Calendar
Talin Kenar will appear in Columbia Classical Ballet's
production of The Nutcracker

CHURCH/charity

First Presbyterian Church continues its Wednesdays at noon lunch service in Jackson Hall. Lunch begins at 11:30 am followed by a speaker from 12:25 to 12:50. A hot meal is $5. Soup and salad is $4. The Thursdays at noon lunch service also continues. 799-9062.

Forest Pines residents will accept donations of non-perishable food at the Piggly Wiggly on Forest Drive, Dec. 2. To donate before this date, come to Forest Pines, 1720 Devonshire Dr.

The James Monts Class of Shady Grove United Methodist Church will hold a fundraiser silent auction, bake sale & turkey stew supper Sat., Dec. 2, 5-8 pm. 781-4832.

The Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary , 4201 N. Main St., will present Arise, shine, your light has come!, Sun., Dec. 3, 4 pm. 461-3256.

The Sonrise Chorale of Brookland Baptist Church , 1066 Sunset Blvd., will host its 15th annual African American Pre-holiday Shopping Extravaganza Sat., Dec. 2, 9 am-4 pm. Contact Marilyn Hopson, 749-1536 or www.brooklandbaptist.org.

First Baptist Church , 1306 Hampton St., will present the 19th Annual Columbia Christmas Pageant, The Season of Love . Thurs., Dec. 7, 7:30 pm; Fri., Dec. 8, 7:30 pm; Sat., Dec. 9, 2 pm; & 5 pm; Sun., Dec. 10, 4 pm. 217-3250.

Ganden Mahayana Buddhist Center will offer a meditation course for Healing Sickness, Sat., Dec. 2, 12:30-5 pm. 256-0150 or www.MeditationInSouthCarolina.org.

HOLIDAYS

Historic Columbia Foundation will offer daily Holiday Tours of Historic Homes through Sat., Dec. 30. Tours will be Tues.-Sat., 10 am-2 pm & Sun., 1-3 pm. 252-1770, ext. 24 or www.historiccolumbia.org.

The Harriet Hancock Foundation will present One Voice Chorus Sun., Dec. 10, 6 pm at the Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, 1020 Atlas Rd. 771-7713.

The 53rd Annual Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade will be Sat., Dec. 2, 9:45 am-noon, Gervais St. in downtown Columbia. 781-6122.

The Columbia City Ballet will present The Nutcracker , Dec. 8-10 & 15-17 at the Koger Center. 799-7605 or www.columbiacityballet.com.

The GAP Choir of Richland Northeast High School will present the 4th Annual Winter Concert Sat., Dec. 16, 6 pm at the Bible Way Church, 2440 Atlas Rd. Contact Joyce Abel, 699-2800, ext. 2622.

Colonial Christmas in Camden will be Sat., Dec. 9, 2-5 pm at the Kershaw-Cornwallis House at Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, 222 Broad St. 432-9841 or www.historic-camden.net.

The Filipino-American Association of Greater Columbia will host its annual Christmas party, Sat., Dec. 9, 6:30-midnight at St. Joseph Catholic Church's Family Center/Gymnasium, 3600 Devine St. Open to the public. Contact Alan Geoghegan, 787-5255.

The Richland County Public Library will host A Christmas Carol Tues., Dec. 5, 7 pm in the Bostick Auditorium of the Main Library, 1431 Assembly St. & Thurs., Dec. 7, 7 pm at the Sandhills Branch of the Richland County Public Library.

The City of Columbia will host several holiday events, for dates and times, 545-3020.

Cayce, West Columbia & Springdale will host the 2006 West Metro Holiday Parade of Lights Sat., Dec. 2 at 5:30 pm.

The Greater Columbia Chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association (USADance) will hold their annual Holiday Ball Sat., Dec. 9, 7:30-10:30 pm at the Hugh Dimmery Memorial Center, 680 Cherokee Lane. Contact Patricia Hill, 781-5248 or www.USADance.us.

MEETINGS

A women's business leads group is forming. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm. Categories will be protected. 261-0006.

Horrell Hill Family and Community Leaders Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 10:30 am. Contact Alice Williams, 776-7888, for the next meeting location.

Columbia's Parks and Recreation Toastmasters Club meets at noon on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at The Charles R. Drew Wellness Center, 2102 Walker Solomon Way. Contact Larry S. Thompson, 545-3095.

The Business Association of Columbia meets every Wednesday at the Summit Club for breakfast to share sales leads. Contact Ken Connor, 256-2354.

The Kiwanis Club of Richland meets the 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month at the Lizard's Thicket on Beltline. Call Ken Connor, 256-2354.

United Way of the Midlands will host a Community Assembly Tues., Dec. 12. Contact Claudia Brooks, 733-5441 or http://www.uway.org/events/dec12ca/.

The Columbia Chapter 87 of NARFE will hold its monthly luncheon meeting Dec. 10, 11:30 am at Seawells Restaurant, Rosewood Drive. Contact Ruth Donahue ruthdona@att.net or 951-3213.

MUSEUMs

The Columbia Museum of Art will present Charles Wadsworth & Friends , Wed., Dec. 13, 7 pm. 343-0481 or www.columbiamuseum.org.

EdVenture Children's Museum will host its annual winter exhibit Snowville , through Feb. 25. 779-3100 or www.edventure.org.

MUSIC/entertainment

The Columbia Classical Ballet will perform the holiday classic The Nutcracker December 1-3 at the Koger Center for the Performing Arts. The scheduled performances are Dec. 1 at 7:30 pm, Dec. 2 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm, and

December 3 at 3 pm. Led by artistic director Radenko Pavlovich, the Columbia Classical Ballet is dedicated to providing audiences with the experience of classical ballet performed by international artists. A wonderful ballet for the entire family, The Nutcracker will be performed by recognized ballet artists from around the world. Ticket prices are $5, $10, $15 and $25. Group rates are available. To reserve tickets, please call the Capitol Ticket Outlet at 803.251.2222. www.columbiaclassicalballet.org.

Columbia Harmonizers male chorus/ensemble meets Thursdays, 7:30 pm at Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine St. 798-1538 or wstewart@sc.rr.com.

Town Theatre , 1012 Sumter St., will present Disney's Jungle Book Kids Dec. 7-10. 799-2510 or www.towntheatre.com.

Jillian's will present students of the Columbia Rock Academy Sun., Dec. 3, 4:30 pm. The concert is open to the public & tickets are $5. 787-0150 or http://www.columbiarockacademy.com.

TRAINING/education

The SC Women's Business Center will offer the seminar, When it's Time to be Your Own CEO , Tues., Dec. 12, 6:30-8 pm at the USC/Columbia Technology Center, 1225 Laurel St. The cost is $25 per person. 461-8900, ext. 232.

The Midlands & Foothills Regional Advisory Committees of the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Councils will host the 12th Annual Business Networking Extravaganza, Dec. 13 at the Officer's Club at Fort Jackson. Contact Terry Amis, 549-1000.