Holiday happenings: From "Wonderful Life" to Handel's "Me

Spending the holidays on campus? Here's what's happening:

The Music Department will offer a free noontime Christmas concert at 12:15 p.m. today, Thursday, Dec. 9, in Goodspeed Recital Hall. The concert will feature the Crescats and Members of the Brass performing yuletide carols. For more information, call 702-8484.

Law School Films will present the perennial Christmas favorite "It's a Wonderful Life," directed by Frank Capra and starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, at 8 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Dec. 9, in the Law School auditorium.

The University Bookstore will hold a holiday bake sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, and Saturday, Dec. 11, in the bookstore lobby. All proceeds will benefit the Blue Gargoyle Adult Literacy Program. Donations of baked goods are welcome. For more information, call Cris Corrado at 702-8729.

The Hyde Park Art Center, 5307 S. Hyde Park Blvd., will hold a free reception from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11; the reception, which kicks off the center's weeklong holiday art sale, will feature family craft tables and refreshments. The art center will also offer an origami-ornament workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. Workshop participants will use foils and other special papers to make holiday ornaments while learning the basic techniques of the Japanese art of origami. The fee for the workshop is $10, which includes all materials. For more information, call 324-5520.

" 'Tis the Season for Brass and Organ," a holiday concert of sacred and secular music directed by Barbara Schubert, will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at Rockefeller Chapel. Performers will include organist Thomas Weisflog, the Quadrangle Brass Quintet and the Gargoyle Brass Quintet. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call 702-8484.

The Smart Museum of Art's holiday party will be held at the museum from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. The party, which is free and open to the public, will include performances by the Acafellas and Unaccompanied Women, special tours and a craft table for children. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 702-0200.

Handel's "Messiah" will be performed at 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at Rockefeller Chapel. The concert will feature the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel Choir, the Motet Choir and Symphony of the Shores under the direction of conductor Bruce Tammen and concertmaster Jeri-Lou Zike. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance at the Reynolds Club Bookstore Branch. All seating is unreserved. For more information, call 702-6063.

The Crossroads Council holiday open house will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at Crossroads International Student Center. The traditional holiday celebration, including refreshments and caroling, is free and open to the public. For more information, call 684-6060.

Internationals Together will have a family Christmas party at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, in the east lounge on the second floor of Ida Noyes Hall. Activities will include decorating a Christmas tree. For more information, call 324-3112 or 324-6576.

A traditional Christmas Eve service with a candlelight procession will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 24, at Rockefeller Chapel. The service is free and open to the public. For more information, call 702-2100.