Friends,
I blinked and missed November.
At my house, we’re in full-blown celebration mode. After Thanksgiving, we celebrated my dad’s birthday. Then my twins’ birthday is midmonth. My family Christmas party and my birthday sit back to back on the calendar. Christmas comes through like a freight train, and after a week of putting toys together and picking packaging out of the rug, we celebrate the New Year.
I’m pre-exhausted.
But this season, I’m doing a few things for myself. I signed up for a virtual race to run, walk or crawl at least one mile every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’m also determined to enjoy a cheesy or classic (I haven’t decided yet) movie without multi-tasking. And I have my heart set on finding a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas in a store. A story of mine is published in the book and I’d just like to see it somewhere.
What are your plans for the holidays? Email me at citynewseditor@localbiznews.net so I can pick up a few new ideas for my family.
Rebecca
Take the City Planning Survey
The city and the planning consultants invite Birmingham residents and community members to take the next survey regarding The Birmingham Plan.
Feedback on proposals made in the first draft of the Master Plan will give the project team further direction for future plan revisions.
The survey also provides room for open feedback, so please consider clicking through and spreading the word to friends and neighbors.
The survey will be open through Dec. 23. Hard copies of the survey are also available at City Hall, Baldwin Public Library, the Department of Public Services and the two fire stations as well Next.
For a refresh on the first draft Master Plan, and for additional information, visit the project website at www.TheBirminghamPlan.com
Holiday Fun Coming to Shain Park
Shain Park will come alive with activity during the Birmingham Shopping District’s annual Birmingham Winter Markt event from Dec. 6-8. The park will be illuminated with more than 65 booths featuring unique gift items for loved ones, teachers and friends. Talented vendors will display traditional holiday crafts and décor, art from local artisans, holiday greenery, jewelry, home décor and more.
On opening night, Friday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m., the community will come together with Santa and the mayor for live caroling and to light Birmingham’s holiday tree. This year, Birmingham’s holiday tree is larger and brighter than ever, standing 41 feet tall with more than 45,000 LED lights.
Birmingham Winter Markt attendees can enjoy European food and drinks, gift items, holiday greens, crafts, ice sculptures, live reindeer, warming stations, marshmallow roasting stations, a Kinderhaus children’s activity area, the popular Santa House, and live entertainment. As a special surprise, 300 random shoppers will receive ornaments with a voucher for a free gift.
Birmingham Museum Offers “A Peek at Christmas Past”
The 1822 John West Hunter House is the oldest house in Oakland County, and has seen plenty of Christmas seasons come and go—196 to be exact. For those seeking a sense of an old-fashioned Christmas, the Birmingham Museum will share treasured holiday items and other keepsakes from Birmingham families of the past as part of its ‘Christmas Past’ display inside the Hunter House during December.
Visitors who are or become members of the Friends of the Birmingham Museum this month will receive a complementary set of usable reproduction vintage holiday postcards from the museum’s extensive collection, while they last. Annual membership is $25 per person or $40 for a family. Regular museum admission: $7 per adult, $5 for seniors and students, kids 5 and under and members are free.
To find out more, call the Birmingham Museum at 248-530-1928 or go online.
Get a Lyft for Less
Those visiting downtown Birmingham this holiday season are encouraged to leave their cars at home and enjoy discounted Lyft rides to Birmingham.
The promotion runs now through Dec. 31, or when promotion funds are exhausted – whichever comes first. To take advantage of the promotion, Lyft users should use these promotion codes:
Type code BHAMDAY19 from noon to 5:59 p.m. for $7 off a ride to downtown Birmingham.
Type code BHAMNIGHT19 from 6 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. for $3 off a ride to downtown Birmingham.
