Events & Info

We will be meeting to light Chanukah candles, sing songs for the winter solstice, Christmas, Kwanza and other traditiions.  If you are now in Sing Thing or have been in Sing Thing or Summer Sing in the past, you are invited to join us.  Bring a goody, sweet or non sweet, or a drink to share.  We will sing from 7:30pm to about 8:20pm and then will break to eat and schmooz. If you know Sing Thing/Summer Sing alumni let them know about this.  (Toni and Sandi will provide warm cider).

** Sorry-this is open only to Sing Thing/Summer Sing families and to our alumni.

Weds. December 16th 824 Curtis St. Albany  (off Solano at the Safeway)

Thurs. December 10th 3461 Laguna Ave Oakland (between MacArthur & Montana off hwy 580)

Laura Sutta is a local photographer who’s work I love.  She has wonderful photos of Oakland and Lake Merritt, the Estuary and the bird life.  Her photos of baby canada geese are heart melting.  She is currently having a show at the Alameda County Law Library (Nov. 1st - Dec. 31st).  There is a reception for her there on Friday, December 4, 2009 from 5 to 7 pm.  The library will be selling the 2010 Lake Merritt Calendar and the reception will include the sale of her fine art prints, custom cards & calendars from her Lake Merrritt series & from Sacred Sites around the world.

Alameda County Law Library

125 12th St.

Oakland CA 94607

M/W/F/ 8:30am - 6pm, T/TH/ 8:30am - 9pm

Contact the library:Claudia Cook 510 208-4830; claudia.cook@acgov.org

or  Laura Sutta:  510-444-3820; sutta@earthlink.net

Every year the Cohen Bray house hosts a Holiday High Tea in this 125 year old Italian Stick Victorian home which has been continually lived in by family members since it was built.  This is a wonderful chance to see the treasures and meet the family and hear about the history of the house.  If you have not been to the Cohen-Bray house you will be amazed to see what it has to offer.  It is located in Oakland.

*Since it is a family home with family traditions that date back 125 years, it is not decorated until Christmas Eve and then it is used by the family for their events.  The Tea, therefore, happens yearly after New Years while the house is still decorated and before 12th Night, which traditionally signals the end of the holiday season.  The formal dining room is used for the Tea and family members host and serve.

I usually sing for this event if I am in town, which I will be this year.  I sing traditional folksongs, carols and songs from Camp Timbertall as background.

January 3rd, 2010   1 to 3pm.  Call 510 536-1703 or email cohenbrayhouse@gmail.com for reservations or more information

The Cohen Bray House is located at 1440 29th Avenue in Oakland.

If you haven’t been to revels, you gotta go.  Take the kids.  Very kid friendly.  There’s singing-dancing-cavorting-merrie making big time.   and ooooh, the costumes.  They’ve presented this pageant in our area for 24 years.  Many Sing Thing alumni have participated and this year Jessica and her mom, Jennifer, alumnae of our SF group, are both participating.  If you haven’t gotten filled with holiday spirit (& it’s pretty difficult these days) I guarantee that this will do it.  We try to go twice because it is such a joy and we love the music.  Lots of singing and they include the audience, too.

In celebration of the winter solstice, this year Revels is exploring the music, dance, stories and traditions of old Bavaria.

Dates are December 11-13 and 18-20, 2009

Held at Oakland’s Lake Merritt in the Scottish Right Theatre, 1547 Lakeside Dr., Oakland

www.californiarevels.org for more information

Tickets are $12-$50 and there are discounted shows, special prices for children and matinees and early evening shows so kids can get home and get to bed.  The theatre is located right across the street from the new Chalet restaurant.  There is some discounted parking at the oakland museum and it is near the 12th street BART station.

It is held at Oakland’s Lake Merritt at the Scottish Rite Auditorium

This just in from Kevin Westbrook, an Oakland Sing Thing alum. He sings with the chorus.

They are having their series of winter concerts Dec 5th at 80pm, Dec 6th at 4:30 pm and Dec 20 at 4:30pm at St Joseph the Worker church in Berkeley.  This will be a classical program including Mendelssohn & works from Handel’s Messiah.  Always a great concert.  www. bcco.org for information and directions.

The City of Oakland office of Parks and Recreation has a lovely offering every holiday season.  They have a Water Sleigh tour on Lake Merritt with caroling (song sheets provided) & candy canes.  It costs $5/per person and they also offer a private charter with a capacity of 20 for $90.  The tour goes around the lake and includes complimentary cookies and hot cider at the end.  Here is the schedule:

Friday Tours:            December 11th & 18th  Times:  4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm

Saturday Tours         December 12th & 19th  Times:  4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm

Sunday Tours           December 13th & 20th   Times:  4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm

Tours depart            Lake Merritt Boating Center - inside Lakeside Park

568 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland CA 94610

www.oaklandnet.com/parks

Call for reservations 510 238-2196

We at Sing Thing have our holiday parties and they are among the favorite evenings of our year.  Have you ever wanted to share that with your friends and families?  Please think of me if you are planning a family/friends holiday get-together.  For forty years I have done Christmas/Chanukah/solstice gatherings all over the Bay Area.  My rates are moderate and my own students get a 20% discount.