Hanukkah Celebration
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, begins Tuesday night, Dec. 12, and lasts for eight days.
On Tuesday there will be a Hanukkah menorah lighting from 6-8 p.m. in Center Court, together with music and crafts in partnership with Gant West Preschool. Then on Wednesday, Chabad of Century City and its Rabbi, Tzemach Cumin will host a Hanukkah celebration in the Atrium with a family-friendly event.
Festivities include a public menorah lighting, a live klezmer band, an olive-oil workshop, kid-friendly crafts, traditional Hanukkah treats and more.
The event runs from 4:30 – 7 p.m.
Hanukkah commemorates the successful revolt by the Jewish Maccabees against Syrian King Antiochus IV after he banned Jewish worship in the Temple in Jerusalem and insisted everyone pray only to Greek gods.
To commemorate the victory, the Maccabees lit an oil lamp – a menorah. The miracle of Hanukkah is that the amount of oil available for the lamp was only supposed to last for one day but miraculously lasted for eight.
This is why Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days. It’s why Jews light an eight-branched menorah – successive candles each night of the holiday – and eat a lot of food fried in oil (potato latkes, jelly doughnuts) during this period.
Games of “dreidl” are also played, with a small spinning top with letters that stand for “A Great Miracle Happened There.”
Hanukkah is a holiday of redemption, of finding light in dark times, and celebrating miracles.
C Magazine Pop Up Shop
C Magazine set up a pop up shop Nov. 27, which will run through Jan. 2.
The 1,000-square-foot pop-up has been dubbed “State of Mind Curated by C Magazine,” and is running together with an e-commerce site stocking products selected by the editors to highlight Californian design talent.
Designed in collaboration with Martha Mulholland the space features a large-scale mural by Estée Lauder executive Donald Robertson.
Clothing will be on sale from a variety of designers including Rodarte, Libertine, Greg Lauren, Rosetta Getty, Juan Carlos Obando, Co and CFDA/Vogue Fashion
Fund winners Elder Statesman and Brock.
There will also be accessories and skin care and cosmetic products.
WWD notes, “As a nod to California’s “work hard, play hard” reputation, lifestyle offerings range from collectible surfboards by Britt Merrick for H. Merrick to bejeweled necklace vaporizer pens from Daniela Villegas for Beboe and modern objets by Kelly Wearstler (who also oversaw the design of the mall’s billion-dollar renovation).”
Food offerings will be available from Thomas Keller, One Gun Ranch, Valerie Confections and artisanal caviar brand Roe.
“As California’s influence has only grown more powerful over the years, we felt it was the right time to bring together the designers, artisans and makers that are defining the new cool. I am very excited to see the pages of the magazine come to life in this beautiful space and through the lens of our editorial team,” said Jennifer Smith Hale, C publishing founder, editorial director, and chief executive officer.
Microsoft Store Gives Back
As part of its Giving Tuesday operations Nov. 28, the Microsoft Store at the mall launched its Wish Machine in store experience, which will run through Dec. 31.
Customers are invited to share their most imaginative wishes via the Microsoft Wish Machine. There are no restrictions on wishes – customers can submit wishes on behalf of anyone, and for anyone, including themselves and they can wish for absolutely anything, but the key is to make a meaningful, purposeful wish to spread joy and goodness. Microsoft Store will grant wishes across the U.S., Canada and Sydney, Australia, throughout the holidays.
Cocoa With Santa
Westfield is reimagining the traditional Santa experience with the introduction of Cocoa With Santa. There are still two dates left: Dec. 16 and Dec. 23. The event includes surprise gifts, cocoa, light dessert, snacks, photo opportunities, perks and craft activities in lieu of the traditional long lines and quick pictures at traditional shopping malls.
