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Check out these ugly holiday sweaters — and show us yours

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Ugly sweater winner Mike Thomas

Ugly sweater winner Mike Thomas

Employees at RSM McGladrey in Cedar Rapids were decked out in their holiday worst this morning.

Today was the company’s first ugly sweater contest for charity.

Each year the company adopts 2-3 families to provide food and gifts to during Christmas.

This year’s celebrity choice award winner, Mike Thomas, says his family supported him in his sweater selection.

“This is a very special tapestry sweater,” Thomas said “When I brought it home last night, my daughter, who’s 24, said ‘Dad, that’s ugly, can I wear it tonight at a party?’”

This marks the 20th year the company has hosted a holiday event and donated proceeds to charity.

HAVE A HOLIDAY SWEATER YOU’D LIKE TO SHOW US? Email us at news_online@gazcomm.com

animal planet’s great new show – whale wars

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I’ve been sitting at home for the better part of my Christmas break, and one of the shows that I’ve fallen in love with is Whale Wars on Animal Planet.

And it seems that the rest of the country feels the same way because Whale Wars is the most-watched channel ever on Animal Planet.

When a new episode premieres, an average of 946,000 new viewers tune-in, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Further examining the numbers, 529,000 of the 946k are between the ages of 25-54.  From that number, 309,000 are males.

In fact, on Friday’s season finale, Whale Wars pulled in a little more than 1 million, which is ninth amongst hour-long cable programs.

So check out Whale Wars if you have some free time during Christmas break and you’re looking for a great new show about whales, whalers and the planet in general.

3 things to do before the holiday wknd

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3 Things

Not sure what to do this weekend? Check out one, two or all three of these events and you’ll have to try not to have a good time. 

Pieta Brown
8 p.m. Thursday (12/18), with Haley Bonar, The Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City, $10, (319) 351-9529, www.icmill.com

Fresh off a short tour opening for Ani DiFranco, singer-songwriter Pieta Brown returns to her hometown of Iowa City for a CD-release show. Brown recently released “Flight Time,” a seven-song EP of all original songs she describes as “offbeat, with a rough-edged, ambient vibe.”

Brown, the daughter of Iowa legend Greg Brown, has released three albums since 2002, each moving her forward in terms of songwriting and popularity. Brown has a voice that’ll make your heart ache, and her rootsy instrumentation is as real as it gets.

Charlie Daniels Band
8 p.m. Friday (12/19), Riverside Casino, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside, $38 to $50, (319) 648-1234, www.riversidecasinoandresort.com

Charlie Daniels is known for his big hat, bigger belt buckle and snow-white beard. He’s also known for “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” one of the most popular country songs of all time. The epic song, about a fiddle duel involving the devil, probably never will go out of style.

Since it’s the holiday season, Daniels will be playing plenty of Christmas songs in the show. Southerners like Daniels tend to make great holiday music, even though they don’t have a lot of experience with snow. Maybe us Iowans should start writing songs about sun bathing.

American Stars
8 p.m. Saturday (12/20), Adler Theatre, 136 E. Third St., Davenport, $28 to $45, (319) 363-1888, www.adlertheatre.com

Can’t wait for Season 8 of “American Idol” to get going on Jan. 13? The American Stars tour might help tide you over. The tour features four former “American Idol” contestants: Season 2’s Kimberly Locke, Season 3’s Diana DeGarmo and Season 7’s one-named wonder Chikeze and former stripper David Hernandez.

Personally, I’m ready for “Idol” to retire. I mean, hasn’t the show created more than enough over-singing also-rans? Plus, the show’s “rockers” (I’m looking at you, Chris Daughtry and David Cooke) are about as edgy as a butter knife. Simon Cowell’s still pretty funny, though. 

3 Other Things

Festival of Carols
7 p.m. Thursday (12/18)
The Englert Theatre
221 E. Washington St., Iowa City
FREE, (319) 688-2653
www.englert.org

Holiday Concert: ICC Band & New Horizons
3:30 p.m. Sunday (12/21)
The Englert Theatre
221 E. Washington St., Iowa City
FREE, (319) 688-2653
www.englert.org

“Mary GrandPre: Harry Potter and Beyond”
Through Feb. 1
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
410 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids
$4 or $5, (319) 366-7503
www.crma.org

– Eric

This week at Public Space ONE – IC

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Our first show this week is Wednesday night (12.17), with a mixed media event put together by local noise-rockers Single Indian Tear entitled TENEBRE. Single Indian Tear (graduate students David Z. Morris and Craig Eley) present a multimedia experience based on Dario Argento’s classic Italian horror film Tenebre. They’ve recut the film and reimagined it’s classic electronic score into 15 segments. These segments will feature changing lighting arrangements and music, mirroring the Catholic ritual of tenebrae.  The piece explores ritual and death, light and shadow, silence and noise. Doors are at 9pm, cover is $3.

Friday night (12.19) we are hosting two of Minneapolis’ most revered experimental musicians. Daughters of the Sun will be joined by Sarah Johnson for an evening of shimmering noise-pop. Locals Chambers open. 9pm, $5.

