A week of events in Cambridge and Somerville, from New Year’s parties to Ellis Paul at Passim
Sunday, Dec. 25
An image for the Harvard Square’s Poetry Stroll. (Image: Grace Coffey/National Park Service)
Third Annual Poetry Stroll, around the clock at various spots around Harvard Square (and continuing through Jan. 1). Free. A self-guided, 18-stop outdoor tour that highlights local poets by displaying works in storefronts and public spaces. Information is here.
Monday, Dec. 26
Third Annual Poetry Stroll (continued) around the clock at various spots around Harvard Square (and continuing through Sunday). Free. Information is here.
The Midwinter Revels: A Solstice Celebration at 7:30 p.m. at Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., near Harvard Square (and continuing though Wednesday). Tickets are $24 to $112. The 52nd annual celebration of this moment in the calendar; this year using the music, stories and dance of Irish, German and Russian Jewish families and the Mexican nurses they meet on Christmas Eve at Ellis Island in the 1920s. Information is here.
Start Making Sense: Talking Heads Tribute at 9 p.m. at The Sinclair, 52 Church St., Harvard Square. Admission is $23. The musicians in this seven-piece Talking Heads tribute band take pride in recreating faithfully the music and unique live show of Talking Heads, with front man Jon Braun as a spot-on David Byrne. Information is here.
Tuesday, Dec. 27
Third Annual Poetry Stroll (continued) around the clock at various spots around Harvard Square (and continuing through Sunday). Free. Information is here.
The Midwinter Revels: A Solstice Celebration (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., near Harvard Square (and continuing though Wednesday). Tickets are $24 to $112. Information is here.
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Third Annual Poetry Stroll (continued) around the clock at various spots around Harvard Square (and continuing through Sunday). Free. Information is here.
A scene from the new Midwinter Revels “Solstice Celebration” show. (Photo: Revels)
The Midwinter Revels: A Solstice Celebration (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., near Harvard Square. Tickets are $24 to $112. Information is here.
The Lilypad Variety Show from 10 p.m. to midnight at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square. There’s a $5 cover. Music, comedy, dance, poetry, art and film may make its way to the stage. Information is here.
Thursday, Dec. 29
Third Annual Poetry Stroll (continued) around the clock at various spots around Harvard Square (and continuing through Sunday). Free. Information is here.
Puzzle party from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free. Tea, cookies and a jigsaw puzzle make for a quiet hour of fun, conversation and break from the holiday frenzy. Information is here.
Family game night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Somerville Public Library East Branch, 115 Broadway. Free. All ages are invited to play the library’s games or bring a favorite from home. (And anyone may participate.) Information is here.
Jimmy Tingle Live! Humor for Humanity from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at First Church in Cambridge, 11 Garden St., Harvard Square (and continuing Friday and Sunday). General admission is $30 (with a $3.46 online fee). A journey from Tingle’s roots as an aspiring comic and street performer during the 1980s to the present, mixing time-tested comedic hits and newer, post-pandemic bits. Information is here.
Ellis Paul returns to Club Passim for another round of year-end shows. (Photo: Ellis Paul)
Ellis Paul plays at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square (and continuing through Dec. 31). Tickets are $40. These end-of-year stands are an annual tradition dating back to 1993 for the club and folksinger-songwriter Paul. Americana and folk artist Laurie MacAllister again opens. Masks must be worn unless eating or drinking. Information is here.
Friday, Dec. 30
Third Annual Poetry Stroll (continued) around the clock at various spots around Harvard Square (and continuing through Sunday). Free. Information is here.
Jimmy Tingle Live! Humor for Humanity (continued) from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at First Church in Cambridge, 11 Garden St., Harvard Square (with another show Sunday). General admission is $30 (with a $3.46 online fee). Information is here.
Ellis Paul plays at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square (and continuing through Dec. 31). Tickets are $40. Masks must be worn unless eating or drinking. Information is here.
Phaedra Phaded (via Facebook).
New Year’s Eve Eve: Jock Jammies at 9:30 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. General admission is $20. Celebrate the new year one night early at a party at which sportsball, athleisure, sleepwear and comfy queen cosplay looks are encouraged, a drag performance by Phaedra Phaded is a highlight and there are specialty themed cocktails, photography by Abigail Kuzia and music spun by DJ Mickey Grouse. Information is here.
Saturday, Dec. 31
Third Annual Poetry Stroll (continued) around the clock at various spots around Harvard Square (and continuing through Sunday). Free. Information is here.
End-of-year celebration from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Cambridge library’s O’Neill Branch, 70 Rindge Ave., North Cambridge. Free. Family-friendly activities such as games, music and treats. Information is here.
New Year’s Eve at Aeronaut starting at 7 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. General admission is $25, with an hour of Skip the Small Talk starting at 6 p..m. for $15 more to let you break the ice before the coming hours. DJ Donuts spins the music and Hungry Nomads provides the food to fuel the dancing. Admission price includes a commemorative Aeronaut flute glass and a midnight pour of glitter beer. Information is here.
Ellis Paul plays at 7 and 10 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square (and continuing through Dec. 31). Tickets are $40. Masks must be worn unless eating or drinking. Information is here.
Masquerade ball from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Lamplighter CX, 110 North First St., North Point. Admission is $35 (with a $3.77 fee) for this 21-plus event. Pick an elegant mask to wear while dancing to DJ’d music – there will be prizes for the best – and enjoy decadent snacks. Information is here.
Aughts-Themed New Year’s Eve Bash from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Lamplighter Brewing, 284 Broadway, The Port. Tickets are $30 for this 21-plus event. Come in velvet tracksuits and skater shoes, double-popped collars and low-rise jeans, wielding flip phones and smelling of cucumber melon body wash. The music will feature hits of the late ’90s and early ’00s, and there will be a free photo booth to capture your looks. A midnight pour is included. Information is here.
Lucky Strike Somerville (via Facebook).
Lucky Strike Somerville New Year’s Eve from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Lucky Strike, 325 Revolution Drive, Assembly Square, Somerville. General admission is $25 (with a $3.16 online fee) for this 21-plus event calling for neat, casual fitted attire. A DJ and dancing complements the bowling and other games, and there’s a midnight balloon drop. Information is here.
New Year’s Eve Party With LesbianNightLife & Slutcracker Afterparty from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. General admission is $40 for this 21-plus event, and people with “Slutcracker” tickets from the night’s show get in free as space allows. The vibe is glitz, glitter and glam in a tribute to extravagant nightclubs – from the speakeasies of the roaring ’20s to the iconic New York nightclubs of the 1970s – with a DJ, dancing and live entertainment. Information is here.
The Far Out New Year’s Eve party from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at The Cantab Lounge, 738 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square. Tickets are $15 for this 21-plus show. The high-energy, funk-focused septet plans to keep people dancing all night, and suggests the dancers come dressed as their favorite artist of 2022. Information is here.
Sunday, Jan. 1
Third Annual Poetry Stroll (continued) around the clock at various spots around Harvard Square. Free. This is the stroll’s final day. Information is here.
Jimmy Tingle Live! Humor for Humanity (continued) from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at First Church in Cambridge, 11 Garden St., Harvard Square. General admission is $30 (with a $3.46 online fee). Information is here.
