will dance their little toesies out, en pointe, at Meydenbauer Theater from Dec. 2 - 18; matinees and evening productions. ***** Enjoy even MORE lights, in fact...zillions of colorful lights and displays at Garden d'Lights<http://www.gardendlights.org/> in Bellevue Botanical Garden from 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM. There may be a line on free nights, which in 2016 are Dec. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8; otherwise $5. admission for those over the age of 10.***** For the 24th year, the Seattle Sheraton is hosting their free annual display of Gingerbread Village to help support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Wander around this magnificent hotel and step into a fantasy world of graham cracker walls, gumdrop roofs and candy-cane lamp posts...and NO! you can't sample them! ***** Once again, the Magic Season comes to Bellevue at our ice arena. This year it is located at Ashwood Park, next to the library, since the Downtown Park remains under construction (The "Complete the Circle" project and Inspiration playground will not be accessible until summer 2017). Last year, over 30,000 skaters enjoyed the brilliant light, glistening ice and spectacular performances in the region's largest covered, open-air rink. $12. admission charge, just $9 for those under 8 years old and that includes rental skates! Check it out: www.BellevueDowntown.com<http://www.BellevueDowntown.com>) for a list of those "free skate and lesson" days (starting with Tuesday, Dec. 6, just show your KCLS card). The library invites you to park in their large garage. Keep in mind, that a 155 lbs. person can burn off 260 calories in just 30 min. of skating...and that translates into one large mug of hot cocoa with extra whip and double marshmallows -it is SO worth it! ***** Kirkland Arts Center opens its doors for their annual Art Market event, featuring the fine handiwork of local artists and crafts people. What a great place to do some Christmas shopping: check out the ceramics, prints, cards, paintings, jewelry and much more, all hand-crafted here in the NW. Enjoy live music, art activities and festival food as you browse. It's FREE, Tues-Sat 11AM - 6 PM at 620 Market St., until Dec. 23. ***** "Do you hear what I hear?"...just open your doors and windows - it's Snowflake Lane!!!! Every night's a party with live toy soldiers drumming, dancing winter characters, exhilarating music, glittering lights and even falling snow! All the holiday razz-ma-tazz starts every evening at 7:00 PM right by our own Bellevue Square. It closes for Dec. 25 but then opens again the next day as Celebration Lane, thru the end of the month. More details at www.snowflakelane.com<http://www.snowflakelane.com>. Where else can you possibly go where snow falls every night??! ***** And don't forget... Got an oh-so-ugly Christmas sweater but no place to show it off? Here's your chance! Join the "Ugly Sweater 5km. run/walk on Dec.3, 11AM. Reduced entry price of $30 includes a chance to run (and maybe WIN!) in that ugly sweater of yours, and you'll even get a really cool knit hat and one Kahlua cocktail (boy, oh boy, this is sounding better already!) Come and enjoy the after-party at Marymoor Park with snow machines, reindeer games, inflatables and fun, sweaty folks. Sign up at: www.theuglysweaterrun.com<http://www.theuglysweaterrun.com> ***** Santa Train, December 3, 4, 10,16 and 17, 2016.The Northwest Railway Museum runs this popular 20-minute holiday excursion from North Bend to the Snoqualmie Depot that includes cookies and a visit with Santa. So who needs Dr. Phil???Just hop onto Santa's lap and tell him all about it. Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 17 ***** December 5 - Listen to the melodic voices of our own Pacific Sound Chorus as they sing holiday music in traditional style as well as "barbershop". Monday evening 7PM - 7:45PM at the Center Court in Bel-Square. ***** December 6, Tuesday evening... Listen up! This comes with my personal recommendation because I have heard them with my own little ears and they are WONDERFUL!!!! Get tickets now for the "Magical Strings" 38th annual performance. This is such a delightful show by the Boulding Family and friends, and all ages will be entranced! Their yuletide concert features a combination of old Celtic music, Irish dance, and story-telling set to music. It's the perfect way to get yourself in a holiday mood! Tickets: $12 - $22 and are available at: www.magicalstrings.com<http://www.magicalstrings.com>. at Meydenbauer Center. You'll be