It’s a White Christmas
The Esquire and Mariemont theaters have hosted multiple sold-out, interactive screenings of White Christmas this season (the only tickets possibly left are for screenings on Saturday at Mariemont). It’s now a holiday tradition for the local indie theater chain, which encourages moviegoers to show up in Santa hats and sing along to this kitschy, classic Christmas film with a score by Irving Berlin.
Starring Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and the teeny-tiny-waisted Vera-Ellen, it’s a Technicolor 1950s holiday romcom about a singing set of sisters who have a meet-cute with army buddies/Broadway entertainment duo Crosby and Kaye and work together to save a struggling Vermont inn, owned by the boys’ former general. There are lots of great costumes (by Edith Head), elaborate choreography (by an uncredited Bob Fosse), catchy tunes and white humans with very blue eyes.
If you can’t get tickets, the movie is also on Netflix. Which means you can host your own interactive screening at home (as a member of our staff does every year, by herself, usually while simultaneously drinking white wine and baking sugar cookies). Here’s how:
- Use your TV box to stream the movie and put on English subtitles. That way, you can sing along with all the words. Or even talk along with all the dialogue!
- Don’t forget to wear your best Vera-Ellen turtleneck and make a plate of liverwurst sandwiches with buttermilk.
- Instead of learning the film’s choreography, you can recreate classic scenes, like the “Sisters” number, by coyly swinging around items from your living room instead of a blue feathered fan: throw pillows, wine glasses, a small dog, etc. Same effect.
- Vera-Ellen may have been a famous dancer, but instead of dancing to the very racist “Minstrel Show” performance, shout things like “WTF??” at the screen. Or do a bunch of statue poses during the mod and odd “Choreography.”
- Can you dress your pet like a tiny World War II general?
- It’s OK to cry during the “White Christmas” finale. If you can, find a sparkly Mrs. Claus outfit to wear while doing so. You can also throw flour in the air like fake snow; easy if you happen to already be baking.
WEDNESDAY 13
HOLIDAY: A Christmas Carol continues at the Playhouse in the Park. Read Rick Pender’s behind-the-scenes account here.
ONSTAGE: Bulgarian performance artist/singer/dancer/choreographer/photographer/visual artist/gay activist Ivo Dimchev performs at the CAC. Read an interview with Dimchev here.
MUSIC: Re-Art: The Many Faces of Israel at the Skirball Museum explores artistic interpretation and relationships utilizing the theme of Israel and its 70 years of independence. Read more about the exhibit here.
HOLIDAY: A Franciscan Christmas
Over-the-Rhine’s Saint Francis Seraph Church continues its annual A Franciscan Christmas at the Christian Moerlein taproom event center (aka Bockfest Hall) with a display of more than 50 nativity scenes from around the world. The creches are accompanied by a train display, a collection of Santa Claus figurines, multiple Christmas trees and a mini Dickens village, with a bonus live animal nativity featuring goats, sheep and donkeys at the nearby church on Vine Street. Through Jan. 1. Free; donations are encouraged. Christian Moerlein Malt House Taproom, 1621 Moore St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/christianmoerlein. — ALISON BAXTER
HOLIDAY: A Holiday with the Harpers
The Harpers — Charley, Edie and Brett — are Cincinnati’s favorite first family of nature-inspired artwork, from Charley’s modernist wildlife work to Edie’s graphic cats to Brett’s looser style of painted florals. And this art show at the Cincinnati Nature Center features “a glimpse into the winter wonderland” of the family with posters, prints and other items, as well as an exclusive display of the Harper’s private collection of holiday cards. Get a free Charley Harper print with a $35 purchase. Through Dec. 31. Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, cincynature.org. — MAIJA ZUMMO
THURSDAY 14
MUSIC: Americana/Bluegrass greats The Steel Wheels play the Southgate House Revival. Read more here.
LIT: RJ Smith discusses American Witness: The Art and Life of Robert Frank at the Mercantile Library. Read an interview with Smith here.
