My Ponsonby Christmas. Yes it is that time of year again, advent calendars on the fridge, Christmas carols ringing out, and endless festive decorations in store windows.
There are so many things in Ponsonby which make Christmas, well... Christmas. Here is what makes the festive season joyous to me.
1. Cara’s Christmas trees (19 Clifton Road, Herne Bay)
Every year at the beginning of December, our family walks up the street to our VERY local Clifton Road Christmas tree shop and Cara’s Christmas Trees is definitely the place to go. You can count on friendly service, a wide selection of shapes and sizes, fresh trees, regular top-ups of stock and eftpos! We are very lucky to have beautiful trees just metres from our house. Once we have considered all the options, we lug the tree home and spend the day decorating it, while singing along to our festive playlist. Nothing compares to the smell of fresh pine needles to get you in a celebratory mood. Christmas doesn’t really feel the same without the aroma of a real tree, so why not support our locals and go buy one?!
2. Farro’s gift baskets (34 Westmoreland Street)
Around the season of giving it can be hard to find that special something for people who have everything; in my case, grandparents. Farro’s gift baskets are the perfect answer. Who doesn’t love wandering the aisles looking at all the delicious delights on offer? If you have the time, you can custom-make your own box of delicacies. Creating Farro’s hampers for our rather hard-to-buy for rellies has become part of our Christmas tradition and we’ll be purchasing quite a few this year. Alternatively, if you’re on the run and desperate to ‘grab and go’, there are plenty of different sized pre-made hamper options that contain all of the necessary Christmas goodies or a selection of tasty treats! You can rely on them looking gift-worthy as well, with elegant boxes and pretty red ribbon.
3. Ponsonby School of Dance Showcase
If you’ve grown up in Ponsonby in recent years it is likely you will have either been a student at the Ponsonby School of Dance (PSOD), or know some who has danced there. Once all of our nerve racking exams are completed, we finish the year on a high with the annual PSOD Showcase (aka the Xmas concert). After weeks of preparation and countless rehearsals we’re all ready to shine for the big day on Saturday, 5 December when we perform morning and evening concerts at the Dorothy Winston Theatre at AGG. A huge thanks to Tracey Wright, who manages to pull off this spectacular show every year. We, as her students, plus our family, friends and any local dance enthusiasts, will understand just how special a performance of this magnitude is, and as the curtains fall, I know that Christmas is just around the corner!
4. Franklin Road Lights
Oh how we love to drive down Franklin Road in the weeks leading up to Christmas, admiring the houses as they glisten in sparkly lights. The Franklin Road light’s extravaganza is such a fun activity to do with your friends, looking at the cool and sometimes crazy decorations on houses. The really SAD news is this beloved event is not happening this year due to COVID-19. What a shame, since it’s such a big part of the traditional Ponsonby Christmas. I know that many people will be upset and while it sure is a bummer, better to be safe than sorry! A big shout out to all the residents who turn on such a magnificent display, year after year. We hope to see your houses decked-out in lights again in 2021.
5. Presents!
You didn’t think I was going to finish a Christmas article without the mention of presents, did you?
From what I have been told, buying for teenagers is one of the hardest tasks on the planet. Gifts normally end up as cash, which, hey, I am fine with, but if you are looking for a stocking stuffer, a Secret Santa offering, or perhaps something more substantial, I have a few ideas. (Sorry guys, these gifts are more aimed at girl teens!)
Mecca (128 Ponsonby Road) has a great range of ‘little’ prezzies to choose from, such as small-sized skin cream, face masks, body butters plus many more treats. I particularly like the Frank Body ‘Anti-Drama Face Mask’. Also, why not try Lululemon (239 Ponsonby Road) for a cute scrunchie? For a larger present perhaps, the new limited release lilac Birkenstocks could be an option. These slides can be found at Superette (282 Ponsonby Road) and Karen Walker (128A Ponsonby Road)! Ahem, I know I want a pair! (Honour Mitchell)