Vol. 63, Issue 3, Christm#676E1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SpecialSpecial HHolidayoliday IIssuessue 22003003 Volume 63, Issue 3 St. Teresaʼs Academyʼs The Dart December 11, 2003 Local malls compete for Santa’s time Kathryn Fitzsimmons and Search was Oak Park Mall, lo- Megan Kelly cated at 95th and Quivera. After Staff Writers a bit of searching, we found You better watch out, you better Santa’s wonderland shoved into not cry, you better not pout, I’m tell- a corner outside the fi rst fl oor ing you why, Santa Claus is coming entrance of the Jones Store. The to town…and you can visit him at small corner was fi lled with trees, a number of local malls. But be- snow and friendly arctic animals. lieve it or not, Mr. Kringle hasn’t Penguins could be seen roasting always hopped on the sleigh to marshmallows over a faux fi re make stops at malls across the and fuzzy polar bears frolicked in country. the snow. Up until the mid 1840s, Santa Santa sat beneath a winter Claus spent all of his time up landscape, posing for snapshots in the North Pole preparing for and inquiring about the chil- Christmas Eve. dren’s Christmas wishes. He supervised toy production, After a ten-minute wait, your corresponded with stores around Dart investigatorsinvestigators gotgot theirtheir the world to chance to sit keep up with One day, Santa real- upon the fat new toy innova- man’s lap. tions and fol- ized that he hadnʼt His slender lowed a hearty appearance diet to maintain taken time to visit the led us to his plumpish believe that fi gure. children of the world. Mr. Claus One day, had not Santa realized he had become fulfi lled his daily quota of cook- so wrapped up in the Christmas ies and milk. He also smelled rush that he hadn’t taken time of smoke—and not the sleigh to visit the children of the world. exhaust kind. His beard, along He decided he wouldn’t let this with his stature, was looking a bit atrocity go on for another day; he on the short side. was going to fi gure out a way to He asked what was on our visit with the children. Christmas list, offered us candy Santa called up his mall canes and coloring books and manager friends and asked if he wished us a Merry Christmas in a could use their stores as a place friendly, although not overly jolly, where children could go and manner. visit him. Of course they agreed, Our next destination was because who would deny Santa Ward Parkway Mall, located at Claus such a simple request? 85th and Ward Parkway. And, as they say, the rest is his- Going through the West tory. entrance, we ran directly into Never a staff to let a good lead Santa. Although his area was go, upon hearing this tale your modestly sized, it was fi lled with Dart reportersreporters decideddecided toto inves-inves- big presents, decorated trees and tigate the Santa status at three snow. Santa stood and greeted local malls. us with a jovial “Hello, there!” photo by Kathryn Fitzsimmons The fi rst stop on our Santa This time, Santa was looking Twins Isaac and William Schmidt, 4, and their brother Andrew, 3, pile onto Santa’s lap at Ward Parkway mall. much taller and more robust; with a pleasant expression and Holiday Movie Review: his beard had also grown to a such phrases as “Hi, smiley.” Bad Santa more desirable length. A family Although Santa was friendly, Running Time: 1 hour, 33 with three small boys walked by the overall atmosphere did not minutes and Santa insisted they stop to exude much Christmas cheer. Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, say hello. His jolly nature and After our investigation was Tony Cox and Bernie Mac appropriate usage of “ho ho ho” complete, we concluded the best won the boys over. He talked Santa experience was at Ward A smoking, swearing, with them and their parents Parkway. Crown Center, however, alcoholic department store about Christmas wishes while we won overall for its one stop shop Santa (Thornton) and his Af- said goodbye. for Christmas. After visiting rican-American “little person” Our third and fi nal Santa Santa, shoppers can walk outside sidekick (Cox) work at different Search stop was at Crown Cen- and witness the Mayor’s Christ- malls every year and rob the ter, located at 2450 Grand. The mas tree and go skating at the store every Christmas night. Crayola Christmas Land was Ice Terrace. When shopping on Things grow complicated fi lled with activities to entertain the weekends, visitors can also when the pair moves their scam and Santa to capture photos listen to live Christmas music. to Tucson and encounters the with. The setup lacked in Christ- While