Scrooged

How ironic that a Christmas-hating character and a destination so emblematic of the worst excesses of the holiday can, in combination, actually get us in the Christmas spirit. There are few places as hellish as a mall during the run-up to Christmas, but NorthPark manages to make the experience tolerable every year with its long-running Ebenezer Scrooge puppet show, now in its 33rd year (though at a new location, in East Court near Dillard’s). The lovably grumpy, quick-witted and sarcastic Scrooge will emerge from his cottage to grouse at shoppers and their children every hour on the hour from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays through December 24, with performances from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve, at NorthPark Center. Call 214-363-7441 or visit northparkcntr.com for more information.

Mondays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sundays, 12-6 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Starts: Nov. 26. Continues through Dec. 23, 2010