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One-stop holiday shopping
  
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By Marene Gustin
You know it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas when visions of sugar plums start dancing in your head. And on stage. And at the market.
Besides Houston Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker,” the arts organization also hosts a yearly Nutcracker Market, a one-stop holiday shopping spree that has become as much a part of Houstonian’s holidays as tree lighting ceremonies, Santa sightings and, well, watching “The Nutcracker.”
And this year’s shopping extravaganza promises to be as festive as ever with a New York state of mind.
“I was in New York City last year after the market closed,” said this year’s chairman Peggy Burck, “and I thought how lovely it was so I came up with the theme “A Rockefeller Christmas.”
Burck and her legion of volunteers (400 to 500 of them every year) have created a holiday wonderland inside the Reliant Center complete with taxicab themes, a Central Park café, towering Christmas tree and New York street foods.
The wildly popular market draws 60,000 to 65,000 shoppers every year. This year the market, which starts today, takes over the entire Reliant Center with more than 315 vendors. About 10 percent of the booths will be from brand new stores and vendors. But old favorites will be back as well.
“I’ve been here for at least 25 years,” said The Finishing Touch’s owner Sandy Chaskin, whose booth features fabulous jewelry and accessories. “I always try to do something different, this year I have handmade gold jewelry from Brazil and wonderful beaded evening capes.”
From clothing to artwork, toys and food, the Nutcracker Market has tons of merchandize. Strolling through the isles you’ll find unique and fitting holiday gifts, home decorations and likely a few little items for yourself.
And there are special events, such as the Wells Fargo Preview Party tonight, the Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show and Luncheon Thursday and the Macy’s Fashion Show and Holiday Brunch on Friday. You can find details on the Houston Ballet web site at www.houstonballet.org.
Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market is one of the largest and oldest such markets in the country.
The Nutcracker Market has raised more than $26 million dollars for the Houston Ballet Foundation through admittance fees, booth fees and a percentage of the $11 million in merchandise sales.
Last year alone the market raised $2.4 million for the ballet’s outreach and educational programs.
“I don’t mind that they take a percentage of the sales we do,” said Chaskin. “The ballet scholarship program is so important, this is my way of giving back.”
But more than just an arts fundraiser and one-stop shopping spot, Houston Ballet’s annual market has become a right of passage for women in and around Houston.
“I think it’s really more a camaraderie thing that has made us so successful,” said Burck. “The women use it as an excuse to get together with friends and kick off the holiday season. Groups of women will rent busses to come and shop here for the day. It’s just a lot of fun.”
HOUSTON BALLET’S 2008 NUTCRACKER MARKET
Where: Reliant Center, One Reliant Park, Houston
When: Thursday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: One Day Pass: $11 each or $10 at Houston-area Randalls. Half-price admission daily 3 hours prior to closing. Children under 6 are free. Four-Day Pass: $35 each (may enter at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday and Friday).
Web site: www.houstonballet.org/nutcracker_market
Besides Houston Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker,” the arts organization also hosts a yearly Nutcracker Market, a one-stop holiday shopping spree that has become as much a part of Houstonian’s holidays as tree lighting ceremonies, Santa sightings and, well, watching “The Nutcracker.”
And this year’s shopping extravaganza promises to be as festive as ever with a New York state of mind.
“I was in New York City last year after the market closed,” said this year’s chairman Peggy Burck, “and I thought how lovely it was so I came up with the theme “A Rockefeller Christmas.”
Burck and her legion of volunteers (400 to 500 of them every year) have created a holiday wonderland inside the Reliant Center complete with taxicab themes, a Central Park café, towering Christmas tree and New York street foods.
The wildly popular market draws 60,000 to 65,000 shoppers every year. This year the market, which starts today, takes over the entire Reliant Center with more than 315 vendors. About 10 percent of the booths will be from brand new stores and vendors. But old favorites will be back as well.
“I’ve been here for at least 25 years,” said The Finishing Touch’s owner Sandy Chaskin, whose booth features fabulous jewelry and accessories. “I always try to do something different, this year I have handmade gold jewelry from Brazil and wonderful beaded evening capes.”
From clothing to artwork, toys and food, the Nutcracker Market has tons of merchandize. Strolling through the isles you’ll find unique and fitting holiday gifts, home decorations and likely a few little items for yourself.
And there are special events, such as the Wells Fargo Preview Party tonight, the Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show and Luncheon Thursday and the Macy’s Fashion Show and Holiday Brunch on Friday. You can find details on the Houston Ballet web site at www.houstonballet.org.
Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market is one of the largest and oldest such markets in the country.
The Nutcracker Market has raised more than $26 million dollars for the Houston Ballet Foundation through admittance fees, booth fees and a percentage of the $11 million in merchandise sales.
Last year alone the market raised $2.4 million for the ballet’s outreach and educational programs.
“I don’t mind that they take a percentage of the sales we do,” said Chaskin. “The ballet scholarship program is so important, this is my way of giving back.”
But more than just an arts fundraiser and one-stop shopping spot, Houston Ballet’s annual market has become a right of passage for women in and around Houston.
“I think it’s really more a camaraderie thing that has made us so successful,” said Burck. “The women use it as an excuse to get together with friends and kick off the holiday season. Groups of women will rent busses to come and shop here for the day. It’s just a lot of fun.”
HOUSTON BALLET’S 2008 NUTCRACKER MARKET
Where: Reliant Center, One Reliant Park, Houston
When: Thursday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: One Day Pass: $11 each or $10 at Houston-area Randalls. Half-price admission daily 3 hours prior to closing. Children under 6 are free. Four-Day Pass: $35 each (may enter at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday and Friday).
Web site: www.houstonballet.org/nutcracker_market
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