each mall’s Santa Kid, who believes that Thorn- mas décor, but was fi lled with a experience had it’s own strengths ton’s character is the real Santa. Crayola themed ball pit, tunnels, and weaknesses, no matter where Supporting cast includes slide and riddles on the walls. you visit the fat man this holiday the late John Ritter as a Santa sat in the corner on season your wishes will be sure wishy-washy store manager his Crayola throne, greeting kids to come true. and Bernie Mac as the ostrich- skin-wearing head of security. Santa-like Christmas Friendliness Fun Factor Overall Appearance Decor Marked by a relentlessly bad attitude and a biting satirical Crown Center approach to the classic feel- photo by Katie Kelly. Oak Park good Christmas movie, this fi lm Juniors Kathryn Fitzsimmons and Megan Kelly tell Santa Claus what they is hilarious. But leave your little want for Christmas at Oak Park Mall. Ward Parkway brother at home. 2 St. Teresa’s Academy’s The Dart Holidays Kansas City, Missouri December 11, 2003 December 11,2003 St. Teresa’s Academy’s The Dart Holidays Kansas City, Missouri 3 TV specials bring Growing up Holiday shoppers go to the extreme holiday cheer changes view to fi nd, purchase perfect presents Katie Hembree Adventure starring Randy Quaid, Just when there seems to Staff Writer Miriam Flynn, Ed Asner and be hope of a rescue by wealthy Alex Hercules Feeling bogged down with Eric Idle will air Dec. 20 on NBC Australian businessman (Stone), of Christmas Staff Writer having to buy all those Christ- at 8 p.m. Eddie accidentally sabotages the Cierra Obioha and the meaning of Christmas bet- Every year millions of people mas gifts? Can’t seem to get When Cousin Eddie (Quaid), rescue efforts. With the fate of Tyler Yarbrough ter and realize it’s not about wait for the day after Thanksgiv- Staff Writers into the holiday spirit? With is bitten by a monkey at a his family in his hands, Eddie gifts.” ing to begin their shopping. The Christmas just two weeks away, nuclear-research testing plant, tries to return them safely from Ah, to be a child again on According to students, day after Thanksgiving is the something must be done. Many his lab partner avoids a poten- an unforgettable Christmas Christmas, indulging in fanta- Christmas is more appreci- biggest shopping day of the year. people rely on made-for-televi- tial lawsuit by offering Eddie vacation back to the civilized sies of Santa Claus, Barbie dolls, ated now as teens because with sion movies to boost good cheer. and his family an all-expense world. and Nestlé’s hot cocoa. growth in age comes respon- “I couldn’t wait to start my Aside from the classic fi lms like paid trip to the South Pacifi c On Dec. 25 the Hallmark Many children all over the sibilities such as school work, Christmas shopping this year,” How the Grinch Stole Christmas over Christmas. The family is Channel will show the premiere United States wait for Christ- jobs, sports, and clubs. said Sophomore Molly Wilker- and It’s a Wonderful Life, several ecstatic to escape frigid Chicago of A Carol Christmas starring mas anxiously, hoping Santa “Because [my family and I] son. “But, sometimes the way new fi lms are to hit the small and fi nally go on a real vacation. Tori Spelling, Gary Coleman will give them exactly what they have so many activities going people act during holiday shop- screens this season. Along for the ride are Eddie’s and William Shatner. The fi lm want. on, when Christmas ap- ping scares me!” Secret Santa starring Jen- wife Catherine (Flynn), their is a spoof of Charles Dickens’s But as they grow into teenag- proaches, I look forward to the Everyone can see Christmas nie Garth, Steven Eckholdt intelligent son, their cousin, classic, A Christmas Carol. ers, their perception and mean- [Christmas] break,” said Goede. spirit around town as people and Barbara Billingsley will air Audrey (Barron), a tour guide Spelling portrays a “Scrooge- ing of Christmas will drastically “It’s my time to just relax.” start to decorate their houses Dec. 14 on NBC at 8 p.m. The (Hi Lee) and Eddie’s Uncle Nick like” television talk-show host change as it did for many girls Not only does the sentimen- fi lm is about a young journal- (Asner). Uncle Nick is in denial who is haunted by the ghost of here at STA. tal value of Christmas change and Santa comes to every ist, Rebecca (played by Jen- because his wife (Garland) has Christmas past, played by Gary “When I was a child, Christ- from when one was a child mall. But, not everyone shows nie Garth), whose pessimistic recently left him for the Christ- Coleman.