Members of the LGBTQ+ Community and Allies were invited to a pre-concert event Saturday, December 7, 2024, for like-minded people to meet before a Christmas concert featuring the renowned vocal ensemble  Chanticleer, which will be a separate review.

The event was at Maclean House, and touted as “A Festive Ugly Sweater-Themed Party ,” which preceded a holiday vocal concert by Chanticleer. First, about the party.

Maclean House was built in 1756 as the home of the University President.  It is a lovely historic home on the Princeton University campus. For the party, catered snacks and novel beverages were served. In addition, there was a game. A name was posted on your back, and others had to lead you to the answer. For example, one chap had “Charlie Brown” on his back. In under 10 questions and answers, he won. Another guy had “Elf”, after the famed 2003 motion picture and later musical. He just could not get close to the answer, even with clues like, “the musical is now playing in Philadelphia,” or A famous comedian starred some years ago in the hit film.” He answered, “Charlie Chaplin?” “Woody Allen?” He decided to surrender. When told that it was “Elf,” he said he’d never heard of it. A young lady was puzzled by her Christmas-themed character taped to her back, Peppermint Patty. We led her to Fiction, Cartoon! Etc.

She could not get passed Lucy. It turned out that she said she remembered The Peanuts Gang vaguely, since she saw a Christmas film on TV as a child.

I had the wildest time figuring out my own puzzle. A few guys of mixed ages helped in the game. My clues: he died in the 19th century; he wrote; he is often known by one name; and he was born in Germany. Okay. I said that I didn’t know many German authors from that time. Oh, no. Not an author. He wrote music. Ah! A composer.

I went down the line, Wagner, Schubert, Beethoven? Yes! Beethoven. Now Beethoven and Christmas aren’t exactly synonymous in my book, but, there you go.

In all, it was a fun evening, with many lovely Ugly Christmas Sweaters on display, and, even, a Christmas suit.

Future events are scheduled for Feb 13, with the “Speed Friending” theme, while a “Speed Dating” for our heterosexual friends will be March 23, 2025.

For more information, visit their website, 

www.concerts.princeton.edu .