Things to Do, Dec. 5-12

Cornell Chorus and Glee Club
Provided
The Cornell Chorus and Glee Club will perform at Sage Chapel Christmas Vespers, Dec. 7-8.

Of mice and bears

The IthaKid Film Festival at Cornell Cinema concludes with the hand-drawn animated tale “Ernest and Celestine” (2012), Dec. 6-7 in Willard Straight Theatre.

The Oscar-nominated feature, based on a children’s book by Gabrielle Vincent, depicts a world inhabited by separate societies of bears and mice, and two of their number who become friends. The voices of actors Forest Whitaker and Lauren Bacall are featured. Admission: $5 adults, $4 children age 12 and under at the Saturday 2 p.m. matinee; $5.50 for all Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

Also this week: The Willy Wonka Chocolate Soirée, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m., a reception in Willard Straight Theatre with chocolate treats and mocktails before a 9:15 p.m. screening of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971), starring Gene Wilder. Admission: soirée and film, $12 general, $10 students; film only, regular admission prices. Advance tickets at CornellCinemaTickets.com

Other films showing Dec. 6-13 include “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Pitch Perfect,” “Space Jam,” “Frank” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” Show times, more information: cinema.cornell.edu

Town-Gown Awards

Meinig National Scholars at Cornell will lead a food drive and President David Skorton will deliver remarks at the annual Cornell Town-Gown Awards, Dec. 6 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Ithaca High School’s Kulp Auditorium. Free and open to the public.

The awards recognize those who have strengthened partnerships between the local community and Cornell, and individuals who are leaving jobs or volunteer positions and have contributed to Cornell-community collaborations.

Attendees are encouraged to bring canned and nonperishable items. Food insecurity remains a challenge in the area as the weather turns colder; donations will be distributed to those in need through local agencies and networks.

Vespers in Sage

The annual Sage Chapel Christmas Vespers, Dec. 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m., features songs and readings from the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Free and open to the public. Sage Chapel will be decked with a tree and greens and lit by candlelight, and the Cornell Chimes will play for 30 minutes before and after the program.

The Lessons and Carols service includes traditional readings by 14 members of the Cornell community (seven each night) and audience participation in Christmas hymns. The Cornell University Chorus and Glee Club will perform together and separately under the direction of Robert Isaacs, with selections including Benjamin Britten’s “Hymn to the Virgin” and Franz Biebl’s “Ave Maria.”

Organist David Yearsley will play a prelude and postlude to the service by J.S. Bach, and will accompany the choral selections and hymns including “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “Silent Night” and “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.” The opening prayer, closing prayer and blessing will be given by Cornell United Religious Work Associate Director Daniel McMullin (Sunday), and by CURW director the Rev. Kenneth Clarke (Monday).

For more Department of Music events in December, see http://music.cornell.edu/calendar/concerts.

Schwartz Center shows

“Knights of Doom,” 
a short one-act play about teenage alienation directed by Jeff Guyton, will be staged Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. in the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts’ 
Black Box Theatre. Admission
 is free. Following the performance, Gannett Health Services staff will lead a “talkback” and discuss mental health resources on campus.

In addition to the Mini Locally Grown Dance Festival, continuing Dec. 5-6 at 7:30 p.m. (tickets $5) and screenings by advanced film students, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m., the Department of Performing and Media Arts presents three free student showcases this week at the Schwartz Center, including “Dance Class Showings,” an informal performance of student dance compositions and faculty-directed work, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. in the
 Class of ’56 Dance Theatre; and a show by Professor Bruce Levitt’s Solo Performance class, Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre (not suitable for children under age 17).

Students of automated lighting design, sound design and video design put their skills to work at a free concert with local rock band Spacetrain, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Kiplinger Theatre.

Share the Warmth

Cornell community members can help people cope with cold weather by contributing winter wear and blankets to the 22nd annual Share the Warmth campaign through Dec. 15.

Donations of new and gently used winter wear are needed, particularly for children. Winter coats, boots, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, snow pants, blankets and other cold-weather articles can be dropped off at collection boxes on campus.

Boxes are installed at all undergraduate residence halls, houses and community centers and graduate housing service centers, and in Mann Library, Anabel Taylor Hall, Day Hall, Statler Hall, Weill Hall, Willard Straight Hall, Sage Chapel, the College of Veterinary Medicine Medical Center, Humphreys Service Building and East Hill Plaza.

Donations on campus will be collected by Campus Life and Cornell volunteers and items will be distributed to the Ithaca-area community at the Catholic Charities Samaritan Center, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 12.

Call 607-255-1202 for box locations within campus buildings. For other questions or general information, email Karen Brown, Share the Warmth Committee chair. Campaign co-sponsors include the Ithaca, Trumansburg and Dryden Rotary Clubs; Cornell University; Ithaca College; Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga; and Finger Lakes ReUse.

Employee Celebration

Cornell’s Winter Employee Celebration, Saturday, Jan. 17 in Bartels Hall, features a community dinner, Big Red athletic events, entertainment and children’s activities.

Tickets ($5 inclusive) will be on sale Dec. 8 through Jan. 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Athletics Ticket Office in Bartels Hall or by calling 607-255-4247. The celebration is open to all current Cornell staff and faculty, retirees and their families. Free parking with Cornell ID.

Media Contact

Joe Schwartz