Brooks Woman’s Club will host the fourth annual Brooks Christmas Tour of Homes on Sunday, Dec.

Winner of the Fox 5’s Best Theatre 2007, The Twilight Theatre will help audiences gear up for the holidays when they debut their holiday production of “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate’s Townswomens Guild’s Dramatic Society’s Production of a Christmas Carol.”

With the slew of summer blockbusters now behind us and the unfolding list of “For your consideration” movies getting longer by the weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a film that is neither overly hyped (think “Bee Movie”) or a specific attempt at garnering awards (“Rendition” anyone?).

The story of “Beowulf” is over a thousand years old but writers Roger Avary and Neil Gaiman, director Robert Zemeckis and a host of computer animators blow the dust off the tale and focus on blowing viewers minds with some incredible animation, especially for those who, like me, choose to see the film in 3-D.

Christmas coffee house returns this weekend

Stars on the Southern Crescent coffee house, which has been entertaining audiences since 1993, will kick off the holiday season this weekend with their Celtic Christmas Festival. Hosted by Offshoot Productions Nov. 16-18, this year’s Christmas coffee house will, for the first time, be held at the Tyrone Depot, 847 Senoia Road, in Tyrone.

Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe star in this film, so that should tell you right away that this is going to be a great movie, despite the fact that the last time the two teamed up together the result was the mediocre “Virtuosity.” Both Washington and Crowe are arguably the best actors working today and both shine in this film.

When his brother was born, Fred Claus promised him he would be the best big brother ever. Unfortunately, making a promise is easier than keeping one.

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and with it comes the Southern Crescent Chorale’s production of the tuneful and charming Christmas classic, “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” This weekend audiences will marvel at the local talent comprising the chorale and their presentation.

The Fayette County High School Select Chorus will host a fund raiser at the Fayetteville Barnes & Noble, 1415 Ga. Highway 85 N, on Monday, Nov. 19 from 6-8 p.m. The Select Chorus will be offering a special performance from 6-7 p.m. Barnes & Noble will donate a percentage of every sale made with a special Bookfair voucher to FCHS Select Chorus. Vouchers will be available in the FCHS main office as well as in the store the week of Nov. 19-25.

Peachtree City will ring in the holiday with the annual Hometown Holiday event on Saturday, Dec. 1 with activities at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater and at City Hall Plaza. This event is sponsored by Dogwood Church and Peachtree City.

The New Neighbors League Club of Peachtree City will be hosting a tour of homes decorated for the holiday season. For only $10, attendees are invited to visit six homes in Planterra Ridge, Kedron Hills, Smokerise, Wilshire Estates and Highgrove subdivisions. Tickets include a chance to win fresh Christmas greenery. Also stop for a little shopping at the “Craft Store.” Tour dates are Friday, Nov. 30 from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 1 from 4-7 p.m. You may go to all of the homes on one date or enjoy homes on either date. Call Gail Williams at 678-817-0693 for information about where to purchase tickets. New Neighbors League Club president Beth Tatum will act as a hostess for the Tinsel Trail. Photo/Special.

The Fayette Alliance Coordinating Teamwork Outreach and Resources (FACTOR) is a public/private partnership of service providers, nonprofit and faith based organizations, businesses and individual citizens. The organization’s mission is to help improve communications and coordination among and between these groups to build a safer, healthier, more effective environment for all our citizens.

Classic Irvin Berlin show at the Fox

Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars is bringing a classic holiday production to life this weekend at the Fox Theatre. This brand new production of “White Christmas” is sure to put you in the holiday spirit.

NASCAR legend Rex White and author Anne Jones will present a program and sign books at the Fayette County Public Library on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m.

At eight years old, working on his parents’ Model T, Rex White had no idea the skills he was learning would change his life. He saw automobiles as transportation, not the symbol of an upcoming billion-dollar sport. At that time, he didn’t know how to tear down fences to reveal new worlds, or how to use simple life principles to propel himself down the fast track to winning. Years passed before he found himself on a racetrack, but not many more passed before he became a champion.

