Holiday Season

The "Merry Christmas Bill" is Headed to the Governor's Desk

The Texas House and Senate have both passed the "Merry Christmas Bill," which allows public schools to openly celebrate Christmas without fear of legal action. The bill specifically allows teachers to say "traditional greetings" for "traditional winter celebrations," such as Christmas and Hanukkah a ... More >>

Matthew Hines of The Eastern Sea: Dallas Has a Better Sense of Music Community Than Austin

Speaking from his home in Austin, Matthew Hines, comes across as one of those likeable nerds everyone knew in high school. As leader of the indie rock outfit The Eastern Sea, Hines has turned that nerdy charm into three compelling albums, especially 2012's Plague. In anticipation of Friday night's ... More >>

Texas Atheist Aron Ra Is Deeply Irritated by Houston Rep's "Merry Christmas" Bill

This upcoming legislative session is shaping up to be a real barn-burner. In addition to the anti-TSA groping measure and the continued battle against the imaginary scourge of Sharia law already filed by other legislators, Representative Dwayne Bohac of Houston has made things even more lively. A c ... More >>

Five European Things That Make for a Great Christmas

Here is a brief list of five European things that make a good Christmas, but that you might be afraid of. Embrace change, Texas! I have included pictures so you don't think I'm insane, and links to Amazon where you can still get these things (albeit with now very expensive shipping, because I didn' ... More >>

Go On, Make Your Mom Cry

Those Aren't Headlights; It's Santa!

A Chat With Randy Brooks, the Guy Who Wrote "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer"

I attended the Oral Fixation "Cold Turkey" show at the MAC last Tuesday night, mainly because Observer copy editor and beer enthusiast Jesse Hughey was going to be reading, and he ended up getting some of the biggest laughs of the night, from a crowd that took in some pretty dark tales. Also notable ... More >>

Why Does Christmas Taste Like Peppermint?

Why is peppermint so ubiquitous at Christmas? Why not pistachios or rutabagas? One could essentially put two drops of peppermint extract in any edible product and BAM! It's a new holiday product. It made me wonder about the history of peppermint and Christmas. Obviously, the movement has roots in c ... More >>

The Long Winters' John Roderick Talks Christmas Music, Becoming Mayor of Seattle

Back in 2006, The Long Winters released Putting the Days to Bed, one of that year's best efforts, but various personal issues resulted in frontman John Roderick taking an extended leave of absence. Since then, he's appeared as a sideman on efforts by Death Cab for Cutie and Nada Surf, but a new Long ... More >>

Where's The Ghost of Christmas Presents?

Better Late Than Never, Tiger Darrow and Paul Slavens Kicked Out a Christmas Jam

​Several Friends of Unfair Park have already requested one song for next year's Christmas special on K-Ticket: Tiger Darrow and Paul Slavens's "Santa Claus is Coming," which, per the note affixed to the Soundcloud, was finished just in time for his arrival in the wee small hours of Christmas morni ... More >>

The K-Ticket Christmas Eve Music Playlist, With a Few Leftovers For the Morning

​If I'm allowed on K-Ticket airwaves for a fourth annual Christmas dance party, I will ask management to carve space enough for a 17-hour set. The list of songs I wanted to play but didn't is much longer than those that actually made the air. Then again, if you really want a copy of Anya Marina's ... More >>

Five Nights of Drinking at Home: It's Not Alcoholism If There's Christmas Music On

Flickr​Don't ask me out for a drink because, 1.) I'm cheap and 2.) at the height of holiday shopping insanity, I like to leave my house less than Sigorney Weaver in Copycat. So I stay home, watch TV, read and drink. My drink of choice is usually peppermint Schnapps in hot chocolate. Yes, I kno ... More >>

Folk Angel Channels Grief and Loss Through a New Christmas Album.

Local Holiday Music Roundup: Seryn, Folk Angel, Josh T. Pearson & More

I think yule really enjoy this list.​We're full-blown into December, which means the holiday season surrounds us. And good lord, there are a lot of holiday albums being released this year. Seems like everyone from Lady Gaga to My Morning Jacket have the tour bus television on the Yule Log channel. ... More >>

Psst. Ginny. It's All a Lie!

Rockin' Christmas Party: Not Rockin', Not a Party, Not Christmas-y

WaterTower Theatre commits musical re-gifting.

Folk Angel's Comfort & Joy Earns Billboard's Number Four Folk Album, Offers Free Download

​If you're searching iTunes for Christmas music, because who isn't at this time of year (avoids eye contact with office Hanukkah observers), it won't take long before you run across North Texas' Folk Angel and their new album Comfort & Joy. Less than two weeks after its November 15 release, th ... More >>

Made a Playlist, Now Checkin' it Twice: By Request, Last Night's Christmas Music Show

​Many thanks to the many folks who tuned in and called in during last night's late-night Christmas-music spectacular, which gets a replay on KTCK-AM (1310, The Ticket) beginning, why, right this very moment. (That'll be just the three-hour yuletunes special, not the two hours of pirate-radio non-h ... More >>

Cookies for a Good Claus

You Don't Have to Be Jewish to Enjoy Chinese Food Over Christmas

A Christmas Story​One of the most memorable moments from the beloved movie A Christmas Story is the Chinese restaurant scene. Because of the holiday-friendly business hours, Chinese restaurants and Christmas seem to go hand-in-hand for many people across any culture. So, regardless of if a pa ... More >>

A Very Indie Christmas: Ten Songs To Conquer Your Parents' Karen Carpenter Blues

Bring a little rock to your Christmas.​There are few things more refreshing on Christmas morning than wheeling the dial and finding an original Christmas song. Or, at least, one that is not by Mariah Carey. Our parents have to be sick of it too. They just have to be. The frustrating thing is that ... More >>

Top 5 Food Ornaments to Spice Up Your Christmas Tree or Bush

​Years ago, my family used to crown our Christmas tree with a wonderfully tacky star made from silver pipe cleaners knotted together with Christmas lights. It finally stopped working and now lays crumpled somewhere in our spider-clogged attic. This year, we have a bush - a bush! - on top of ... More >>

There's Something for Everyone With These New Holiday Albums.

We'll Have a Hughes Christmas

The Daily Fail: Jessica Simpson

It's that time of year again, when you forget that Christmas was once a celebration of a possible son of an invisible man in the sky and only care about whatever is wrapped up for you under the tree. And, of course, there's the Christmas songs, too.

Santa's Garden

Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons

Santa's Been Bad

Yule Have A Ball

March of the Merry

Peace On Earth and Blah-Blah-Blah

Frozen In Time

Make some holiday memories at the Gaylord Texan

Holiday Harvesting

Keep the good times rollin' with Kwanzaa

Eight Lights

Tre Seasonal

Wilcox teaches how to tackle holiday meals

Brother Christ

See Jesus in Oak Cliff

Northern Exposure

Nutty Puppets

The DCT offers a classic with some strings

Christmas Party Hop

Rock out to the tunes at the WaterTower

Bad or Good?

PDNB is good for goodness' sake

Half-Pint's Holidays

The DCT celebrates in a Little House

Season of the South

Kwanzaa Tongue Twister

Kids learn to pronounce Swahili

A Christmas Tradition

Throw in a little Tuna with your tinsel

Elfin' Magic

Addison eats up a Crumpet

Elfin' Magic

Addison eats up a Crumpet

It's Ornamental

Decorate the Contemporary way

A Big Holiday Combo

Traditions unite under the accordion

Radio Prairie