Todd Walker
FOX 9
Weekend Hit List
December 4th - December 7th

Mall of America

Family Flicks - Catch a free movie at Theatres at Mall of America every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. This Saturday, Dec. 6 the movie is 'Transformers."
Holiday Classics - With the donation of a non-perishable food item, your family can enjoy a free movie at Theatres at Mall of America every day at 10 a.m.. This week Monday through Thursday the film is "It's a Wonderful Life" and starting Friday, Dec. 5 through Thursday, Dec. 11 the movie will be "Home for the Holidays."

Sunday, Dec. 7
Pet Photos with Santa
Bring your favorite pet into "The Santa Experience" at Mall of America located on Level 3 South across from Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. to have their photo taken with Santa. Pets of all kinds are welcome to take part in a photo opportunity with their loving owners and Santa.
7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.


St. Paul River Center and Xcel Energy Center

St. Paul Ice Fishing & Winter Sports Show
Friday-Sunday
Friday: 1 - 9 p.m. / Saturday: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. / Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.  
Saint Paul RiverCentre
Tickets are available at the door- $8 for adults, $4 for kids 12 and under, children under 3 are FREE
 
Michael W. Smith "It's A Wonderful Christmas"
Featuring American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle
Saturday - 7 p.m.
Xcel Energy Center
Great seats still available! $37 / $47 / $57 / $77
 
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
The rock orchestra's musical style is often described as progressive rock, symphonic metal, heavy metal and classical music all mixed together. TSO is well-known for its laser lights show and rockin' renditions of traditional Christmas songs
Sunday - 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Xcel Energy Center
Tickets are going fast! $37 / $47



Shopping
Gwen Leeds's popular Greed Gone Wild Sale takes place Thursday through Saturday. Shop an unbeatable selection of designer and vintage clothing, jewelry, hats, shoes, furniture, and more. Donate canned food to receive 10 percent off one item. Patina Props, 2014 Central Ave. NE, Mpls., 612-789-6006

Don't miss the thirtieth annual Old Fashioned Holiday Bazaar at Landmark Center this Thursday through Saturday. More than eighty Midwest artists exhibit holiday gifts, including jewelry, wood carving, dried flowers, wearable art, and more. 75 W. 5th St., St. Paul, 651-292-3225

Pottery Barn/Galleria
Sunday, December 7 - 10 am
Hosting the perfect holiday party and setting the perfect dinner table
The class is free, but size is limited, so be sure to call Pottery Barn to make your reservation - (952) 925-1610.

Midtown Global Market
No Coast Craft-o-Rama  has become a favorite holiday shopping destination for thousands. Now in its fourth year, this season's sale will feature more handcrafted gifts than ever; over 100 vendors will sell their homemade and self-designed wares December 5 and 6 at the Midtown Global Market.
Friday, December 5 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Midtown Global Market, E. Lake Street and 10th Ave S. Minneapolis, MN

Events:

Grand Meander
December 6
Grand Avenue's Grand Meander is a leisurely, family-friendly holiday event featuring carolers, trolley rides, a soup tasting, unique pieces by local artists, and great bargains at most of Grand Avenue's retailers. This year's Grand Meander will include the display of work by local artists in several avenue businesses to provide one-of-a-kind holiday gift ideas. Children are invited to attend a free pancake breakfast with Santa Claus himself at Tavern on Grand. Later that day, Santa and his reindeer will be spreading holiday cheer along the avenue. Shoppers can take advantage of free trolley rides beginning at 11 a.m. The day concludes with a tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. in front of Charlemagne Fine Jewelery. 8:30a.m. - 5:00p.m.
Grand Avenue
Grand Avenue, St. Paul ; 651 699-0029

Life Time Fitness Reindeer Run 5K - Get into the spirit of the season and help support a great cause!
Lake Harriet Bandshell, Minneapolis, Minn.
Saturday, December 6
Race day registration - 8:00 - 9:15 a.m.
Costume Contest - 8:30 a.m.
Santa's official "Ho ho ho...go!" start - 9:30 a.m.
Race Awards - 10:15 a.m.
The Life Time Fitness Reindeer Run 5K run and walk will draw thousands of participants to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots program. Each of the top five men and women will receive awards following the race and all participants receive a free t-shirt and refreshments.                          
The event also features a pre-race costume contest at 8:45 a.m. Categories include: groups (three or more people, with a maximum of eight), pairs and individuals. Santa and his helpers will pick the top three costumes in each category and the crowd will help decide the first, second and third-place winners, with prizes awarded to the top three.


Holidazzle A Fairytale For All
Thursdays through Sundays November 28th through December 21st  6:30 PM on Nicollet Mall between 12th & 4th streets

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ELF AT MACY'S SANTALAND
Through Dec. 31: Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa's elves have arrived at Macy's. The annual holiday display "A Day in the Life of an Elf at Macy's Santaland" is open on the eighth floor of the Minneapolis store. North Pole vignettes show elves fetching Santa's mail and teaching reindeer to fly. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Sundays, Macy's Minneapolis, 700 Nicollet Mall; free; 612-375-5020.

British Television Advertising Awards - Walker Art Center
Sundays and Fridays : (December 5 through December 28)
Saturdays : (December 5 through December 29)
Daily (December 29 through December 30)
Price: $10 ($8 Walker members) 612-331-3889
The Walker Art Center presents multiple screenings of the 2008 British Television Advertising Awards.
You may ask us why it is reasonable to charge admission to watch commercials, but these are commercials are well worth the $10 ticket. The British Television Advertising Awards honors only the highest caliber spots on their liberal airwaves, some directed by film giants like Harmony Korine and Martin Scorsese. Many are thought-provoking, many are sexy, many are funny and all of the winners will be playing at the Walker Art Center this month.

