Need a little Merry in my Christmas
December 10, 2020 5:50 AM Subscribe
Christmas is effectively canceled, I won't be seeing friends or family, and live alone. I often find a midnight service at a church with a good choir, go to a Messiah sing-along, plus a few parties and visiting. Looking for free or affordable virtual events with good music, esp. great choirs, but other musical styles welcome. NPR will surely have some Christmas eve options, looking for more. What foods and treats are people making in small batches to make the holiday special for one or two? thanks.
I'm going to be going to this Drunk Opera History: Handel's Messiah event on Sunday! A Messiah sing at home in my office feels a bit sad but this seems more fun (and I've been to in-person events with this org and they're good).
I'm also looking forward to this Handel's Messiah For Our Time production.
Very excited to see what others are up to! I am an avid choral singer and usually SO BUSY this time of year. (I don't even like Messiah that much, but these were the first two things I thought of.)
posted by mskyle at 6:30 AM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
I'm also looking forward to this Handel's Messiah For Our Time production.
Very excited to see what others are up to! I am an avid choral singer and usually SO BUSY this time of year. (I don't even like Messiah that much, but these were the first two things I thought of.)
posted by mskyle at 6:30 AM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
King's College Cambridge will be broadcasting their annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on the 24th of December (10:00 EST, 07:00 PST); in the US it's distributed by American Public Media and broadcast by a number of radio stations, including WQXR in New York and Minnesota Public Radio in case either of those are relevant to you (there are links to those stations in the link above).
posted by terretu at 6:32 AM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by terretu at 6:32 AM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
I've been gifted tickets to the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker virtually. They're not cheap ($39), but compared to seeing them in person they're pretty good! Boston Ballet has a shortened Nutcracker to watch on their website as well, and ABT filmed their Grand Pas De Deux.
I'm making ginger snaps, as I am wont to do, but I'm giving the majority of them to the folks who work at the convenience store in my neighborhood.
posted by ChuraChura at 6:36 AM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
I'm making ginger snaps, as I am wont to do, but I'm giving the majority of them to the folks who work at the convenience store in my neighborhood.
posted by ChuraChura at 6:36 AM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
Beautiful local (Hartford, CT) production of "Nutcracker Suite and Spicy" streams for free here. The founder is a ballet dancer/comedian, which makes for a fun mix.
posted by dlugoczaj at 7:08 AM on December 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by dlugoczaj at 7:08 AM on December 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
The National Cathedral in Washington, DC is doing a lot of Christmas programming (some church services, some musical, some both); you have to sign up for a free season pass to access everything. I can see the Cathedral from my apartment and always enjoy hearing the carols played on the bells on Christmas day.
posted by wicked_sassy at 7:20 AM on December 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by wicked_sassy at 7:20 AM on December 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'm in the same boat, missing my annual Christmas carol concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican (there are still live concerts at the RAH, but it's too risky). I've found a couple of online carol singalongs (one a Gospel choir, which I'm really excited about) and I always listen to Nine Letters and Carols from King's College on Christmas Eve and I'll watch the Nutcracker on TV and remember the lovely time I had last year watching it at the Lincoln Center with MeFite gaspode.
I tend not to make small batches of food, because if it's something I like, I want to eat a lot of it! So this year it'll be a trifle for dessert over a few days, and I always make tons of roast potatoes because there's nothing better than, every time I open the fridge, to sneak a cold roast potato.
posted by essexjan at 7:25 AM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
I tend not to make small batches of food, because if it's something I like, I want to eat a lot of it! So this year it'll be a trifle for dessert over a few days, and I always make tons of roast potatoes because there's nothing better than, every time I open the fridge, to sneak a cold roast potato.
posted by essexjan at 7:25 AM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
Focusing more on "food" here - not only have I had to scale down my food plans because of Covid, but I also broke my knee in October and I'm not quite up to full kitchen fighting speed just yet. My roommate and I discussed this - we're both staying put here this year - and we both realized that neither one of us REALLY had any major food-related Christmas memories ("oh gosh it just isn't Christmas unless I have some of Aunt Sally's nut fudge").
