How to entertain a lonely Jew on Xmas?

December 21, 2007 1:45 AM

Young, alone and Jewish on Xmas in LA. How do I entertain myself?

So I'll be alone on Xmas this year, not a big deal though being Jewish and all. That being said, I was wondering if anyone knew of anything I could do alone on Xmas day in Los Angeles?

posted by PostIronyIsNotaMyth to Grab Bag (26 answers total)

back home in nyc, it was almost a halachik imperative that xmas day = chinese food and movies.*

* funny story writ short: i went to see the prince of egypt on xmas eve many years ago with a friend, and the only other people in the theater was a young model-type woman and a man i was sure was my classmate's father; thought i had caught him having an affair. when we walked into the bathroom together after the film, i felt i couldnt avoid him any longer and said hi. he just stared at me; i was mortified.

when i came out, my friend asked what i said to donald trump. (it was dark, they both had toupees, and i knew i recognized him from somewhere). so yeah, i sorta went on a double date with donald trump on xmas to see the prince of egypt. ... and the classmate's dad ended up getting divorced a few months later. weird.
posted by prophetsearcher at 2:41 AM on December 21, 2007 [5 favorites]

You might wanna see wassup with the local Hillel chapter, see if those guys have anything going on. Everywhere I've roamed, I pretty much do the movies and chinese food thing... it's our thing, man!
posted by ph00dz at 4:50 AM on December 21, 2007

Is the Santa Monica Pier open on Christmas? I would go play pinball all day...
posted by schyler523 at 4:59 AM on December 21, 2007 [1 favorite]

Take a walk along the river and reflect. Go to Monterey Park for dim sum. Maybe something decent is screening in the big room at the Chinese Theater. Visiting to the Pantry downtown late at night is a Christmas tradition for some. Ice skating in Pershing Square.
posted by Scram at 5:04 AM on December 21, 2007

Not sure on Christmas Day, though I do think you should do the quasi-traditional Chinese food and movies. But I do know Christmas Eve is traditionally (as of the last couple decades, anyway) when big cities' Jewish communities get together for big dating/matchmaking/fun-'cause-we're-Jewish balls. L.A.'s big Christmas Eve event looks to be, from a quick Google search, Schmooz-A-Palooza. Only $25—sounds like it might be fun!
posted by limeonaire at 5:53 AM on December 21, 2007

+1 for the proud Jewish tradition of seeing a movie. Charlie Wilson's War comes out on Christmas Day. If I was Jewish, that's what I'd be doing.
posted by pallak7 at 5:57 AM on December 21, 2007

I am not Jewish, but myself and my family are not very religious, and we usually do a pretty low-key thing on Christmas day, if anything at all. I would suggest doing something you don't normally do....are you much of a chef? Perhaps go to a book store before they all close down for the holiday and get a cook book with some grub you find interesting and appealing, I would suggest a dessert cook book, and have a little chef party for yourself. Get some good wine, put some of your favorite movies on, perhaps comedies to lighten up the mood, or some of your favorite tunes.

In times like these, especially when alone, I take advantage of them. You could go get some paints, a blank canvas and have it....even if you are self-conscious, I am sure you will find some fun and no one ever has to look at, but it will be your memento and perhaps even a tradition. If you like painting on Christmas, perhaps you can do that every year! But these are just thoughts.
posted by dnthomps at 6:08 AM on December 21, 2007

i'm not jewish, and I wouldn't mind a little chinese food + a movie on xmas day!!!!
posted by Salvatorparadise at 6:18 AM on December 21, 2007

Chinese food and a movie (or two) for sure - we do it every year. Take a look on Chowhound to find the best Chinese food nearest you - my recommendation would be to venture out to the SGV.
posted by chez shoes at 6:41 AM on December 21, 2007

Every major city holds a Matzoh Ball party on Christmas eve, LA included.

They are pretty fun, I went to the NY one last year. People are really friendly, try it out!

For Xmas day, definitely go for Chinese and movie.
posted by rmless at 7:30 AM on December 21, 2007

Indian places will be much less crowded than Chinese.
posted by brujita at 7:40 AM on December 21, 2007

Nthing "Jews go to the movies" day. It's a long-standing tradition in my family, anyway.
posted by restless_nomad at 7:51 AM on December 21, 2007

Why the tradition for Chinese food and movies amongst the American Jewish? What started it?

*boggled and curious* it seems so random!
posted by divabat at 8:04 AM on December 21, 2007

JewFAQ answer. It's all about what's open and/or quasi-kosher. Many Chinese-Americans don't celebrate Christmas either, and Chinese food historically fits in well with kosher requirements, since they don't use dairy. Also, many Chinese and Jewish immigrants lived in the same neighborhoods, and had a sort of mutual acceptance/tolerance. See here for more details.

prophetsearcher, you didn't happen to write that JewFAQ page, did you? I guess a lot of Jews probably went to see Prince of Egypt on Christmas in 1998, though...
posted by limeonaire at 8:16 AM on December 21, 2007

Also, see these two NYTimes articles: 1, 2.
posted by limeonaire at 8:18 AM on December 21, 2007

very many goyim go to the movies, too, on Jesus's birthday. come on, you're in the movie capital of the world!
posted by matteo at 9:46 AM on December 21, 2007

The "go to the movies and then to Chinese" advice is pretty universal -- as reflected in these answers. But the particular appeal of doing this on Christmas turns to a degree on doing it with others; more generally, some people aren't into going to the movies or out to eat by themselves. On the assumption that may be driving the question, perhaps some other suggestions (like the Matzoh Ball) would be welcome.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 10:05 AM on December 21, 2007

We're going to Sweeney Todd at the Arclight and dinner at Simon LA (we eat at Twin Dragon on Pico/LaCienega all the time so we figured we'd get something other than Chinese)

reg
posted by legotech at 10:15 AM on December 21, 2007

Following on what Clyde Mnestra said, you might find this thread helpful.
posted by sueinnyc at 10:17 AM on December 21, 2007

I'm Jewish, grew up in LA, but never got to do the Chinese food + movie thing. My grandparents were married on Xmas so we always went over to their house.

Now, about them getting married on Christmas day: that to me is the ultimate Jewish way of spending the day. -grin
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 10:21 AM on December 21, 2007

Find a nice Jewish girl on Craigslist and suggest you spend the day together.
posted by charlesv at 10:29 AM on December 21, 2007

I'm not Jewish, but I had a Jewish upbringing, and I still follow many of the culture's secular customs.

Chinese food and a movie all the way.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:35 AM on December 21, 2007

Ooooh! Fred62 in Los Feliz for breakfast (trust me, you can get there quickly - on Xmas morning, you could have a picnic in the middle of the 101!), then go see a cheap movie down the street at the Los Feliz 3.

Enjoy! I miss spending Christmas in LA!
posted by salsamander at 10:46 AM on December 21, 2007

Best answer: Go see this. Say hi to my daughter. (She's the tall starfish and the sixth napkin from the left). Not as lame as you might think.
posted by nax at 1:12 PM on December 21, 2007

She's the tall starfish and the sixth napkin from the left.

If this isn't an album name yet, it should be.

P.S. Though your link didn't give me a discrete image, I think I can piece together her roles. Even so, the notion that there are upwards of a dozen napkins twirling on the ice at one time, and maintaining position relative to one another, is staggering. I am contemplating changing faiths and moving to LA in order to follow your advice.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 1:34 PM on December 21, 2007

Response by poster: Looks like I'm going to go to the movies and theater hop. You people are fantastic.
posted by PostIronyIsNotaMyth at 11:43 PM on December 22, 2007