Rockin’ Around the Old and New

If I’m going to go to the Mall, I should do it soon, because I generally try to avoid any trip after Thanksgiving. Dealing with crowds of people in our local cathedral of retail has been known to knock all sense of the Christmas Spirit right out of me. I lose all sense of Peace on Earth, Goodwill to fellow creatures.

As we watch all the usual signs of the holiday season being rolled out locally, I’ve been wondering. Has anyone seen anythng about the Poinsettia Tree? You may recall there was one year that Mall management thought they’d do away with this local tradition. Dennis Lane wrote about it on Tales of Two Cities blog.

I’d like to share the actual blog posts with you but it looks as though they are no longer accessible. If true, that’s a great loss to anyone looking for his insight on local affairs.

At any rate, what of the famed Poinsettia Tree? Is it going forward as usual? Is Mall management quietly going in a different direction? What difference would 11 years make in how the community feels about this?

For my part, I find the Poinsettia Tree to be lovely but it doesn’t make or break my holiday experience. Of course, I didn’t grow up here. Your opinion may be wildly different. Feel free to share it in the comments on Facebook.

I don’t mean to start unnecessary rumors. Just because I haven’t seen anything about the Tree doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Please don’t plan any protests without verification. Also, maybe there are more worthwhile things to come out for?

UPDATE: readers Jolene Moseley and Joan Lancos report that the Poinsettia Tree lives on. I find it interesting that there’s no mention of it in the Mall’s social media feed.

We love our old traditions in the VG/T². I’m looking forward to making a new family tradition by going to Celebration in the Woods. You can learn more here. In keeping with the Inner Arbor Trust’s commitment to presenting affordable and family-friendly events, tickets are five dollars and children under two are free. From the Inner Arbor Trust website:

Join the Inner Arbor Trust, Inc. and Downtown Columbia Partnership, Inc. for a new Celebration in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods! On Saturdays from November 24th to December 22nd from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Chrysalis transforms into a winter wonderland, complete with artist-decorated trees, live performances, a “snow” ball pit, seasonal crafts, and winter treats such as hot chocolate, apple cider, mulled wine, and more! Santa will visit the Chrysalis at 3 p.m. Come join us for the magic of the season!

And then you could finish off your day with a trip through the Symphony of Lights. This feels like a win-win to me. And, who knows? The sight of the Chrysalis in the snow might become a new local holiday tradition.

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