THE HOT 5
An opinionated to-do list
By Christopher Schobert

It’s December, and that means the holidays, so I had to include at least a few such events here in the “Hot 5.” But there’s plenty that doesn’t have to do with Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever festival you happen to celebrate. For your full holiday fix, see our special calendar here. And if you have no interest in any of those events, feel free to create your own “Not 5,”and take that attitude elsewhere, please. Happy holidays!


Chris Isaak photo courtesy of UB’s CFA.
1. Chris Isaak at UB’s CFA
Though he is best known as a singer-songwriter, Chris Isaak’s career has included some seriously interesting dips into the world of film, from an eponymous TV series on Showtime to roles in films from such heavyweights as Bernardo Bertolucci (Little Buddha), Jonathan Demme (Married to the Mob and The Silence of the Lambs), John Waters (A Dirty Shame), and David Lynch (for me, Isaak will always be Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me’s Special Agent Chester Desmond). But he is, first and foremost, a musician, and songs like “Wicked Game,” “Somebody’s Crying,” and “There She Goes” are modern moody classics. He visits UB’s Center for the Arts on December 8, promoting his most recent album, Mr. Lucky. Oh, and his “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing” was chosen by Stanley Kubrick as the theme for both the trailer and a key shagging sequence in his 1999 cinematic swan song, Eyes Wide Shut—one of my favorite misunderstood masterpieces.
7:30 p.m. on December 8 at UB’s Center for the Arts, University at Buffalo North Campus; 645-ARTS or www.ubcfa.org.

2. HockeyTowneUSA Fan Fest
Regardless of where the Sabres are in the standings come December, Buffalo should be stricken with a serious case of hockey fever. (Sorry, woeful Bills …) Players, fans, and family from around the globe will be here for the 2011 IHF World Junior Championship from December 26 to January 11, but there’s another good reason to go puck-mad—the HockeyTowneUSA Fan Fest. It’s a celebration of “everything hockey” from December 26 to 29 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, and it will feature vendors, interactive events, bubble hockey tourneys, a kids area, photo opportunities with local celebs and the Stanley Cup, and more. This should be a highlight for kids on holiday break throughout WNY.
Dec. 26–29 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, Convention Center Plaza; 208-1064 or www.hockeytowneusa.com.

3. Squeaky Wheel Dys(fun)ctional Holiday Party & Screening V.10
Squeaky’s annual holiday extravaganza—celebrating its tenth anniversary this year—is a unique, downright fun holiday celebration. Sure, there’s the standard food, drink, and pictures with Santa, but there are also films, videos, and installations that bring a little reality to the season—family obnoxiousness, gluttony, gift-envy, bad Santas, etc. A gift auction and local vendor booths make this a nice shopping spot, too. It’s a great way to support one of our coolest culturals.
8 p.m. on December 18 at Squeaky Wheel, 712 Main St.; 884-7172 or www.squeaky.org.

4. Maria M. Love Charity Ball
There won’t be any kids—let alone adults—looking snazzier this month than the middle and high schoolers participating in the 107th annual Maria M. Love Charity Ball. It’s open to all area middle and high school students, and it has truly become a WNY tradition like no other. But listen, kids: coat and tie are required for the young gentlemen, and formal dress is recommended for the young ladies. The Maria M. Love Convalescent Fund is named for its founder, Maria M. Love, who worked on behalf of those less fortunate in the area in the early part of the twentieth century. Clearly, her spirit of giving lives on.
Ball begins at 6 p.m. for middle school students; high school dance from 9–11:30 p.m; 635-3333 or www.marialovefund.org.

Photo courtesy of the Hamburg Christmas Tour of Homes.
5. Hamburg Christmas Tour of Homes
There are plenty of holiday home tours in WNY—Lewiston’s, for example, will be held on December 4 and 5. Hamburg’s Christmas Tour of Homes is another biggie. This is year seven for the self-guided tour hosted by Hamburg United Methodist Church, which seems to grow each year; the 2009 edition drew 300 attendees. Seven homes of diverse design throughout Hamburg are featured, all trimmed for the holidays. Complimentary refreshments and theme basket drawings will be featured throughout the tour and extended until 5 p.m. at the Methodist Meeting House on Main Street; visitors here can turn in the free raffle ticket attached to the tour ticket and purchase extras to get in on the drawings for other prizes and baskets. Tickets can be purchased at Hamburg United Methodist Church or at Lockwood’s Greenhouses (4484 Clark Street in Hamburg), or by calling HUMC at 649-8080. And all proceeds will benefit the church and the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on December 5 at homes throughout Hamburg; 649-8080.

Associate editor Christopher Schobert hearts the holidays.


SUBSCRIBE NOW

Back to the Table of Contents

Back to Top