THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2006 T HE B OSTON G LOBE Style C9 For some , Eve is a night of

º , Party guide Continued from Page C1 SATURDAY Christmas party and work. John JBall at the DoubleTree Hotel (40-plus), was in the coat room, Patrick was Waltham. $49. tjcboston.com with me walking the floor, and Mi- chael was behind the bar.’’ SUNDAY The quickly spread Matzo Ball at Avalon, . $25. to other cities, and spawned more matzoball.org dances, concerts, and comedy JBall at the Hard Rock Cafe (20s and shows for Jewish singles. With a little help from the burgeoning 30s), Boston. $15. tjcboston.com Jewish hipster movement, Christ- Quick Dates: A night of GLBT speed mas Eve parties have taken off. dating, Brookline. $36. boston- This year in Boston, Jewish singles keshet.org will be making the scene at the Matzo Ball, two parties staged by an organization called JConnec- has, however, spent time on the tion (one at the Hard Rock Cafe Jewish online dating site JDate for those in their 20s and 30s, and .com (and written a song about it), another in Waltham for singles 40 and imagines that the scene at the and up). There’s even a speed-dat- Clockwise from top left: Matzo Ball is the offline counter- ing party for gay and lesbian Jews. Allyson Abrams of Brookline part to that. Next year, these events will face and Harris Grandberg of ‘‘The idea of getting everyone increased competition when a Waltham get in the holiday on JDate piled together in a room, New York-based group called Let spirit, Lauren Klatsky of West drunk on $13 cosmopolitans, with My People Go brings its Christmas Roxbury chats with Aaron 20-year-old Madonna songs blast- Eve ball to Boston. Jeff Strank, the Block of Somerville, and ing at 120 decibels, isn’t really my founder of Let My People Go, Rabbi Mayshe Schwartz and idea of a fun night,’’ Tannenbaum claims attendance at his New York his wife, Shifra, enjoy the says. ‘‘I can understand the im- ball is bigger than the Matzo Ball. Kosher Casino in Boston on pulse. Being a Jew on Christmas Let My People Go holds parties at Monday. The rabbi says large Eve is really kind of horrible.’’ several venues in Manhattan, and singles events are a logical Tannenbaum, whose band offers complimentary Hummer evolution for young Jews at played in Boston last week, is part limousine service so attendees can Christmas. of a generation of younger Jews hop from party to party in VIP who are looking to create new tra- style. family dinner on Christmas day,’’ ditions. ‘‘It has become a phenom- she says. ‘‘We can just sleep in late ‘‘Most Jewish traditions involve enon,’’ says Strank. ‘‘Some years and go to the movies the next day. fasting, and that’s no fun,’’ says the there are as many as 15 events for If you have loads of young, single cheeky Tannenbaum. ‘‘The new Jewish singles happening in New Jews in a room, it’s inevitably go- traditions involve some element of York on Christmas Eve. And there ing to result in romance, or at least music, comedy, and sometimes are big parties in , Mi- a few fun, drunken hookups.’’ even alcohol.’’ ami, and . It’s really the Mayshe Schwartz, a Brookline- Molly Harris’s Christmas Eve one night that you have more Jew- based Orthodox rabbi who wears a tradition involves going to the ish people out looking for ro- baseball cap embroidered with JConnection’s annual party. The mance than any other night of the Hebrew symbol chai (which 29-year-old dental hygienist has year.’’ means living) and answers to the gone on dates with men whom she The answer to the question nickname Schwartzy, thinks the has met at the party, but unlike ‘‘Why, on this night, do we look for advent of Christmas Eve as Jewish PHOTOS BY JOHN BOHN/GLOBE STAFF Tannenbaum, she takes a less cyn- romance?’’ is as varied as the peo- Valentine’s Day has more to do acle on 34th Street.’ It was only tion veers toward the big Christ- who show up are usually a little ical approach to looking for love ple who are throwing and attend- with loneliness than the consump- logical that these giant singles par- mas Eve parties. That was certain- more serious about dating.’’ on Christmas Eve. ing these mixers. Sarah Maxwell, tion of large quantities of booze. ties would evolve from this.’’ ly the case among the singles who Not everyone is a fan of big ‘‘I’m basically there to hang out associate publisher of New York- ‘‘At some point, many Jews feel Schwartz, who runs the Cha- attended Chabad Chai’s Kosher mixers such as the Matzo Ball. Rob with my friends and have a good based magazine, says the isolated at Christmas,’’ he says. bad Chai Center in Brookline, reg- Casino party in the Theater Dis- Tannenbaum, music editor at time,’’ she says. ‘‘If you take it too equation of open bars and ‘‘hot ‘‘There’s a whole country celebrat- ularly hosts parties and looks for trict on Monday night. Blender and half of the musical seriously, it’s going to be stressful. Heebs’’ will inevitably result in ing something, and you can only ways to make religion accessible to ‘‘This will be my first one,’’ says comedy act Good for the Jews, I see Christmas Eve as a bonus multiple love connections. run with it so far, then at some singles and families who are not Debi Milkes, a 25-year-old teacher, confesses that he’s never been to holiday. It’s like the rest of the ‘‘None of us have to worry point, you can’t. You don’t have a members of a temple. This time of of Sunday night’s Matzo Ball. ‘‘I the Matzo Ball, but quickly adds world is off doing their own thing, about hangovers the next day, be- Christmas tree, stores are closed, year, he says the talk among the guess I’m hoping to meet some- that ‘‘all the wild horses in Man- so we get this night to party, and cause we don’t have to face a big everything you’re watching is ‘Mir- single members of his organiza- one. I’ve heard that the people hattan couldn’t drag me there.’’ He who doesn’t love that?’’

GALA NEW YEAR'S EVE SUMPTUOUS STRINGS COMEDIAN COMEDIAN COMEDIAN FAMILY TREES AT THE & FIRST DAY CONCERTS TRIOMPHE DE L’AMOUR ANDREW DICE CLAY STEVE SWEENEY KATHY GRIFFIN CONCORD MUSEUM Federico Cortese conducts Lully, Brahms "The Undisputed Heavyweight King of Ring in the New Year with Steve Sweeney Kathy Griffin, star of Bravo's "My Life on 35 trees decorated with whimsical ornaments Bring your friends for a Festive Baroque Jakoulov viola concerto w/ Michael Zaretsky Comedy," ANDREW DICE CLAY performs at The Comedy Connection in Faneuil Hall the D-List" performs at Symphony Hall on inspired by classic and contemporary New Year! New Year's Eve @ 8pm and Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik at The Comedy Connection in Faneuil Hall on Sunday, December 31st at 7PM. To Valentine's Day, Wednesday, February children's picture books. Now through Jan 1 First Day @ 3pm in Sanders Theatre. Sat. Jan. 6, 7:30pm Rogers Ctr, N. Andover on New Year's Eve, Sunday, December 31st. purchase tickets call (617) 248-9700; in 14th at 8PM. To purchase tickets call including Thursday evenings 'til 8:00. Sun. Jan. 7, 3pm NEC's Jordan Hall, Boston To purchase tickets call (617) 248-9700 or person at our box office or order on-line (617) 266-1200; in person at Symphony Hall A holiday tradition in historic Concord, MA Bach's 4th Brandenburg, Telemann's 781-224-1117 newenglandstringensemble.org on-line at www.comedyconnectionboston.com. at www.comedyconnectionboston.com. or order on-line at www.bso.org. 978.369.9763 or www.concordmuseum.org Concerto for flute & recorder, Handel arias featuring soprano Sari Gruber. Tickets $28-$41-$55-$68 include "SALUTE TO VIENNA" Intermission Champagne Reception! World's Greatest New Year's Concert ARTSBOSTON.ORG 617/484-9200. www.bostonbaroque.org. returns to Symphony Hall Or call Sanders Theatre: 617/496-2222. A magnificent live performance featuring ONE-STOP SHOPPING Hurry! Tickets are flying out the door! DEC. 28-31 a brilliant cast of 75 musicians, singers FOR THE BEST TD BANKNORTH GARDEN and dancers, performing the famous waltzes, SHOWS IN TOWN! Buy Tickets At: polkas, marches and songs www.disneyonice.com by the Waltz King, Johann Strauss Jr. Visit ArtsBoston.org today 617-931-2000 Reach millions of TD Banknorth Garden Box Office "Salute to Vienna" live on stage! and find discount tickets for Ticketmaster Outlets Symphony Hall, Friday, January 5, 8:00PM new customers — the fall’s most exciting Call: 617-266-1200/ Visit: www.bso.org THE BOSTON CAMERATA shows! Great