Get ready to unwrap a new holiday tradition that promises a mix of festive cheer, community connection, and delectable treats! The Foundry Cooperative is hosting its much-anticipated Christmas Cookie Exchange, and it’s the perfect excuse to don your holiday sweater, fire up the oven, and share the season’s sweetest delights with fellow cookie enthusiasts.
The sun truly came out at the Fresno Memorial Auditorium with Children’s Musical Theaterworks’ (CMT) delightful production of Annie Jr., running from December 6–15, 2024. Based on the beloved comic strip Little Orphan Annie, this pint-sized adaptation of the Broadway classic is perfect for audiences young and old. Clocking in at a brisk and efficient runtime of just over an hour, the production is a masterclass in how to condense a timeless tale while keeping all its heart, humor, and hope intact.
The day after Thanksgiving heralds the start of the Christmas season for Lighthouse Cove, California, and the entire town kicks into high gear with an abundance of holiday festivals and business events. The historic Cliffs Hotel has built its reputation on over-the-top celebrations, and this year the Garrison family is hosting an old-fashioned carnival with its own antique carousel.
This week we have reviews and giveaways of 4 Christmas mysteries for your holiday reading-Blue Christmas Bones by Carolyn Haines, Rockin Around the Chickadee by Donna Andrews, Silent Nights Are Murder by Libby Klein, and Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney.
Andy Carpenter is what you’d call a reluctant attorney. That means he’d just as soon never take another case. After inheriting a nice amount of money, he doesn’t have to—but somehow, cases find him— and they usually include his weak spot—dogs.
Reedley College marked an historic milestone on Tuesday, November 19, with the grand opening of the McClarty Center for Fine and Performing Arts. The $30 million facility, a state-of-the-art addition to the campus, drew over 200 attendees––including dignitaries, community leaders, and members of the McClarty family––for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration.
It’s Christmastime in Redwood Grove, California, and the Secret Bookcase mystery bookstore is celebrating with a gingerbread bakeoff/showcase as a friendly competition to lure in new customers. Although partially inspired by the Great British Bakeoff, it really is due to Sweet Room bakery owner Sugar Lester’s connection to influencer Lily Hawthorne.
The Courtesan’s Pirate is book two in Nina Wachsman’s Venice Beauties Mystery Series and is set in the year 1614. Belladonna, a former Venetian courtesan, has finally been reunited with her true love, Isaak, a pirate captain, on the island of Jamaica.
If I can’t go in person and visit the town of Fern Valley from Heather Weidner’s Jules Keene Glamping Mystery Series, reading another entry into this charming cozy mystery series is the next best thing. Deadlines and Valentines is book four in the series and could easily be read as a standalone.
Readers opening Live, Local, and Long Dead by Kathleen Marple Kalb (writing as Nikki Knight) are in for a page-turning, clever cozy mystery. This is book two in the Vermont Radio Mystery series and can be read as a stand-alone by readers new to the series.
