HOLIDAY BLOSSOMS
Can you ever have enough poinsettias for the holidays? Get hooked up at Mt. Lebanon Library through Sunday, December 16. The Dormont-Mt. Lebanon-Castle Shannon Rotary Club’s annual Poinsettia Sale offers 6½-inch foil-wrapped pots—available in red, pink or white—for $10 each. All proceeds benefit Mt. Lebanon Public Library… Stroll through Phipps Conservatory’s Winter Flower Show and enjoy evergreens lit with tens of thousands of softly glowing LED lights and close to 2,000 festive poinsettias. The outdoor garden will be transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland, and the gift shop offers some unusual things for all the garden lovers on your list. The flower show runs through January 6, 2013; for hours and a listing of other events, go to www.phipps.conservatory.org [1].
FAMILY FUN
Still have some old Halloween candy hiding in the back of a cabinet? Gather the candy and the kids and come to Mt. Lebanon Library, 6:30 p.m., Monday, December 3, to build gingerbread houses that you can take home for the holidays… Seeking something fun yet educational to do with the kids while they are on winter break from school? Phipps Conservatory Family Fun Days, run 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., December 26-30. The kids will love the discovery stations 
[2]and craft making. All activities are free with conservatory admission. 412-622-6914. phipps.conservatory.org [3]… Dormont’s Hollywood Theater presents A Christmas Story, 7 p.m., Saturday, December 1, and 2 p.m., Sunday, December 2. Actor Ian Petrella (aka Randy), is scheduled to appear, but please call 412-563-0368 to confirm.
Tickets are $7, adults; $5 children under 12 and seniors… Mt. Lebanon High School’s Winter Guard hosts a Pancakes with Santa event 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, December 8, in the high school’s fourth floor cafeteria. Santa arrives at 9. The day includes games, crafts, a bake sale and performances by the high school’s musical ensembles. Seatings are at 8, 9 and 10 a.m., and tickets—available at the door—are $8, adults; $4, children 2-5; children under 2 eat free. 412-343-0732.
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MUSIC
Mt. Lebanon Library welcomes the South Hills Brass 1:30 p.m., Sunday, December 16, for a musical performance of the Dr. Seuss classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas… Music in a Great Space presents Handel’s Messiah, 4 p.m., Sunday, December 9, Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Tickets are $10 at the door. www.shadysidepres.org [5]… The Mt. Lebanon High School Percussion Ensemble will present its popular Holiday Bells, Mallets and Drums concert, 7:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday, December 6 and 7, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, December 8. Ticket information at www.mtlpercussion.com [6] and 412-563-4201… Renaissance & Baroque Society welcomes Apollo’s Fire (pictured below) 8 p.m., Saturday, December 8, for Sacrum Mysterium: A Celtic Christmas that interweaves renaissance choral music with ancient pagan carols. Synod Hall, 125 Craig Street, Oakland. Tickets are $20, $30 and $35; $10, students. www.rbsp.org [7]. 412-361-2048.
GET GIFT TO GIVE
Concordia of the South Hills’ Annual Holiday Bazaar is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, December 4, 1300 Bower Hill Road. There will be a variety of vendors selling knitted items, jewelry, purses, ornaments and crafts; auction baskets and a bake sale. 412-278-1300. www.concordia-southhills.org [8]… The Historical Society of Mount Lebanon has Mt. Lebanon photo books, coloring books, I`Lebo T-shirts for adults, children and infants, note cards and Christmas cards. The History Center at 200 Lebanon Avenue, is open 9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursdays. Call 412-563-1941 for an appointment. www.lebohistory.org [9].
Saturday, December 8 is
COOKIE DAY
[10]Churches. Cookies. All day long. Start the day at Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church, corner of Washington and Scott roads, at its Christmas Cookie and Gift Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Choose from iced cutout sugar, buttery shortbread, spicy gingerbread men, chewy peanut butter, old-fashioned chocolate chip, nutty almond crescents, melt-in-your mouth ginger crinkles and more. The day also includes vendors selling gift items and a British tearoom where you can enjoy a hot cup of tea and buttery scones and pick up some soup to go… then zoom over to Sunset Hills Presbyterian Church on Country Club Drive, for the Deacon Cookie Sale from 10 a.m. to noon. Fresh baked cookies, breads and pastries between 10 a.m. and noon… from there, if you want a little exercise (but still more cookies) check out Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Mansfield Boulevard, Carnegie, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., for its annual Cookie Walk with thousands of cookies and pastries representing more than 30 countries. Well, you walk around the church hall, so you know, not like running a marathon or anything.