365 Things to Do in Boston - New Tips Daily

Anthony Williams' Urban Nutcracker, the holiday dance classic with an inner city edge, features the BalletRox dance company and celebrates its 10th anniversary this December. December 3-19, 2010 Wheelock Family Theatre, Boston.

The Urban Nutcracker:

• Follows the story line of E.T.A. Hoffman's 19th century fairy tale set in contemporary Boston.

• Fuses ballet, swing, hip hop, and urban tap with the classical score of Tchaikovsky and the pulsating beat of Duke Ellington.

• Celebrates the rich diversity of Boston's urban communities and spotlights the talent of over 90 area children.

• Showcases an incredible array of set designs & costumes by Rebecca Cross.

Been hankering to go and see the new gallery at the MFA? Tonight is your chance to do it for FREE!
Compliments of State Street, enjoy free access to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, every Wednesday night in December from 4–9:45 pm.
Yes, you read that right! :)

Free-no Cost for admission. Go check out the new wing which is exhibiting 

"It’s about…tracing the ghost of cities past. It’s the pulling off of a layer and finding another underneath." - Mark Bradford

Through his collaged paintings, sculptures, videos, and installations, Mark Bradford explores issues of class, race, and gender in American urban society. An archeologist of his own environment, Los Angeles, Bradford uses found materials—peeling movie posters, hand-lettered “FOR SALE” signs, endpapers used to perm black hair, salvaged plywood—which he layers, embellishes, erodes, and reconstitutes into abstract compositions.

The first survey exhibition of the artist’s work, Mark Bradford includes painting, sculpture, installation, and video from 1997 to 2010, and several new works. Mark Bradford is a touring exhibition organized by the Wexner Center for the Arts, The Ohio State University.

Click here for more information.

Feeling a little sluggish after this weekend? Or maybe you discovered you have some skills on the dance floor, and want to take it to the next level? Stop talking about it, and DO IT!

Jeannette Neill Dance Studio is offering a Hip Hop Foundation Dance Class (261 Friend Street | 617.523.1355) which is $15.

Blurb:
Unyted Stylz's Sean Bjerke will be teaching a "Foundation" level Hip Hop class from 6:00 - 7:30 every Monday at Jeannette Neill Dance Studio in Boston!  The class is drop-in, so no pre-registration is required.

Having danced in Boston for 10 years, Sean Bjerke blends his experience gained from 10 years of dance training and performing with Unyted Stylz with 20 years of studying martial arts to create a fun, challenging environment for new and experienced dancers to grow.

Every warm-up will feature basic steps, grooves, and movements from various styles of Hip-Hop dance (popping, locking, house, b-boy/b-girl, etc) done at a simplified pace and then drilled to improve muscle memory.  This will be mixed with dance-appropriate stretching, strengthening and cardio exercises meant to improve students' flexibility and endurance.  

The warmup is THE MOST IMPORTANT part of the class as students will spend most of the time moving, and learning the basic movements that will help them develop in this class, and perform better in other dance classes.  And, it's a GREAT workout!

The second half of class will feature a short Hip Hop combo that focuses on matching steps the students learned in the warmup to the musicality and beats in the class's featured song.

Dancers of all levels, even those with NO prior experience are encouraged to attend!  Whether you're looking for a great workout, or just a few moves to show your friends at the club, Hip Hop FOUNDATION is for you!

I love me some Wallace & Gromit, or just claymation in general. It's AWESOME!

Watch Wallace & Gromit and their loveable friends in action in these warm and wonderful shorts! This brilliant collection of short films includes the Academy Award-winning Creature Comforts as well as A Matter of Loaf and Death, Rex the Runt, Shaun the Sheep, and other mini masterpieces encompassing 25 years of creative output from the claymation geniuses at Aardman Animations. 74 min, in English. Recommended for ages 6+

where: Coolidge Corner Theatre
When: Sunday, December 5 at 10:30am
Cost: $5-$7
Website: http://www.coolidge.org

It's the time of the year folks. The SoWa market is featuring over 80 juried artists and designers from around New England today(10am) and tomorrow (December 12 at 9:30am). Find that rare and special...and meaningful holiday gift right here. (from handbags, pottery, letterpress stationary...need me some of that, silk-screened t-shirts, baby clothes..there is something here for everyone).

It's all withing walking distance to Boston's best galleries, boutiques and international cuisine...so make a day out of it, or make a weekend out of it. Which every you prefer.

Event information
When: Saturday & Sunday, December 11th & 12th / 10am - 6pm
Where: Cathedral HS Gymnasium, 74 Union Park Street, Boston MA 02118
Admission: $5.00 for adults, Children under 12 free
Website: http://www.sowaholidaymarket.com/

Tis the season to break out that hidious Holiday sweater that aunt Mildrid made you with loving hands and such care. Don't be in denial, you and I both know that you have a few hiding under some boxes in your closet, and that you possibly sport them on the weekends when no-one is looking.

The specifics: 3rd Annual Holiday Party! This year's theme will be Ugly Holiday Sweater Party. Additionally, we'll be fundraising towards the efforts of our Santa Speedo runners who are running down Boylston Street on December 11th in support of three incredible charities: Hospitality Homes, The Children's Starlight Foundation, and Play Ball.

WHEN: Friday, December 3rd, 2010 from 9:00 - 2:00a

WHERE: Bleacher Bar loc...ated in Fenway Park (82A Lansdowne Street, Boston)
COST: $15.00 - we are donating $5 of every ticket to the three excellent charities listed below.
Get more information and tickets here.

Make 2010 the season of handmade with gifts created by more than 20 local artists, artisans, & craftspeople
at 505 Washington Street, in the heart of Downtown Crossing Boston, between West and Temple.

There looks like there is some pretty cool stuff.
November 26 through December 24, 2010
Wednesday - Sunday, 11am - 7pm
Website: http://bostonhandmade.org/Downtown2010.htm

How do you feel about participating in trying to break a Guiness World Record? A Guiness World Record to set a World Record for the largest group of holiday carolers?!?! Um, YES PLEASE!!! I get goosebumps just thinking about it!! This is just the first reminder!! I will be posting reminders throughout the week people, because we need to beat the world RECORD!!

On December 4 at 12 p.m., Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, Santa Claus, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus are going to attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest group of carolers! The current record is 7,514 carolers, but we're pretty sure the Hub has at least 7,515 people ready to sing out in holiday cheer. The event will take place at the Boylston Plaza in front of the Prudential Center with pre-record breaking entertainment starting at 11:30 a.m.

Check out the facebook page or get more information at the BSO website. (go here for the schedule of events as well).