HOLIDAY: The Nutcracker
What holiday season would be complete without a visit from the Clara and the Nutcracker Prince? The Cincinnati Ballet’s The Nutcracker makes a triumphant return to Music Hall for the first time in 11 years to continue the beloved holiday tradition. Dance your way through a chronicle of sugar plum fairies, mice monarchs and candy castles as the Land of Sweets comes to life through fantastical sets and vibrant costumes. An abundance of sugary yuletide fantasies — set to a score by Tchaikovsky — awaits you. Through Dec. 24. $36-$130. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatiarts.org. — ERIN COUCH
COMEDY: Laura Sanders with Dave Waite
Ludlow, Ky. native Dave Waite returns from Los Angeles for a run of shows at Go Bananas this week. He’s bringing along the very hilarious Laura Sanders. A former Toledo resident, she now lives in New Orleans. Performing was always in her blood. “I’m from a theater kind of family,” she says. “Both my parents were in theater in the ’70s. I did the nerdiest version of that I could — I did speech and debate team in high school and acted in a couple of plays, very badly.” At home, she couldn’t be shy about speaking up. “The phrase we would use is, ‘Lose your breath, lose your turn.’ Growing up in my family, you had to believe you were funny and had something worthwhile to say because we were all such fans of our own voices.” Through Sunday. $8-$14. Go Bananas, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, gobananascomedy.com. — P.F. WILSON
FRIDAY 15
HOLIDAY: 98 Degrees
If you can get past the late-’90s staples of frosted tips, half-unzipped tracksuit jackets and astonishingly cheesy music videos, boy bands are pretty timeless, right? Relive the glory days Friday at the Aronoff and pretend two decades haven’t passed as 98 Degrees performs selections from their October album release, Let it Snow. Nick Lachey leads the charge as the boys (now men?) get in the Christmas spirit with some festive tracks from the album, including “What Christmas Means to Me,” “Run Rudolph Run” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The early show doubles as a fundraiser to help with medical expenses for Ellie Richardson, the Lachey’s Bar employee who was shot near the bar on Thanksgiving morning. 4 and 8 p.m. Friday. $50.50-$70.50. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatiarts.org. — ERIN COUCH
MUSIC: Outlaw Country icon Shooter Jennings and singer/songwriter Jason Boland head to the Southgate House Revival for their “Acoustic Song Swap” tour. Read more here.
ART: Crew Show at Clifton Cultural Arts Center
Similar to the Cincinnati Art Museum’s recent exhibition, Employed: A Staff Art Exhibition, which showcased the work of 37 employees from the CAM’s various departments, this Friday the Clifton Cultural Arts Center will host an opening reception for Crew Show, an exhibition featuring individual and collaborative works by the Contemporary Art Center’s art handling team. The CAC’s crew members — including chief preparator Joe Civitello, Claire Talbot, Brittany Hargrave, and Justin West, just to name a few — work daily to elevate and ensure the integrity of the work on exhibit, all the while continuing their own artistic praxis. Opening reception 6-8 p.m. Friday. Through Jan. 12. Free. Clifton Cultural Arts Center, 3711 Clifton Ave., Clifton, cliftonculturalarts.org. — MARIA SEDA-REEDER
HOLIDAY: Santamania
It’s three days of a Punk Christmas at the Northside Yacht Club during Santamania 2017. There will be five stages — including inside the freezer and the kitchen — featuring bands like Swim Team, The Dopamines, Smut, Leggy, Mardou and more. This fifth-annual jingle ball includes gift giveaways and an art sale, plus free breakfast burritos on Sunday. Read more here. Music starts 5 p.m. Friday; 4:20 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. $10 at the door. Northside Yacht Club, 4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, northsideyachtclub.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO
SATURDAY 16
HOLIDAY: Brunch with Santa at Brink Brewing
