Greetings {name},

as evening lights begin to illuminate after sunset, the sky is alight with rich color

Friday, December 15 is Bill Of Rights Day. According to the National Archives, “The Constitution might never have been ratified if the framers had not promised to add a Bill of Rights. The first ten amendments to the Constitution gave citizens more confidence in the new government and contain many of American's most valued freedoms.”

Thursday, December 21 is the Winter Solstice, marking the shortest day north of the equator and the longest day in the south, as the sun reaches the southernmost latitude all year.

Monday, December 25 is Christmas Day, the pinnacle of the holiday season for many Americans and a traditional time for festive gatherings and the exchange of gifts within families.

Monday, December 31 is New Year's Eve, a popular occasion for celebrations marking the end of the year, with elaborate gatherings, festivities and fireworks.

Get advice before you buy that new computer!
Two Computer Guys
Since 1998, the team at Two Computer Guys has been available for safe, reliable, efficient and friendly service -- for small businesses, families, students, seniors and anyone who needs a little help with their computer. TCG solves problems to get computers up and running at top speed quickly. Serving more than a thousand clients in South Florida over the past three decades. Call 305-444-1984 when you need a little help. Get details and schedule an appointment online.

Now through December 30
Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami will open at night for a special holiday event with one million bright, animal shaped and dazzling tree lights. Bring the family to experience Zoo Miami like never before. Get details and purchase tickets online.

During The Month Of December
Holiday Shopping in Downtown Homestead
Shop four distinctly delightful establishments within walking distance.

Etc, located at 257 North Krome Avenue is open Tuesday-Saturday 11am to 5pm with antiques and vintage furniture, china, crystal and collectibles, used book exchange, with coffee and tea service. Call 305-283-2437.

Renaissance Antiques is at 61 NW 4th Street, open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11am to 5pm with Furniture, art, rugs, jewelry and more. Call 305-244-5807.

Jacobsen's Antique Mall at 144 N. Krome Avenue is open Wednesday thru Saturday from 10am to 5pm with art, antiques, collectibles, furniture and accessories. Call 305-247-4745.

Skin Candy at 118 N. Krome Ave with natural soaps, body butters, bath bombs, sugar scrubs, natural deodorants, body oils and more. Call 470-920-5007.

Thursday, December 14 at 4pm
Discover Virtual Reality
Get hands-on in this immersive experience with virtual reality headsets, exploring captivating digital landscapes, thrilling adventures and interactive simulations at the Naranja Library. Learn, play and discover in a whole new dimension. Presented by the South Dade Senior High School VR/Gaming Academy. Call 305-242-2290 or email: gonzalezmi@mdpls.org. Ages 8 years and older. Get details online.

Thursday, December 14 at 8:30pm
Wonka at ShowBiz Cinemas
An origin story that explores the vivid, mythical beginnings of the imaginative young inventor before he becomes the renowned scrumdiddlyumptious Mozart of chocolate. Starring Mathew Baynton, Timothée Chalamet, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter. Get details online.

Friday, December 15 at 11am
True Crime Book Club
The club is reading All-American Murder: The Rise and Fall of Aaron Hernandez by James Patterson. Visit Naranja Library for a lively, engaging, and lighthearted discussion of this fascinating yet disturbing genre. Limited copies of the book will be available for checkout at the library. Call 305-242-2290 or email: gonzalezmi@mdpls.org. Ages 19 years and older. Get details online.

Friday, December 15 from 4 to 5pm
Kids Fun Fit Camp every third Friday of the month
South Dade Park - Meet Me at the Park is an opportunity for kids to experience Kids Fun Fit Camp every third Friday of the month at South Dade Park, 28151 SW 164th Ave. Get details online.

Saturday, December 16 from 9am to noon
December Community Action Day at UF/IFAS Extension
Get your volunteer hours while working alongside Urban Horticulture Program staff and Master Gardener Volunteers. Help protect and restore the learning environment at the UF/IFAS Extension Office at 18710 SW 288 Street. Learn about the principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping, and how to apply them to your own landscape to decrease your footprint on our South Florida environment. Get details online.

Saturday, December 16 at 10am
Tropical Winter Adventure Day at The Park
Celebrate winter in the Fruit and Spice Park garden with fall photo backdrops, scavenger hunts, seasonal fruits to sample, tram tours and partners engaging in fun STEM activities for kids, plus delicious food truck offerings. Get details online.

Saturday, December 16 at 10am
Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program: Preserving Your Holiday Plants
Why throw away your holiday plants when you can repot them or plant them in your landscape to enjoy year-round? Learn how to replant and re-purpose those plants at the Cybrarium. Get details online.

Saturday, December 16 from 10am to 1pm
Story-Time & Photos with Santa
Santa Claus is coming to town at the Deering Estate, along with story-time with Santa’s elves and photos with Santa inside the Great Hall with holiday arts and crafts activities. Get details now.

