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Few people today remember E.T.A. Hoffmann, but most everyone is familiar with his most famous creation: The Nutcracker. NPR's Robert Siegel traces the history of everyone's favorite Christmas ballet all the way back to its much darker original version.

Weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz checks back in with the winner of the last round of Three-Minute Fiction, Carrie MacKillop of Charlotte, Vt. Round 9 of the writing contest has begun and runs through next Sunday. Listeners can submit their story online at www.npr.org/threeminutefiction.

Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz bring four generation-spanning Hanukkah stories to life.

It's tradition! Writer and humorist David Sedaris reflects on his short tenure as Crumpet the Elf at Macy's. Sedaris first read the "Santaland Diaries" on Morning Edition in 1992 — and instantly, a classic was born.

Julie Klausner talks about what makes the comedy podcast such an appealing form for comedians. Is it the connection with the audience? The creative freedom? The loose conversations? (Spoiler alert: Yes.)

This week, thieves stole hundreds of millions of dollars worth of paintings by Picasso, Monet and Matisse from a museum in Rotterdam. Weekend Edition host Scott Simon talks about the changing economic interests of major art theft with Robert Wittman, the former senior investigator and founder of the FBI's National Art Crime Team.

A reminder from weekends on All Things Considered guest host Jacki Lyden that Round 9 of Three-Minute Fiction is still open for submissions. Our judge, Brad Meltzer, is looking for an original short story that revolves around a U.S. president — fictional or real — in under 600 words. Listeners can submit their story online at www.npr.org/threeminutefiction. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, September 23, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Broadway may be up and running, but lower Manhattan is still without power, which means many of the city's art venues have been scrambling. Canceled performances, impromptu rehearsals and loss of revenue have plagued theaters and dance companies alike.

Round 9 of Three-Minute Fiction has closed and the judging process is now under way. Susan Stamberg reads an excerpt from one standout story, Butterflies, written by Jennifer Dupree. Listeners can read the story in its entirety along with other stories online at www.npr.org/threeminutefiction.

A reminder from weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz that Round 9 of our Three-Minute Fiction, our writing contest where our listeners write an original short story, is now open. The story must be based on the following challenge from our judge Brad Meltzer: The story must revolve around a U.S. president, who can be fictional or real and that the short story has to be 600 words or less.