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M is for Music, playing on every street We shop for our friends as we keep the beat The melodies dance all day long in our heads And keep us awake late at night in our beds Maspeth Music There are plenty of ways to get your hands on some of your favorite holiday tunes. You could pick up a holiday mix at a local music store, or opt for a solo artist’s rendition of timeless classics like “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” and “The Little Drummer Boy.” There’s always satellite radio where you can tune into the sleigh bell tinged hits or with a simple click of your mouse hear who will be home for Christmas on the dozens of online radio stations. But the best way to listen to holiday tunes is to get out of the house and walk through the “Winter Wonderland” known as Maspeth, as they line the streets with twinkling lights and pump the tunes for the Maspeth Holiday Lighting Program. After a nice walk on a crisp day in Maspeth it’s certain you will “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”
James McNaughton Gunned down by a sniper’s single bullet Aug. 3, 2005, James McNaughton, 27, was the first NYPD officer killed in the Iraq War, sharing duties as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. Revered for his dedication as a crime fighter, McNaughton guarded city subways with the NYPD and served his country overseas, hoping to stop the spread of terrorism. “He was always the kid who would always catch the guy who was trying to mug somebody who was sleeping on the train,” said Sgt. Shawn Murphy, who worked with McNaughton. Mayor Bloomberg, who once referred to the Iraq War as not being a local issue, provided his take on McNaughton’s courage, calling him, “one of our finest.” Mistletoe’s Butler Ellis Parker Butler was standing under the mistletoe and smiled, but no answering smile replied, for her haughty glance bid him plainly. Butler, working from his home in Flushing, captured the love in the hearts and yearning in the lips of Christmas time lovers with his poem, “The Ballade Of The Mistletoe Bough.” Butler was the author of more than 30 books and more than 2,000 stories and essays, by every measure and by many times—the most published author of the pulp fiction era, as his work appeared alongside that of his contemporaries, including Mark Twain and F. Scott Fitzgerald. But in his poem he didn’t get that which he prized; instead, a look from her coldly scornful eyes. “But look at those lips! Do they hint a smile?” Ah, the hope of the holidays.
Moving Images From Nov. 19 to Jan. 2, the Museum of the Moving Image will present a Christmas stocking filled with the greatest comedy classics of Laurel and Hardy. The retrospective will feature screenings of 40 films, many in archival 35mm prints obtained from the Library of Congress. Included in the program are two showings of the holiday classic “Babes In Toyland,” the operetta fantasy that has charmed generations of youngsters and embraces the imagination – young or old. Screenings of “Babes In Toyland” are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 24 at 2 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 31, at 2 p.m. at the museum at 35th Avenue and 36th Street in Long Island City. Other films include the 1934 feature, “Sons of the Desert,” and the 1937 feature-length gem, “Way Out West.” Free matinees for seniors will be presented in collaboration with Queens interagency Council on the Aging Nov. 30 and Dec. 14. The program runs through New Years Day. For ticket and program information and travel instructions, call (718) 784-0077 or log on to http://www.movingimage.us. Mulled Cider This heated, spiced cider dates back to medieval times, when adults and children sipped the mix to keep healthy, and make it through the hard, cold winters. Cider can be spiced with honey, cinnamon, or with mixtures handed down through generations of families. Today mulled cider is served at fall outings, Thanksgiving get-togethers – and as a staple at many holiday and Christmas parties. Mall Santas Something magical happens at local malls each year on the night before Thanksgiving. Overnight, sections of the Queens Center Mall, Bay Terrace and the Metro Mall are transformed into sparkling replicas of Santa’s Workshop. Santa arrives with his elves and reindeer at the malls on Thanksgiving Day, ready to listen as dozens of local youngsters bring him their wish lists for Christmas Day. You can visit Santa at the malls at specified times of the day and night throughout the holiday season - until Dec. 24. For the best information on days, times and availability of photos with Santa, check with the information desk or call mall public relations. And don’t forget Fido. Check for days and times Santa will be available for photos with family pets.
Martyrs’ Messiah The Sacred Music Society of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs will present a Christmas Concert at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec 11. Having performed for over 20 years, the Sacred Music Society will be joined by the Oratorio Society of Queens to perform this concert under the artistic direction of Music Director of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Maestro David Close. The concert will feature highlights from the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah” and beloved Christmas orchestral and choral works. The show is a favorite among parishioners and community members alike. Professionals lead the way but the congregation is encouraged to join in. Minstrel Carol Perhaps no words serve as a more meaningful reminder of Holiday Spirit than “bah, humbug,” the famous words that make us recall that at Christmas even the most miserly curmudgeon still can be transformed into a good-hearted person. “A Christmas Carol” has become as much a part of the holiday as presents and evergreens, and audiences in Northport can catch the Minstrel Players perform a version of the story. The group, which performs at Trinity Episcopal Church, hopes to put their own twist on the renowned Charles Dickens novel. Performances are one weekend only on Friday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec.10, at 8 p.m. and a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Dec. 11. The performance on Dec. 9 will have a special opening night ticket price of $10 for all seats. Call (800) 260-2390. Music at St. John’s For the past 18 years, as soon as the air starts getting brisk and the semester nears its end, St. John’s students know the sounds of their chorus are about to takeover the campus. This year, Santa Claus will sit in the audience anticipating the Mixed Chorus and the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra belting out dozens of Christmas classics and a few new ones in the mix, alongside tenor John Easterlin, of The Metropolitan Opera. If the holiday pockets allow, the chorus asks that fans bring an unwrapped toy or children’s book to the free Dec. 10 concert for various children’s organizations. Menorah A menorah is a branched candelabrum with seven candleholders. The menorah was the ancient representation of the Hebrews and is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish people. It is said to symbolize the burning bush, as seen by Moses. A menorah is displayed in Jewish synagogues. The two most common menorahs have seven and nine candleholders. The term hanukiah or chanukiah refers to the nine-candled holder used during the Jewish festival of Chanukah. This term was coined in Israel during the 20th century when the Hebrew language was growing after being mostly dormant as a street language for centuries. The presence of a menorah in some synagogues is purely symbolic. Some synagogues today use a lamp-stand called the ner tamid to symbolize the menorah. The nine-candle menorah is used to celebrate Chanukah. Chanukah originally celebrated the Maccabees’ defeat of the superior Syrian army. However, post-biblical Jewish tradition as recorded in the Talmud describes that when the Maccabees were rededicating the Temple, they only found enough oil to light the menorah for one day. A miracle occurred and the oil lasted for eight days. To celebrate Hanukkah, one candle is lit on the first night, two candles are lit on the second night, etc. The ninth candle, the “shammes” (in Yiddish) or “shamash” (in Hebrew), is a “helper candle” that is used to light the others, and to provide light, since tradition holds that one could not use the Chanukah lights to illuminate one’s home. |
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