So we're just gonna kind of graze, and take it easy. The fanciest thing I'm considering is something for breakfast - I've always wanted to try making the British dish kedgeree, so I'm gonna try that, and using the leftover fish to make fish cakes later in the day. They're both easy to throw together. I'm also breaking down and getting some storebought cookie dough and will be gussying them up for our cookies - "shape chunks of dough into balls and plunk a Hershey's Kiss on top of each one" is something I'm confident I can do on one leg.
Also - another AskMe a while back reminded me of the Swiss Colony company and other such mail-order food gift companies, and it reminded me that I was fascinated by Swiss Colony when I was about 8; we got the catalog somehow, despite my family never ordering from it, and I would read that thing for hours, ogling all this exotic stuff my family never had. I now prefer homemade stuff, but I think this year, I may order a bunch of things from there for myself, and indulge my inner 8-year-old and finally find out exactly what those fancy-looking petit-fours taste like.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:26 AM on December 10, 2020 [10 favorites]
So we're just gonna kind of graze, and take it easy. The fanciest thing I'm considering is something for breakfast - I've always wanted to try making the British dish kedgeree, so I'm gonna try that, and using the leftover fish to make fish cakes later in the day. They're both easy to throw together. I'm also breaking down and getting some storebought cookie dough and will be gussying them up for our cookies - "shape chunks of dough into balls and plunk a Hershey's Kiss on top of each one" is something I'm confident I can do on one leg.
Also - another AskMe a while back reminded me of the Swiss Colony company and other such mail-order food gift companies, and it reminded me that I was fascinated by Swiss Colony when I was about 8; we got the catalog somehow, despite my family never ordering from it, and I would read that thing for hours, ogling all this exotic stuff my family never had. I now prefer homemade stuff, but I think this year, I may order a bunch of things from there for myself, and indulge my inner 8-year-old and finally find out exactly what those fancy-looking petit-fours taste like.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:26 AM on December 10, 2020 [10 favorites]
This time of year I often tune into RTE Radio (Ireland) on streaming internet. The TV programs are good too but I'm more of a listener than a watcher. For some reason, it is just generally much more Christmassy than even US Christmas stations. The musical selections are more varied and the culture shows are homey and sweet. Here's another overview - here's a link to the various radio streams.
Also, don't know if you're so inclined, but I'm paying a bit more attention to Advent this year. Advent is intentionally quiet and still and reflective, so it suits the 2020 end of year mood a lot for me. Advent doesn't expect you to be partying but it does give you a way to connect with meaningful stuff at this time of year. I signed up for an advent calendar with the UU church and there are lots and lots of others online.
posted by Miko at 7:55 AM on December 10, 2020 [5 favorites]
Also, don't know if you're so inclined, but I'm paying a bit more attention to Advent this year. Advent is intentionally quiet and still and reflective, so it suits the 2020 end of year mood a lot for me. Advent doesn't expect you to be partying but it does give you a way to connect with meaningful stuff at this time of year. I signed up for an advent calendar with the UU church and there are lots and lots of others online.
posted by Miko at 7:55 AM on December 10, 2020 [5 favorites]
Oh on the food front: my late husband and I always celebrated Christmas Eve with just the two of us and we had a tradition we called "The Feast of the Many Appetizers" where we would buy a box of every tasty-looking frozen appetizer at the supermarket, add in a nice cheese/charcuterie board and some crudites and maybe make one or two personal favorites from scratch (Brazilian Cheese Bread usually made the list). Oh and shrimp cocktail, always shrimp cocktail! Add in a slightly fancier-than-usual beverage (or two) of your choice.
And I have ordered Hanukkah takeout tomorrow in spite of not being Jewish.
posted by mskyle at 7:58 AM on December 10, 2020 [14 favorites]
And I have ordered Hanukkah takeout tomorrow in spite of not being Jewish.
posted by mskyle at 7:58 AM on December 10, 2020 [14 favorites]
I have worked in entertainment for a couple decades, and The Dance Along Nutcracker put on by the San Francisco Gay And Lesbian Freedom Band is my favorite event I have ever worked. It's a delightful mash up of drag queens and babies in tutus. I am beyond delighted that it's available online this year. Saturday Dec 12th at 7p (PST) and again Sunday Dec 13 at 11a (PST).
