Results tagged “chanukah”

I'd like to say that I'm an easy person to shop for, but I'm not. It's not that I'm picky, or that I have everything I could possibly want—it's that I rarely get around to making a list, so nobody has much of an idea what to get me. Besides, in my adult life I've discovered that (at least where family is concerned), I usually appreciate a gift that comes in an envelope (read: check or gift certificate) more than one in a box (read: another flannel nightgown). But, sometimes, when you're doing your more obligatory gift shopping (for your mail person, for instance, or your intern or next-door neighbor—those other people who are historically difficult to shop for) it would be inappropriate to give somebody a check, and a gift certificate seems either too impersonal or too transparent (enabling the recipient to know exactly how much you think your relationship is worth), so you're stuck having to buy... something. But how do you figure out the right gift in these situations? When you're buying somebody a token rather than making a sweeping gesture, what should you do? more ›

Dear Penn: more ›

The Holiday season is in full swing in NYC, with holiday lights in Brooklyn, a giant snow globe in Bryan Park and Chanukah specials for ham. One citizen decided to go vigilante on annoying car alarms, a murder suspect used a fake Asian accent on the stand and a video of a man being beaten up by teenage girls on a subway shocked the city. And we interviewed soon-to-be-leaving-Gawker editor Choire Sicha, who said, "Wouldn't a kinder, gentler Gawker be hideously unreadable? No, we never talked about that. It would be hysterical but we haven't." more ›

Every weekday of December (except for December 25, that is), Phillyist will be counting down to 2008 with our highlights from the past year and our predictions for the next. If you have a list you'd like to submit, let us know! Phillyist likes a good excuse to shop, and the holidays provide that in spades. This year we wanted to stay closer to home with our gift choices, and give things that were more... more ›

Here's the story, as I can remember it: Under the Greek rule of Antiochus IV, Jews were forbidden from practicing their religion. Jewish temples were desecrated; symbols important to Greek polytheism were hung over the altars; and those who stood in vocal opposition to the Greeks, like the Maccabee clan, were persecuted and attacked, their temples nearly destroyed. With the temple nearly destroyed, there was only enough consecrated olive oil remaining to light the... more ›

Okay, so your significant other has met the parents, and things weren't a disaster. In fact, everyone got along swimmingly. When the holidays were approaching, your parents even encouraged you to bring your significant other along. One problem: your parents are normal. The members of your extended family, who will be in attendance at Thanksgiving/Chanukah/Christmas dinner... are not. If left unprepared, your significant other might freak out and, tragedy of tragedies, leave you out... more ›

If people ask me, I definitely self-identify as Jewish. But if you know me, you know that I'm not terribly observant. I remember the Sabbath, but certainly don't keep it holy. I light candles on Chanukah. I even go so far as fasting on Yom Kippur and pretty much cutting carbs out of my diet for a week every spring. But that's the extent to which I keep kosher. I don't hesitate to combine meat and dairy on my matzoh sandwich. I shellfish. I've broken the fast on at least one occasion with a barbecue bacon cheeseburger. more ›

Dear Philadelphia: more ›

Oh no! Chanukah ends tonight, and Christmas is only a few days away! What's a last-minute-gifter to do? more ›

I am writing this post in El Paso, Texas, from the bedroom that was exclusively mine from the ages of just-turned-thirteen to nearly-nineteen. My mom has since taken it over as sort of an office/storage space for all her teaching supplies. I can't blame her: I'm home, at best, three weeks out of the year these days. more ›

Here it is, a week late, a lyric from the actual song “White Christmas.” (We never did get our shopping done, though. This year we’re celebrating Chanukah, for convenience.) Now, on with the listings! more ›

Amidst the nonstop Christmas carols, it's easy to forget that some Philadelphians won't be decorating the tree or waiting for an unknown fat stranger to pop in through a chimney. There's still lots to do around Philly for those who celebrate Chanukah, or if the chimney thing just totally creeps you out. Phillyist presents our short list of Chanukah events around Philadelphia: more ›