I Wanna Wish You a Stamford Christmas

The Stamford Downtown Special Services District is Felizing up your Navidad by bringing the father of most of the Spanish I know to your backyard! José Feliciano will be featured at this year's Heights & Lights. Click here for a refresher course on the event.

Heights & Lights now features multiculturalism, extreme sports, hot chocolate, singing children and explosions - making it officially the most American thing ever.

(photo from zaxl4, flickr.com)

Ho ho photo

'Tis the season and Santa has plopped himself onto his seasonal throne in the Stamford Mall. When I was young enough to take up residence on Santa's lap at Christmas, I got a grainy little Polaroid for my trouble. Nobody ever told me I'd poke my eye out, but it was a pretty unsophisticated (if charming) affair. Not so now.

According to the mall website, you can take your pic with Santa home as a flash drive, a 12-month photo calendar, personalized cards, a photo ornament and even something called a Russ Berrie Shining Stars Plush. Oh and there's also (yawn) photographs - if you're into that sort of thing.

(photo from f650biker, flickr.com)

Fun with H1N1

Reverend Barbara Sexton (who adorably refers to herself alternatively as Reverend Barb and "The Biblical Biochemist") was kind enough to point out that there is an upcoming H1N1 vaccine walk-in clinic in downtown Stamford.

The clinic will be on December 7, 2009 from 1-4pm at the Stamford campus of the University of Connecticut (corner of Washington Boulevard and Broad Street). There are some important limitations on who is eligible for the vaccine. The following is cut and paste from the City of Stamford website - which you should check out for additional information on the walk-in clinic:

The H1N1 intranasal spray vaccine will be available to:
• Healthy children ages 24 months (2 years) through 24 years
• Healthy household contacts and caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age

The H1N1 injectable vaccine will be available to:
• Pregnant Women
• Children and adults from 3 years to 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions (examples: asthma, other lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, etc)
• Persons who live with or provide care for infants less than 6 months of age who are not eligible for the H1N1 intranasal spray vaccine

(photo from Môsieur J. [version 3.0a], flickr.com)

Expiration Se-date

Bloomberg has an interesting article today from the legal world, reporting that the Connecticut Attorney General has sued CVS for allegedly selling food and drugs past their expiration date.

Similar cases against CVS were brought and settled in New York and California. The article describes the AG's investigation which revealed at least 20 Connecticut stores selling products past their prime, including allergy medicine, dairy products and even baby formula.

Check those dates, citizens!

(photo from Pink Sherbet Photography, flickr.com)

Reading Renovation

The $14 million renovation of the Ferguson Library is underway. New pictures have been added this month showing Stamford how much hard work they are doing behind closed doors. Check it out here.

(photo from CCAC North Library, flickr.com)

Tinsel and Tutus

The Nutcracker comes to The Palace Theatre on December 5th and 6th. The cast includes 100 local children alongside dancers from American Ballet Theatre.

The Saturday the 5th, performance is part of a gala event beginning at 7pm. Sunday features two performances, one at 1pm and the other at 4pm. Tickets, priced at $20, $35 and $45, available here.

If you miss the local performance, there are two more at at the Jorgensen Auditorium at UCONN Storrs, Sunday, December 13th at 1pm and 4pm.

(photo from me, Christmas 2008)

Raise Your Eggnog to Greenwich History

Gear up for the holidays and help The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich by joining in the festivities for their biggest fundraiser events of the year at Antiquarius. As an Aquarius, I'll put aside my initial concerns that the event was somehow against me, and say that Samantha Knapp is working hard to make it a smashing success.

Her event, The Young Collectors Antiquarius After Party, promises to be a blast. Join her on December 3rd from 8-midnight at Louie's Italian Restaurant and Bar at 136 River Road Ext. in Cos Cob. For tickets and pricing, click here or here.

Antiquarius runs for a week, and events include an antique show, a holiday house tour, an opening night gala and a seasonal boutique. For a full list of events, click here.

You can get additional information by contacting Special Events Coordinator Carol Matton at 203-869-6899, ext 14 or by emailing cmatton@hstg.org.

(photo from izik, flickr.com)

Giving Thanks and Other Things

Happy Turkey Day, citizens! Give thanks by giving back. The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County is accepting donations to fend off hunger during the holidays.

(photo from wishuponacupcake, flickr.com)