Saturday, December 16 from 11am to 4pm
Botanical Distillery - Shop Farm-To-Skin Products
Explore the Fowey Rocks botanical distillery and shop unique farm-to-skin products. Discover a world of natural skincare and the power of botanical ingredients at 22585 SW 187th Avenue. Call 786-348-6026. Get details online.

Saturday, December 16 at 1pm
Art Workshops at the Library
Get creative and have fun. Visit Naranja Library for fun art workshops open to all ages and abilities taught by local artists. Call 305-242-2290 or email: gonzalezmi@mdpls.org. All ages are welcome. Get details online.

Sunday, December 17 all day
Audubon Homestead Christmas Bird Count
Join fellow birding enthusiasts to help the Tropical Audubon Society with the annual Christmas Bird Count in Homestead, coordinated by Carlos Sanchez. Email Carlos for details at: csanchez1230@gmail.com or visit the web site for more details.

Sunday, December 17 at 9am
Volunteer Eco Action Day - Castellow Hammock
Miami EcoAdventures invites you to participate in an environmental improvement program at Castellow Hammock, working together with naturalists to help protect and restore natural areas at this vibrant nature center. Get details online.

Sunday, December 17 at 10am
Paradise Farms Tour
Enjoy an opportunity to see firsthand the result of Paradise Farms' regenerative practices implemented since 1999. First under the direction of founder Gabriele Marewski, and later by the direction of Karla Dascal, the farm has achieved Organic Regenerative certification. Get details online.

Sunday, December 17 at 2pm
Birds in Your Backyard: Winter Migrators
Do you have an interest in finding and identifying birds in South Florida? Birds in your Backyard introduces attendees to the migratory species they are likely to see in their landscape. Learn how to discern similar species from one another, and the native plants one could plant to attract them to their home landscape. The exhibit will feature native berries, bird feeders, and a selection of native plants for sale. A guided walking tour of the Fruit and Spice park will follow the presentation. $5 admission fee for members, $25 for non-members with admission to the park included. Contact Barbara McAdam at email: bmcadam@ufl.edu or call 305-679-0245. Get details online.

Sunday, December 17 at 3pm
The Polar Express Experience at Seminole Theatre
All aboard the Polar Express at Seminole Theatre. Prepare for a one-of-a-kind immersive holiday experience -- grab your golden ticket and your interactive movie kit to enter a winter wonderland of holiday cheer. Before the show, grab a warm cup at the cocoa bar, enjoy Chris Cringle’s craft corner, and Storytime with Saint Nick himself. Come in your ugly sweater, or enter the pajama contest for fun prizes for the whole family. Admission comes with an interactive kit that allows you to follow along with the Polar Express on the journey to the north pole, celebrating the most wonderful time of the year. Get details online.

Sunday, December 17 at 4pm
A Seraphic Fire Christmas
Within a serene candle-lit setting, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season will quiet and the a cappella voices of the Seraphic Fire award-winning choral ensemble will fill the room with musical peace and joy. Get details and purchase tickets online.

Tuesday, December 19 at 5pm
All Families Fun Night
Attend a festive evening full of holiday cheer at the Cybrarium. Get crafty and decorate your own wooden ornament while enjoying holiday tunes and Christmas cookies. Then experience Fantasy Theatre Factory's performance of Scrooge: A Fractured Fairy Tale, a new take on a classic story that transports the audience and Ebenezer Scrooge from 1840's London to present day. Get details online.

Wednesday, December 20 at 5pm
Financial Literacy - Credit Building & Repairing
Gain a better understanding of building and repairing credit. This program is the sixth in a six-week financial literacy program presented in collaboration with Miami-Dade County's Community Action and Human Services Department, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Catalyst Miami. Registration required. Call 305-233-8140 or email: crespim@mdpls.org. Ages 19 years and older. Get details online.

Saturday, December 30 at 5:30pm
End of the Year Fire Ceremony
Just Burn It -- a powerful and transformative fire ceremony designed to ignite the flames of change. This profound element of Nature helps clear, cleanse and make space for new growth. We gather around the sacred flames to embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. Get details online.

A Unique Countryside Dining Experience
Royd’s on Krome Avenue
Bring the family to Royd's on Krome to enjoy the delightful ambience of Miami's countryside, featuring a mix of Latin and Southern comfort food, with fresh fruit milkshakes and home-made desserts. On the weekends, enjoy the farm animal exhibit for the kids and live music with a festive atmosphere. From the architecture to the agriculture, it's a beautiful family-friendly place -- a charming reflection of the Redland Region -- where you'll want to return again and again. Royd's is located at 20800 SW 177 Avenue. Call 305-799-8996. Get details online.

Nancy O'Brien - Florida's Number One Realtor
Living The Good Life in the Countryside
Are you ready to enjoy the serenity of living in the countryside? Discover a wonderland of delightful country estates and magnificent homes in the Redland region -- only minutes away from the city, but a world away from the crowds. Nobody knows the Redland region better than Florida's number one realtor: Nancy O'Brien of The Keyes Company. Call 305-632-2355. Get details online.