Oy Khanike, Mir Geyen Esn…un Tantsn…un Lakhn!
Was there ever a Khanike as worthy of the record books as 5782 (MMXXI)? After a holiday season spent mostly alone or in small households, this year was a time to enjoy safely celebrating among friends, making new connections, amping up the music, eating the most geshmak of foods, and hugging as many people as possible! With two weekends of the holiday, there was more time for revelry, candles, and musik.
The Sunday evening of the first candle offered two parties in Brooklyn Heights: the first, a shayter-hoym (bonfire) complete with marshmallows, and the second offering a spirited dreydl competition. After eight years, I found a great opportunity to sport my Thanksgivukah shirt again, and this year added sparkly earring baubles of menorahs and dreydlekh. I walked away from the first party with some new records, two of Jewish/Yiddish folk songs and one of Mickey Katz parodies.
Monday night offered an evening concert program in Times Square featuring the Maccabeats (here’s Six13’s song from this year, too!) and Matisyahu. Afterward came dinner in K-Town and wandering around Macy’s, enjoying the Christmas windows and decorations. Tuesday night was a good time to rest, lighting the candles while watching Miracle on 34th Street.
After nights spent outside with menorahs, Wednesday offered a different kind of party, full of singing and music. I brought along my clarinet and helped lead the playing and singing of several Chanukah songs. (Also, check the new khanike shoes!) The party was held at a friend’s apartment in Park Slope and included a special blue cocktail in honour of the choliday! We sang Yiddish songs (including O, ir kleyne likhtelekh and Oy khanike), Debbie Friedman compositions (I Am a Latke and Not By Might), choliday favourites (several versions of Maoz Tsur, including a medley with Good King Wencelas), a spirited rendition of Ocho Kandelikas…and included jamming with a few other instrumentalists!
Instead of a Chanukah party, Thursday night I attended Matthew Scott’s revue, The Jesus Year, at the Kaufman Center. This was my first time at the center, which offers a wide variety of music lessons and performances. Friday was another night to stay in after several days of celebration.
During the day Saturday I used my Black Friday purchase, a new stand mixer, for the first time. After searching NYT Cooking for cookie recipes, I settled on the more geshmak version of a homemade thin mint. (A couple weeks before, I’d preemptively obtained peppermint extract from Sahadi’s because I decided I’d use it at some point – this was that point!) After an afternoon of baking, I took the train to Queens to host the Wandering Jews of Astoria’s Chanukah Havdalah (Oliver’s was a fabulous spot). We lit a lot of candles (and attracted an out-of-town visitor who hadn’t yet lit Chanukah candles!), sang songs, and enjoyed the menu variety and pretty cocktails.
On the last night of khanike, I went to two wonderful parties. The first was with my Yiddish chevrusa in Queens. We had plantain and regular latkes, topped with guacamole and marinated eggplant, sour cream and applesauce. We sang together and jammed with a mandolin and oud in addition to my clarinet. Afterward, I went to a party organized at the last minute in Park Slope, full of klezmer jamming and Brooklyn Yids.
Here’s to a year full of light!