The Broadway Presbyterian Church is doing their 9th Annual Christmas Singalong via FB Live, Sunday Dec 13 at 5:30 (EST). "With performances from artists from Broadway, TV, and Film, we’ll celebrate the holidays with music, dance, humor and art."
posted by mollymayhem at 8:03 AM on December 10, 2020 [8 favorites]
The Broadway Presbyterian Church is doing their 9th Annual Christmas Singalong via FB Live, Sunday Dec 13 at 5:30 (EST). "With performances from artists from Broadway, TV, and Film, we’ll celebrate the holidays with music, dance, humor and art."
posted by mollymayhem at 8:03 AM on December 10, 2020 [8 favorites]
Some secular humanist events here, including a walking tour of Reykjavik, singing, etc.
posted by wintersweet at 9:24 AM on December 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by wintersweet at 9:24 AM on December 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
St. Olaf College in southern Minnesota does an annual Christmas concert that's awesome: https://christmas.stolaf.edu
posted by wenestvedt at 9:26 AM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 9:26 AM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
For the past 4 years we’ve had Christmas Eve nachos. These red and green tortilla chips are available at our local grocery store.
Music wise, not a live broadcast, but I love the album Sugar and Booze by Ana Gasteyer. I bought a the album on iTunes but I know that YouTube has all the songs.
posted by MadMadam at 10:24 AM on December 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Music wise, not a live broadcast, but I love the album Sugar and Booze by Ana Gasteyer. I bought a the album on iTunes but I know that YouTube has all the songs.
posted by MadMadam at 10:24 AM on December 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: This is all excellent, no best answers yet, because I encourage everyone to Post More Merry! I will make latkes tomorrow, will make Yorkshire puddings on the 25th, have a whisky cake marinating (I bailed on making a Christmas cake so it's tinned, but booze can hide my omission), and a friend's extensive playlist, with Ana Gasteyer added.
I will watch The Snowman, and Christmas Eve on Sesame Street; if you can watch these with kids, do.
posted by theora55 at 1:12 PM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
I will watch The Snowman, and Christmas Eve on Sesame Street; if you can watch these with kids, do.
posted by theora55 at 1:12 PM on December 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
I have a similar predicament. Here is my approach:
Bought first ever live tree (the smell makes everything seem way more festive).
I have several online concert tickets bought. One is for my local orchestra (they are struggling in a good year) and some BIG stuff too. What's amazing is that this opens the entire world of concerts! I have several friends who are interested in same concerts, so we have the following setup: online concert on one device, and a zoom call with friends at the concert on another. We are covid dressing up: fancy on top, whatever on the bottom (we agreed that big holes are not acceptable).
That's my plan for several evenings.
I am also planning to order delivery from a few fancy local restaurants over the holidays. In my region, many of them are struggling but have awesome meals planned, and many deliver booze as well.
posted by Yavsy at 4:07 PM on December 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Bought first ever live tree (the smell makes everything seem way more festive).
I have several online concert tickets bought. One is for my local orchestra (they are struggling in a good year) and some BIG stuff too. What's amazing is that this opens the entire world of concerts! I have several friends who are interested in same concerts, so we have the following setup: online concert on one device, and a zoom call with friends at the concert on another. We are covid dressing up: fancy on top, whatever on the bottom (we agreed that big holes are not acceptable).
That's my plan for several evenings.
I am also planning to order delivery from a few fancy local restaurants over the holidays. In my region, many of them are struggling but have awesome meals planned, and many deliver booze as well.
posted by Yavsy at 4:07 PM on December 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Tonight I finally put out the lights I bought for my hilariously mismatched shrubs in the front yard. But when it got dark they didn't look stupid, but cheerful and pretty.
I also bought a cookie press so I could make and give away Spritz cookies (they make huge batches). I will put them into colorful disposable containers and leave them on porches.
Finally, I'm sending out Christmas cards, something I haven't done in years.
I am cheerfully watching all the Christmas movies I love, singing to the carols on the radio, and telling people I love them.
Light in the darkness.
posted by emjaybee at 4:51 PM on December 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
I also bought a cookie press so I could make and give away Spritz cookies (they make huge batches). I will put them into colorful disposable containers and leave them on porches.
Finally, I'm sending out Christmas cards, something I haven't done in years.
I am cheerfully watching all the Christmas movies I love, singing to the carols on the radio, and telling people I love them.
