Anne C. Weary's "Torrey Pine Cottontail"

Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden presents Anne C. Weary’s “Where the Pacific Meets the Cliffs at Torrey Pines” and Holiday Invitational Exhibition. The reception is 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, and the show runs through Jan. 7. Dallas-born Weary moved to Southern California where she drew the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve with red conté. Admission is free.

Repertory Company Theatre debuts its latest show “Hairspray” this weekend. Performances run at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $14 for youth. Call the box office at 972.690.5029.

The Richardson High School Eaglettes host their Holiday Craft & Gift Fair 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday in the Dal Rich Shopping Center at the southeast corner of Coit and Belt Line. The event features 80 vendors, including Texas 2 Stitch, Stella & Dot, Our Little Secret Jewelry and more. There’s also raffle prizes, performances and a bake sale.

Pearce alum Chris Pearson and his rock band Sleeperstar have a new song getting lots of high-profile airplay. “Everything Must Find Its Place” runs in the trailer for the new Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock movie “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” playing now in theaters and on Youtube. The movie, which opens January 20, 2012, is about a nine-year-old boy who searches for the lock to match a key left behind by his father who died in the World Trade Center September 11th.

Chris sang in the pop group Forte during his years as a Mustang and graduated in 2001 and heading off to Baylor University. His band has picked up steam of late, with their song “I Was Wrong” playing in the popular CW show Vampire Diaries. They’ve been touring with their album “Just Another Ghost” and last January, they were chosen to perform at the big Big D NYE (New Years Eve) show at American Airlines Plaza when they received a majority of the votes in a selection contest.

We last wrote about Sleeperstar here on the blog in June, when they did a benefit concert for another Forte alum, Drew Cotten. Drew was raising funds for a foundation in the name of Jackson Hill, his 10-year-old cousin who died of osteosarcoma, and the band was happy to help.

You can check out Sleeperstar’s new Christmas song, “Emmanuel”, here.

Santa arrived at Valley View Nov. 25 on a segway. (Photo from Valley View's Facebook page)

I’ve dedicated some ink and blog space to the never-ending list of holiday events going on at the Galleria. But, I also feel the need to mention that other mall in our community – Valley View.

Yes, it’s a dead mall, and it will see the wrecking ball soon to make way for a huge redevelopment vision, which stakeholders will likely finalize in a matter of months.

I was at Valley View AMC movie theater over the weekend seeing “The Muppets” when I noticed a not-too-shabby Santa’s Village on the first level just underneath the box office. There were no long lines. The area is just a few yards from the east entrance, so there’s easy access. If you want to avoid the holiday crowds this year, visiting Santa a Valley View probably isn’t a bad idea.

Plus, despite its decline, I think people still get a little nostalgic over the soon-to-be-leveled structure that saw some pretty vibrant days back in the ’70s and ’80s.

Santa’s Village is open now through Dec. 24. The hours are: 1-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.

Debs in 1967 celebrate Neiman Marcus Fortnight with the Lord Provost of Edinburgh

As the Richardson Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Richardson’s participants in the Symphony League’s Debutante and Honor Guard programs are looking back at the organizations’ rich traditions and reflecting on how the groups have prepared them for college and life.

The Richardson Symphony Guild (now called the League) formed in 1966 and began hosting events for and with their daughters in 1967 as a way to expose them to world of music, art and ideas. Fundraising for the RSO was part of their mission, as was learning etiquette and preparing to enter society life.

Today, Debs are still “presented” with the traditional low, full-court bow (the girls jokingly call it the “debutante dip”) in white ball gowns and full-length gloves (tiaras were added in 2001). They spend much more of their time, though, with their sleeves rolled up, giving their time and serving others in the community.

2010 Richardson High grad Courtney Parmalee in her Debutante gown and tiara

“I joined Debs because it was a great way to give back to the community,” said Courtney Parmalee, a 2010 RHS grad now attending Oklahoma University. “I had the opportunity to do very unique community service, such as working at Santa’s Village and the Richardson Women’s Club home tour, and I loved the meetings because we always had really interesting speakers. Best of all, I became friends with people from different high schools that I normally wouldn’t have come in contact with. Some of my closest friends in college are ones that I made in Debs. It is the best networking tool I have ever come in contact with.”

In 2003, the League added the Honor Guard program, and by 2010, more senior boys were contributing service hours and escorting symphony patrons than senior girls. Today’s Deb and Honor Guard program is smaller, and the League is using the 50th anniversary to recruit new members and stir excitement about service with the Symphony.

“Being involved in the Symphony has taught me that Richardson has a small-town feel, but there is so much going on,” said Courtney. “We have so many events and ways to get involved.”

If you’d like more information about the Deb and Honor Guard programs, you can visit their website here, or you can attend the RSO’s annual Holiday Classics concert December 3rd at 8pm at Richardson’s Eisemann Center and visit directly with the students as they distribute programs and usher you to your seat.

If you’re brave enough to go near the mall right after Thanksgiving, you can catch the Holiday Magic on Ice show at the Galleria, which features a back-flipping Santa Claus, the Missile Toes and a few Olympic skaters.

At noon Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dorothy Hamil, Ryan Bradley and Amanda Dobbs make appearances on the rink, which is located in the center of the mall. You can see the show from all levels. Various performances continue throughout the season.

