Shirley McMarlin stories, Page 69

In the 10 years that he devoted to his art, Vincent van Gogh created about 2,100 paintings. Though prolific in his output, the Dutch post-impressionist painter sold only one painting during his lifetime. “The Red Vineyard” went for 400 francs in Belgium in 1890, shortly before his death by suicide...

If your December travel plans includes a trip to Florida, stop at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island for Holidays in Space. This year, the annual event harks back to the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space missions of the 1960s. Guests will enter the complex through an...

A holiday brunch featuring a spiked hot chocolate bar is planned Dec. 15 at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. Presented in partnership with the Westmoreland County Food Bank, the event will provide information on the food bank’s mission to end hunger in the region. Following the meal,...

Children’s book author Chris Van Allsburg said “The Polar Express,” his classic holiday story, “began with the idea of a train standing alone in the woods. I asked myself, ‘What if a boy gets on that train? Where does he go?’ ” In the story, the boy boards the train...

Thursday Dec. 5 Chatham Baroque, string music from the 16th and 17th centuries, St. Nicholas Church, Millvale. Also Dec. 6, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair; Dec. 7, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, East Liberty; and Dec. 8, Chatham University, Shadyside. chathambaroque.org East Suburban Artists League Annual Show, Administration Building, Penn State...

The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Home for the Holidays” concert of choral and instrumental holiday pops this year will include a world premiere of “For Behold from Henceforth,” by Pittsburgh-based composer Nancy Galbraith. Also featuring guest conductor Maria Sensi Sellner, the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at...

What exactly do you do with an ugly yellow, 8-foot artificial Christmas tree? Members of the Braddock Trail Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution weren’t sure after they bought it several years ago at a summer clearance sale at Brilhart Ace Hardware in Scottdale. “It really is an...

Even when nothing special is going on, downtown Ligonier has the aspect of a quaint little movie set. Add holiday decorations, music wafting from the gazebo on the Diamond and shoppers strolling the streets, and it’s picture-perfect — as it was on Nov. 30 as crowds took advantage of free...

Early American Christmas traditions varied from place to place and among various religious denominations. For some, it was a solemn observance of the birth of Christ. Others made it a time of celebration. Still others saw it as just another day. Many European immigrants carried their Old World holiday customs...

Friday Nov. 29 Family Day, Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh North Side. 412-231-3169 or mattress.org Felipe Esparza, Pittsburgh Improv, Homestead. Through Dec. 1. 412-462-5233 or improv.com/pittsburgh Jim Donovan and Sun King Warriors, Club Cafe, Pittsburgh South Side. 866-468-3401 or ticketweb.com/clubcafe Ken Ludwig’s “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” national tour, The Palace Theatre,...

A trio of musical performances will herald the Christmas season at Saint Vincent College. All three will begin at 7 p.m. in Saint Vincent Basilica on the Unity campus. The schedule includes: • Sixth Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols, performed by the Saint Vincent Camerata, Dec. 5. The Camerata...

Fifty years ago today, Jason Scheff was 7 years old. At that age, the former Chicago vocalist/bassist says, he wasn’t really aware of The Beatles. “Back then, I was listening to Dionne Warwick, because that’s what my mom was playing,” he says. But 50 years on, he’s not only a...

What’s a good way to spend a Saturday night? Some folks like to Wind Up/Wine Down. That’s the name of the signature fundraiser for the Norwin Play It Forward Fund, which helps fund private lessons and music camps for Norwin School District students in grades 4-12 who participate in instrumental...

More than 200 “passengers” set sail on the Love Boat for this year’s Redstone Highlands Fling. The 17th annual gala with a nautical 1970s theme, held Nov. 23 at Stratigos Banquet Centre in North Huntingdon, raised funds for the benevolent care fund of the senior care organization with campuses in...

Supporters of the Ligonier Valley YMCA took a look at “how we got here” at the Y’s third annual Legacy Dinner, held Nov. 22 at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort in Ligonier Township. The program included a short history of the Y, the year in review and testimonials on the organization’s...

Time is at a premium during this busy season. It’s good when you can kill two birds (or maybe three) with one stone, so to speak. Teri Bowes of Hempfield invited a group of friends to do just that on Nov. 18. She was the winner of a shopping party...

Like it or not, it’s time to prepare for winter driving. The folks at AAA East Central offer these tips to prep your vehicle for cold and snow: • Have your battery tested if it is more than three years old, to ensure it is strong enough to endure cold...

Both would-be and accomplished artists are invited to the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Ligonier for three upcoming workshops. The first two take place before the holidays, offering participants the opportunity to create handcrafted items suitable for gift-giving. The third comes afterward, promising a fun and relaxing afternoon in the...

The phrase “Twas the Night Before Christmas” is as much a part of the holiday lexicon as Santa’s “Ho ho ho!” From the Clement Moore poem (actually titled “A Visit From St. Nicholas”) to the oft-sung song to animated and live-action movies, it’s a refrain embedded into our Christmas psyches....