Light in the darkness.
posted by emjaybee at 4:51 PM on December 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
My choir is releasing a holiday concert video on Sunday! Eugene Concert Choir
It's a mix of older footage and extremely distanced recording this year.
posted by nakedmolerats at 5:23 PM on December 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
It's a mix of older footage and extremely distanced recording this year.
posted by nakedmolerats at 5:23 PM on December 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
My choir, Toronto's Amadeus Choir, is producing a "Virtual Caroling Party" of socially-distanced recordings, with some special guests and a singalong booklet download. It's airing "live" on Tuesday, but available to watch for a few weeks after. We've won several national choral awards and regularly perform with the Toronto Symphony (though not, uh, this year).
posted by ilana at 11:48 PM on December 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by ilana at 11:48 PM on December 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
I watched the Garfield Christmas Special for the first time in probably at least 20 years and holy smokes, I forgot what an absolute tear-jerker it is (get your box of tissues ready when Grandma starts reminiscing). It's on YouTube.
I was absolutely dragging these stupid ambient Christmas music 8 hour YouTube videos that look like animated Thomas Kinkade paintings (I know) a few days ago, and now I have fully leaned in to playing them while I'm working from home.
Nest Holiday Candles are also making my living room smell like a Christmas tree. I encourage you to go buck wild on anything vaguely hygge-related: lots of cozy blankets, candles, and warm knitted socks are making me feel very OK with being at home right now.
If you rock with the whole "Twelve Days of Christmas" thing like I do, then on January 2/3 Cincinnati's Christ Church Cathedral is bringing its annual Boar's Head Festival online. January 6 is Twelfth Night, and from that point on you have official permission to start making King Cake in the run-up to Mardi Gras.
Also: if you haven't seen this Christmas decor AskMe question yet, it has some good ideas in the same spirit in which you asked your question.
posted by mostly vowels at 6:47 AM on December 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
I was absolutely dragging these stupid ambient Christmas music 8 hour YouTube videos that look like animated Thomas Kinkade paintings (I know) a few days ago, and now I have fully leaned in to playing them while I'm working from home.
Nest Holiday Candles are also making my living room smell like a Christmas tree. I encourage you to go buck wild on anything vaguely hygge-related: lots of cozy blankets, candles, and warm knitted socks are making me feel very OK with being at home right now.
If you rock with the whole "Twelve Days of Christmas" thing like I do, then on January 2/3 Cincinnati's Christ Church Cathedral is bringing its annual Boar's Head Festival online. January 6 is Twelfth Night, and from that point on you have official permission to start making King Cake in the run-up to Mardi Gras.
Also: if you haven't seen this Christmas decor AskMe question yet, it has some good ideas in the same spirit in which you asked your question.
posted by mostly vowels at 6:47 AM on December 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
A friend of mine arranged a video-chat group baking session (3 households), where we each clanged around our respective kitchens baking cookies and shouted jokes and suggestions at the backs of each others heads. We then arranged a contactless exchange the next day.
posted by pykrete jungle at 8:16 AM on December 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by pykrete jungle at 8:16 AM on December 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
Here are a couple of local-to-me (but streaming for everyone!) events that I'm looking forward to watching:
Christmas with Cappella Romana will have a recital of Christmas music in Greek, English, and Slavonic streamed on December 12th beginning at 7:30 PM Pacific Time. (YouTube)
Psychotronic After School Christmas Special 2020 - Join film curator Greg Hamilton LIVE from his basement in Portland, OR. as he celebrates the oblong holidays of 2020 with a handmade 16mm film program assembled from the his collection. (streaming
on Facebook live Sunday December 13th at 7:00 PM Pacific)
posted by vespabelle at 4:57 PM on December 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
Christmas with Cappella Romana will have a recital of Christmas music in Greek, English, and Slavonic streamed on December 12th beginning at 7:30 PM Pacific Time. (YouTube)
Psychotronic After School Christmas Special 2020 - Join film curator Greg Hamilton LIVE from his basement in Portland, OR. as he celebrates the oblong holidays of 2020 with a handmade 16mm film program assembled from the his collection. (streaming
on Facebook live Sunday December 13th at 7:00 PM Pacific)
posted by vespabelle at 4:57 PM on December 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
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