Ah, Christmas in New York: it’s pretty much everything that Home Alone 2 made it out to be (with the exception of like, the entire plot) but better. The tree at Rockefeller Center, the chestnuts roasting on open-ish fires, John Waters putting the “X” in X-mas at B.B. King’s, and Ronnie Spector’s annual Christmas Party. For over 20 years, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and living legend has hosted a New York City Christmas party, where she performs all the holiday hits in her repertoire—and from 1963’s A Christmas Gift For You to 2010’s Ronnie Spector’s Best Christmas Ever, that’s a pretty impressive repertoire. The Ronette’s versions of “Sleigh Ride” and “Frosty the Snowman” rank on ASCAP’s list of the Top 25 Most Played Christmas Songs, but I never get sick of them no matter how many times I hear them at Starbucks (“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” is another story—when are people going to learn that that song is the worst?) At the December 16th and 17th shows, Ronnie will share seasonal tunes and her recollections of Christmases past, in addition to singing Ronettes classics and her for-charity cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black,” a touching tribute to the late artist who cited Ronnie’s big hair and big voice as big inspirations.
This year’s party definitely promises to be special—after all, it’s in a new venue, a “sneak peek” of the refurbished, relocated Cutting Room, now at 44 East 32nd St. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door (standing room attendance is $30). To purchase tickets for your little baby, click here. And if you’re not in the holiday spirit yet, here’s a video of Ronnie rockin’ around a Christmas tree with Darlene Love:
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8yyk_HZGcY 425×344][Ronnie Spector’s Best Christmas Party Ever]
[Ronnie Spector- The Official Website of The Bad Girl]
Photo of Ronnie lighting the Christmas tree at The South Street Seaport, November 2011 via Brooklyn Vegan.
