Christmas crooners, ugly sweaters and the longest night of the year arrive just before winter does.
Monday, December 15
After its annual meeting at 5:30, the New Haven Museum hosts Claire Criscuolo, longtime proprietor of Claire’s Corner Copia, for a 6 p.m. conversation with former longtime New Haven Independent editor Paul Pass. Criscuolo is set to “share memories, heartfelt stories, and some favorite recipes from her latest book, 50 Vegetarian Recipes from 50 Years at Claire’s Corner Copia.”
At 7, “giddyup cowpoke! Grab a par[d]ner and come in from the cold for some two-step and line dancing at Cafe Nine’s Honky Tonk vinyl dance party!”
Also at 7, “legendary balladeer Engelbert Humperdinck”—obviously, but also mystifyingly, that’s a chosen name—“brings his timeless voice to the Shubert for a special holiday performance where romance and nostalgia meet beloved seasonal classics.”
Also at 7, Riva in West Haven hosts a popular Christmas movie trivia night, with ugly sweaters and holiday PJs encouraged.
If you prefer to just keep watching Christmas movies, the next Westville Pop-Up Cinema miniseries at Lotta Studio could be of interest. It begins tonight with Scrooged (1988) and ends Thursday with Elf (2003), though my personal recommendation would be The Holdovers (2023) on Wednesday, with all screenings starting at 7.
Wednesday, December 17
Musical Intervention celebrates 10 years of operating its Temple Street studio downtown—“a decade of offering a safe, creative space where individuals navigating addiction, mental health challenges, homelessness, and trauma can find healing through music”—with a 6 p.m. show at Toad’s Place. Performers include program participants as well as MI founder Adam Christoferson.
Thursday, December 18
Mew Haven Cat Cafe holds a ticketed trivia night amid the adoptable felines. “This two-hour event includes three rounds of Cat-egories with all the cat snuggles you can handle.”
At 7 at Best Video in Hamden, the next installment of the Sleeping Giant Reading Series convenes “writers of every kind,” even those who don’t consider themselves writers, “to hear professional readings, raise a glass, network, and support one another’s work.” The readers this time are state poet laureate Antoinette Brim-Bell and CT Book Award-winning middle-grade novelist Leslie Connor.
Friday, December 19
At 7 at the Shubert, Michael Londra, “the Irish singer best known as the voice of Riverdance on Broadway and his hit PBS series Ireland with Michael, brings you Christmas from Ireland told in song, dance and the festive stories of his youth. The evening features traditional, heartwarming Irish carols and Gaelic versions of Christmas songs you will love, along with Celtic songs of a new Ireland, including his own popular carol ‘Beyond the Star.’”
Also at 7, the seven members of the Paul Winter Consort, led by seven-time Grammy-winning saxophonist and composer Paul Winter, bring their Winter Solstice Celebration to Woolsey Hall. “Remembering the solstice, we resonate once again with the rhythm of the cosmos and allow our hearts to embrace the optimism of our ancient knowledge that the light will overcome the darkness.”
Saturday, December 20
From 9:30 to 11 a.m., a holiday edition of Best Video’s “Bad Cereal & Cartoons” series recreates “the time-honored tradition of Saturday morning cartoons and bad cereal,” with PJs okay.
From noon to 5, a Winter Vendor Market at East Rock Brewing offers a chance to browse for last-minute gifts while enjoying local beer and complimentary hot chocolate.
Starting at 4, an “epic” Santa Con at Armada Brewing promises “holiday chaos, craft beer, and community cheer. Suit up in your best Santa outfits, elf gear, reindeer onesies, or anything that gets you in the holiday spirit. Join a crowd of festive hooligans as we turn the brewery into a full-blown North Pole party.”
Also at 4, an Ugly Sweater Pawty at Stella Blues invites well-behaved dogs to participate in “a joyful runway contest benefiting Halfway Home Rescue. Your pup will have the chance to walk our runway, spread some holiday cheer, and compete to win a festive prize basket!”
A 7 p.m. holiday comedy show in the Shubert’s cabaret space features Unc, AG White, David Got Jokes, Wizrd and headliner Kool Bubba Ice.
New metalcore supergroup Atomic Rule, whose members include ex-Every Time I Die guitarist Andy Williams and ex-Acacia Strain drummer Kevin Boutot, headline a 7 o’clock bill at Hamden’s Space Ballroom.
At 9 at Cafe Nine, Bob and Dave’s Ugly Sweater Party encourages said sweaters and features DJs R.I.C.H.A.R.D. and Dread presiding over “the best variety of ’80s and ’90s alternative, new wave and post-punk.”
Sunday, December 21
On the heels of the longest night of the year, the moment of the winter solstice reportedly happens at 10:03 a.m.
At 3 p.m. at Woolsey Hall, principal pops conductor Chelsea Tipton II leads the New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s annual Holiday Extravaganza, featuring “a holly jolly program of festive favorites, sing-along carols, and seasonal surprises for the whole family.”
Written by Dan Mims. Image, featuring Chelsea Tipton leading the New Haven Symphony Orchestra during the 2024 Holiday Extravaganza, sourced from @newhavensymphony. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations, prices and other details before attending events.
