Single for the Holidays?

Do What You Love Most (Have Friends Join You)

The holiday season is crammed with special events, concerts and performances. Temples and churches usually have special parties and ritual music. If you like choral music, this is the season for some outrageously good performances, and there are usually late shows on Christmas Eve and on New Year's Eve.

Quite a few cities have Renaissance fairs or early music recitals, and there is a high likelihood you can find special symphony concerts or visiting artists from many musical genres. It's a great time to go see rock concerts, jazz performances or visiting dance troupes.

During the holidays, gourmet clubs often offer special meals. Everyone wants you to spend that holiday dollar at their place, so entertainment comes at all price points. I recently discovered the world of house concerts, smaller venues by definition, where you get up close and personal with the performers for about 15 bucks.

So why not get tickets? Or simply show up? Music in particular elevates our spirits — and a great performance enhances our mood and even leaves a kind of afterglow. Bring along a friend — who needs a date when the entertainment itself is so engrossing? You can see and hear something that will give you a great holiday memory for years.

Finally, one small, last thought: I am not advocating throwing out the idea of finding a partner. Love is grand, and if you want to get super-motivated and bug your friends to fix you up, or go online looking for a holi-date, you might find someone swell in time to light the candles or hang the wreath.

But I say, it's pretty darn close to the festivities, so why take chances? Pick one of the five options I have offered, and you can know that you'll have a great holiday season. Whatever else comes along will just be icing on the proverbial cake.

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