Greater Tulsa Holiday Events, Gifts and Tips
Holiday Fun Around Town
Nov. 25 – Lights On! Utica Square
Nov. 25 – Jan. 1 Rhema Lights
Nov. 26 – Jan. 3 Arvest Winterfest at Center
Nov. 26 – Dec. 27 Chandler Park Lights
Dec. 4 – Lights on Ceremony at Whittier Square
Dec. 9 – Holiday Lights Run, Blue Dome Fleet FeetA Very Cherry Christmas, Cherry Street
Dec. 11 – Downtown Tulsa Parade of Lights
Dec. 17 & 18 – Bartlesville Kiddie Park Christmas
Dec. 18 – Brunch with Santa at Chandler Park
Dec. 19 & 21 – Cup, Center
Dec. 20 – 23 Winter Break Camp, Oklahoma Aquarium
Dec. 24 – Christmas Kingdom & Garden of Lights, Castle of Muskogee
- Many more events on page 35
Seeking Your Holiday Sitter
With the approaching holiday season, invitations to holiday parties and social gatherings are on the rise leaving parents without trusted childcare in search of a babysitter. With everything on your “To-Do” list during the holidays, the sooner you begin looking for your sitter, the better. It is recommended families begin planning at least two weeks in advance, perhaps more for New Year’s Eve, which is the most requested sitter night of the year.
For parents looking for a childcare professional, Tulsa-based Seeking Sitters offers the following tips:
• Take the interview seriously: First step is to conduct an in-person interview with the candidates. Make sure to ask questions about their experience, their reasoning for wanting to be a sitter, and even ask them how they would handle different scenarios with your children. You will also want to verify they have and first aid certification.
• In-depth background screening: Find a reputable background screening company that screens each applicant’s personal character history, address history, criminal and civil records.
• Verify multiple references: Check at least three childcare related references to make sure the applicant has the experience level that is needed.
Hot Holiday Gifts
Toys & Games
• Moon Dough
• Tickle Me Elmo
• “Twilight” Action Figures
• Furry Frenzies
• Rock Band: The Beatles
• Star Wars Force Jedi Trainer
Electronics
• 3-D Television
• Digital Camera
• iPad & Kendle
• Nintendo Wii
• Kinect
• PlayStation Move
A Very Cherry Christmas
An Holiday open house along Cherry Street Thurs., Dec. 9 4-8 p.m.
Participating merchants include:
• Little Black Dress
• Chrome
• Joseph Gierek Fine Art
• La Donna’s Fancy Foods
• Zoller Designs
• Bonbonniere
• Peace of Mind
• Gaga
• Shoe Gypsy
• Dingbats
Shop Locally for the Holidays
All around Greater Tulsa local businesses will be offering the best holiday deals. By shopping locally, families bolster the area’s economy. Area chambers and governments are sponsoring buy local campaigns; shoptulsa.org, Buy Broken Arrow, buybixby.com and buyowasso.com.
Eggnog a Holiday Tradition
The holiday season is rife with tradition. From gift-giving to kissing under the mistletoe to spending time with family and friends, the holidays are a time of great tradition and family fun.
Another holiday tradition for adults only is the drinking of eggnog. No holiday party is truly complete without a batch of delicious eggnog. This season, ensure guests get their fair share of this holiday staple with the following recipe for “Excellent Eggnog” from A.J. Rathbun’s “Good Spirits” (Harvard Common Press).
Excellent Eggnog
Serves 8
8 large eggs, preferably organic
21/4 cups superfine sugar
8 ounces brandy
8 ounces rum
4 ounces bourbon
1 quart milk
Freshly grated nutmeg for garnish
1. Separate the eggs from the egg whites, setting the whites aside for a moment.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the yolks with a hand mixer until completely combined. Add the sugar and beat until it reaches a creamy consistency.
3. Add the brandy, rum and bourbon, and then the milk, beating well.
4. In a medium-size mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with a hand mixer until soft peaks form (be sure before beating the whites that you have cleaned and thoroughly dried the beaters).
5. Fold the egg whites into the yolk, sugar and alcohol mixture. Refrigerate the mix until well chilled (at least three hours). You may also refrigerate it overnight if desired.
6. Stir to recombine as needed. Serve the eggnog in mugs, topping each serving with some nutmeg.
Updated 11-23-2010
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