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almanac

ROSS’S ALMANAC

Compiled by Kirk Ross

The wintry west extends his blast / And hail and rain does blaw
— Robert Burns, Winter: A Dirge

The Winter Solstice slips in Dec. 22 this year at 30 minutes past midnight. The best thing you can say about the onset of winter is that the steady loss of daylight comes to an end. The first day of winter, you see, is a happy moment — for the days grow longer from then on. Unfortunately, that means a long journey into night through the better part of December. So take your Vitamin D and run outside in midday as often as possible. Sunlight is precious. Savor it. Oh, and bundle up.

Dec. 1 – Sunrise: 7:07 a.m.; Sunset: 5:02 p.m.
Dec. 30 – Sunset: 7:26 a.m.; Sunset: 5:12 p.m.

Moon Phases
First Quarter – Dec. 2 Full Moon – Dec. 10
Last Quarter – Dec. 17 New Moon — Dec. 24

The Full Moon in December is the Cold Moon, Oak Moon, Frost Moon, Winter Moon and Long Night’s Moon (you catching the theme here?).

Planets & Stars: Venus rules the morning sky while Jupiter rules the night. The month is also another big one for meteor showers. The Geminids burst out of Gemini around the 14th and the Ursids can be found near the Little Dipper around Dec. 22. And since it will be winter, check out the Winter Triangle — Betelgeuse, Procyon and Sirius — near Orion.

December is Bingo Month, Universal Human Rights Month and, according to The Onion, National Awareness Month.

Significant Dates
• Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day and Rosa Parks Day
• Dec. 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities
• National Cookie Day is Dec. 4
• Bill of Rights Day is Dec. 15
• National Maple Syrup Day is Dec. 17
• Chanukah begins on Dec. 21
• National Egg Nog Day is Dec. 24
• Christmas Day is Dec. 25
• Dec. 26 is Boxing Day and the start of Kwanzaa

For more of Ross’s Almanac, please visit rossalmanac.com/journal

Categories
Featured

Holiday spirit

Maybe you’re not the first one to start caroling, or maybe you just hate eggnog. Perhaps it’s the commercialism of it all that brings you down, or maybe you’re so over the tacky Christmas sweater parties.

Categories
Featured

FAUNA: The uninvited guest

by Mary Parker Sonis

You don’t have to travel to Madagascar to find one of nature’s most unusual mammals. In fact, this bizarre creature can be found rummaging through your trashcan, taking up residence in your garage or boldly walking into your kitchen to cadge a treat from the cat food bowl.

Categories
Featured

A mutually rewarding publishing experience

by Vicky Dickson

In 2007, Elizabeth Woodman was looking into starting a publishing company.

Categories
Featured The Eater

THE EATER: Food of the Year

by Kirk Ross

It’s midway through feasting season and you’re thumbing through the end-of-the-year edition of MILL. That means it’s time for The Eater’s annual Food of the Year Award.

Categories
Featured Food

TASTE OF THE TOWN

Provence

Born and raised in the Provence region of southeastern France, Felix Roux has been developing his culinary art since the age of 16, when he began his apprenticeship with his father at the Jane Madeleine Restaurant.

Categories
Featured Food

HOP LINE: Winter Beers

By Evan Crouch

An Expression of Holiday Cheer
The holidays are upon us once again. For many, this time of year brings back fond memories of time spent with loved ones, family traditions and good food, drink and cheer.

Categories
Arts & Music

SPOTLIGHT: The Kingsbury Manx

The Kingsbury Manx. Photo by Ross Grady
Instead of waiting around for the sixth Kingsbury Manx album, due out early next year, get out of the house and get your fix at their Saturday, Nov. 19 show at Local 506.

Categories
Arts & Music

SPOTLIGHT: The Murphey School Radio Show


Advertised as a mash-up of Saturday Night Live, A Prairie Home Companion and the Grand Ole Opry, The Murphey School Radio Show should appeal to an audience with a taste for variety.

Georgann Eubanks will serve as the ringmaster for the night’s entertainment, which will include novelist Lee Smith, musical group Gigi Dover and The Big Love and public radio icon Frank Stasio.

Categories
Arts & Music

ART NOTES: In the Galleries

Steven Silverleaf’s “Navel”
Fans of Michael Brown’s murals throughout downtown Chapel Hill and the Triangle have another opportunity to view his work at Hillsborough’s Eno Gallery this month. His new work successfully expresses his perceptions of nature, rather than creating exacting representations.

At The ArtsCenter this month, Steven Silverleaf’s “Quartet,” an exhibit of his collages, is on display in the Center Gallery, while the East End Gallery is host to “Our Daily Walls,” paintings by Julia Clift. Receptions will be held during the 2ndFriday Artwalk on Nov. 11.

Categories
Miscellany

“Autumn Sycamores” by Michael Brown

This month’s cover art is Michael Brown’s Autumn Sycamores. Brown’s art is on display at Hillsborough’s Eno Gallery through Nov. 22. Brown is known for his colorful murals throughout downtown Chapel Hill and beyond.

"Autumn Sycamores"