It's A Wonderful Life on Big Screen and Silent Auction at IMAX December 5 for $6

Some things mean Christmas more than others. It's A Wonderful Life is one those thigns. Annually an original Christmas movie is shown in Indianapolis the first week of December. Benefiting Indianapolis Downtown Beautification, the film and silent auction beforehand will be held at Indiana State Museum's IMAX, 650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis.

Tickets ($6) are available by clicking here or at the door the evening of the event, Thursday, Dec. 5. The silent auction begins at 5 p.m. and runs through 6:15 p.m. Cash and checks are accepted for the items. Silent auction items include gift certificates to some of downtown's best restaurants, hotels, attractions and more. 

 The classic film begins screening at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited and expected to sell out. All contributions go to Indianapolis Downtown Beautification.

About Downtown Beautification

A clean, attractive downtown pleases visitors and residents, spurs economic development, improves the quality of life and enhances customer perceptions of safety. Downtown is a gateway for our visitors and its beauty and cleanliness are dependent on your cooperation.

Keeping Downtown vibrant includes a number of projects from planting trees and gardens to forming cleaning committees, recruiting volunteers and raising funds. IDI also works with partners to install the holiday lights that decorate the Soldiers and Sailors Monument known as: Circle of Lights presented by the Contractors of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW #481.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel, food, wine and spirits columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Personal Lifestyle Adviser on Indy Style, WISH8 (CBS). Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, and in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Circle of Lights includes Santa's Mailbox

One of my favorite memories from Christmases of long is writing to Santa Claus. Positive he (or at the very least one of his trusty elves) would pen a reply.To be honest, I can't remember if he ever did.

What I do remember, however, is the trip to take the letter to the post office. The excitement of getting the letter just right, decorating the envelope to the point the address was almost indecipherable, and the satisfaction when I dropped the letter in the slot.

To this day one of my must-watch holidays movies annually is "The Christmas List." Starring Mimi Rogers. The film (1997) reiterates the feeling that goodness brings happiness when the main character mails her grown-up Christmas wish list letter to Santa Claus. This feeling spills over from another favorite, Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," which instills the warm-fuzzies with the knowledge that human kindness can break down any barrier and mean people can be rehabilitated.

So how do the children in your life get this over-the-top feeling this holiday season? Encourage them to write (cursive if possible, please), decorate and mail a letter to the jolly old elf ~ personally.

Where? 

Santa Claus (or maybe his helpers) has installed an official mailbox at the Circle of Lights location ~ Soldiers and Sailors Monument ~ in downtown Indianapolis. Accepting letters to Father Christmas through December 12, the mailbox is decorated with Santa and reindeer likenesses. Sitting on the east side of Monument Circle, the box faces Market Street, but I encourage you to make it an event. Park the car (much like my father), and enjoy the lights, sip hot chocolate and create lifetime memories for the tots.

Each year, this holiday mailbox is installed for children of all ages to drop off their letters addressed to Santa. And to every child’s delight, Santa himself personally answers each letter that has a return address. In 2012, more than 5,000 letters were sent to Santa.

*** Letters must have a return address for Santa to reply. (A self-addressed, stamped envelope is appreciated)

**Special Note** The lighting ceremony of Circle of Lights is presented by the wonderful folks known as Contractors of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW #481. These people work hard annually, selflessly giving of their time in the cold weather to make this happen for all of us to enjoy. The official lighting ceremony will take place Friday evening, Nov. 29 on Monument Circle. More than 100,000 holiday enthusiasts are expected to attend Indiana’s largest, annual, FREE public gathering now in its 51st year.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel, food, wine and spirits columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Personal Lifestyle Adviser on Indy Style, WISH8 (CBS). Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, and in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

4th Annual Midtown Home Tour November 9-10, 2013

The Midtown Home Tour 2013 will take place Saturday, Nov. 9 and Sunday, Nov. 10 from 11 am-5 pm.

Giving a glimpse inside some of Indianapolis' oldest homes, the tour also gives back to its community.  As five homes, decorated for the holidays, are showcased each year, decorating tips are given for your own home. Al proceeds are returned to the historic neighborhood to maintain the unique homes.

Homes on Tour 2013

5515 N. Washington Blvd

(see above image)

decorated by The Empty Vase

4270 N. Meridian St

decorated by The Empty Vase

5727 Central Ave

decorated by The Frugal Decorator

3674 N. Delaware St

decorated by Ken Johnson and Carolyn Houk

3657 N. Washington Blvd

decorated by Palm Court Design

Celebrating the unique homes and neighborhoods in Midtown,  this area is defined as the area between Fall Creek and the White River. Early bird tickets are $15 and can be purchased at midtownindy.org, Be Boutique (5607 N. Illinois St.), The Empty Vase (111 E. 49th St.), National Bank of Indianapolis (4930 N. Pennsylvania St.) or The Riviera Club (5640 N. Illinois St.). Tickets are also available the days of the tour at any of the participating homes.

Images provided

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel, food, wine and spirits columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Personal Lifestyle Adviser on Indy Style, WISH8 (CBS). Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, and in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.