They say the Galleria has the country’s tallest indoor Christmas tree. Watch it light up to choreographed music every day starting Friday – it’s at noon, 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. Come back for the first Menorah lighting on Dec. 20.

Santa will be in his village ready for requests from eager youngsters. It’s on level two near Saks Fifth Avenue. He’s open 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. During week, he’s there 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Slappy’s Holiday Circus performs at 1 and 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday and then again every Saturday before Christmas.

See all the mall’s holiday events here.

Kittrell/Riffkind's Ornament Extravaganza is Saturday. (Courtesy photo)

The JJ Pearce senior class presents a talent show, Mustangs Got Talent, featuring a variety of acts from choreographed skits to uni cycling. The Top 20 show is at 7:30 tonight, and the Top 10 show is at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the auditorium. The audience can vote by text at the end of each show. Admission is $8 per night, $12 for both nights.

Kittrell/Riffkind Art Glass Studio hosts an opening reception for its Ornament Extravaganza 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday with cookies and eggnog. The exhibit features holiday designs and runs through Dec. 31.

Sigel’s in Addison is throwing a chocolate, cheese and wine party 1-3 p.m. Saturday, featuring Katherine Clapner of Dude, Sweet Chocolate and the Brazos Valley Cheese Company. There will be four Italian wines to taste, too. RSVP here.

Cake Carousel hosts an open house beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday with baking and decorating demos for cake balls, pumpkin pretzels and more. Admission is $10, and you should register early. Call 972.690.4628.

Study for "All Things Work Together For the Good" by Sedrick Huckaby.

Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden presents a new exhibit by Sedrick Huckaby, “When Old People Talk to Young People”. It opens with a reception 6-9 p.m. Saturday. From the gallery: “Sedrick Huckaby’s focus on the quilt as metaphor for his faith, his family, and his heritage comes to life in his third exhibition at Valley House. In paintings, wood collages, and drawings, Huckaby sees the infinite potential of the quilt to communicate themes such as love and reconciliation to the graffiti generation; a dialogue to bridge the gap between old people and young people.” His artist talk is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 14.

The Richardson Community Band performs “Happy Birthday Mr. Sousa” at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Eisemann Center. The show honors American composer John Philip Sousa. The RCB has a tradition of ending each performance with one of Sousa’s marches.

The Craft Guild of Dallas presents its grand opening and fall sale now through Sunday at its new location in the Addison Visitors Center at Belt Line and Montfort. Fall classes and workshops begin Nov. 7.

J’s Art Studio hosts a Halloween craft night where you can decorate pumpkins, gourds, trick-or-treat bags and other fun stuff. It’s 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, and the cost is $10 per person. Reserve a spot by calling 972.931.1933. Space is limited.

The Valley View neighborhood hosts its first-ever Halloween Pet Parade 1-3 p.m. Sunday at Spring Valley Elementary. Stop by and check out the adorable display of well-dressed pooches.

Want to skip the Halloween festivities this weekend? Go on the Vitruvian Park Art & Wine Stroll 7-11 p.m. Friday in Addison. The event celebrates thegrand opening of Vitruvian Park. Get all the information here, and buy tickets.

"The 39 Steps" suspense thriller opens at Repertory Company Theatre this Friday. (Courtesy photo)

Repertory Company Theatre opens “The 39 Steps” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Promenade Theatre. The Hitchcock classic runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 30. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $12 for youth.

The JJ Pearce Theater department hosts the Phantom Fun Run 5k and 1-mile walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the school parking lot. Registration is $20 for students, $30 for adults and $75 for a family of four and includes t-shirts. Proceeds benefit the Theater Booster Club. Packet pick-up 4:15-5:30 p.m. Friday outside the gym. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. Costumes are encouraged.

Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Center hosts an artist talk by Jim Woodson at 11 a.m. Saturday. His exhibition “Conflated Intuitive Transitions (High Desert Paintings)” is now on display. Admission is free.

Addison’s World Fest is noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Addison Circle Park. The event celebrates cultures from around the world with food, performances and activities. Admission is free.

Richardson High School’s Homecoming festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday morning with a pep rally in the gym. The theme this year is “Oscar goes to the Movies”. As most neighbors know, RHS’s extravagantly choreographed pep rallies attract people from all over the community – not just the school. You can bet on seeing some impressive routines from all the major spirit groups.

Next, the parade starts at 4 p.m. and goes from Heights Elementary back to RHS. Several campuses from the RHS feeder pattern will show off their floats and costumes.

There’s a tailgate party at 5:30 p.m. before the big game against Berkner at 7 p.m. at Eagle Mustang Stadium.

On Friday, Northwood Hills Elementary held its annual fall carnival, featuring games, haunted houses, a hay ride and plenty of adorably costumed kids. Look for these photos in the November issue of the Far North Dallas Advocate.

The Artists’ Showplace Gallery at Coit and Arapaho present a show featuring work by consignment artists, jewelers and gallery associates with a free reception 6-9 p.m. Friday. The exhibit runs through Oct. 28.

More than 100 vendors will be at the Wellness Expo 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Addison Conference Centre, featuring health products and services, including Reiki, reflexology and other alternative techniques. Admission is $7 and free for children under 12.

The Four Seasons Market hosts another farmers’ market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at II Creeks Plaza in Richardson, offering local produce, handmade jewelry, fresh flowers, local honey, jam and salsa and other products.