Saturday (12.20) we are pleased to present a very special occasion known only as The Mint Lounge Xmas Party. The show is an impromptu celebration of Iowa City’s rich history of underground musicians. Performing as The Legendary Trio, local folk troubadour Ed Gray, one-time Violent Femmes sax blower Pete Balestrieri, and Iowa City’s do-it-all indie rocker Ed Nehring, will be appearing together for one night only. Pete and Ross Meyer will also perform reworked Christmas songs under the name The Mint Lounge. One more band is TBA. This is a show not to miss. Doors are at 7pm, $3. Holiday treats are included. Christmas sweaters are optional.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to get everyone thinking about a remarkable performer we are hosting next month: Samantha Cathcart. This upcoming songwriter was recently nominated for a Grammy in the category of Emerging Folk Artist and will be performing live on January 19. Fans of Patty Griffin, Pieta Brown, and Neko Case take note. More details about support will be coming soon, but in the meantime save the date. 9pm, $5.

The James Gang
Public Space ONE

Mission Statement: The mission of Public Space One is to nurture the budding artist by providing a dynamic, accessible space for the creation and exhibition of experimental art.  By empowering the artist with this resource, they may realize their artistic potential, and infuse into the community both a cultural appreciation and fervent desire for progressive artwork.

Fire and ice festival TODAY

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Check out Cedar Rapids’ annual Fire & Ice 2008 Holiday Festival TODAY.

ALL DAY Grounds for Art-Re-Launch
Grounds for Art will be back and on display throughout downtown! Re-visit these amazing outdoor sculptures representing both local and national artists!

Starting at 2 p.m. Ice Sculpture- Bankers Trust Plaza
Watch in amazement as local artists sculpt a holiday masterpiece for all to enjoy!

Starting at 2 p.m. Deck the Office! Back to Business Holiday Expo
Visit those hard working businesses that have returned downtown post-flood. Participating businesses will greet visitors with holiday décor and fun activities for all ages! Schedule of participating businesses will
be available at Chili Challenge and downtown coffee shops.

2 to 5:30 p.m. Children’s Holiday Train Rides – Guaranty Bank Parking Lot Free

2 to dusk Horse-drawn Carriage Rides through downtown: Bankers Trust Plaza FREE

3PM-7:30 pm. Chili Challenge-Armstrong Centre Food Court (222 3rd Avenue SE)
Enjoy some friendly competition and local flavor as contestants offer their favorite chili dish! To participate in this year’s challenge Contact the Freedom Festival at www.freedomfestival.com or call
365-8313.

5:30 p.m. Lighting of City Tree-May’s Island
The annual lighting of the city tree will set the tone for the lighted holiday evening!

6:00PM Holiday DeLight Parade-Beginning at 3rd Avenue SW into Greene Square Park
“IgNight the Spirit of our City” is the theme for our annual lighted parade! Cheer on local businesses, organizations, and Individuals as they display their best lighted holiday décor!
This year will introduce a new parade route-starting along 3rd Avenue SW with a lateral flow onto the 3rd Avenue SE side, ending by Greene Square Park.

For parade registration information visit the Downtown District website or call Jill Wilkins (398-0449). Parade registration forms are available for download at www.rebuilddowntowncr.org. Registration is due November 14.

POST-PARADE Santa and Friends Meet and Greet at Smulekoffs (97 3rd Avenue SE)
The head honcho himself, along with Mrs. Claus, elves, and live reindeer will be on site to gather those holiday wish lists!

7:30 p.m. Fireworks off of Mays Island
Watch in awe as we light up the sky in conjunction with the classic Holiday tunes!

8 p.m Ugly Holiday Sweater Party-hosted by Access Iowa at Bricks

Time to bust out your holiday best! Join Access Iowa post parade and warm up with some holiday cheer.

spread the cheer. volunteer

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Here are a few holiday volunteer opportunities. If you know of more, please share:

Wrapping For A Cause, hosted by The Arc of East Central Iowa, is a volunteer opportunity to wrap gifts in exchange for donations to The Arc, serving over 600 families each year.

When: Nov. 28 to Dec. 24

Where: Lindale Mall food court.

More info: For a volunteer schedule and more information, visit http://www.arceci.org/ or call Carey at (319)365-0487.

Four Oaks is hosting their annual holiday programs again this year.

More info: To host a Giving Tree or giving a holiday monetary donation, contact Jenni Stark at jstark@fouroaks.org.

The Salvation Army is hoping to work in partnership with other volunteer organizations this holiday season, to complete their mission of combining efforts to “do the most good.” Holiday programming includes their Food Boxes Program and their partnership with Toys for Tots. Last year, the Salvation Army gave 12,000 toys out in Linn County.

More info: Mindy Kayser at Mindy_Kayser@usc.salvationarmy.org or call (319)364-9131

the grinch musical is worth checking out

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According to a review in Variety, a musical version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is worth checking out both for adults and kids.  Although, it might be better to bring your kids to the show.  Not solely to enjoy the play more with their innocence, but also to avoid the funny looks that go hand-in-hand with showing up alone to a show/movie heavily populated with children.

But yeah, the Grinch musical is apparently very good.  Obviously, they didn’t write the musical off of the Jim Carrey movie, which was horrid.

So head over to the link above, and read the review and keep it in mind if it ever comes to Iowa.