Photograph by Brian Richwine
The jolly one himself knows more about Bloomington than who's been naughty. He also knows what there is to do around here over the Christmas break.
While most know that Monroe County is home to modern folk hero John Mellencamp, many aren't aware of the fact that the universal symbol of benevolence and charity himself, Santa Claus, is also an area homeowner.
The remote regions of the North Terrestrial Pole is where the globe's most recognizable jet-setting do-gooder spends most of his time, but the merry man in red escapes to his Bryan Park neighborhood getaway bungalow a few times a year.
Fresh on the heels of unseating Bill Gates as the world's top philanthropist as named by Business Week, and in town for a jug band extravaganza at Max's Place, Father Christmas recently sat down for an exclusive interview with The Bloomington Alternative.
Surprisingly accessible and seemingly unaware of his own mythical stature, Claus offered up his area arts and entertainment holiday picks, while carefully avoiding hot button issues, such as the effects of unfettered globalization on the toy industry, ongoing debates over the secular marketing of Christmas and recent polls showing that most Americans would select his furry, pagan compadre, the Easter Bunny, over all other candidates if he were to enter the 2008 presidential race tomorrow.
BA: This is obviously a busy time of the year for you. Thanks so much for chatting with us!
SC: It's my pleasure. I try to support independent journalism whenever I can, and those organic mung bean sprout gingerbread men cookies from Bloomingfoods you offered me were too much to resist.
BA: Great! Those tasty gingerbread men are free range, too, but let's get right into it. Any local holiday happenings you wanna tell us about that really put the crimson in your bowl of jelly?
SC: There's always a lot going on in Bloomington, and this time of the year is no exception. Right now I'm especially excited about the Monroe County Civic Theater's theatrical production of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It'll be performed in a number of off-the-wall venues at various times throughout December, and folks should check out www.mcct.org for specifics.
BA: Wow, Santa, I had no idea you were Web savvy!
SC: Most people don't. Listen, I'm as old as the limestone hills, but in my business, staying in touch with youth culture is a must, and the Internet is where the kids are.
Speaking of kids, while it's not exactly holiday-themed, that wacky Cardinal Stage camp will be putting on Oliver!, based on Oliver Twist, another Dickens novel, Dec. 21 to 31.
Check out www.cardinalstage.org for more details.
And Donner wanted me to mention that he and some of my other four-legged co-workers will be in town for a live reindeer presentation at the WonderLab on Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
BA: Sounds like there's a lot going on for young people. Anything for old timers you can tell us about?
SC: Oh sure. First off, there will be a special holiday offering of WFHB's Saturday's Child on Dec. 8 at the Waldron Fire Bay starting at 11 a.m. The ever-jolly Arbutus Cunningham and Art Heckman will both be on hand for that event, and later that same night, there will be a candlelit evening of music, readings and other 19th-century holiday treats at the old Wylie House from 5 to 8 p.m. I haven't slid down the Wylie House chimney since 1911. (Half-stifled sob) Damn, that was a good year. I'll never forget that hand-crafted briar pipe the Mrs. bought me on our trip to France ...
BA: I'm sorry, Santa. You must have a lot of fond memories tucked under your plush, red velvet hat.
SC: Ho! Ho! Ho! Yes, you could say that again! Anyway, back to it. On Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. the more cultivated among us can check out the Bloomington Chamber Singers' Messiah Sing-Along at St. John the Apostle Church.
And the Fifth Annual Winter Solstice Group Exhibit at Wandering Turtle Art Gallery runs through Dec. 31. Check out www.wanderingturtle.com for more details.
BA: That all sounds swell, Santa, but what about all the popular music lovers out there, anything for them?
SC: Well, despite some reports to the contrary, Bloomington always has great shows going on, but a few things jump out at me.
I'll definitely be at the Bluebird on Dec. 13 for the annual Toys for Tots fundraiser, this year featuring VHS or Beta, Autovaughn and American Bang.
And if I'm not too wiped out from traveling, I'll hit the Bluebird again on New Year's Eve for Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise. Action starts at 9 p.m. for both of those shows.
Go to www.theplayerspub.com to learn more about the Kookamongas and Hambone party at the Players Pub on New Year's Eve. I am really liking that place.
A right jolly old elf can really cut a rug there, and that's saying a lot! Ho! Ho! Ho!
Lori Canada can be reached at locanada30@yahoo.com.