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The Nutcracker – Christmas Comes To Birmingham
The Birmingham Hippodrome was once again transformed into the epitome of Christmas as the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s classic production of The Nutcracker opened last night. The ballet is always seen as the opening of Christmas in Birmingham, and, once again, it’s charm, beauty and magic thrilled the sell out audience. This year it is celebrating 35 years since it first came to Birmingham and The Nutcracker can still be described in a single word- enchanting. It is Christmas Eve and the Stahlbaum family are giving a party for family and friends. A magician Drosselmeyer is invited and gives the Stahlbaum’s oldest daughter Clara the gift of a Nutcracker. When the…
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Christmas Magic with The Nutcracker
Christmas really came to town in Birmingham on Friday with the opening night of The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s yuletide classic at the Birmingham Hippodrome. A full house for the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production showed that this evergreen classic shows no sign of losing its ability to enchant, with this particular production stunning in both dance and visually through the incredible sets. The Nutcracker tells the story of a wonderful family Christmas Eve, with the initial scenes dominated by a wonderful Christmas tree. This is a picture box Victorian Christmas scene, one that could’ve come from a Christmas card, or the top of a quality street tin, the tableaux is so vivid…
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A Gin-Tastic Countdown To Christmas From Masters Of Malt
If you ever needed another reason to get excited about the countdown to Christmas, then I have one right here. To say I’m excited about reaching December 1st is an understatement, as once we hit that milestone, I’ll be able to start opening the windows on my That Boutique-y Gin Company Advent Calendar from Masters of Malt. What happens when the likes of That Boutique-y Gin Company and Drinks by the Dram team up to create a lip-smacking way for gin enthusiasts to count down to Christmas? They create That Boutique-y Gin Company’s very own Advent Calendar, of course! The Boutique-y Gin Advent Calendar is a traditional style advent calendar,…
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Fun And Pastimes For Dark Winter Nights
As the nights draw in and the weather turns colder and colder, we may find ourselves spending more time indoors, especially when it comes to the evenings. Summer is a distant memory and suddenly it is dark at 5pm. Although we often talk about cosy nights in front of the TV, the truth is that Winter lasts a long time and it can get rather boring. So, with that in mind, I have put together a few activities that can make evenings a bit more enjoyable and hopefully make Spring appear just that bit sooner. Board Games In recent years retro style board games have made a comeback and now…
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Creating Memories From Scratch: Christmas Craft Ideas for the Whole Family
It’s not easy finding the perfect Christmas decoration. Most people either spend too much money and aren’t totally satisfied with their purchase or they don’t spend enough, and lament over the near non-existence of decorations. Here’s how to make the perfect gifts from scratch and get everything you’ve ever wanted without spending a fortune. The Softball Ornament This one is easy. Go down to a sporting goods store and pick up a softball. Now, wrap it up in leftover fabric to make a unique ornament. The best ornaments will be wrapped in brightly-colored, Christmas-themed, fabrics. Use crafter’s glue to hold the fabric in place. Attach a string to one…
