Christmas is just a week and change away, which means the next two weekends are chock full of holiday cheer, holiday shows, holiday parties and holiday spirit — yes, we mean the alcoholic kind. So throw it all back, and soak it all in, by stopping by a few of the greatest holiday parties and performances the borough has to offer.
Merry-onette Christmas
Looking for some family fun this holiday, strings attached? You’re in luck! Go check out the The Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre’s unconventional re-imagining of the Dicken’s classic, “A Christmas Carol.”
ClockWorks Puppet Theatre, [196 Columbia St. between Sackett and Degraw Streets at the Brooklyn Waterfront, (212) 614-0001], through Dec. 31, 7 pm on weekdays and at 4 pm on weekends, $20 ($12 for kids). For info, visit www.cosmicbicycle.com
‘The Nutcracker,’ of course
What kind of holiday happenings list would this be if we didn’t start it off with a tried and true Christmas tradition? That’s right, we’re talking about “The Nutcracker,” that classically gorgeous ballet that chronicles the adventures of one lucky little girl whose nutcracker comes to life on Christmas Eve. And to make things even more special, the American Ballet Theater is producing this year’s “Nutcracker” exclusively in Brooklyn at — where else? — BAM.
“The Nutcracker” at Brooklyn Academy of Music [30 Lafayette Ave. between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street in Fort Greene, (718) 636-4100], through Dec. 31, $25-$120. For info, visit www.bam.org.
Gin-gerbread house party
Put the gin in ginger bread this holiday season at a boozy gingerbread house construction party, hosted by Overflow Magazine. Don’t miss the specialty gin and ginger cocktail the folks at Littlefield will be slinging.
Littlefield [622 Degraw St. between Third and Fourth avenues in Park Slope, (718) 855-3388], Dec. 17 at 8 pm. $6 ($5 with ingredients for the gingerbread house). For info, visit www.littlefieldnyc.com
Nice and naughty
Looking for a risque holiday bash? Willing to settle for coal in your stockings? The Greenpoint Gallery is hosting the Black Christmas Burlesque show for Brooklyn’s naughtiest boys and girls.
Greenpoint Gallery [390 McGuinness Blvd. between Clay and Dupont streets in Greenpoint], Dec. 17 at 10:30 pm, $12 ($10 in advance). For info, visit www.thegreenpointgallery.com
Shopping small
Trying to avoid the holiday crush at your local big-box outlet? Check out Brooklyn Craft Central’s Fourth Annual Holiday Market, featuring 65 choice craft booths and delectable food truck fare to calm those last-minute shopping nerves.
Littlefield [633 Degraw St. between Fourth and Fifth avenues in Park Slope, (718) 855-3388] Dec. 17–18 at noon. For info, visit www.littlefieldnyc.com
Nordic pole
Nothing says Christmas like Vikings, so have yourself a merry little Scandinavian Christmas at Nordic Delicacies on Dec. 17, when the Bay Ridge shop will set up a special holiday market hosted by the Scandinavian East Coast Museum.
Nordic Delicacies [6909 Third Ave. between 69th Street and Ovington Avenue in Bay Ridge, (718) 748-1874], Dec. 17 at 10 am. For info, visit www.scandinavian-museum.org
A very Kermit Christmas
The Muppet Vault will be cracked open once again, just in time for Christmas. So sit back, relax and catch the “Muppet Family Christmas,” as well as a compilation of Muppet holiday clips, with a group of the biggest Muppet fans in Brooklyn. Like last time, there will be drink specials, trivia, and prizes.
Union Hall [702 Union St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues in Park Slope, (718) 638-4400] Dec. 18 at 2 pm, $8. For info, visit www.toughpigs.com
Dinner theater
There is no such thing as a free lunch — but there is a free supper, thanks to the Brave New World Repertory Company, which will perform Thornton Wilder’s, “The Long Christmas Dinner,” before serving an actual long Christmas dinner (free of charge) for the entire audience. Tickets will be available the day of the show starting at noon, but it’s first come, first serve.
Old Stone House [336 Third St. between Fourth and Fifth avenues in Park Slope, (718) 768-3195], Dec. 18 at 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm. For info, visit www.theoldstonehouse.org
Pipes and an organ
Looking to go caroling this holiday, but not don’t trust your pipes enough to sing a cappella? The Church of Saint Ann and the Holy Trinity can help! The church’s in-house organist, Gregory Eaton, will play along to all those classic holiday tunes during the annual Community Carol Sing event.
Saint Ann and the Holy Trinity [157 Montague St. between Clinton and Henry streets in Brooklyn Heights, 718) 875-6960], Dec. 21 at 1:10 pm. For info, visit www.saintannandtheholytrinity.org
Punx-mas
If your holiday uniform consists of a pair of shredded jeans and an old flannel shirt, you’re going to want to check out Merry NYC Punk Christmas, featuring punk rock acts Kickstarts, On the Offense and The Last Stand, before donning your holiday sweater and heading off to a regular old Christmas eve with all those stodgy aunts and uncles you only see once a year.
Bar Matchless [557 Manhattan Ave. between Lorimer and Leonard streets in Williamsburg, (718) 383-5333], Dec. 23 at 8 pm. For info, visit www.barmatchless.com.
‘Fish’ and jam
What should you do on Christmas Eve Eve? Why not head to the Red Star Bar and enjoy an evening of jams from Medicine Fish, the Red Lights, Don Ryan?
Red Star Bar [37 Greenpoint Ave. between Franklin and West streets in Greenpoint, (718) 349-0149], Dec. 23, 7:30 pm. For info, visit www.redstarny.com
The office party
You probably have a half-day on the Friday before Christmas, and you probably had plans to head to straight for home — well, forget it. Park Slope’s Union Hall is hosting Creaghead and Company’s Mandatory Office Party and you’re required to attend, as host Caroline Creaghead and her posse of standup comics school you in the art of laughter.
Union Hall [702 Union St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues in Park Slope, (718) 638-4400], Dec. 23, 8 pm, $8. For info, visit www.unionhallny.com
Menorah rock
Why occupy something lame, like Wall Street, when you can occupy something awesome, like Hanukkah, with “neo-Jewish” rock bands like Pey Dalid, Moshe Hecht and Ta Shma? That’s a rhetorical question.
The Knitting Factory [361 Metropolitan Ave. between Havemeyer Street and Marcy Avenue in Williamsburg, (718) 384-7112], Dec. 24, 8 pm, $18 ($15 in advance). For info, visit www.bk.knittingfactory.com.
Reach reporter Colin MIxson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4514.
