ROCKAWAY GOOD TIMES
Make the most of the holidays with our Rockaway Good Times guide of things to do in Rockaway, including live music, an ugly sweater party, caroling and more! Plus, with New Year’s just days away, start planning where and how you’re ringing in a spectacular 2023. See our round-up below:
LIVE MUSIC
THURSDAY, December 22
7 p.m.
New DIY cocktail bar, food, art and entertainment space, Rose Den, hosts its first annual holiday party featuring the one-and-only, Mikal Hameed a.k.a. DJ Baroque. Hameed (of Rustwoods fame) is known for his ‘talk-of-the town’ fetes. This will be epic!
174 Beach 116th Street
FRIDAY, December 23
6:30 p.m.
Time to tune up and turn up at Bobby and Jenna’s annual hilarious Christmas sing-a-long at Bungalow Bar.
377 Beach 92nd Street
FRIDAY, December 23
7 p.m.
Festivus with the rest of us at Connolly’s First Annual Festivus Miracle Party. With DJ Paddy Tubz waxin’ the vinyl, and Paul Bryn slingin’ some seriously adult holiday bevies—add to your 2022 holiday memories at Connolly’s.
155 Beach 95th Street
FRIDAY, December 23
7 p.m.
Do beer and ugly sweaters pair perfectly? Find out at Rockaway Brewing Co.’s Ugly Sweater Party Competition. Win beer prizes for ugliest sweater, funniest sweater and best homemade sweater! Plus, Meddle Juice will be juicing his eclectic medley of original folk and blues music, and a sing-a-long to Christmas classics. Also, ’tis the season for giving! Bring some non-perishables for the Rockaway Mutual Aid community fridge.
415 Beach 72nd Street
FRIDAY, December 23
7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Can’t carry a tune? Don’t worry, ‘cause all welcome at Bar Marseille’s Christmas caroling session with Cat Nip Band, also jamming your favorite classic and alternative rock.
190 Beach 69th Street
FRIDAY, December 23
8 p.m. to Midnight
Bring your dancin’ shoes to RBQ and rock with family jam band, The Mighty Quinn, celebrating band member, Larry’s birthday. Plus, special guest, Gary Colter, on bass.
97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd
FRIDAY, December 23
It’s the eve of Christmas Eve, so get an early start to the holiday weekend with rock/soul/pop/folk/country acoustic guitarist and singer—Frank Persico at Kennedy’s. For showtime and reservations, call: (718) 945-0202.
406 Bayside, Breezy Point
SATURDAY, December 24
7 p.m.
Wine up on Christmas Eve at Sayra’s Wine Bar, featuring a live DJ spinning your favorite holiday tunes.
97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd
WEDNESDAY, December 28
7 p.m.
Tonight, NYC-acclaimed guitarist and singer, (also known for his thrilling podcast, Fireside Mystery Theatre) Silbin Sandovar a.k.a Gustavo Rodriguez, steps in for Niall Connolly at Sayra’s Wine Bar.
91-11 Rockaway Beach Blvd
HOLIDAY MENTIONS
DREDSURFER’S 1ST ANNUAL TOY DRIVE
FRIDAY, December 23
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Be the gift that keeps on giving by bringing an unwrapped toy to DredSurfer Grill’s (Beach 17th concession) first annual toy drive, co-hosted with Far Rockaway daycare and after-school program, Cribbs Angels Daycare, and Ashcon Transportation. Plus, bring the kiddos and get into the spirit of the season with live entertainment, cotton candy, popcorn and more!
16-27 Seagirt Blvd, Far Rockaway
SUGAR BOWL CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
FRIDAY, December 23
3 p.m.
Calling children and adults of all ages! Go Breezy for Christmas at The Sugar Bowl’s Christmas Spectacular featuring the gray-bearded man in the red suit, Roger The Elf, live DJ, games and The Sugar Bowl’s popular Christmas mugs!
15 Bedford Ave, Breezy Point
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES PARISH—“WELCOME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!”
FRIDAY, December 3 p.m.
What is the reason for the Christmas season? Bring a friend and join parishioners at St. Francis De Sales’ at its Christmas Eve program featuring the children’s choir at 3 p.m., folk group at 4:30 p.m. and adult choir at 6 p.m.
129-16 Rockaway Beach Blvd
NYDC TRIPLE DIP
On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after, December 24-26, the New York Dippers Club will be meeting at Beach 67th Street at 9 a.m. for an invigorating dip into the Atlantic. Consider bringing a potluck brunch meal to share!
Beach 67th
ST. VIRGILIUS CHURCH VIGIL MASS & CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
SATURDAY, December 24
3:30 p.m.
Commemorate the reason for the season at St. Virgilius Children’s Pageant featuring performances of the nativity and more, followed by Christmas Eve mass at 4 p.m.
16 Noel Road
NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS
RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT THE ROCKAWAY HOTEL’s ROOFTOP
SATURDAY, December 31
8 p.m. to Midnight
With New Year’s Eve just a week away, start planning your celebrations to ring in 2023 on the rooftop at The Rockaway Hotel. Dance to live music with DJ Johnny A, indulge in exquisite bites, cocktails and a champagne toast, while watching the ball drop. Tickets are $100. For tickets and more info, visit: https://www.therockawayhotel.com/happenings
108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive
THE ROCKAWAY HOTEL’S 2ND ANNUAL POLAR PLUNGE
SUNDAY, January 1
12 p.m.
Kickoff 2023 on a plucky note at The Rockaway Hotel’s annual polar plunge on Beach 108th Street. Prior to the plunge, indulge in bagels and bubbly, then after your polar dive, warm-up at the hotel’s outdoor saunas and heated pool. Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for individuals under 21 years old. Also, plungers and non-plungers alike are welcome to join the post-plunge party hosted by DJ Paddy Tubz. Twenty-five percent of ticket proceeds will be donated to Rising Tide Effect, a not-for-profit that teamed up with The Rockaway Hotel to provide free swim lessons and water-safety education for Rockaway’s youth. For tickets, more info, including the day’s schedule, visit: https://www.therockawayhotel.com/happenings
108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive
BELLE HARBOR YACHT CLUB NEW YEAR WHITE PARTY
SUNDAY, January 1
3 p.m.
Who says you can’t wear white after Labor Day! Wear your yacht whites at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club’s New Year White Party on the first day of 2023. Rockaway’s #1 party band, Wine With Sue, rocks the stage from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., then from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., DJ Drews inserts old-school 8-tracks playing the “best songs ever made!” $10 cover.
533 Beach 126th Street
SPECIAL MENTION
SATURDAY, January 7
6 p.m.
Take a trip into Manhattan to support local Dan Brown with his new off-the-peninsula production, “Eleven Story Drop—An Evening of Monologues, Music, Dance and Redemption,” at the Chain Theatre. Reception at 6 p.m. with light bites and wine. Show begins at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit: https://elevenstorydrop.eventbrite.com
312 West 36th Street, 4th floor
Got info on local live music, arts and more? Email: editor@rockawaytimes.com
