Here it is Dec. 19 and the spirit of the holidays hasn’t grabbed you yet? Fortunately, Southern California is blessed with good weather, so one can get out into the city and find activities to set the holiday mood.
Donations of lunchmeat, loaves of bread, box juices, bags of cookies, chips or nuts, plus jars of peanut butter and jelly are needed to prepare lunches for the homeless on Christmas eve. “Hashtag Lunchbag” preparation will beheld from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 24 at Zion Hill Baptist Church, 7860 10th Ave.
“We take a few hours to make lunches,” said Daniel Tabor, whose Long Beach, Inglewood, South Bay Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. helps organize the event. “It’s a party, we have the music going. You meet all kinds of different people.”
This will be the fourth annual event for the group, which invites everyone, even other fraternities, sororities, families and churches to join in the fun.
“Our goal is to pass the 5,000 lunch mark,” Tabor said. “We hit 4200 and 4700 the last two years.”
After lunches are prepared via assembly line, love messages complete the bags and volunteers from the event will start distributing lunches that afternoon. Drivers will start near the 110 freeway and Rosecrans Avenue and move north until they reach skid row, passing out lunch bags until they’re gone.
“We go on the side streets, freeway overpasses, wherever we see tents,” Tabor said. “If you don’t feed the homeless on Christmas Eve, when are you going to feed them. You’re not going to leave your house on Christmas day to do this.”
For more information, or to donate items for the lunch bag production, visit https://www.hashtaglunchbag.org/join-an-event? And search 90043 or hashtag lunch bag Christmas Eve. Monetary donations can be made at http://www.crowdrise.com/krimson-and-kreme.
The KRST Unity Center, 7825 S. Western Ave., is hosting a vision board party at 1 p.m. Dec. 21 and at 3 p.m. on Dec. 22. Artists can use the supplies on hand or bring their own magazines, glue, markers, poster boards and paints. A $5 donation is requested. For more information, call (323) 759-7567. Create a vision board for 2020 and inspire the power to live your dreams.
The LA Philharmonic’s Deck the Hall concerts feature performances by an eclectic array of artists who bring the joy of the holiday season to concert-goers during this special time of year.
“Dianne Reeves: Christmas Time is Here” will feature the great singer presenting holiday favorites. The All-star ensemble includes pianist Peter Martin, guitarist Romero Lubambo, bassist Reginald Veal and drummer Terreon Gully at 8 p.m. in the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Two Holiday Sing-Alongs are set at the Disney Hall on Dec. 21, one at 11:30 a.m. and another at 2:30 p.m. Melissa Peterman will host the event, which will feature the Angeles Chorale, a jazz combo and pipe organ. Children over 2-years-old are admitted to the traditional sing-alongs.
A “White Christmas” sing-along is set for 3 and 8 pm. At the Disney Hall, where the audience can sing along with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kay, Vera-Ellen and the film’s remastered soundtrack. The 1954 film will be presented with lyrics on the screen.
CeCe Winans, one of the best selling and most-awarded female gospel artists of all time, will take the Disney Concert Hall stage at 8 p.m. on Dec. 23. Having sold more than 5 million albums, Winans has been awarded 12 Grammys, 20 Dove Awards and seven Stellar Awards, along with multiple NAACP Image Awards, Soul Train Awards, Essence Awards and more.
Winans’ special holiday-themed gospel concert will feature a full band and gospel choir.
Tickets for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s season are available for purchase at www.laphil.com, in person at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office at 111 S. Grand Ave., or by phone at (323) 850-2000.
While you are downtown, visit the Bai Holiday Ice Rink at Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St. Skating is open daily through Jan. 20, 2020 for 60 minute sessions. General admission is $9; skate rental is $5 and there are group rates applicable Monday through Thursday. For 25 skaters or more.
The skating rink is available for private parties on selected Mondays and Tuesdays during the 5:30 and 7 p.m. sessions. Tickets are sold at the rice rink ticket window and advance session tickets can be purchased online. Visit www.holidayicerinkdowntownla.com for more details on hours of operation.
Leaving town? During the holiday season, Los Angles World Airports (LAWA) is spreading cheer with a variety of events to entertain airport guests.
“December is a very special time when families and friends come together to celebrate the winter holidays,” said Barbara Yamamoto, director of guest experience and innovation at LAWA. “There’s already an atmosphere of excitement for the holidays in the air, as airlines decorate the terminals and airport staff gear up for the holiday rush.”
For those traveling with children, tomorrow, Dec. 20, LAX employees will host “Holiday Hanger” arts and crafts time at the Tom Bradley International Terminal Children’s Playground from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. People of all ages will be able to spend time with “Santa PAWS,” featuring the LAX therapy dogs from the Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUP) program.
PUPs volunteers will also lead a holiday book reading for children during storytelling time on Dec. 19 in Terminal 7 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Los Angeles Airport Police officers, spouses and family members will be handing out teddy bears, candy canes and tree ornaments to children traveling through LAX on Dec. 25 at various locations.
In the spirit of giving to others, a collection box for new and unwrapped toys and sports equipment is available at the first-aid station at Tom Bradley International Terminal through Dec. 24. This is part of the annual “Spark of Love” drive conducted by the Los Angeles Fire Department and KABC7. the first-aid station is located pre-security and is open daily from noon to 10 p.m., with additional hours on Wednesdays from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
On Crenshaw Boulevard, the New Millennium Beauty and Barber Shops, 4310 Crenshaw Blvd., is also holding a toy drive until Dec. 21. Call (424)702-7117. New Millennium was founded in 1998 and is offering full services for men and women during the holidays, along with televisions and a pool table for waiting loved ones.
If you’d rather stay home, Christmas-themed episodes from the following sitcoms will be airing on TV ONE, starting Dec. 22: “The Jeffersons;” “Sanford & Son;” “Good Times;” “What’s Happening;” “What’s Happening Now;” “Family Matters;” “Living Single;” “Girlfriends;” “Eve;” and “All of Us.”
“Family Matters” will air Dec. 24 starting at 6 a.m. ET until Dec. 25 at 6 a.m. ET. The station will also have holiday movies all day on Christmas through Dec. 26 at 2 a.m. ET. Visit www.tvone.tv.
While you are home, it’s the season to create and connect with loved ones through holiday food. Children love sweet treats and according to local blogger Veronica Hendrix, spending time in the kitchen making Rice Krispie Treats with her grandson is magical. They add bright, red cranberries and dust the tops of the treats with rainbow sugar sprinkles to make them more festive.
“They look like happy bars,” her grandson said. “Because when you see them they make you smile and they taste really good!”
The recipe can be found on Hendrix’s blog: https://collardgreensandcaviar.com
“I think the real happiness is in making them together and inviting his creativity into the mix, literally,” Hendrix writes.
Whatever you do this holiday season, make it merry!
