DECEMBER 2024DECEMBER 1 – OPEN HEARTH COOKING DEMO AT HISTORIC DEERFIELD TODAYDec. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hall Tavern, 80 Old Main St., Historic Deerfield, Massachusetts. Winter soups and stews are on the menu in the Hall kitchen today!. Included with Historic Deerfield admission; Adults $20, youths 13-17, $5, children under 12 admitted free. Info: tinyurl.com/3numcmzd DECEMBER 5 – SEE YOUR FAVORITE BREED AT THE HOLIDAY CLASSIC DOG SHOWDec. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., this American Kennel Club-sanctioned show on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, Massachusetts, features all dog breeds in standards and obedience competitions. Show continues Dec. 6 and 7, also 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Free admission!. Charge for parking, however. Info: tinyurl.com/msuakt88 DECEMBER 8 – CHAMBER PLAYERS PRESENT ‘JOHNNY APPLESEED PLUS’ AT 52 SUMNERDec. 8 at 3 p.m. at 52 Sumner, 52 Sumner Ave., Springfield , Massachusetts, the Springfield Chamber Players present a family-friendly concert featuring Jerry Noble’s folk cantata, “Johnny Appleseed” and animal inspired compositions. Tickets $10; $5 discount with code SCP1. Tickets: springfieldsymphonymusicians.com DECEMBER 14 – PURRRSE BINGO FUNDRAISER FOR TJO FOUNDATION FOR ANIMALS!Dec. 14 from 6-8 p.m. at Gary Roam Hyundai, 105 Whiting Farms Rd., Holyoke, Massachusetts. Ten-game designer purse bingo featuring two Special Games for a Tory Birch and Louie Vuitton bag! Tickets include 10 cards, drink ticket and snacks. Additional cards, daubers, raffle tickets, more. Tickets: $40 pre-purchase, $45 at door. Tickets: tinyurl.com/3sycjvhr DECEMBER 15 – TALK- ‘HOW THE HOLOCAUST CHANGED THE YIDDISH LANGUAGE’Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. the Yiddish Book Center, 102 West St., Amherst, Massachusetts, will present an in-person and Zoom livestream talk on the book “Occupied Words: What the Holocaust did to Yiddish” with professor and author Hannah Pollin-Galley. Includes info by Holocaust expert Avinoam J. Patt. info/reservations: tinyurl.com/mtukzrbt DECEMBER 21 – BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASSIC CELEBRATES 130 YEARS OF HOOPS!Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. at the Mass Mutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield, Massachusetts. Presented by the Basketball Hall of Fame on the 130th anniversary of the start of the game, the two-game series pits UMass against Arizona State at 4 p.m., Rhode Island against Temple University at 6:30 p.m. info/tickets: tinyurl.com/muuavfj3 6 things... you need to know1. BOOK YOUR EUROPEAN POLKA ADVENTURE WITH JIMMY STURR !Spend August in the Mediterranean with the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra, including two days in Rome and a seven-day cruise aboard the Sun Princess! Excursion Aug. 13 to 23, 2025, includes cruise ship ports of call in Naples, Crete, Istanbul, Mykonos and Athens. Prices start at $2,199 double occupancy with Princess Easy Air airfare additional cost. Why not gift yourself! Info: href="mailto: gusk@jimmysturr.com"> gusk@jimmysturr.com or call 845-651-4266 2. YOU CAN TRULY ‘SHOP LOCAL’ WITH THIS ONLINE MARKETPLACEThe Feel Good, Shop Local website offers shoppers a curated collection of gift ideas for men, women, kids, friends, family and co-workers, all presented by local and regional artisans and merchants. There’s even an online shopping concierge if you need help picking out the perfect present! Info: feelgoodshoplocal.com/shop 3. GIVE THEM A YEAR OF DOGS, AND SUPPORT KANE’S KRUSADEKane’s Krusade, a nonprofit helping pets and families stay together through C. A. R. E. Kits of food, treats and equipment, help with vet bills and housing advocacy, has produced a 2025 calendar as a fundraiser! Your purchase of these 12 months of local dogs helps support the work Kane’s Krusade does throughout the year. Cost of calendar is $25. Order at: tinyurl.com/26szncnn 4. GET YOUR HOLIDAY FANTASY FIX ON THE CONNECTICUT CHRISTMAS MOVIE TRAIL!It’s the first in the nation! The picturesque towns and byways of Connecticut have been home to more than 20 Christmas movies in recent years, including the 2024 Hallmark film “Trivia at St. Nick’s” shot at Connecticut College’s campus this past summer! Now fans can recreate their own Christmas magic! Trail includes suggested places to shoot a photo “putting you in the movie” as well as dining spots featured in the films. It’s the perfect trip for your Christmas movie buff! Info: ctvisit.com/articles/Christmas-movies-in-Connecticut 5. THIS CHRISTMAS, WHY NOT GIVE THEM THE GIFT OF AN EXPERIENCE?As people become more clutter-conscious, the idea of gifting an experience instead of another trinket has caught on as a sustainable, practical, alternative to traditional gift-giving. But where to start, and how much will it cost? The website No Sidebar has the answer- a list of 99 experience-based gift ideas- ranging from free or low cost plans - such as hosting a movie marathon or planning a beach day - to extravagant, like a whirlwind European vacation. Check out the ideas! Info: nosidebar.com/99-experience-based-gift-ideas/? 6. CATCH ‘A VERY 413 CHRISTMAS CAROL’ COURTESY OF NEPMThere’s two ways to catch this Western Mass radio play adaptation of the Dicken’s classic - attend a live reading on Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Tree House Brewing Company, 1 Community Place, South Deerfield ($25 /person) or the one-hour replay on 88.5 or Classical NEPM in December! Elizabeth Perkins stars as Ebeneezer Scrooge, Fenway Park’s organist Josh Kantor accompanies and there’s cameos by favorite NEPM radio hosts. Tickets: nepm.org/413christmas  |
