Things to Do Around Monroe

Happy Thanksgiving! Are you looking for something to do after the traditional dinner is finished?

~ Come to Downtown Monroe on Friday evening for the annual Lighted Holiday Parade. The parade kicks off from the middle school starting at 6 pm. This year's theme is "Frosty and Friends". Many of the entrants will be creative in their use of lighting, and generators are donated for use by PDC.

~ New Glarus lights the Community Holiday Tree this Friday evening at 6:30. Come downtown for all the festivities and join your neighbors to see the magic of the lights.

~ Turner Hall is the setting for the local Christkindlmarkt. This old world holiday shopping event has its roots in the markets dating back to 1432 in Germany. Stop by the Grand Hall between 9 am and 4 pm either Friday or Saturday. There will be a variety of fiber and fabric arts pieces, candles, soaps, floral arrangements, decorations, Scherenschnitte, Kerbschnitte, Holzschnitte (traditional Swiss-German crafts) along with a European cafe and Swiss baked goods.

~ Come to Flannery's William Tell restaurant in New Glarus this Saturday to enjoy live music by Amber Skies starting at 8:30. Amber Skies plays everything from americana to rock. Amber Skies is a popular local band with roots in Belleville.

~ Coffee house night in Freeport! Higher Grounds is hosting a Turkey Jam. Enjoy great music from Aaron Whalen, Nate Yeske and Dustin Hyatt, and Anneliese Schrader. Admission is $5 which includes a $1 coupon. This is our favorite Freeport coffee shop, and a very comfortable place to spend time.

~ Stopy by the Monroe Middle School this Saturday for "Shop for the Cure." Sponsored by the Green County Relay for Life, all proceeds from the day go to the American Cancer Society. There will be more than 40 independent local consultants, vendors and crafters offer a wide variety of gift items, making this a great place to work on your holiday shopping. The day will also include door prizes, raffles, baked goods, and a light lunch.

~ The Family Movie at Lindo Theater in Freeport this Saturday morning will be Planet 51. Bring the kids for a fun movie experience. $5 per person, and the kids will receive a holiday gift.

~ Stop by the Monroe Arts Center to view the items for this year's Silent Auction. This annual event supports all the great programming at MAC. There is usually everything from Dr Najat's honey to framed art pieces, special event dinners in your home to gift cards to local businesses. There is always something for everyone and every price range.

~ The Mighty Richland Players Dinner Theater will present A Christmas Madrigal: Handel and Gretzky" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This laughter filled show will feature songs and comedy from the Renaissance era. Bring your appetite as dinner will be an English groaning board (roast beef dinner). $40 per person, call 815-819-1310 for ticket information.

~ Pick up your tickets for the upcoming Festival of Trees or performance of A Christmas Carol. The deadline for tickets for Festival of Trees is Monday at 10 am; contact Pam at the Chamber to reserve yours (3257648). A Christmas Carol will be performed by the Monroe Theatre Guild the second and third weekends in December. This year, all children under 12 are free with an adult ticket thanks to the generosity of Scrooge (aka John Bauman).

Local Money

Have you heard of Monroe Money or Monticello Money?

Both of these area communities have special programs where area residents can purchase certificates to be spent at any one of a number of local businesses. Monroe Money may be purchased at the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and can be spent at any Chamber of Commerce member business.

Monticello has Monticello Money, and the certificates can be spent at any of the Monticello Business and Professional Association members. Monticello Money may be purchased at the Bank of Monticello's Main Street location or at the Village Hall.

Monticello is doing a special Black Friday promotion to encourage people to shop locally this holiday season. Monticello Money will be 10% off on Friday, November 27.

Monticello Money or Monroe Money also make great gifts in and of themselves. Both can spend these at any member businesses. With lists of members that include hair salon, grocery stores, bowling alleys, repair centers, gift shops and much, much more, there will be myriad options for the lucky recipients.

First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit Extended

President Obama has signed the extension of the First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit. This is exciting news because this bill also expanded the parameters of the Tax Credit, allowing for larger income maximums of the people receiving the credit. Move Up Buyers are also considered in this tax credit. People who have lived in and owned their primary residence for at least 5 years are now eligble for a Move Up Credit of $6500. Here are all the details as explained by the CEO of Coldwell Banker, Jim Gillespie.

Things to Do Around Monroe

Another weekend is closing in. Have you made your plans yet?

~ The Young Professionals of Green County are busy in the upcoming week. This evening, come to a Business Showcase at Country View Equestrian Center on Clarno Road from 6 until 7:30 pm. Get together again on Monday evening for a Trip to Italy Wine Tasting event at Vince's Pizza. The business showcase is free; the wine tasting has a choice of an appetizer, entree or both along with the wine tasting for $9.99 to $18.99 depending on your choice. Both events are helping out the Monroe Women's Club, so bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the toy drive if you are able.

~ Farmer's Market enthusiast! The first Winter Market is this weekend in the lower level of Das Baumhaus on the South side of Monroe's Downtown Square. Stock up on root vegetables, jams and jellies, baked goods and more. If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner, it will be easier than ever to serve some local foods thanks to the new Winter Market. There will be two more winter markets this year: December 19 and January 16. Free coffee and punch.

~ Bring the kids to the Tree Trimming party at the Monroe Public Library this Saturday from 11 am until 3 pm. Make an ornament or five in Santa's Workshop, enjoy a story in the Story Corner at 11:30, 12:30 or 1:30, and stop in the Cookie Corner Cafe to refuel. Grown up elves, cookie donations are welcome!

~ Do some more of your holiday shopping at the Brooklyn Arts and Crafts Festival. This Saturday from 9 am until 4 pm, browse the vendors at the Brooklyn Community Center and find the perfect home-crafted gifts.

~ Lindo Theater in Freeport has a Family Holiday Movie series this November and December. This weekend's movie is A Chipmunk Christmas: 3 Alvin and the Chipmunks Holiday Featurettes starting at 10 am. This movie is free!

~ Stone Ring is playing at the Monroe Arts Center this Saturday evening. There is still time to purchase a ticket or two and enjoy an evening of wonderful music in the Gunderson-Stiles Concert Hall.

~ Famous Fossil Winery hosts another of their weekend movie events. This weekend focuses on not becoming a wine snob. Watch the movie "Enjoying Wine" and learn about how to relax and have fun with wine.

Festival of Trees

Help out four local non-profit groups while having a good meal and entertaining evening. Sounds like a win-win situation, doesn't it?

The annual Festival of Trees is coming up quickly. This event is scheduled for December 5 this year. The silent and live auctions are always great fun, and all proceeds will benefit either Monroe Theatre Guild Stage Right Youth Theatre, Green County Humane Society, Green Haven Family Advocates or Green County Habitat for Humanity.

Entertainment this year will be provided by the Monroe Theatre Guild Stage Right Youth Choir. Forty members of the youth choir will perform a variety of songs at 7:30 with the live auction following their performance.

The evening takes place at Peppercorn Banquets and Catering starting at 6 for cocktails and 7 for dinner. Contact any of the charities to purchase tickets (and this way your favorite gets a little more of the proceeds) or contact the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are $40 for the evening, and they include the entertainment as well as the dinner (chose from prime rib, rosemary chicken, butternut squash ravioli or stuffed mushroom ravioli).