So your weekend is going to be tame, it can still be fun. We know this is a full-out, no holds barred shopping weekend, but if you need to take a break from the lines and overheated stores, there is plenty to do outside of Bloomies. Holiday Music, museum hopping, and even a few great concerts from some oldies but goodies are ready to calm your nerves provide some low key fun. There is much to be said for staying out of the headlines.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 4
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
59th Street and 8th Avenue; 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
It’s December and that means the return of the holiday market at Columbus Circle. More than 100 vendors will be selling a dizzying variety of wares, including imported and handmade holiday ornaments and decorations, antique prints, fine art, toys for kids of all ages, gourmet foods, drinks, baked goods, handcrafted jewelry and leather, golf accessories, candles, bath oils, cashmere, French linens, pet accessories, and clothing and apparel for all ages. ??The Market will be open from Wednesday, December 2 to Wednesday, December 24. ??Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Holiday Gift Shops at St. Bartholomew’s
Saint Bartholomew’s Church; 50th Street and Park Avenue
Another favorite among holiday market shoppers, the Holiday Shops open this weekend with crafts and unique gifts for everyone on your list.
The 29th Annual John Lennon Tribute
Symphony Space; 2537 Broadway ; Manhattan, NY 10025?(212) 864-5400
Big-throated Bettye Lavette heads up a string of singers, including Joan Osborne and David Bromberg paying tribute to John Lennon right around the anniversary of his murder. Imagine.
The Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Creche
The Metropolitan Museum of Art; 1000 Fifth Ave. (at 82nd St.)
The Christmas tree and Neapolitan Baroque crèche at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a long-established yuletide tradition in New York, will be on view for the holiday season beginning Saturday, November 27. The brightly lit, 20-foot blue spruce — with a collection of 18th-century Neapolitan angels and cherubs among its boughs and groups of realistic crèche figures flanking the Nativity scene at its base — will once again delight holiday visitors in the Museum’s Medieval Sculpture Hall. Set in front of the 18th-century Spanish choir screen from the Cathedral of Valladolid, with recorded Christmas music in the background, the installation reflects the spirit of the holiday season. There will be a spectacular lighting ceremony every Friday and Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m., starting on Friday, December 4.
The Museum’s towering tree, glowing with light, is adorned with cherubs and some 50 large and gracefully suspended angels. The landscape at the base displays the figures and scenery of the Neapolitan Christmas crib. This display mingles the three basic elements traditional in 18th-century Naples: the Nativity, with adoring shepherds and their flocks; the procession of the three Magi and their exotically dressed retinue of Asians and Africans; and, most distinctively, a crowd of colorful townspeople and peasants. The theatrical scene is enhanced by a charming assortment of animals — sheep, goats, horses, a camel, and an elephant — and by background pieces serving as the dramatic setting for the Nativity, including the ruins of a Roman temple, several quaint houses, and a typical Italian fountain with a lion’s-mask waterspout. www.metmuseum.org.
Photo Credit: Neopolitan Characters and Followers of the Magi (detail), 18th century; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Gift of Loretta Hines Howard, 1964
New York Painting Begins: Eighteenth Century Portraits
New York Historical Society; 170 Central Park West between 76th and 77th Sts
The New York Historical Society holds one of the nation’s premiere collections of eighteenth-century American portraits. During this formative century a small group of native-born painters and European émigrés created images that represent a broad swath of elite colonial New York society — landowners and tradesmen, and later Revolutionaries and Loyalists — while reflecting the area’s Dutch roots and its strong ties with England.
In the past these paintings were valued for their insights into the lives of the sitters, and they include distinguished New Yorkers who played leading roles in its history. However, the focus in this exhibition is placed on the paintings themselves and their own histories as domestic objects, often passed through generations of family members. These works raise many questions, and given the sparse documentation from the period, not all of them can be definitively answered: why were these paintings made, and who were the artists who made them? How did they learn their craft? How were the paintings displayed? How has their appearance changed over time, and why? And how did they make their way to the Historical Society?
The state of knowledge about these paintings has evolved over time, and continues to do so as new discoveries are made. This exhibition does not provide final answers, but presents what is currently known, and invites the viewer to share the sense of mystery and discovery that accompanies the study of these fascinating works. For more information visit www.nyhistory.org.
Photo: Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827)?The Peale Family, 1773-1809?Oil on canvas; New York Historical Society, 1867.298
The Yale Glee Club
Grand Central Terminal Grand Concourse; 10pm
The Yale Glee club stages its annual performance at Grand Central Terminal tonight. Location is different each year; just follow your ears. For nearly a century and a half, the Yale Glee Club has represented the best in collegiate singing-from its earliest days as a group of thirteen men from the class of 1863 to its current incarnation as an eighty-voice chorus of men and women. The students who sing in the Yale Glee Club might be majors in music or engineering, English or philosophy, art or mathematics. They are drawn together by a love of singing and a common understanding that raising one’s voice with others to create something beautiful is one of the noblest human pursuits.