Jon Krakauer wrote a non-fiction account of Christopher McCandless’s dropout from society and adventures in the wild of America and Sean Penn masterfully adapted the book into a screenplay and directed this near-perfect film.

Barry Barrington (voiced by Jerry Seinfeld) is a bee who is graduating from Bee College. At first, Barry is overjoyed to graduate, until he learns the first job you pick is your job till you die. His friend Adam (Matthew Broderick) is excited to get a job. Barry just wants to get away from the hive. He decides to sneak out with the pollen jocks, strong stingers who fly out every day to pollinate flowers in New Hive City.

This weekend, Central Park at the Avenue in Peachtree City will be transformed into a spectacular floating exhibition. Cousins Properties, Chelsie Comprosky and Robert Dyer Mwangi have organized an outdoor art exhibition to support local artists within the region. The artists have brought together a fabulous collection of art in various forms and media. The event will start today and run through Nov. 11 from 12-6 p.m. each day.

The venerable art of stage improvisation has had many incarnations, from the commedia dell'arte of the Renaissance to "Whose Line is It Anyway" on television. The latest approach involves audience input as actors re-create famous fairy tales in an adult-focused presentation, appropriately entitled “Fairy Tales for Grownups.” Developed by Offshoot Productions, the show plays for one night only, Saturday, Nov. 10, as a dinner theatre at Tyrone’s Boxcar Café, 865 Senoia Road.

It’s time again for the annual Miss Northgate Pageant. The pageant, now in its tenth year, takes place Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Centre for Performing Arts in Newnan at 7 p.m.

Candler Field Museum and Peach State Aerodrome will honor all veterans with a Veterans Day Celebration and Fly-In on Saturday, Nov. 10.

The Fayette County Youth Council will be holding a concert with Between the Trees at the Villages Amphitheater on Saturday, Nov. 10.

Tasty treats at annual fund raiser

This weekend self-proclaimed chili connoisseurs will be out in droves to participate in the Great Chili Challenge. Whether vying for the title of Best Chili in Fayette County or judging who you think has the best recipe, it’s a chili-lover’s dream.

Author Jana G. Oliver will speak and sign copies of her “Time Rovers” novels at the Fayette County Public Library in downtown Fayetteville tomorrow at 1 p.m. An expert on Jack the Ripper and his various literary incarnation, Oliver will deliver a talk titled “Once Upon a Dark Alley: A Tale of Ripper Fiction,” as the concluding segment of the library’s “A Chill in the Air” event series.

Writer-director Wes Anderson has his own unique style of both storytelling and filmmaking. Similar to Woody Allen or a Martin Scorcese, all of Anderson’s films tend to have similar looks, feels and sounds. To some, like me, this is a very good thing. I have enjoyed all of Anderson’s films (although “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” was my least favorite) and feel that he is back at the top of his game with his latest film. “The Darjeeling Limited” combines all of his familiar elements into a nearly perfect blend of comedy and drama.

The Fayette Alliance Coordinating Teamwork Outreach and Resources (FACTOR) has announced plans to provide Christmas for Fayette citizens in need and the project coordination is now underway. This year, local churches networking with FACTOR will be the administrators of Community Partners Christmas Program, a community-wide Christmas event.

The Fayette County High School drama department will present Sandi Wilson’s musical “The Boyfriend”this weekend at F.A. Sam’s Auditorium in Fayetteville.

Newnan Theatre Company’s final offering in the Popcorn Theatre Series for Children will be “The Reluctant Dragon,” adapted from the classic tale by Kenneth Grahame by Mary Hall Surface.

The Metro Fayette Kiwanis Club will host its annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday Nov. 10 from 7 a.m. to noon at Whitewater High School,100 Wildcat Way, in Fayetteville.

Fall fests & spooky events offer something for all

The weather has turned chilly, and the beginning of the holiday season is upon us. Halloween marks the first of the four big fall and winter celebrations, and this year it’s coming a little early for some. Because Halloween falls on a Wednesday, many events are planned for this weekend. Whether you choose to celebrate the spookiest of holidays, or decide instead to attend one of the many fall festivals, there is an event out there for everyone.