If you are looking for something to do this weekend, and you are able to travel to Port Jefferson, Long Island, you're in for a treat. The Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council presents the 14th Annual Charles Dickens Festival. Now through Sunday, Port Jefferson has transformed into the past. The streets and shops are decorated, costumed characters are walking about, Victorian entertainment and food is available. Most attractions are free or low-cost.
Recently, the Morgan Library and Museum allowed the New York Times to photograph the entire handwritten manuscript of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1812-1870), and display it online. A challenge is afoot: The reader who spots the most intriguing textual change will be invited to tea at the Morgan Library and Museum in Manhattan (the winner must provide transportation), where the 66-page manuscript is housed. You can file your submissions by clicking on the New York Times blog post here, no later than 5 p.m. EST on December 16.
The 1843 manuscript is currently on display under glass, open to page 37, at the Morgan Library and Museum at 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, now through January 10, 2010. For hours and admission info, click here.
I recently saw Disney's A Christmas Carol in IMAX 3D. I enjoyed it, although it was a bit dark, and I thought several scenes in this PG-rated movie were too intense for the younger set. The rating box warns: "Some material may not be suitable for children. Scary sequences and images."
The current production at Theatre Three on Main Street in Port Jefferson is Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It is playing now through December 27, 2009. For ticket information, click here.
"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as good a time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on their journeys."
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4 comments:
That sounds like a beautiful event. I was just at Washington Irving's cottage, decorated for Christams a la 1855. He was recognized as one of 3 authors, along with Dickens, that really gave America its adapted concept of Christmas tradition, which wasn't nearly as big a deal until they wrote about it.
I've never been to Washington Irving's cottage, but I imagine that during the holiday season it would be the best time to see it! It's cool to "go back in time" and see how these folks (especially writers) lived.
This sounds wonderful! I've never been to something like this but have always wanted to go. Is this an annual event?
Hi Elaine,
I'm bummed about the weather today, it's going to put a damper on today's Festival activities. I hope tomorrow will be better. It is a yearly event each December in Port Jefferson. It's been picking up steam each year with the number of participants and events they have; it has become quite impressive.
I hope you get to visit sometime!
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