Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! 

Everyone seems to be in full-on holiday mode now.  Our tree is up, cards are arriving from friends and family (I do love a holiday card, don’t you?) and the annual Christmas Concert in Bermuda, Joy to the World is happening over this weekend.  That’s where you’ll find me.  Otherwise, I’ll be sending off the last of the gifts, doing some shopping and spending a little extra time at the gym to counteract last night’s Eggnog social! What about you?  Do you have a favorite holiday tradition or are you counting the seconds until it’s all over?  Either way, here are a few entertaining Friday Favorites for your reading and shopping pleasure this weekend!

Have you heard of The Melodica Men?  They are hilarious.  Here they are, playing The Nutcracker

If you have company coming for the holidays and need to spruce the place up a little bit, Target is having a Big 25% off Home Sale.  Use the code GIFT.

They have great artwork by Kate Pugsley

Help your guests keep warm with these pretty color block throws.

And these carafes are great, whether you’re serving hot cider at a party, or morning coffee for a houseful of guests.  

Remember Festivus?  Do you celebrate?  

this commercial still gets me every time I watch it.  The life-changing effects of giving a child the gift of music lessons. 

I have recently discovered the perfection of the jumpsuit as a replacement for the concert gown.  They are easy, comfortable, flattering on all body types, and you won’t be worried about tripping over any dress hems while walking on stage (one of my biggest nightmares).  Here are a few good ones:

by Jonathan Simkai, Trina Turk, Solace London, and Hallston

Check out this guide to hanging out in Providence, RI during the holidays from fellow blogger Jess Kirby’s site. 

Some very good news! Violinist Rachel Barton Pine is launching a major new project dedicated to highlighting and promoting music by Black composers, including an 8-volume series of sheet music books for violin (with similar books for other instruments in the plans).  This has been a lifelong passion of Rachel’s for most of her life, and I’m so happy to see this come to fruition! Check out this article about it all from Strings Magazine.

For my Boston readers: Here is THE concert listing site for the city.  Do you have “attend a holiday concert” on your bucket list, but can’t afford the pricey Pops ticket, and your pink tutu is at the dry cleaners?  There are literally dozens and dozens of fantastic concerts happening around the city over the next few weeks.

ICYMI: Some posts from the past couple of weeks:

Finding Our Tribe as Classical Musicians

Gift Guide for the person who HATES the cold: or a “how to survive winter” guide.

How to Balance Practicing & Homework

Spotlight Series: Tracy Friedlander

Cheers! and have a great weekend, everyone!  

-Kate