Day: November 25, 2020

Pearl announces holiday programming and curated gift boxes

Pearl’s December programming includes virtual Chanukah and Posada celebrations. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.

This season, Pearl is thrilled to continue offering festive programming with a socially distant twist. The windows along Pearl Parkway will feature vibrant color-blocked holiday scenes and shoppers can stroll through the stores with extended hours or order uniquely curated holiday gift boxes to be picked up from Pearl Farmers Market Curbside. Traditional celebrations like Posada and Chanukah will feature virtual components to ensure a safe and memorable holiday season, and the Holiday Gift Market will allow shoppers to avoid crowded stores. (Pearl, 2020)

Holiday Gifting 4 Good – November 13 – December 10 – Pearl partners with United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County on their Holiday Gifting 4 Good fundraising program. Holiday shoppers can purchase specially curated gift packages from Pearl and other community partners online, with a portion of the proceeds from each sale supporting the nonprofit. Pearl’s package includes tasty treats and fun, food-themed products from Pearl’s restaurants and retailers, including Cured, Feliz Modern POP, Local Coffee Founders, Niche, The Tiny Finch, and Wildflower Caramel Co., all inside a custom Pearl tote. Proceeds from each purchase benefit these local businesses and United Way’s community programs.

Pearl Farmers Market Holiday Gift Boxes – Order November 27 – December 15 for pick up or December 18 for shipping. Pearl Farmers Market Curbside debuts a variety of curated boxes filled with holiday gifts from regional producers and family farms that are perfect for gifting. Holiday shoppers can pre-order their products packaged in a beautiful, hand-printed Pearl gift box starting on November 27. Orders can be placed online.

Holiday Window Program – November 25 – January 8 – Pearl’s inaugural holiday window program will debut on Wednesday, November 25 to transform Pearl Parkway into a festive holiday destination. Conceived by Ginger Diaz of Feliz Modern POP, the initiative is a collaboration with Pearl’s creative retailers to celebrate the holidays. As part of the window program, Pearl is partnering with Wide Awake Creative for a virtual Holiday Donation Station at the corner of Pearl Parkway and Avenue A benefiting SAY Si, the San Antonio Area African American Community Fund, and the James Beard Foundation’s Open for Good Campaign.

Farmers Market: Holiday Edition – Saturdays and Sundays, November 28 – December 20 – Starting Saturday, November 28, Pearl Farmers Market will welcome local artists and makers to participate in the weekend farmers market for the holiday season. Holiday shoppers can avoid overcrowded stores and support local artists each Saturday from 9a.m. to 1p.m. and each Sunday from 10a.m. to 2p.m. With over 16 local additional artisan vendors, shoppers are sure to find a unique gift for everyone on their list. 

Holiday Stroll – Thursday, December 10 from 5p.m. to 8p.m. – Pearl is hosting a festive holiday shopping event on December 10 with extended retail hours, live music and restaurant specials. Shoppers can enjoy the holiday window displays on Pearl Parkway while listening to music from Los Callejeros de San Anto until 8p.m. 

Chanukah – Menorah installed with lighting beginning on Thursday, December 10 – Pearl honors its sixth annual Chanukah Menorah lighting on Thursday, December 10 in partnership with Young & Jewish San Antonio. A special digital message from Rabbi Eli Block will be released on all Pearl social platforms to safely commemorate the start of Chanukah. While there will not be an on-site celebration, the Menorah will be lit and available to visit on the property. 

Posada – Wednesday, December 16 – Traditionally, Posada has been a significant community gathering celebration where participants travel across Pearl property with a final celebration in Pearl Park. This year, Pearl will honor Posada with a special message from Father David Garcia filmed at the doors of Mission Concepcion. The video will be shared across Pearl social media platforms on December16. 

“Pearl during the holidays is always a special time. In addition to honoring some of our most cherished annual traditions like Chanukah and Posada, we are thrilled to debut our inaugural holiday window program along Pearl Parkway and the launch of our curated holiday boxes through Farmers Market Curbside.” –  Pearl Chief Marketing Officer Elizabeth Fauerso.

The Classic Theatre presents A Christmas Carol movie

The Geffen Playhouse production of A Christmas Carol. Photo: Chris Whitaker, used with permission.

The Classic Theatre and producer Hunter Arnold unofficially kicked off the holiday season early by announcing that a special filmed version of Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic A Christmas Carol, starring one of the finest stage actors of our time – Tony Award® winner Jefferson Mays, will be released worldwide on Saturday, November 28. This streaming video event will benefit The Classic Theatre as well as other community, amateur, regional theaters across the country which have been devastated by the pandemic. Directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Michael Arden, adapted by Mays, Susan Lyons, and Arden, and conceived by Arden and Tony Award nominee Dane Laffrey, the filmed version is based on the wildly acclaimed 2018 production which made its world premiere at Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse. The Classic Theatre San Antonio is a partner through a joint project between Arnold’s TBD Pictures, La Jolla Playhouse, and On The Stage.  Tickets for A Christmas Carol are now available to purchase online. (The Classic Theatre, 2020)

Experience A Christmas Carol unlike any other – past, present or future. The timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge comes to thrilling new life as Jefferson Mays plays over 50 roles in a virtuosic, master class of a performance that must be seen to be believed. This theatrical achievement comes from the haunting vision of one of Broadway’s most imaginative directors, Michael Arden. Staged exclusively for this film and captured live with breathtaking clarity, this must-watch streaming event conjures the powerful spirits of Christmas and brings all the magic of live theatre home for the holidays.

A Christmas Carol was filmed at New York’s United Palace, chosen to preserve the power of the theatrical storytelling Mays and Arden have created. When it played the Geffen Playhouse in 2018, A Christmas Carol and was called “a stunning adaptation” by Jordan Riefe of The Hollywood Reporter, and “a tour-de-force performance” by Jefferson Mays. A Christmas Carol is produced by Hunter Arnold with George Bamber, Kayla Greenspan, Carl Daikeler, Roberto Quiroz Mata, and Tom Kirdahy serving as Executive Producers for the film. 

“Due to COVID-19, the country’s theaters have lost over 80% of their income, a number that is devastating to our community. These theaters, the work they produce, and the artists and workers they support are a fundamental part of our society. We must fight for their survival.” – Hunter Arnold