Santa’s not-so-little helpers
Hey, not even Santa does it all on his own: He’s got a whole shop full of tiny helpers. Well, this holiday season you can hire the Hillcrest High School baseball team to help with assembling those toys, hauling in that Christmas tree, or putting up those lights. Just email hhs_baseball@swbell.net with a list of holiday chores you need help with.
Deck the halls
Willow Creek Mart 8041 Walnut Hill, 214.369.3776, willowcreekflorist.net. A shoestring budget shouldn’t mean
sacrificing the traditional trimmings. Break out the old bells and baubles. This shop shows you how to make
them sparkle like new.
You don’t have to toss all your old ornaments and decorations to have a whole new holiday look this year, says Jay Johnson owner of this floral, design and gift boutique. He suggests supplementing your existing glass balls and icicles with faux flowers and berries. “Beautiful and affordable high-quality faux flowers and berries are available in a variety of colors and styles,” Johnson says. “If you have a traditional motif, why not fill it in with sprigs of red berries, amaryllis, poinsettias and holly. If you want to add a little glam, accent your decor with hydrangeas in icy blue or lime green, gold-leafed ferns, gilded orchids or add bronze sequined maple leaves.”
It’s a wrap
Paperie & Co. 5331 E. Mockingbird, 214.821.8811, paperieandco.com.
Swing by Monday through Friday, 5-8 p.m. with anything you’ve bought at Mockingbird Station (and the receipt) and they’ll wrap it up all pretty — no charge.
Ken’s Man Shop 309 Preston Royals Center, 214.369.5367, kensmanshop.com.
This longtime neighborhood institution is perfect for scoring that perfect gift for the man in your life — and getting it wrapped for free with a personal touch. Save some cash and energy by letting these stores handle the gift-wrapping.
Giving advice
The secret to a great gift basket — the container can be a part of the gift, but doesn’t have to be. Whether you choose a traditional basket or go for an expensive bowl, either one will need some flair. (1) First, ball up tissue paper into your container. (2) Then, fill the container to the rim. Cover the top with crinkle paper or, my preference, green Spanish moss. Start with your heaviest item, perhaps a nice bottle of wine, and find its place for the perfect balance. Pull a hole through your cover and push it into the tissue. (3) Repeat for each item until done. The tissue will keep things from getting away from you (glue dots are great helpers, too.) (4) Add your greenery last, to make sure you fill in any holes. When choosing your greenery, go with a theme that complements the packaging of the wine. Add your bow. If you don’t do bows, buy one at Michael’s. Your basket should compare to a centerpiece, which means it looks good from all angles.
—from Amy Jacobs and Rosalyn Costanzo, Give Me a Break concierge services, givemeabreak_dfw@sbcglobalnet.
Eat, drink and be merry
Host a holiday feast or feed hungry party guests without touching a frying pan — these places do the cooking for you.
On the go
Festive Kitchen 3404 Rosedale, 214.363.5111, festivekitchen.com.
Impress your guests at your holiday shindig with fancy little hors d’oeuvres with funny names like “Pups in a Thong” or the “Throw out the Budget” beef tenderloin party sandwiches, for when the urge for epicurean extravagance hits.
Preston Hollow Catering 8900 Preston, 214.739.0350,prestonhollowcatering.com.
Pick up dinner for two with $8.50 dinner-for-two casseroles, or pick up homemade dressings, dips and cakes if you’re entertaining.
Philomena Food Company 10836 Grissom, 214.704.9585, philomenafood.com.
When you want dinner at your doorstep but pizza isn’t going to cut it, this is your fix. Order online to get gourmet dishes such as roasted pumpkin pasta delivered to your home.
Celebrity Bakery 10720 Preston, 214.373.0783, enjoycelebrity.com.
Stop by and pick up wholesome dinners for two to eight people, like meatloaf with macaroni
and cheese, or King Ranch chicken with mixed veggies.
Or on site
Snuffer’s 8411 Preston Road, 214.265.9911, snuffers.com.
On Dec. 25, scratch the traditional turkey and blow those calories on the legendary bacon, chive, jalapeno, cheddar cheese fries and a double pizza burger — just remember to ask Santa to leave some Rolaids in your stocking.
Avanti Ristorante 2720 McKinney Ave., 214.871.4955, avantirestaurants.com. Reserve your seats for a Christmas Day dinner with a bit of a Mediterranean and Italian twist.
