As you’re reading this, you’re most likely somewhere in the process of dealing with food; preparing, digesting, hoarding or reheating. Giving thanks for intangibles such as religious freedom and paid holidays is exhausting, which is reflected in the dearth of stuff going on this week. Once the first weekend of December hits, though, you’ll be one busy consumer. So let me encourage you to avail yourself of the calm before the holiday storm (which may or may not be metaphorical) and enjoy these events at a leisurely, sated pace.
Culture Shock Deck The Jingle Bells, Drummer Boy
I am an unabashed, unironic lover of Christmas carols. I used to carol nearly every year as a kid, and one year a church member who owned a dairy lent us his flatbed trailer, dozens of hay bales and two Clydesdale horses so that we could ride around the neighborhood on an honest-to-god horse-drawn contraption, lending our goodwill and cheer to shut-ins and heathens. It remains one of my favorite memories. Here’s a chance to make your own. Monte Vista Christian Church in Nob Hill invites you to join it on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 4 p.m. for its 65 th annual Hanging of the Greens at 3501 Campus NE. Sing along to carols while festooning the parish in garland; dressing like a Dickens character is optional.
Culture Shock A Novel Idea
As much fun as reading is (and it is, oh it is), it’s even more fun to read a book, make new friends who have also read that book and then proceed to alienate them by arguing over plot holes and nuance. While this is a fairly accurate description of grad school, it also applies to the Albuquerque Public Library’s various book clubs (though I have to think there will be fewer turtlenecks and less use of the word "meta"). Instead, you can join groups across the city and share the immense joy of reading. Upcoming groups include the Mystery Book Group at Cherry Hills Library, meeting to discuss Maigret’s Christmas by Georges Simenon on Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and The More Serious Book Club’s dishing of Christopher Buckley’s satirical Florence of Arabia at Juan Tabo Library on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. For more groups, books and dates, go to cabq.gov/library/activitycategory.html.
Culture Shock Where We Go From Here
As you may have read last week, the lovely Amy Dalness has left the Alibi arts desk to pursue other opportunities, and we wish her more than the best: We wish her the bestest. In addition to continuing our focus on theater, visual and literary arts, we’ll be opening our arms to other art forms such as architecture and crafting. If you’ve got tips for these or any other creative happenings in our neighborhood, please send them to me at erin@alibi.com.