SO glad you went!! ***** Dec. 7, 6:30 PM at the Bellevue Library: DIY 3-D snowflakes crafting for adults and teens. Free! ***** December 8, 7:30 PM Spend an evening with the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra for their Christmas show at Meydenbauer Center. They'll perform everything from light classics to seasonal favorites. Ticket range: $10 - $20. ***** Also on Dec. 8: Intro to Snowshoeing with author Dan Nelson, who will tell you all about its history, how to get yourself started in this exhilarating, under-rated sport, and the best places to go. Free, 6:30 PM at the library. ***** Dec. 10, an afternoon musical performance at our library by the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra. Free, 4 PM ***** Dec. 10. Windham Hill Winter Solstice, 8PM, Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave. Order your tickets now at www.kpcenter.org<http://www.kpcenter.org>. I have one of their CD's and their music is heavenly. ***** Dec. 10 at 7:30 PM and Dec. 11 at 3:30 PM, the Cascadian Chorale will present "A Winter's Night" at St. Thomas Episcopalian Church, 8398 NE 12th St. in Medina. $12- $17. The Cascadian Chorale is composed of 35 skilled choral singers. It was formed in 1964 and their concerts are predominantly on the Eastside, so show your support for our local songbirds and enjoy! ***** Here's a chance to work off that serious party-fare you've been scarfing down, and have a good time doing it! Sign up for the Jingle Bell Run on Dec. 11, starting at 8AM at Westlake Center. It benefits the national Arthritis Foundation, and we all certainly know someone who suffers with those aches and pains. There will be a holiday-themed costume contest, 5K. Run & Walk and a 1K. "Fun Run with the Elves" for the kids. (I remember when David ran it about 30 years ago...no, not the one with the elves... and presented me with a pair of large jingle bells he had "earned". I hang them on the tree every year and they've become one of my treasured ornaments). Go earn yours! ***** Dec. 13. Here comes a real tough choice: 2 terrific events on the same night!!! You can't lose either way - Brass Band Northwest, what fun! Oxymoronically, their performance is called "Silent Night"...not too likely for a brass band! Bellevue Presbyterian Church, 1717 Bellevue Way, $5-$10. OR, same evening, same time: The Irish Tenors, world-famous thanks to their 5 PBS specials and 8 albums, will be in Seattle at Benaroya Hall for their Holiday Concert. Your ears will certainly be having a very Merry Christmas this year! ***** UW Arts presents "An Appalachian Christmas" a concert by Seattle-born Mark O'Connor and his family band. Mark is the youngest person, at the age of 13, to ever win the Grand Master Fiddler Championship. Since then, he has also won 2 Grammy awards and was named "Musician of the Year" by the Country Music Association, 6 years in a row. This holiday program includes some pretty masterful fiddling, bluegrass and other traditional American music. Meany Hall, Thursday, Dec. 15, 7:30 PM. https://.meanycenter.org ***** "Bells of the Sound": Holiday Special. I had recently been invited to my first bell concert, and was amazed at the depth of sound and emotion that is conveyed in this musical art-form. I look forward to hearing more of it. St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Dec. 18, 4PM. Suggested admission $8.-$10 at the door. ***** Looking for a little New Year's Eve fun? Think about the Space Needle! Fireworks at midnight will kick off the 2017 - parties on the Observation Deck and SkyCity. Details at: www.spaceneedle.com<http://www.spaceneedle.com> ********************************** Ahhh...now it's time for a break - be warm and comfy at home, enjoy the delightful smells emanating from the oven, languish in the excitement of loved ones coming to visit and think fondly of Christmas' past when we were youthful believers that everything was possible, that the world was just waiting for us and that good behavior would always be rewarded- We know better now; our naivete is long gone and we have learned that every future holds good days and bad days. Make the choice to let these days, now, be the good ones - surround yourself with wonderful friends and family. Be soft, be gentle, be kind to yourself, and to everyone. Open your heart and share your goodness, and let others share theirs with you. Search for that silver lining - it's there and this is just the right time to find it- No one sung it better than Frank Sinatra: "So, have yourself a merry little Christmas, now" Mara .