Enjoy time with your family - or grab a drink

Many people like to spend time with their family on Christmas Day. I'm in Portland doing just that - for the first time in four years.

If for one reason or another you can't be with your family tonight, one of the few businesses open will be Javelin's at 306 East Highway 50. The crowd at Jav's is kind of like family anyway. "Bartendress" Dawn Casey will serve her delicious Modifieds (Absolut Mandarin, triple sec, and cranberry and lime juices) for only $2. And of course, adult-age families are welcome to spend their quality time together at Javelin's. Too bad I can't bring mine down from Portland. Javelin's is across from Jack In the Box. The party starts at 7 p.m.; call 883-6434.

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Who would have guessed I'd move from Portland to Carson City and develop a taste for the ballet? After the free performance on the legislative lawn Saturday, I saw danceSpirit Performing Arts' "All Jazz'd Up" version at the Community Center. Wow!

When 10-year-old Eric Ezell moonwalked across the stage as the curtains parted, I realized just how "jazz'd up" this version would be.

After Clara (Taylor Tucker) fell asleep and the lights went down, all that remained was a moon-like clock face. Then came that sassy, rhythmic tapping. Under black lights, the "ghetto mice" slowly appeared. Simple silhouettes at first, then wicked, grooving tap dancers in a dreamscape.

Maybe if I knew something about dance I'd be armed with better vocabulary to describe their performance, but I'll settle on "captivating."

So captivating, in fact, I caught myself making aggressive faces in the dark during fight scenes and bouncing my body side to side with the rhythm. I stopped, embarrassed, but they got me going again as the "Waltz of the Snowflakes" came to a crescendo. There were physically fit young people in long white dresses and tights twirling, leaping, spinning and jumping all over the stage. And each of them had a permanent smile. I left with an enduring smile, too.

Bravo to artistic director Sandi Scheer and danceSpirit Performing Arts for a tremendous show.

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Charles Adams was a decorator on films in Southern California for a number of years. He continues to use his decorating talent in Carson City.

Adams helps decorate the set of his friend Clifton Maclin's television show, "Maclin on Money," which airs on Carson Access Television. When the decorations are done, they do a holiday special.

"Instead of talking about stocks and bonds, we talk about how to do Christmas on a shoestring budget," said Adams. "The key is buying things after Christmas for 75 percent off."

When it's time for the show to air, they throw a holiday party. Adams gives out gifts with a particular theme.

"I pull the theme from whatever is in the news," he says. In 2001, the theme was the rescue dogs of 9/11. Last year, it was Barbie's 50th anniversary so all the gifts were related to Barbie. This year, the theme is "honoring our soldiers."

"What we're really promoting is justice, liberty, freedom and peace," he said, "and we're doing this for our fighting people who are fighting for our freedoms."

To make the colors red, white and blue more Christmasy, they added gold and silver.

"Instead of 'three cheers for the red, white and blue,' it's 'three cheers for the red, white, blue, gold and silver,'" Adams said with a smile.

To see "Maclin on Money" Christmas special, which aired on Dec. 15, turn to channel 10 today at 3:30 p.m.

Contact Karl Horeis at khoreis@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.Many people like to spend time with their family on Christmas Day. I'm in Portland doing just that - for the first time in four years.

If for one reason or another you can't be with your family tonight, one of the few businesses open will be Javelin's at 306 East Highway 50. The crowd at Jav's is kind of like family anyway. "Bartendress" Dawn Casey will serve her delicious Modifieds (Absolut Mandarin, triple sec, and cranberry and lime juices) for only $2. And of course, adult-age families are welcome to spend their quality time together at Javelin's. Too bad I can't bring mine down from Portland. Javelin's is across from Jack In the Box. The party starts at 7 p.m.; call 883-6434.

n n n

Who would have guessed I'd move from Portland to Carson City and develop a taste for the ballet? After the free performance on the legislative lawn Saturday, I saw danceSpirit Performing Arts' "All Jazz'd Up" version at the Community Center. Wow!

When 10-year-old Eric Ezell moonwalked across the stage as the curtains parted, I realized just how "jazz'd up" this version would be.

After Clara (Taylor Tucker) fell asleep and the lights went down, all that remained was a moon-like clock face. Then came that sassy, rhythmic tapping. Under black lights, the "ghetto mice" slowly appeared. Simple silhouettes at first, then wicked, grooving tap dancers in a dreamscape.

Maybe if I knew something about dance I'd be armed with better vocabulary to describe their performance, but I'll settle on "captivating."

So captivating, in fact, I caught myself making aggressive faces in the dark during fight scenes and bouncing my body side to side with the rhythm. I stopped, embarrassed, but they got me going again as the "Waltz of the Snowflakes" came to a crescendo. There were physically fit young people in long white dresses and tights twirling, leaping, spinning and jumping all over the stage. And each of them had a permanent smile. I left with an enduring smile, too.

Bravo to artistic director Sandi Scheer and danceSpirit Performing Arts for a tremendous show.

n n n

Charles Adams was a decorator on films in Southern California for a number of years. He continues to use his decorating talent in Carson City.

Adams helps decorate the set of his friend Clifton Maclin's television show, "Maclin on Money," which airs on Carson Access Television. When the decorations are done, they do a holiday special.

"Instead of talking about stocks and bonds, we talk about how to do Christmas on a shoestring budget," said Adams. "The key is buying things after Christmas for 75 percent off."

When it's time for the show to air, they throw a holiday party. Adams gives out gifts with a particular theme.

"I pull the theme from whatever is in the news," he says. In 2001, the theme was the rescue dogs of 9/11. Last year, it was Barbie's 50th anniversary so all the gifts were related to Barbie. This year, the theme is "honoring our soldiers."

"What we're really promoting is justice, liberty, freedom and peace," he said, "and we're doing this for our fighting people who are fighting for our freedoms."

To make the colors red, white and blue more Christmasy, they added gold and silver.

"Instead of 'three cheers for the red, white and blue,' it's 'three cheers for the red, white, blue, gold and silver,'" Adams said with a smile.

To see "Maclin on Money" Christmas special, which aired on Dec. 15, turn to channel 10 today at 3:30 p.m.

Contact Karl Horeis at khoreis@

nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.