Jackson Street Roundhouse
Santa's Train Shop Returns - 8th Annual Event
December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2008  10am-4pm
The Jackson Street Roundhouse is home
to Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, and all sorts of exciting holiday treats for the whole family.  Get your picture taken with Santa, tell him what you want this holiday season; take a ride on a real train, get up close with model railroads, including the Greater Midwest Lego  train layout.   
Adults $10, Children $8, Family $35 (2 adults & 2 to 4 children)

St. Paul's Phalen Park Holiday Lights
November 25 - December 31
A new holiday tradition is being added to St. Paul's Phalen Park. Holiday Lights in the Park is a drive-through exhibit of thirty-seven holiday-themed light sculptures created by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). The tour is just over half-a-mile long, and proceeds go to various local charities. Tours run from 5:30-10:00 p.m. every night. Cost is $8 per car Sun. through Thur 5:30p.m. - 10p.m.
Phalen Park
1615 Phalen Dr. E., St. Paul ; 612-455-1732

Holiday Flower Show - Como Zoo Park and Conservatory
December 6 - January 19
The Holiday Flower Show decorates the Sunken Garden with more than 1,000 poinsettias.
Como Zoo Park and Conservatory
225 Estabrook Dr., St. Paul ; 651-487-8233



Theatre

"The Cooking Show con Karimi y Comrades Holiday Party for the People"
Ruby's @ The Lab continues to bring fun, innovative performances to the Twin Cities with "The Cooking Show con Karimi y Comrades Holiday Party for the People." The live cooking performance features local revolutionary chef Mero Cocinero Karimi, an Iranian-Guatemalan activist, artist, and poet. Karimi crafts revolutionary recipes onstage and guarantees delicious samples, healthy political discussion and savory stories for every audience member.
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays : 8 p.m. (December 4 through December 13)
Sundays : 7 p.m. (December 4 through December 13)
Price: $26.50-$29.50
Event Phone Number: 612.333.7977


Irving Berlin's White Christmas - Ordway
December 2 - January 3
You know the classic story of two fame-hungry buddies who perform a holiday show at a Vermont Inn and find two lovely ladies to fall in love with along the way. What you may not know is that this blockbuster mega-show involves twelve semi-trucks full of props and equipment that took ten days to set up. The result: over-the-top holiday entertainment for all.
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
345 Washington St., St. Paul ; 651-224-4222

All I want for Christmas is 700 Billion Dollars: Our 50th Noel
Brave New Workshop
December 4 - January 31
Not getting a big bailout for the holidays? BNW's latest will surely have everyone rolling with laughter through the holidays-even the scrooges in the audience won't be able to resist a chuckle.
Brave New Workshop
2605 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. ; 612-332-6620

Black Nativity - Hear Again the Christmas Story!  - Penumbra Theatre
November 28 - December 28
The Penumbra's annual holiday show is all about celebration, and includes many of the Twin Cities' finest singers and dancers, such as Yolande Bruce, Ginger Commodore, T. Mychael Rambo, and many more.
Penumbra Theatre
270 N. Kent St., St. Paul ; 651-224-3180

Miss Richfield 1981's It's A Coo Coo Christmas - Illusion Theater
November 28 - December 14
Miss Richfield's annual holiday show is full of advice you might never need, comedy that is under-rehearsed, and plenty of unpredictable participation. Starring the one-and-only Ms. Richfield 1981, this is a show that rarely disappoints, and usually sells out.
Illusion Theater
528 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. ; 612-339-4944

 
A Christmas Carole Petersen - Ordway
Acclaimed storyteller, Tod Petersen, conjures the ghosts of Yuletides past in this hilarious and heartwarming musical tribute to his Mankato childhood and the show's namesake-his mother, Carole.
Daily (ends December 21)
Price: $19.00
651-224-4222

Martini & Olives Silent Night Fever - Bryant Lake Bowl
December 28 : 7 p.m.
December 30 : 7 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays : 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. (ends December 27)
Price: $23 advance / $25 day of show  612-825-3737
They're back, they're beautiful and they're burning the yule-log at both ends!
It's Martini & Olive's 15th annual holiday celebration and they return to where it all started-the BLB!-with ridiculous medleys of music from the '70s, unbelievably funny dance numbers and very special guests (emphasis on "special"). Yes, Martini & Olive will give a funkified flu shot to that pesky ole Humbug.


Music

Gretchen Wilson - Myth Nightclub
December 5
The singer of "Redneck Woman" hasn't been back to Minnesota since she performed with Big & Rich at the 2007 Glamorama. Expect to hear songs from her upcoming album, I Got Your Country Right Here.
Myth Nightclub
3090 Southlawn Dr., Maplewood ; 651-779-6984


Tim Mahoney - Fine Line Music Cafe
December 5
The popular local pop-rock artist officially went big time after his song "More Than a Moment" was featured on The Hills. OMG. His latest is Stay/Leave.
Fine Line Music Cafe
Minneapolis ; 989-5151


Lorie Line - State Theatre
December 6 - December 13
This hometown pianist and singer brings her magnetic voice on tour every holiday season. She has released more than twenty albums in her career and is a local favorite.
State Theatre
805 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. ; 989-5151


Swinging Nutcracker - Orchestra Hall
December 6
This may be one of the most interesting twists we've seen to Tchaikovsky's classic. A Duke Ellington-style jazz ensemble plays Ellington's translations of the original versions, the orchestra plays the originals, and the Minnesota Dance Theater adds the visual spark. 7:30p.m.
Orchestra Hall
1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis