Holiday highlights, from a celebration of the shtetl to a new wave of water music

by Evan Monroe

THE LIGHTS FANTASTIC!
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights, one of the most popular year end attractions in the city, is highlighted not just by millions of house , yard , and garden mounted bulbs, but inflatable Santas, snowmen, animals, and carols issuing from loudspeakers. The Brooklyn Christmas Lights tour is a 3.5 hour bus journey encompassing the most extravagant displays; highlights include Lucy Spata’s house (the home that started the tradition back in the 1980s), the Polizzotto home and its 15 foot tall Santa, and “Sam the Greek’s” house, often described as “Christmas meets Las Vegas!” $60 for adults, Children under 12, $40– $45. nychristmaslightstour.com

2020 COMES IN WAVES
Located on a former coffee barge on the East River overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge, Bargemusic has been a unique music hall since launching in 1977 offering yearround chamber music performances in an intimate and wheelchair accessible setting. The New Years Eve program includes the Semplice Players (with guest violinist Mark Peskanov) performing the Vivaldi Concerto for 4 Violins in B minor, Bach Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, and the Mendelssohn String Octet in E flat Major. bargemusic.org

“TRADITION!”
One of the most joyous articulations of the Jewish Festival of Light in the city, “Hanukkah on the Roof,” at On Stage at Kingsborough, features MusicTalks host Elad Kabilio, 12th Night Klezmer (seen above), and Yiddish theatre star, Daniella Rabbani, “for a joyous evening of the beautiful music, great passion, and unique humor that makes the shtetl [a small town in Central and Eastern Europe with a prominent Jewish population] such a unique place for a big celebration.” Special guest vocalist will be Michael Einav (original cast member of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish), who contributes to this “sing”ular musical performance as he tunes up in Yiddish, English, and Russian! Sunday, December 15, with tickets starting at $32. And don’t forget to admire the largest Menorah in the world at the Grand Army Plaza entrance to Prospect Park! 2001 Oriental Boulevard, onstageatkingsborough.org

BINGE AND BE MERRY
Twenty two years after Tim and Karrie League founded Alamo Drafthouse Cinema as a single screen mom and pop theater in Austin, its dinner and a movie concept has expanded to dozens of locations, including our own Downtown spot in the City Point complex. In December, the “Alamo Encore” series includes screenings of Love Actually, A Christmas Story, Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, Scrooged, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and other classics. There’s also a Home Alone “Pizza Party,” with special 2 for 1 pricing on pies. 445 Albee Square, drafthouse.com

BOROUGH IN A BOW
An extraordinarily efficient gift buying venture, Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar’s 7th edition brings together more than 40 booths and tables packed with local handmade goods and delicious food and drink. There’s also music, kids craft activities, a photo booth, and much more. Held the first three Sundays of December, it’s presented by Cut & Crafted (formerly Brooklyn Makers), launched in 2012 “to tell the stories behind remarkable local brands & entrepreneurs.” Dog friendly, and held at 501 Union Street. brooklynholidaybazaar.com