In its biggest event of the year, Desert Vista High School’s orchestra will be accompanied by the symphonic band, guitar classes, and the Pointe Club for the annual holiday concert next week.

Let your light shine.

These are a few of Chicky Winkleman’s favorite Hanukkah things: ironic, ugly sweaters adorned with Stars of David, his roommate’s Christmas tree and making latkes, alone in the afternoon.

Few foods are as satisfying as a golden potato pancake that is soft and tender inside, but crispy outside. But this simple dish so often is bungled. It can be undercooked, overcooked and/or soaked in grease.

Few foods are as satisfying as a golden potato pancake that is soft and tender inside, but crispy outside. But this simple dish so often is bungled. It can be undercooked, overcooked and/or soaked in grease.

Tis the season in which family problems become magnified. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, thank your lucky heritage. Mixed up in our holiday cheer is nearly always increased strain in relationships. It’s eerie. It begins to build soon after Halloween, kind of like a dust devil that stirs up emotional junk.

Everyone knows - or at least every Jew knows - the story of Hanukkah's origins, the story of how just a tiny amount of oil miraculously burned for eight days. And they know that, in the spirit of that story, Hanukkah is celebrated in part by eating foods fried in oil, such as latkes and doughnuts.

The nice thing about cooking a monster brisket for Hanukkah - aside, of course, from the fact that the meat can be mouth meltingly delicious - is that it is a dish you can mostly ignore as it cooks.

To celebrate Hanukkah, the Chabad Jewish Center of Gilbert is lighting the town’s first giant menorah 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at the SanTan Village mall.

With Hanukkah stretching over eight nights, there's plenty to celebrate. And often plenty of leftovers.

‘Tis the season in which family problems become magnified. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, thank your lucky heritage. Mixed up in our holiday cheer is nearly always increased strain in relationships. It’s eerie. It begins to build soon after Halloween, kind of like a dust devil that stirs up emotional junk.

For probably no reason beyond proximity on the calendar, Hanukkah and Christmas tend to get lumped together. Traditionally, the holidays actually have little in common.

My sister, Mary Pat, is the born baker in the family. She has a sweet tooth that she has polished into a fine baking skill. Everything she makes is delicious, but she is famous for her rugelach.

For probably no reason beyond proximity on the calendar, Hanukkah and Christmas tend to get lumped together. Traditionally, the holidays actually have little in common.

Justin Bieber’s days are numbered — at least, at National Comedy Theatre.

Come participate in the unveiling and lighting of one of the tallest menorahs and celebrate Hanukkah at Arizona Mills mall on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

For most of us, exposure to figure skaters is limited to watching them spin, jump and flip in a dazzling whirl of sequins on televised specials or the Winter Olympics.

Pet owners have many options when they set out to spoil their four-legged friends for the holidays.