Art After Dark: First Fridays at the Guggenheim; 9pm – 1am
Enjoy a drink with friends, explore the galleries, and listen to some of the best DJs in town, all in the spectacular Frank Lloyd Wright–designed building. Ascend the Guggenheim’s spiraling ramp to see Kandinsky, the exhibition described by the New York Times as “sensational.” Visit www.guggenheim.org for more information.
Chestnuts Roasting on the Flaming Idiots
New Victory Theater; 229 West 42nd Street
Reignited and it feels so good! The wise-cracking, whip-snapping Flaming Idiots are back with an outrageous onslaught of crackerjack juggling and zany shenanigans. This time, the buffoonery blazes throughout the yuletide season in Chestnuts Roasting on the Flaming Idiots. Laugh out really loud as Gyro, Pyro and Walter bounce between awesome antics and gross-out goofs, tossing machetes and lit torches and creating deli delights with their toes. Like trick candles on a cake, this three-man band (accompanied by a three-man band) is the holiday gift that keeps on giving, and giving and giving… Visit www.newvictory.org for ticket information. Through January 3.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5
International Volunteer Day; 10:00 a.m.
International Volunteer Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 17, 1985. Get your hands dirty as you help us keep Fort Greene one of the most beautiful parks in the city. To RSVP and to learn more about Fort Greene Park volunteers, email carol.anastasio@parks.nyc.gov or call (718) 722-3218.
BeFitNYC Winter Sports Showcase
Prospect Park, Brooklyn; 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Learn about all of your winter fitness options and stay healthy through the holiday season and beyond! Come to Prospect Park’s Wollman Rink for an afternoon of fun, including: half-priced admission for ice skating from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Ice skating clinics, broomball and sled hockey demonstrations, running activities organized by the New York Road Runners, information about kickball, lacrosse, and soccer leagues near you, advice from an ACSM-certified personal trainer, and a diabetes educator and exercise physiologist. Join us for your winter warm up and get a headstart on your New Year’s resolution! Prospect Park’s Wollman Rink is best accessed through the Parkside/Ocean avenues entrance or the Lincoln Road/Ocean Avenue entrance.
Winter Wilderness Survival; 12:00 p.m.
Just in time for the snowy weather ahead, learn how to keep warm during the winter by building a fire and finding shelter in our survival workshop. Workshop takes place in Inwood Hill Park. Call (212) 304-3401 for more information.
Morningside Park Winter Celebration and Tree Lighting
4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Join the Friends of Morningside Park for a holiday sing-along, free refreshments, and tree lighting. Morningside Park is at 121 Street and Morningside Avenue. Call (212) 937-3883 for more information.
Hot Tuna and Loudon Wainwright III; 8pm
Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway at 74th St
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady return to the Beacon Theatre for their triumphant annual fall celebration. For almost four decades, Hot Tuna has played and recorded some of the best and most memorable American blues and roots music. Formed by Jorma and Jack while they were still lead guitarist and bassist of the Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna began as an acoustic band and has morphed into a masterful group which has captivated music lovers the world over. Hot Tuna’s acoustic and electric concerts feature the brilliant mandolin virtuoso Barry Mitterhoff and young percussionist Erik Diaz. Fans remark how the Hot Tuna of today sounds astonishingly like the Hot Tuna of 30 years ago — and even better! The famous folkie and musician patriarch (and father of Rufus) Loudon Wainwright III opens. Guaranteed to be one of the best shows of the season.
Average White Band
BB Kings Blues Club; 237 West 42nd Street
A bunch of white boys from Scotland playing deep house 70’s funk was and is anything but average. The bands self-titled debut topped the American pop charts with the instrumental “Pick Up the Pieces,” which was also later nominated for a Grammy. ??”Person To Person”, “Cut the Cake”, “Schoolboy Crush”, “If I Ever Lose This Heaven”, “Cloudy”, “Queen of My Soul”, and “Let’s Go ‘Round Again” became some of the band’s most well-known tunes from their mid-late ’70′s heyday. In the ’90′s, AWB’s timeless grooves have been sampled by some of the biggest names in the hip-hop, rap, and acid jazz worlds, confirming without a doubt the strong impression the band has made on a new generation. Visit www.bbkingblues.com for more information.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6
New York Road Runners: Joe Kleinerman 10K Run; 8:00 a.m.