NorthPark Center 8687 N. Central Expressway, 214.361.6345 northparkcenter.com.
The shopping shuts down at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve, but the following day, some of the center’s restaurants open will be for business. Contact individual restaurants for hours and specials.
Do-it-yourself done right
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “The only gift is a portion of thyself.” Creating your own holiday gifts can add that warm-fuzzy sentiment you just can’t find at the NorthPark, plus save some big bucks.
Smashing Times, 308 Preston Royal Shopping Center, 214.363.2088,
smashingtimes.com.
Let your kids release their inner Picasso while creating a special holiday keepsake for your spouse or a grandparent.
O Tannenbaum
Make time for one of these tree lighting ceremonies, guaranteed to bring on the Christmas cheer.
Snider Plaza, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m.
214.361.4898 or sniderplaza.net
City of Dallas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 13, 6 p.m., Fair Park.
Stick around afterward from a free showing of “The Polar Express” on the grassy field of the Cotton Bowl. For a list of other holiday activities, visit fairpark.org.
The silver bell of the ball
From holiday parties to all those family photos, we want to look and feel our best during this season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go into debt doing it. If you know where to look, you can find some big time beauty bargains.
Hands on Approach School of Massage 13370 Preston Road, 972.484.8180
. handsonapproach.com
If all that holiday stress has you tied in knots, opt for a discounted $20 massage, $20 facial, $15 herbal whirlpool treatment, or $35 sea salt rub. Or buy a deluxe package at a bargain for the spa junkie in your life.
Jones Beauty College 214.956.0088, 10909 Webb Chapel, jonesbeautycollege.com.
Look your best at that holiday party without draining your bank account. You can get a fancy up-do for $20, a manicure for $5, a pedicure for $10, and a facial for $5.
Jingle bell rock
Sure, the Meyerson is great, but you can still enjoy great holiday entertainment here in our neighborhood.
W.T. White High School 4505 Ridgeside, 972.502.6200. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 11-13, 7 p.m.
Here’s a production you won’t see anywhere else. The W.T. White students and faculty have written “Road Trip — the Musical”, a story about a Chicago family driving to Disneyland, which features music from the ’50s through today. Tickets are $7.50.
Hillcrest High School 9924 Hillcrest, 972.502.6800, Thursday, Dec. 11, 7 p.m. The band, orchestra, and choir will join forces for a free winter concert with all the classic sounds of the season.
Wesley Prep Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Rd., 214.691.4721, Thursday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m. Wesley Prep elementary students will be putting on a free performance of “On Our Way To Bethlehem”, a holiday musical of the nativity tale.
Get parking lot privy
Trying to find a parking spot during the holidays is enough to turn you into a Grinch in no time flat. Here are just a few insiders’ tips to know before you go to Mockingbird Station:
• A lesser-known underground garage is on the north side of the property.
• A newer parking lot/garage can be accessed by the Central Expressway
service road.
• During the holidays, the Station provides complimentary valet near the Angelika steps on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays during shopping hours.
• There’s almost always room at the DART parking lot across from the Station.
—Courtesy of Mockingbird Station general manager, Pam Baker
Here comes Santa Claus
Forget standing in long lines or paying an arm and leg just to see the big man in red — if you want to visit Santa Claus, these are the best neighborhood places and times to catch him.
Neiman Marcus 1618 Main St. 214.741.6911.
Most people just think about malls and shopping centers when they want to see Santa — which might be the reason why the wait at Neiman Marcus downtown always tends to be shorter. You’re also welcome to bring your own camera and take a free photo of your kid with Good Ol’ Saint Nick.
The Plaza at Preston Center 469.232.0000, theplazaatprestoncenter.com.
Get a free photo with the big man in red (and his miniature sidekick pony Ferguson Rifle) Saturdays Dec. 6, 13 & 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. That first Saturday tends to have the least crowds and shortest wait times.
NorthPark Center 8687 N Central Expwy, 214.361.6345, northparkcenter.com.
NorthPark’s Santa may be the most visited in the city. However, if you still have a few Christmas presents to check off your list, the center makes it easier by giving Santa-seekers a number and an estimated time, so you run errands while you wait. There’s also free story time with Santa Claus Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Sunday at noon on Level One between Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus — no waiting in lines required.
