As we mentioned this morning, Hanukkah begins at sundown tonight. Here are a few events happening on the Lower East Side in connection with the Festival of Lights.
On Thursday at 5:30 p.m., Chabad of the Lower East Side will hold its annual Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony and party in Ahearn Park (Grand Street and East Broadway). There will be free latkes, hanukkah gelt and music.
Sunday the Museum at Eldridge Street will offer a different way to spend Christmas Day. At 1 p.m., it’s the annual “Klez For Kids Winter Concert.” Clarinetist Greg Wall and his band “Klezmerfest” leads the audience on a musical tour of Eastern European Jewish culture. The program concludes with a shtetl wedding; kids in the audience will take on the roles of bride, groom and wedding guests dancing their way through the synagogue.
If food is on your mind, keep in mind latkes from Russ & Daughters must be ordered a week in advance.
You might not have much better luck at Whole Foods. LES resident Marjorie Ingall noticed this “slightly confused but well intentioned display” a few days ago.
But have no fear! The Doughnut Plant has come to the rescue with their mini-round doughnuts filled with blackberry jam. They won’t last long.
UPDATE 4:47 p.m. Our friends at Russ & Daughters got in touch with us this afternoon for a clarification.
While it’s true that you need to place orders for shipping a week in advance, latkes may be ordered at the counter for takeout anytime. As a post on the appetizing store’s blog put it this afternoon:
Russ & Daughters is making latkes by hand, around the clock. Stop in to the shop and pick up some of our traditional potato latkes, along with homemade apple sauce, sour creme, creme fraiche, wild Alaskan salmon roe, and/or smoked salmon — all perfect toppings for this holiday treat.
