The Arts Section 12/17/17

On this edition of The Arts Section, we're highlighting holiday traditions.  WDCB's Gary Zidek got an up-close look at Chicago's St. Lucia celebration.  Scandinavian communities all the world celebrate St. Lucia on Decmeber 13th with ceremonies featuring songs, food and candle-lit processions.  In Chicago, the Swedish American Museum has been coordinating Lucia ceremonies for several decades.  We'll spotlight a new exhibit in Naperville that looks at Christmas traditions from the 50's. Gary visits a Chicago establishment that's become the "go-to" spot for a holiday cocktail that can be hard to find.  A little later in the show, the Dueling Critics, Kelly Kleiman and Jonathan Abarbanel, join Gary to discuss A Q BROTHERS CHRISTMAS CAROL.  The hip-hop take on the Dickens' classic is quickly becoming a local holiday tradition for theater-goers looking for something a little different. Gary sits down with Chicago Jazz Orchestra artistic director Jeff Lindberg to talk about the significance of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's landmark 1960 Nutcracker Suite recording.  All that, plus the weekly Arts Section calendar.