prices! Easy to HOLIDAY STROLL www.salutetovienna.com for FREE! A FRENCH CHRISTMAS! use! No waiting in box office Walk Boston’s Freedom Trail with a 19th century Dickensonian costumed guide on Nothing is more joyful than the sound of A lines! Plus, get up-to-date French Xmas! Our production brings back to the NEWEST Freedom Trail Foundation tour. Boston one of Camerata's best-loved holiday information about Hear the tales of the people who fomented a programs, not heard in Boston for 5 years. Be part of 's second BosTix, ArtsBoston, Jr., Revolution, shop till you drop in at a Including chants, dances, carols, and more! annual Arts & Entertainment Weekend, and upcoming events! Freedom Trail museum store, and round off Tix: www.bostoncamerata.org or 866/4272092 February 9-11, 2007. It's the perfect opportunity to www.artsboston.org your afternoon with a delicious warm cup of Wed Dec 20th, 8:00pm, First Parish Church, connect with arts-loving consumers and grow your tea, hot chocolate or wine, and crumpets at 20 High Rd (Rte 1A), Newbury; Th, Dec 21st business — all at absolutely NO COST! the historic Omni Parker House Hotel. 8:00pm, Hancock United Church, 1912 Mass. Now thru Dec. 31, 3:30 pm, Thurs.-Sun. Ave, Lexington; Fri Dec 22nd, 8:00pm, 1st DON'T MISS IT! Tickets - adults $27,children $18 Church in Cambridge, 11 Garden Street; Sat NOW THRU DEC 30 Dec 23rd, 8:00pm, 775 Harrison Ave, Boston Just make a special promotional offer during the weekend of 617.357.8300 or www.TheFreedomTrail.org The arrival of Boston Ballet's February 9-11 and your message will be included — for FREE THE NUTCRACKER at its beautiful new home was a resounding triumph last year. — in The Arts & Entertainment Weekend Program Guide and Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen’s website. Don't miss this chance to showcase your business in production features the entire Boston front of 2.6 million Boston Globe, Worcester Sunday Telegram Ballet and close to 300 children from and Boston.com readers! Boston Ballet School. The full Tchaikovsky PRESENTED BY 5W!TS score will be performed live by the Boston But hurry — you only have until A MODERN DAY ADVENTURE AWAITS AN ENGLISH CHRISTMAS Ballet Orchestra. Call Ticketmaster at Friday, December 22 to be included CHARLIE CHAPLIN “Full-immersion adventure”–Boston Globe A CEREMONY OF CAROLS 617-931-2787 or visit www.bostonballet.org Deadline "A clown for the thinking man." NY Magazine “The Future of Entertainment” –Mix Magazine Fri Dec 22, 8 PM, Old South Church, Ask about VIP Gold seating and other in both the Program Guide and FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! Test your skills in this mind-bending extended! Afternoons & Evenings/Adults & Children adventure of sights, sounds, and action! 645 Boylston St, Copley Sq special packages available. website for FREE. The Lyric Stage Company of Boston Groups Welcome! Gift Certificates Available Join us for our traditional holiday 140 Clarendon St, Copley Sqare Call 617-375-WITS or visit 5-wits.com celebration, with candlelight procession, Sign up today at www.boston.com/aeweekend 617.585.5678 [lyricstage.com] sacred music, brass chorale, and opportunities for the audience to join in! Sponsored by Give the gift of At the peak of the season, enjoy an arts adventure! a uniquely English expression of the spirit of Christmas, featuring BosTix gift certificates Benjamin BrittenÕs "A Ceremony of Carols". available online at BosTix.org Tickets $20-$30-$40, available anytime at Redeemable online or in www.choruspromusica.org or 800-658-4276. MYSTERY CAFE HAS A Media schedule based on 1 Boston Sunday Globe, 1 SundayT&G,andoneweek Boston.com. BOSTON & CAMBRIDGE person at the BosTix booths NEW BOSTON LOCATION Source: 2004/2005 Gallup Poll of Media Usage and Consumer Behavior, Boston DMA HOTEL PACKAGES AT THE Now in Boston: Let's Kill the Boss! Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau Receive a free $20 BOSTIX HAS HOT SHOWS FOR Customized for the holiday season. Romance, Shopping & Theatre Weekends; At the Mansion, Boston's Hottest New Show McCormick and Schmick’s Anniversary & Girls Weekend packages. HALF-PRICE TONIGHT! 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