Hello Dear Readers! This week’s topics are a little bit now and a little bit later. Here’s what we’ll be looking at:
The Big Cheese’s Big Day • Designer Con • Patchwork Indie Arts & Festival • Olszewski signing • CHOC Foodie Fest • Downtown Anaheim Nutcracker Christmas Tree Lighting • Armchair Archivists
Get out your party hats ... today is Mickey Mouse’s birthday. What everyone seems to usually forget though is that it’s Minnie’s birthday too. On November 18th, 1928 the Walt Disney Company released Steamboat Willie. It wasn’t the first Mickey Mouse cartoon but it was the first with synchronized sound and so that’s the date the Company officially celebrates Mickey’s (and Minnie’s) birthday.
The mice turn 82 today and I think you’ll agree with me Dear Readers they still look marvelous. My personal favorite Mickey Mouse cartoon is Plane Crazy (Runaway Brain is a close second), what’s your’s? It amuses me no end when Mickey sees a poster of Charles Lindbergh and tries to ruffle up his hair so he looks a bit more like “Lucky Lindy.” He then proceeds to put together a plane as only a cartoon character could (using turkey feathers as a tail and a dog all wound up rubber band-style to power the plane’s propeller) and takes Minnie for a spin.
Mickey’s a bit of a devil though and he tries to get fresh with Minnie. She doesn’t take it and bails out of the plane using her bloomers for a parachute, leaving Mickey in a bit of a tight spot when he dashes after her and runs right off the back end of the plane into the air. How does it all end? Ahhhh, you’ll have to watch Plane Crazy to find out & today’s the perfect day to do that.
So Mickey and Minnie ... I’m sending out a big bundle of happy birthday wishes from me to you and you!
Okay, so now you’re in a party mood, how about planning something fun to explore this weekend? Maybe the Designer Con is just what you’re looking for:
Now in its fifth year, Designer Con is an annual art and design convention that smashes together collectible toys and designer apparel with urban, underground, and pop art. Some of the Designer Con 2010 events include the Spoonful of Star Wars™ Art Exhibition, Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, World's Biggest "Blindbox Time", So Analog Custom Show, our famous DCon Goodie Bags, live painting, and more!
Designer Con takes place this Saturday, November 20th, 2010, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $5 and an even better bargain if you come late – it’s free after 3 PM. The address is (Pasadena Convention Center) 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 For more information visit: http://www.designercon.com/
Not your cup of tea? Well, it’s Patchwork Indie Show time again, how about treating yourself to some Christmas shopping for terrific handmade art straight from the artists:
Patchwork Indie Arts & Festival showcases over 75 local independent artists, crafters and designers in an outdoor setting. Come down and eat & drink from local cafe & restaurant booths as you listen to tunes and peruse goods from the best Southern California creators. Look & shop... clothing for men, women & kids, handbags, accessories, art, ceramics, home goods, garden finds, plushies, jewelry, paper goods, edible treats, pet gear, crochet & knit goods, kits & patterns, bath & body goodies & more.
The Patchwork Indie Show takes place this Sunday, November 21st at Marine Stadium in Long Beach, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For more information and directions to the show visit: http://www.patchworkshow.com/
Since next Thursday is Thanksgiving and I’ll be off enjoying the day with my family (and hope you’ll be enjoying your “turkey day” too), I thought we’d look ahead today to some events taking place the first weekend in December. I’ve got three for you to consider...
The first is a merchandise event at Disneyland, Robert Olszewski will be back at Disneyland signing his latest miniature masterpiece:
Join us Saturday, December 4, 2010 as we welcome renowned miniaturist, Robert Olszewski, from 10 AM to 12 Noon at the Disneyana Shop on Main Street, U.S.A. Bob will be on hand for a special appearance and signing of his latest piece Snow White's Scary Adventures, which he has captured in exquisite minute detail.
Also, if you’re at the Disneyland Resort early on December 4th for the Early Shopping Event at World of Disney in Downtown Disney (info for that event at this link), the Disney Merchandise folks ask that no one lines up before 5:45 on December 4th. As of this writing the queue will start near the Rainforest Cafe (similar to how they sometimes do wristbands) and the group will be walked down to World of Disney. This is subject to change though as they’re still hammering down the fine points of the event, so I suggest that just before the event you check the above link for final details.
After you finish up with those Disneyland events, head on over to Knott’s Berry Farm for the CHOC Foodie Fest, it takes place on December 4th at Knott's Park Pavilion from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM:
The Torch Relay for Children's Miracle Network, along with Knott's Berry Farm and Mobile Food Productions, have joined forces to raise awareness and funds for CHOC Children's Hospital. A wide selection of unique gourmet food trucks will gather in the lawn area of the Park Pavilion across the street from Knott’s Berry Farm. Among the specialty food options that will be available are dan dan bbq, Ahn Joo, LouksToGo, Del’s Soft Frozen Lemonade, Vesuvio Italian, Chunk n Chip Cookies, Kabob Express, Chomp Chomp, Calbi and more. Unlimited fountain drinks are included with $8 adult admission and beer and wine will be available for purchase. Children 10 and under are free. Park admission is not required to attend this event.
You can round out your day December 4th by heading back to the Disneyland area for a special Christmas tree lighting at Downtown Anaheim:
Downtown Anaheim’s Nutcracker Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Village takes place on December 4th — get some holiday shopping out of the way with one of our unique vendors & get warm and fuzzy with hot food and drinks before you play in our free snow play area. Just 5 minutes from Disneyland located south of Lincoln Ave and east of Harbor Blvd at the intersection of Center Street Promenade and Lemon Street, parking is free.
• Bring mittens and boots for our free snow play area.
• Bring a camera. You will want to keep these memories!
• Head over to the Christmas tree (in front of Anaheim Ice) at 5:45 PM
And lastly, don’t miss this week’s Armchair Archivists episode inwhich Dave Smith tells what it was like to pack up Walt Disney’s offices and gives us a tour of those rooms as they appear today:
Okay, we’re all through here for today. I’ll see you in two weeks when I’m back from my Thanksgiving break. Till that time if you want to know what I’m up to, you need to follow Pressing Matters on Twitter. You never know what you’ll find there — food, museums, shopping, Disneyland, Thanksgiving!
Follow me along as I search for the all the latest Pressing Matters & tweet about what I find:
With thoughts of the holidays coming round the corner, I’ll leave you and say goodbye until next week when we meet again to discuss more...
If you'd like to submit something to be considered for the column, please send it to both Sue and Al at the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected] with the words "Pressing Matters" in the subject line. Due to our already extensive email loads we won't be able to acknowledge each submission, but those under consideration may get a note from us asking for more details. Representatives from the items chosen are invited to answer questions from readers at the forum linked at the end of each column.
FTC-Mandated Disclosure: As of December 2009, bloggers are required by the Federal Trade Commission to disclose payments and freebies. Sue Kruse and Al Lutz did not receive any payments, free items, or free services from any of the parties discussed in this article. They pay for their own admission to theme parks and their associated events, unless otherwise explicitly noted.
