When I was a kid, my parents took my siblings and I to see a Harlem Globetrotters game — and it remains one of my best sporting event memories.
If you would like to take your own family to a game, there are still tickets available to the 2:30 p.m. game this Saturday (Jan. 3, 2009) at Olivet’s McHie Arena. (The 7 p.m. game is sold out.) Tickets can be purchased on the Ticketmaster Web site.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) is your last chance to catch some of this year’s Kankakee Holiday Tournament. The annual basketball tournament is now in its 59th year.
The event has even been dubbed the unofficial “goof-off destination” by Kankakee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bill Yohnka. In making the announcement this morning via email, Yohnka wrote:
I do not generally advocate “goofing-off” but this morning it is my honor to announce the Kankakee Holiday Tournament as the official Kankakee Chamber of Commerce Goof-off Location for 2008. For 59 years now the tournament has been an un-official goof-off destination for those in the Kankakee area business community but for the first time this year it has official status as such (Keep in mind, this is a completely arbitrary designation/honor that I made up this morning.)
The first game today is at 9 a.m this morning at Kankakee High School and continue all day today and tomorrow. Goofing-off aside the tournament, is a result of a lot of local hard-work and a great tradition and showcase for the school and our area.
A schedule for tomorrow’s games, plus results from Monday and today, can be found at www.khtbb.com.
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UPDATE:
Here’s the schedule of games for today (Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008)
Game #17
9:00 am
Peotone vs Morgan Park
Game #18
10:30 am
Bradley-Bourbonnais vs Andrew
Game #19
12:00 pm
CICS Longwood vs Deer Creek
Game #20
1:30 pm
Carver vs Illiana Christian
Game #21
3:30 pm
Momence vs Herscher
Game #22
5:00 pm
Peoria Woodruff vs Kankakee
Game #23
6:30 pm
Watseka vs St. Anne
Game #24
8:00 pm
Champaign Centennial vs Chicago Hope
Have you ever seen a holiday light display choreographed to music? I haven’t — but I plan to soon, since there’s one right here in town.
A Kankakee resident named Chris contacted me today to let me know about the light display he has at his home, at 1460 S. Sixth Ave.
The computer-controlled light show is set to music, and visitors tune their car radio to 107.3 FM to listen. The light display begins at 6 p.m. daily, and runs until 9 p.m. on weeknights and 10 p.m. on weekends.
If you would like more information, check out the Web site at www.lightsonsixth.com. The site includes a map to the home, plus a list of the songs you’ll hear.
Here’s more from Chris, including a note about a suggested donation to Salvation Army:
“As far as I know, it is the only computer controlled Christmas Display in Kankakee County. To my knowledge, there are only about 30 in the entire state. The display is more of a show. I have 14 songs choreographed to the lights. You tune your car radio to 107.3FM and watch the lights dance to the music. This is our second year doing this. One new feature this year is we are using the display as a collection point for food for the Salvation Army. That is something I’d like people to know before they come see the show.”
Need a last-minute Christmas gift? Several community organizations will be selling Kankakee-themed items on Saturday at the Kankakee Public Library. Here’s more from the Kankakee Chamber of Commerce:
What: Kankakee Holiday Mart @ the Library
Where: Kankakee Public Library, 201 E. Merchant St. in Kankakee
When: Saturday, December 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Shop for unique Kankakee-themed last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers! Dozens of vendors and community organizations from Kankakee will be at the Library with items for sale, including …
Acorn Design Studio in Kankakee held an open house and Business After Hours yesterday in celebration of their one-year anniversary. (I wrote about it on this blog earlier this week.)
I took several photos and uploaded them to the Your Pix section of this site. I’ve also uploaded two here. One is a photo of the beautiful jewelry they have for sale; the other is a photo of the building’s exterior.
Acorn Design Studio in Kankakee
Acorn Design Studio in Kankakee
On Saturday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m., the Kankakee Valley Performance Choir will present WISH at the Lincoln Cultural Center in Kankakee. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students.
Here’s more from Robin Seaton, who sent me the information:
I invite anyone interested in attending either show to call me at (815) 298-0823 or email robin.seaton@olivet.edu. … If you’re not in the Christmas spirit yet, you will be after watching this AMAZING musical performance!!! … It’s through the support of community members like you that make this extraordinary event possible. By purchasing tickets, your demonstrating your commitment to the arts in our community, and this is YOUR INVITATION to join us! Thank you in advance for your support and we hope you and your extended family will be able to join us for the wonderful Christmas Extravaganza “WISH”.
The Christian Church of Manteno will be holding their annual Bethlehem Walk this weekend. Hours are:
Here’s more from their Web site:
Visit the ancient city of Bethlehem and take a walk through her streets. Word is that the Messiah has been born here. Be a shopper in the old world marketplace. Join the vendors and tradesmen. Come at our expense. Sample the cuisine. See a living nativity with real animals! Please be our guests for a BETHLEHEM WALK. …
Bethlehem Walk has . . . an interpreter for the deaf, available upon request; food “for sale” in the marketplace; live animals; handicrafts “for sale” in the marketplace; a real baby “Jesus.”
The event is free and handicapped-accessible. The church is at 401 E. Third St.
Acorn Design Studio is hosting an open house and Business After Hours on Thursday in celebration of their first-year anniversary.
Acorn’s home is a restored building at 815 S. McMullen Dr. in Kankakee. (Longtime area residents may remember it as the old South Side Pharmacy.) They specialize in unique and whimsical holiday decor, much of which is made in American and some of which is made locally.
The open house begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. According to a flyer for the event (click here to see the pdf), they “will be serving treats all day and beginning at 5 p.m. will host a wine and cheese reception until 7 p.m.” The Kankakee Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the Business After Hours reception, but non-Chamber members are welcome to attend.
Also, there’s no need to wait for the open house. Stop in and do some Christmas shopping during their special holiday hours, which are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. They’re open late on Thursdays, when they don’t close until 7 p.m. The holiday hours are good through Dec. 28.
Santa made an appearance at the Depot in downtown Kankakee tonight. His sleigh must have been in the shop, because he hitched a ride on a Kankakee fire truck instead. Click here to watch video of Santa arriving and helping light the city Christmas tree.
The Paramount Theatre in Kankakee will be presenting a free showing of the film “Ice Age 2: The Meltdown” next Saturday (Dec. 13) at 10 a.m. Here’s more from The Paramount:
The free holiday event is co-sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events and Classic Cinemas, an independent chain on movie theatres located throughout Northern Illinois and suburban Chicago.
In addition to the free movie, Santa will make a special appearance! Families are encouraged to bring their cameras and wish lists when visiting Santa to enjoy the full Classic Cinemas holiday experience.
