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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 2000)
Walking in a Winter Wonderland ■Three area homes will be thematically decorated and available for public tours By Mason West Oregon Daily Emerald With the turkeys eaten and the leftovers in the fridge, it is time to start thinking about the next holiday. Right at the forefront of the Christmas brigade is The Eugene Sympho ny Guild. The guild’s 18th annual Christmas Walk is held in three homes that have been decorated in themes by lo cal florists to celebrate the holidays. The walk will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each home will feature a small shop of either food or crafts, and all three will have live music performed by 140 local artists who have donated their time. The Eugene Symphony Guild is a group of 220 people who support the symphony by raising aware ness and funds. Dorothy Kays, co-chairwoman of the event, says that this is the guild’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The themes of the homes this year are “Holiday Wedding Celebration,” “Grandmother’s Christ mas,” and “La Dolce Vita.” The themes are created by the florists who decorate the homes. Scott Sunderland, owner of Shamrock Flowers and Gifts and Urban Garden, designed the decora tions for “La Dolce Vita.” He said that the colors and design of the home all went along with a very Italian style. To actually decorate the homes, much of the homeowners’ furniture and decorations are re moved and replaced with items that better fit the theme. “There is a lot of attention to detail,” Sunderland said. “When we’re done, it’s like walking through a magazine.” Sunderland has been participating in this event for more than 10 years, and each time, it takes between 40 and 50 hours just to set up. That’s about two days that these three families’ homes are not theirs. One could wonder who would volunteer their home for such an intrusion. Sheri and Mitch Hammerstad’s home will be transformed by the Hirons drug store on 18th Avenue and The Flower Market into “Grand mother’s Christmas.” Sheri has been attend ing the event for about as long as it has been happening, although she has no of ficial affiliation with the guild. “It’s kind of exciting to see what someone else thinks your home should look like at Christmas time,” Sheri said. The Hammerstads’ involvement in the event started with a desire to contribute back to the guild and the community. “This event starts the Christmas season for a lot of people,” Sheri said. “It’s full of the holiday spirit, and it’s very community orient ed.” “Holiday Wedding” is located at 765 Sand Ave., “Grandmother’s Christmas” is at 680 Sand Ave. and “La Dolce Vita” is at 750 Club Way. All three homes are within walking distance from the others. Photos courtesy of Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. They can be purchased at the symphony office at 45 W. Broadway, Suite 201, or any of the following places: • Beaudet Jewelry Design • Shamrock Flowers and Gifts • Urban Garden • H irons (18th Avenue location) The Flower Market Reed and Cross Nick and Nora’s Eugene’s Flower Home Heidi’s Cards Flowers and Gifts Pat Revelle’s Flower and Bridal Shop Ralph’s Drugs in Junction City 'Fiesta Navidad bringing new flavor to Christmas ■Celebrate the season with a little Latin culture this year at the Hu It Center By Mason West Oregon Daily Emerald This holiday season, the Hult Center is giving Eugene a different perspective on Christmas with Fi esta Navidad, a celebration of Christmas in the Hispanic culture. Tonight’s event will feature mari achi music by Los Camperos de Nati Cano and dancing by Ballet Folklorico Ollin. The groups will celebrate traditions from different areas of Mexico including La Posa da, a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s pilgrimage to Bethlehem. The evening will conclude with an audience sing-a-long to mariachi versions of Christmas carols. Carol Brubaker, spokeswoman for the Hult Center, said audience members who are used to just watching shouldn’t hesitate to get involved with the performance. “Things can be wild and fun and very high energy,” she said. Brubaker also believes the quali ty of the mariachi singers will get people involved. “I’ve never heard a mariachi group sing so strongly,” she said. Rebeca Urhausen, who is organ izing the Plaza Navidad for the event, said that Los Camperos de Nati Cano are the best mariachi group in the United States. Urhausen’s Plaza Navidad will be a simulated mercado (market) with shops and live performances. The plaza will be in the Hult Center lob by and will open at 6 p.m. Urhausen said she has made the plaza open to the public because she believes it is very important to showcase the Hispanic culture in volved in this event. “We don’t have Hispanic enter tainment very often in Eugene, es pecially at the Hult Center,” she said. Natalie Schoof, programming as sistant for the Hult Center, said the Fiesta Navidad has performed be fore at the Hult Center in 1996 to a sell-out crowd. “The Nutcracker is great, but people enjoy something different,” she said. Schoof said the Hult Center tries to showcase many different cul tures in its events, such as the Kodo drumming show coming this Janu ary. The Fiesta Navidad will begin at 7 p.m., and tickets are available at either the EMU or Hult Center (682 5000) ticket offices. Prices are $22.50, $18.50 and $15. Courtesy r Fiesta Navidad Fiesta Navidad, a Christmas celebration of Hispanic culture, will be held at the Hult Center today at 6 p.m. The show features music and dance and will conclude with a sing-along of mariachi-version Christmas carols.
