THINGS TO DO: EVENTS

The Menotomy Grill & Tavern, which opened in 2013 at 25 Mass. Ave., brews live music Thursday nights.

See who's scheduled to perform at 9 p.m. >>

There is plenty of parking available and never a cover charge, the managers say.

The website says of the performers, "Our live music nights feature evenings of blues, grassroots, funk, country, soul and much more."

UPDATED Nov. 28: Longtime community theatre group Arlington Friends of the Drama invites residents to its upcoming show, starting Friday. Performances of the romantic comedy "One Slight Hitch" are expected to run through Dec. 10.

Those interested can attend an 8 p.m. performance Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 or a 3 p.m. performance Dec. 3 and 10. 

Written by comedian Lewis Black, this play centers around the chaotic planning of a wedding. According to an email from AFD, the show features seven actors: Arlington resident Karen Fanale along with Jon Nuquist, Kayleigh Ryan, Kimberly Blaise, Cassidy Guimares, Mack Carroll and Riley Flynn.

Mask wearing by audience members is still recommended but no longer required, according to the AFD website. The theater is wheelchair accessible through an outdoor elevator to the left of the main entrance. Assistive listening devices are expected to be available. All performances are scheduled to take place at AFD Theatre, 22 Academy St. behind Town Hall. On street parking is set to be available. 

More information about the performance can be read below.

See all Regent events >>      

'Tis the Season

Presented by the Legacy Dance Company, this dance show will, "ring those bells!" for all ages, organizers say. Audience members can join The Dance Inn's, "Legacy Dancers" for three great shows and ring in the holiday season.

Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2. 

Learn more | Show Times

Park Avenue Congregational Church (PACC) plans to present a Christmas concert via Zoom at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3.

PACC's 2023-2024 concert season as a whole explores the many expressions of love, organizers say. December's concert, titled “Love Came Down,” explores "the profound love that is at the heart of why we celebrate Christ’s birth," according to spokeswoman Kathleen Fink.

Andrea Hart conducts the PACC Youth Choir. Jeffrey Brody, conducting the PACC Festival Choir, is to be joined by Jerry Scheinfeldt, accompanying certain selections when he is not singing with the choir. 

The concert includes traditional carols, such as “Lullay My Liking,” plus selections from Christmas masterworks, as well as  Brody’s own version of “The Call.” A duet, solos and an instrumental piece round out the program.

UPDATED Nov. 27: Jam'n Java Open Mic, which historically had been open one Friday every month for 13 years, took a Covid-19 break from the Kickstand Cafe for more than three years, during which time shows continued virtually, usually twice monthly

But, in early April of this year, the opportunity to perform in person returned, and at a different and larger venue -- the back room of Donut Villa, 319 Broadway,

These events now continue on the first Friday of each month, including Friday, Dec. 8, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

 Find out more about how to sign-up here >> 

The annual Arlington Heights holiday stroll and tree lighting is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 9, from 2 to 5 p.m. This event is put on by the Arlington Heights Community Association (AHCA), which invites residents of all ages to stroll along Mass. Ave. to view winter-themed painted windows and to enjoy family-friendly activites. 

This free event is in collaboration with the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. The rain date is Sunday, Dec. 10. 

The suggested route is set to start at Shattuck Heights Hardware, 1298 Mass. Ave., and end at Maruichi Japanese Food and Deli, 1398 Mass. Ave. There are expected to be more than 60 painted windows to view along the way at 25 storefronts, according to a press release. There is also a scheduled viewing of the new "You are Loved" mural on the side of Szechuan's Dumpling, recently created by muralist Alex Cook with the help of community members.

The stroll expects to end with a tree lighting outside the ACMi studio, 85 Park Ave. Guests can enjoy free cider and cookies there.

A detailed schedule of the day's events can be read below: 

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra; Mark Harvey, first row center.

The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, which has Arlington ties, is planning a Christmas concert for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Church of the Covenant, 67 Newbury St., Boston.

Longtime Arlington resident Mark Harvey, who founded the orchestra in 1973, is expected to lead the performance. This is the group's 51st Christmas concert.

According to a press release, this year's show is dedicated to the late Arni Cheatham, a beloved saxophonist with the band for more than four decades, who died in October. Included in the show's program are jazz carols, spirituals, American originals and Harvey's piece titled "The Gift," dedicated to Cheatham. "Aardvark is blessed to have had such a wonderful musician and human being in its midst for so long.  Rest in peace, Arni," Harvey wrote in the release.