Santa Claus

Downtown businesses stay open late tonight to welcome shoppers. That's hospitality -- Laguna-style.Laguna Beach will kick off the holiday season tonight. Hospitality Night festivities will begin at 5 p.m., leading up to Santa's 6 p.m. arrival at City Hall to light the pepper tree, the traditional signal that the holiday season has arrived in Laguna Beach. Downtown merchants will stay open late to dispense cheer to browsers and buyers at the biggest block party of the year.

SHERWOOD KIRALY Tonight's the night again. I don't expect to see him, but I really don't mind. I was one of those kids who don't want to sit on Santa's lap. It was at Marshall Field's in Chicago, lots of mothers, kids, noise. I was about four, I guess; I was told to make my pitch while on his lap and then jump; get on and get off. This was my first experience of Christmas stress -- if the man had the powers they said he had, he was capable of anything.

This classic holiday editorial first ran in 1897 in the New York Sun. The letter to the editor was a young girl named Virginia O'Hanlon. The author of the reply was veteran Sun editor Francis Church. The piece was reprinted annually until the paper went out of business in 1949. We've decided to keep that tradition going here at the Huntington Beach Independent: Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.

Art Studios open for holiday shopping Artists John Barber, Olivia Batchelder, Sue Callaway, Gavin Heath, Jason and Nicole McQuaid, Sian and Troy Poeschl, Marsh Scott and David Sullenger will open their studios in Laguna from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday for holiday shopping. Artwork will include silk clothing, accessories, blown glass, glass jewelry, fused glass, paintings, wood and sculpture. For information, call (949) 497-4942. Playhouse Youth Theatre holds holiday musical The Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre will perform the world premiere of the musical "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus," today, Saturday and Sunday.

Tom Titus It's a safe bet that most kids never really wondered what Santa Claus was like before he started making his annual gift-giving pilgrimages. You know, how he grew up and what prompted his perennial Christmas Eve missions, things like that. Well, about 100 years ago, author L. Frank Baum explained it all for them -- in his version, jolly old St. Nick was a human foundling, raised by a colony of immortals who found his mission in life when he saw how less-fortunate kids were being treated.

Sawdust Winter Fantasy's final weekend The 14th annual Sawdust Winter Fantasy will feature 173 artists working in diverse media with works for sale. Entertainment, food and beverages activities and art classes for children and adults are available for free with paid admission. Sawdust Winter Fantasy, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. One time adult admission is $4.50 or $5.50 for unlimited access. Entry is $2 for children 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and younger.

Suzie Harrison Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre will open its production of "Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" today with a cast including Laguna's Nicolas Leighton, 10, Sophia Tupy, 12 and Taryn Dicterow, 15. Originally published in 1902 by "Wizard of Oz" creator L. Frank Baum, the "Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" is about what Santa Claus represents, Playhouse Youth Director Joe Lauderdale said. "It's a story more that parents can learn from," Lauderdale said.

Tom Titus While you wait for Santa Claus to enrich your children's lives this year, did you ever wonder how the legend of Santa Claus got started in the first place? One explanation was proffered by an author who's best known for creating another legend -- "The Wizard of Oz." L. Frank Baum set about more than a century ago to explain that mystery. And next week, the stage version of Baum's story -- "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" -- will unfold at the Laguna Playhouse.

Tom Titus Young audiences at the Laguna Playhouse will have their imaginations tweaked by a trio of productions by the playhouse's Youth Theater ranging in theme from cuteness and fantasy -- including the world premiere of a century-old story -- to the harsh reality of teens with weapons and the tribulations of America's pioneer days. Starting things off in two weeks will be "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse," a family play by Kevin Henkes, adapted for the state by Kevin Kling.

The following holiday classic editorial first ran in 1897 in the New York Sun. The letter to the editor was a young girl named Virginia O'Hanlon. The author of the reply was veteran Sun editor Francis Church. The piece was reprinted annually until the paper went out of business in 1949. We've decided to keep that tradition going here at the Coastline Pilot: Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.