What is better than an afternoon with Santa Claus and your loved ones? That plus beer. Get in the Christmas spirit with adult beverages from Brink and root beer for the kids during Santa’s stop for family photos (bring your own camera; there’s no charge), holiday cheer and a little brunch. The Dapper Doughnut will be in attendance for extra snacks. Dogs are welcome. The brewery will also be collecting unwrapped gifts to donate to Bethany House Services for kids ages 7 to 12. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday; Santa will be there 1-3 p.m. Free admission. Brink Brewing Company, 5905 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, brinkbrewing.com. — ALISON BAXTER
MUSIC: Songwriting Clinic with Erika Wennerstrom
With soulful Rock ensemble Heartless Bastards on break, former Dayton, Ohio/Cincinnati resident Erika Wennerstrom is ensuring her band’s fans will still have forthcoming music to get excited about as she embarks on her first full solo adventure. Ahead of her forthcoming album, Wennerstrom has been touring, recently playing intimate rooms in the Midwest. Sandwiched in between a pair of shows at Northside’s Listing Loon (her Dec. 10 show sold out well in advance, as did her appearance there this Sunday) is a songwriting clinic at the recently opened music hub Herzog Music, which sells music gear and vinyl records, provides lessons and hosts a variety of events. For her Saturday appearance at Herzog (which is open to all ages), Wennerstrom will discuss her creative process, offer advice for aspiring songwriters and share stories from her impressive career fronting the now-Austin, Texas-based Bastards. 7 p.m. Saturday. $20. Herzog Music, 811 Race St., Downtown, facebook.com/herzogmusic. This event will likely sell out, so get your tickets now. They can be purchased through cincyticket.com or in person at Herzog and Eli’s BBQ’s Riverside and Findlay Market locations. — MIKE BREEN
HOLIDAY: Torch to Kiln: Holiday Plate + Coaster Class
You can make your own thematic holiday glass plate and coaster whether or not you have any experience working with the medium. This class at Brazee Street Studios teaches students how to twist and pull molten glass into festive decorations to fuse into a holiday plate or coaster. Class is recommended for ages 16 and up. 2-4 p.m. Saturday. $40 for a 6-inch plate or two coasters. Brazee Street Studios, 4426 Brazee St., Oakley, brazeestreetstudios.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO
HOLIDAY: The City Flea Holiday Market
The City Flea is hosting its final flea of the year, so don’t miss this opportunity to grab your last-minute holiday decorations or gifts. Select vendors will also have hot chocolate and other holiday treats for you to snack on as you shop the nighttime market. 5-10 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St. Over-the-Rhine, thecityflea.com. — KENNEDY PONDER
SUNDAY 17
HOLIDAY: Art on Vine
Featuring more than 60 vendors, this holiday gift-themed Art on Vine is a fast, fun and easy way to buy presents for your loved ones, handmade by local artists. Noon-7 p.m. Free admission. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, artonvinecincy.com. — MAIJA ZUMMO
MONDAY 18
HOLIDAY: Die Hard Live Script Reading
Yippie-ki-yay, mother fuckers! The second-annual live reading of the Die Hard script returns to Overlook Lodge. A panel of local comedians and actors will recreate this classic and violent holiday film featuring a slew of office workers taken hostage by German terrorist Hans Gruber during a Christmas party. Will New York City cop John McClane be able to save them? Expect themed drinks, like a Yippie Ki Yay’d Mother F****r, with rum, cachaНa, purple yam-coconut orgeat and pineapple. 7-9 p.m. Monday. Free admission. Overlook Lodge, 6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, facebook.com/overlooklodge. — MAIJA ZUMMO
TUESDAY 19
MUSIC: Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles presents an evening of Christmas songs at the Taft Theatre. Read more here.
WEDNESDAY 20
MUSIC: Seether supports its latest album, Poison the Parish, at the Taft Theatre. Read an interview here.
This article appears in Dec 13-20, 2017.
