You would even say it glows: The Washington Square Park Christmas Tree lighting ceremony happens at 6pm on Dec. 11.
WASHINGTON SQUARE TREE LIGHTING AND CAROLING
It’s been standing tall and looking good since arriving at 4am on Monday — but you’ll have to wait until 6pm on December 11 to see the Washington Square Park Christmas Tree in all its spruced up glory. That’s when the lights on this 45-foot-tall Vermonter will first begin to sparkle and shine. To mark that occasion, the Rob Susman Brass Quartet will accompany the crowd in the singing of holiday songs (with lyric sheets provided by The Washington Square Association). When the time comes to throw the switch, Santa Claus will lead the children in an illumination countdown. Then, on Christmas Eve (at 5pm), those complimentary songbooks make another appearance, along with the Brass Quartet — as revelers fill the park with musical sentiments of peace on earth and goodwill to all.
Both events happen at the Washington Square Park Arch (at the foot of Fifth Ave., one block south of Eighth St.). The Washington Square Park Christmas Tree is lit from 4pm-1am daily, through the season. For info, call 212-252-3621 or visit washingtonsquarenyc.org.
“Shadow of David,” by Diana Sierra — who’ll be among those with products on display (and available for purchase), at Dec. 9’s Female Makers Holiday Market.
FEMALE MAKERS HOLIDAY MARKET: BRINGING WOMEN IN TECH TOGETHER
People of all genders and levels of technical ability are welcome to attend New York City’s first–ever holiday market designed to spotlight female creators and innovators. This fun combination of shopping, product testing, expert advice and shared stories serves as a platform to connect woman entrepreneurs with professionals. In the “Expert’s Room,” tech business leaders (including Flexcel Networks CEO Sophie Wade) will answer questions about funding, creating and selling products. An array of tech and non-tech goods made by NY companies founded and run by women will be available for purchase — including chic, sustainable artisan jewelry from Brooklyn’s Judi Powers, global handcrafts by Parcel & Journey industrial designs byDiana Sierra. Gift-wrapping will be provided, upon making a donation to the Lower Eastside Girls Club — whose members will need no hard sell to move their supply of Gingerbread Brownstone cookies.
Mon., Dec. 9, from 7-9pm. Presented by Tekserve, NY Tech Meetup and Plum Alley. At Tekserve (119 W. 23rd St., btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.). Tickets are free, but event registration is required (do so at eventbrite.com). For info on the event sponsors, visit meetup.com, nytm.org, plumalley.co. and tekserve.com.
From 2012: Larry Long directs the Chelsea Community Church Candlelight Carol Service choir. The annual service happens this year on Dec. 15.
CANDLELIGHT CAROL SERVICE
The nondenominational Chelsea Community Church’s 39th Annual Candlelight Carol Service provides ample opportunity for spiritual reflection, plus music and a literary from St. Nick. Under the direction of Larry J. Long, the choir will perform music from early German Baroque to early American shape-note to gospel (including “And the Glory of the Lord” from Messiah by George Frederic Handel, the familiar Basque carol “The Angel Gabriel” and David von Kampen’s jazzy take on the traditional Austrian carol “Still, still, still.” Organist Christopher Houlihan, (“dazzling,” according to the Wall Street Journal) will accompany. Actress Jeanne Ruskin will read Clement Clarke Moore’s famous poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” — in the church that stands on the very land that was part of Moore’s estate.
Sun., Dec. 15, at 6pm. At St. Peter’s Church (346 W. 20th St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.). Free (offerings accepted). For info, call 212-886-5463 or visit chelseachurch.org.
A cleverly disguised Kris Kringle scopes out gift options at the Penn South Ceramics Studio. Whittle down your “nice” list at their Dec. 7 sale, or treat yourself to a winter class.
PENN SOUTH CERAMICS STUDIO HOLIDAY SALE
Face facts, lazy Santa. It’ll take most of 2014 to repair your reputation if the best gift you can come up with is some impersonal piece of functional art from Pier 1 Imports. To the rescue, in the Saint Nick of time, comes the Annual Penn South Ceramics Studio Holiday Sale. It’s a great opportunity to check out their digs, find out about winter classes and whittle down your “nice” list by purchasing some pottery and ceramic sculptures. Everything up for grabs is made by the students and teachers who are happily spinning their (pottery) wheels at Penn South. Buy into the Fundraiser Raffle, and you could walk away with some work made by Legacy Studio members.
Sat., Dec. 7, from 12-5pm in the Penn South Ceramics Studio (in Building 6B, 276 Ninth Ave., at the northeast corner of 26th St.). For more info, email them at pennsouthceramics@gmail.com or visit pennsouthceramics.com.
