• Despite the cold rain on Dec. 5, the Irvington Holiday Open House put on by the Irvington Merchant’s Association saw a nice turnout. Thank you to the merchants and shoppers who made it a success!
• EclecticPond, the east side’s classic works troupe, recently announced they will have a new home in the Irvington Coal Factory. They will be leasing 2,800 square feet in the facility, allowing them to develop a new black-box theatre. In the meantime, EclecticPond will hold their 2014-2015 performances at the Irvington United Methodist Church, 30 N. Audubon. Their next production is 10 x 10, which opens Jan. 10 for two weekends — go see this unique production of 10 of Shakespeare’s plays given the 10 minute treatment. Tickets are only $10, and available online at http://etc10x10.bpt.me/
• East Village Business Owners and ReCycle Force are holding a near east E-Cycle Collection Drive on Sat., Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the curb at 1825/1827 E. New York St. Old electronics (toys, lamps, toasters, cordless phones, modems, printers, keyboards, monitors, TVs, etc.) for safe and eco-friendly recycling.
• Join your neighbors at the The Benton House, Monday December 15th at 7 p.m. for a spirited reading of the classic Christmas tale, A Christmas Carol, adapted from the 1942 Basil Rathbone radio play. Violin and rattling chains accompany the voices of Scrooge, Marley, and more in the parlor of the beautifully restored Benton House, built in 1873. The event is sponsored by Bookmamas and is free. The Benton House is located at 312 S. Downey Ave. in Irvington.
• Once again, there seems to be a rash of burglaries from garages and cars on the east side, especially in Emerson Heights and Irvington neighborhoods. Thieves are looking for unlocked cars, homes and garages — crimes of opportunity. If you see suspicious people, please call 9-1-1 with descriptions of vehicles or persons. The police can only be in so many places — we can help be their eyes and ears. You can remain anonymous by telling the dispatcher up front that you don’t want to divulge your name.
• The Phoenix Theatre recently received a National Endowment for the Arts grant to support their “Heritage” series of three plays by or about artists of color. The three part series includes River City by Diana Grisanti, Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea by Nathan Alan Davis, and a new play with music based on Mexican folk tales, to be developed by the Phoenix and presented in English and Spanish in November of 2015. The Phoenix does some ground-breaking theatre; visit them at www.phoenixtheatre.org for current shows and tickets.
• The Alternative Gift Fair, now in its third year, will be held Dec. 13 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Irving Theatre, 5505 E. Washington St. Lots of local, handcrafted gifts for everyone on your list. Admission is free.