Hiya Dear Readers, how are your holidays coming along? Shopping finished (mine’s not), decorating done (not a chance) cookies baked (I wish)? Not to load your busy calendar up with more events or anything, but here’s a few suggestions for things to do:
Freshly made Candy Canes — Yum • They Scare Because They Care • What’s Up — D23 Happenings • New Year’s Eve in the OC — A Preview • The Perfect Xmas gift Idea for Walt Disney fans
So let’s get going with the sweetest of the sweets—
If you’ve ever tasted one of the candy canes made by Disneyland’s terrific candy chefs then you know how absolutely scrumptious those seasonal treats are. The problem with the park’s freshly made candy canes though is that they are hard to come by. First ... they’re only made on specific days and quantities are very limited. Second ... you pretty much have to get to Disneyland at opening and hope you get your hands on one of the coveted tickets that allows you to purchase the candy. To my mind it’s almost as difficult as finding one of Willy Wonka’s golden tickets.
If you ask me, all that is a bit too much trouble no matter how yummy those candy canes are. I think this year I’m going to skip the hassle and head out to Logan’s Candies in Ontario, CA, where they also make fresh candy canes (and they hand out samples, too):
Every year in December Logan’s Candies hosts candy making demonstrations to the public. Come and see the craftsmanship and care we put into all of our handmade, gourmet candies. We even share the candies that we make right in front of you.
Candy cane demos are scheduled for December 16, 17, 20, 21, 22 and 23 at 5:30 p.m, 7:00 p.m, and 8:30 p.m. Logan’s Candies is located at 125 W. "B" Street, Ontario CA 91762. For more information call: (909) 984-5410 or visit this link.
And now ... for something completely different. - Nothing says Christmas like... zombies, right? No? Well, think again, that’s exactly what’s going to take place in Pasadena this coming Saturday. The zombies are walking and it’s all in the name of a good cause:
Start spreading the word to all of your holiday /zombie lovin’ family and friends ... Last year the "WALK" was a huge hit and this year is bound to be just as scary. Before we kick off the "WALK" ll be accepting and collecting toys for needy families and then donating them to the "Spark of Love" Foundation. Spark Of Love is the annual holiday charity organized by the Los Angeles County Fire Department ... Yes we're Zombies that care.
The Zombie Walk takes place Saturday, December 18th on Colorado Blvd, in Pasadena at 5:30 PM. Zombies meet up between 4:30-5:00 PM at Central Park — 219 South Fair Oaks Ave. Be on time (for the Zombie rules) & don’t forget to bring a toy. For more information visit: http://socalzombiewalk.com/ or the Zombie Facebook page.
Next up D23 members pay attention — this is your reminder alert! There are a couple of events coming up you might want to register for, here’s the scoop:
It’s almost once again time to try and get tickets for the Walt Disney Studios Archive tour. The next tour takes place February 5, 2011 and tickets will be available starting next Tuesday, December 21st at 10:00 AM PST:
A rare opportunity to enjoy a 2-and-a-half hour tour of The Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Archives, hosted by D23 and Archives staff. Guests will have the chance to stroll through the old Animation building where films like Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland were created, see the historic soundstages used for filming Disney classics like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and explore Legends Plaza (shown above), which honors those who have made significant contributions to the Disney Legacy. There will also be the opportunity to purchase select D23 exclusive merchandise. We will be hosting 8 tours on this day. Each tour can accommodate 25.
For more information visit this link.
The second event of interest is a preview screening at the Studios of 'Jake and the Never Land Pirates' (a new animated series due in 2011). This will take place on January 29, 2011. Tickets become available next Monday, December 20th at 10:00 AM PST.
For more information visit this link.
New Year’s Eve fast approaches — so why not get a practice run in? This year the Orange County Fairgrounds are throwing a block party on New Year’s Eve and you can preview what that fête will be like tonight, December 16th from 6 PM to 9 PM:
This free public preview will feature karaoke, music and a sampling of the gourmet food trucks that will be participating in the New Year's Eve Block Party event on Dec. 31. Featured trucks include BACON MANia, Barcelona OnTheGo, The Burnt Truck, Calbi BBQ, Chomp Chomp, Crepes Bonaparte, Dan Dan BBQ, Louks To Go, The OC Food Truck, Piaggio on Wheels, and Rolling Sushi Van.
For more information call: (714) 708-1500, or visit this link.
We’ll wind it up today with a gift suggestion for that Walt Disney fan on your list.
If you’ve had a chance to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum then you know it’s not hyperbole to describe the place as absolutely fantastic. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the museum is positively magical. That’s not hyperbole either. So ... you’ve been there, then you also know visitors are not allowed to take any photos in the museum, and dang ... you really wanted to take some! I understand. Here’s a solution to that problem — there’s a new photo book all about the Walt Disney Family Museum:
It all started with a visit to San Francisco. When photographer Jim Smith—whose body of work includes contributions to more than 100 books—discovered The Walt Disney Family Museum, he was immediately captivated by Walt’s life story and the rich visuals that bring it to life. Jim proposed a photo book to Museum executive director Richard Benefield that would provide a great souvenir of the state-of-the-art galleries and exhibits, not to mention the stunning location near the Golden Gate Bridge.
Given a green light by the Museum, Jim returned with two talented colleagues, Stephen Titra and Mike Vasiliauskas, who committed to seven days with an unusual shooting schedule: very early mornings before the Museum opened to visitors, and very late nights after the Museum had closed. Working with every department from Collections to Facilities, Jim trained his professional eye on art, objects, artifacts, trains, cameras, and interactives – transforming them all with precise lighting set-ups and some post-production magic. The book not only takes you inside an imaginative Museum but also reveals Walt Disney’s extraordinary journey.
The book retails for $34.95 and can be purchased in the Museum Store, or online at www.waltdisney.org.
Want to know what I’m up to? Then you need to follow Pressing Matters on Twitter. You never know what you’ll find there — food, museums, shopping, zombies, Disneyland!
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With thoughts of freshly made candy canes coming round the corner, I’ll leave you and say goodbye until next time when we meet again to discuss more...
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