calendar.........

december

• December 1, World AIDS Day
• Now thru December 30, A Few of My Favorite Things: At Blithewold Mansion, Gardens, and Arboretum. See the 18’ tree in the entrance hall. Additional details below and at http://www.blithewold.org
• Now thru December 31, Contemporary Quilts: By Jude Larzellare at the Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Avenue in Newport. Call 848-8200 or visit http://www.newportartmuseum.com
• December 22 and 29, Holiday Evenings at The Breakers: Take a self-guided tour through an opulent Gilded Age mansion with live holiday music and a sampling of sweets, eggnog and cider, from 6 to 8pm. http://www.NewportMansions.org
• December 27, 28, 29, 30, Mrs. Claus in Menopause: One-woman musical performed by Shanna Wells at Cornerstone Playhouse, 213 Robinson Street in Wakefield. Tickets $18. Call 284-1850.
• December 28, The Singing Ringing Tree: Interactive fairy tale performance by Sarah Salerno-Thomas. With paper mache masks, children become panthers, princes, and pigs. At the Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street. Call 273-5437 or visit http://www.childrenmuseum.org
• December 31, Bright Night Providence: Artist run New Year’s Eve celebration in Downtown Providence. Call 351-2596 or visit http://www.brightnight.org

january

• January, Stalking Awareness Month and Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
• January 1, New Year’s Day
• Now thru January 2, Eye of the Storm: Paintings of local scenes by area artist Janice Causey at McGrath Judicial Complex in Wakefield. Call 782-4180.
• Now thru January 6, Memory House: An intimate look into that moment just before it all changes. Cast includes: Anne Scuria and Susannah Flood. For performance times and ticket prices call 351-4242 or visit http://www.trinityrep.com 
• January 1 thru 31, Portraits By Pastille Exhibit: At the Cranston Public Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston. Call 943-9080. See article on Lisa Pastille, cover artist, http://www.portraitsbypastille.com
• January 12, Becky Chace: True Brew Cafe in Wakefield at 7pm. For more information, visit http://www.beckychace.com and see article.
• January 12 and 13, A Celebration of Twelfth Night: Music and theater for the whole family. Weekend shows at 1, 4, and 8pm by the Chorus of Westerly at 119 High Street in Westerly. Call 596-8663 or visit http://www.chorusofwesterly.org.
• January 15 and 25, Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North: a documentary filmed in Rhode Island that tells the story of Katrina Browne’s (the producer and director) ancestors, the DeWolfs - the largest slave-trading family in American history. Visit Rhode Island for Community & Justice’s website for additional details, http://www.ricj.org.
• January 19, Weekend Revamp: Staging Your Home: A class that covers the ins and outs of the latest home decorating phenomenon - staging. Do you want a fresh new look on a budget? Do you want to sell your home? From 10am to noon at Rhode Island School of Design Continuing Education. Instructors: Julie Chrissis and Chris Eramo from the Boston Staging Group. http://www.risd.edu/ce
• Now thru January 20, The Grove: Creative sculpture by Wendy Wahl at Newport Art Museum at 76 Bellevue Avenue in Newport. Call 848-8200 or visit http://www.newportartmuseum.com.
• January 21, Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Valerie Tutson and Rochel Coleman perform Amazing Grace at 11:30am, 1pm, and 2:30pm. These storytellers bring history to life as they portray Civil Rights activists including Rosa Parks. At the Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street. Visit http://www.childrenmuseum.org or call 273-5437.
• January 26, 5th annual Winter Soiree & Silent Art Auction: Begins at 6pm at Hilton Providence. Sponsored by Rhode Island Young Professionals. Call 439-4102 or visit http://www.riyp.org.

february

• February 6, National Girls and Women in Sports Day
• February 9, Top of the Bay: Downcity Views: A tour of Providence’s luxury hotels from 9:30am to 4pm. Sponsored by The Junior League of Rhode Island. Call 331-9302 or visit www.jlri.org.
• February 20, 3rd annual Taste of the Flower Show Preview Party: From 6 to 9pm at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Tickets are $75 per person, a benefit for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Combines the beauty of the Flower Show with the talent of Rhode Island’s great chefs. Call 942-6325 x270 or visit www.rifoodbank.org.
• February 24 thru March 14, Judith Skoogfor-Prip: Art exhibition at the Providence Art Club Dodge House Gallery at 11 Thomas Street, Providence. Call 331-1114 or visit www.providenceartclub.org.
• February 29 thru March 8, Until the Violence STOPS: Providence Festival: a week long festival to end violence against women and girls. www.rafiproductions.com.

my favorite things At Blithewold Mansion, Gardens, and Arboretum, a few of my favorite things holiday exhibit is happening now thru December 30th, 1 to 8pm with nightly performances, children’s story time, and tea. The Visitors’ Center is decorated as a Gingerbread House, model trains chug around a billiard table, and more. For additional information, visit www.blithewold.org or call 253-2707. photo by Sue Hartley and Peter Hall (courtesy of Blithewold)