The legacy of NYRR founder Joe Kleinerman lives on with his namesake 10K. This wintry run not only pays tribute to Kleinerman, who passed away in 2003, but it also benefits a scholarship fund in his name for scholastic runners. $1 of your registration fee goes directly to the fund, and additional donations can be made during registration. Race takes place in Central Park. Check www.NYRR.org for more information or call (212) 860-4455.
Songs of the Season with the Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus; 12:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join members of the Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus for an offering of Colonial and early American Christmas music, from North and South America and from our nation’s diverse ethnic traditions. There will also be excerpts from Handel’s Messiah and many opportunities for audience participation! Concert takes place at Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park (Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard). For more information cal (718) 789-2822.
Holiday Party at Inwood Hill Park; 1:00 p.m.
There is nothing like the holidays to bring a family together. Be a part of our family as we share food and stories with each other. If you like, bring your own dish. Inwood Hill Park. Call (212) 304-3401 for more information.
Gingerbread Adventures at The New York Botanical Garden
Journey past handcrafted gingerbread houses created by some of the city’s most imaginative bakers, and take an up-close tour of the spices used to make this holiday treat. Children can smell, touch, and taste cinnamon, ginger, and other ingredients, and then create a field notebook about their favorite discoveries. In the hands-on Gingerbread Adventures program at The New York Botanical Garden, children can learn about the different plant parts used in creating the favorite holiday snack, gingerbread. 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Please visit www.nybg.org for hours and more information. NYBG is located at Bronx River Parkway (Exit 7W) and Fordham Road .
Pinetum Festival in Central Park
2:00 p.m.
Celebrate the beauty of pine trees at this annual commemoration of the Arthur Ross Pinetum, another treasure in Central Park. The Rangers will lead you through this beautiful area which has more than 400 pine trees representing 13 different species from around the world. Followed by caroling and refreshments at nearby Swedish Cottage. For more information call (212) 628-2345.
Holiday Lighting; 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
This year, Christmas merry-making begins with the 13th annual lighting of Central Park’s picturesque Charles A. Dana Discovery Center. Hosted by the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy and organized by the Central Park Conservancy’s Education and Public Programs Department, this event includes delicious cookie-decorating, ornament-making, live holiday music, a guest appearance by Santa Claus, and refreshments for the entire family. Bring a camera if you’d like to take a photo with Santa. Advance registration not required. For more information, please call (212) 860-1370. This program is part of the Central Park Conservancy’s Winter Holiday Program series. For more information and to view the complete Winter Holiday Programs schedule, please visit www.centralparknyc.org/winterholidays. The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center is located inside Central Park at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues.
BUST Magazine Holiday Craftacular
One Day Only 10am–7:30pm.; The Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W 18th St between Sixth and Seventh
Get gifts–and give back–at this year’s BUST Holiday Craftacular. Get your shop on all day browsing the hottest handmade wares from over 200 vendors, including handbags, jewelry, and clothing. Then, meet the adorable pets available for adoption from Animal Care and Control NYC, snap up some holiday cards to benefit City Harvest and pick up a cookie in support of the Lower East Side Girls Club. Rockin DJs, free java from Joe all morning, snacks, goodie bags for the first 500 attendees, amazing raffle prizes and more! Admission: $2. Visit www.bust.com for more information.
Independently owned and operated, BUST Magazine has been a leader in the crafting movement since 1993. Now in its 16th year, BUST continues to support and influence the handmade revolution though constant editorial coverage, sponsorships, and events such as the BUST Craftacular. Always on the cutting-edge, BUST is a revered and trusted authority in the DIY and crafting community.
The Celtic Tenors; 8pm
BB Kings Blues Club; 237 West 42nd Street
These internationally acclaimed, chart-topping recording artists will present to you some of the world’s greatest Christmas songs, wrapped in the inimitable Celtic Tenor sound. With a generous sprinkling of their warm endearing humor, the Celtic Tenors will highlight the peace and joy of Christmas. This promises to be a show for everyone to enjoy. Their show is an all-encompassing mix of seasonal and spiritual favorites, new songs from their latest album, as well as a selection of The Celtic Tenors’ most popular songs: a journey from the Classical world through Celtia, Americana and pop. Singing at times in their own native Gaelic, as well as several other languages, the truly international Celtic Tenors’ Seasonal Show promises to warm the heart. Daryl, James and Matthew reflect the ‘New Ireland’ where peace has at last replaced the island’s troubled past. Catholic and Protestant from the north and south of Ireland, they sing together in harmony, bringing their message of peace for the Christmas season. Led from the piano by their incredibly talented young Musical Director Colm Henry, the Celtic Tenors will perform stratospherically high tenor show-stoppers to intimate a capella masterpieces. You will laugh, cry, be inspired, but most of all you will be warmed by the peace and joy of a Celtic Tenors’ Christmas. Visit www.bbkingblues.com for more information.
