Those who work at and operate Art Works Gallery on Noble Street admit that lifelong residents will sometimes find their gallery for the first time later in their lives, wishing they had earlier. But Betty Donahue, relatively new to the area, will be well acquainted with the place after the next few months.

Local artists have a new gallery to display their works, and it's located somewhere that gets a lot of foot traffic, which is great for upcoming artists who are trying to get their name out to the world.

The party's on … the feeling's here … that only comes one time a year… we're simply having a wonderful Christmas time … To me, the words of this song are a fitting description of Christa Fair's annual December parties. True enough, the parties reflect easy-going elegance to her guests, but there's an equal measure of celebration and hard work in her giving the gift of an old-fashioned Christmas at her Leighton Avenue home.

Need a little pick-me-up for the holidays? Forget the extra cup of cappuccino or celebration punch. For a more lasting feeling of good will, take your family to see the Alabama Ballet perform The Nutcracker on Sunday, Dec. 6. The ballet's delightful and stirring story will keep you humming, and the event will be a memory long after the Christmas presents are put away and forgotten.