Polar Express in IMAX plus 62 Holiday Events nearby

Ridicule at NCPL 
This 1996 costume drama from Patrice Leconte, set in the decadent 18th century court of Versailles, has been compared to Dangerous Liaisons. In the story, a country baron appeals to Louis XVI for economic aid to help the peasants dependent upon him. He soon discovers that his case will be based more on his ability to entertain the King with witty banter rather than the merits of his plea. Ridicule was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film and received a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. With a discussion by LIU Professor Valerie Franco. Fri, 12/6: 7pm. (North Castle Public Library, 19 Whippoorwill Rd. E., Armonk; www.northcastlelibrary.org

Hart Island Project part 2 at Chappaqua Library 

The Chappaqua Library presents Melinda Hunt's 2008 documentary about Hart Island, America's largest cemetery that serves as a Potters Field for the anonymous, forgotten and indigent. Over 800,000 people have been buried there since the Civil War. The cemetary operates within the NYC prison system where to this day inmates of Rikers Island travel to bury the dead in mass graves. The film, accompanied by Ms. Hunt's mixed media exhibition running through January 14, follows four families who are extended a rare visit to the island to locate their relatives. Fri, 12/6: 7:30 pm. (195 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua; www.chappaqualibrary.org)

New Castle Community Sing, Tree Lighting, Santa   
Guest conductor Benjamin Niemczyk leads the Chappaqua Orchestra in a holiday sing-a-long. Sat, 12/7: 3:30pm. (Bell Middle School, 50 Senter St., Chappaqua) The event is followed by the New Castle Historical Society's Tree Lighting and SANTA Visit at 4:30pm. NCHS will host an open house with an Old Fashioned Crafts Workshop on Sat, 12/7: 1-4pm. (Horace Greeley House, 100 King St., Chappaqua) More local holiday events here. 

Armonk Indoor Hosts BHHS Alzheimers Benefit

Vienna Boys' Choir at PAC
"Before there was a Beethoven, a Mozart or a Bach there was the Vienna Boys' Choir singing before the Austrian Court." (We love that line from the PAC brochure.) This choir of young men (ages 10-14) has become synonymous with the holiday   season. They offer an eclectic repertoire of classical and popular holiday music from Carl Orff's "O Fortuna" to Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad." Sat, 12/7: 8pm. (Performing Arts Center Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

ArtwWestchester Holiday Boutique 
The 4th annual ArtsWestchester Holiday Boutique presents over 25 artists and crafters from Westchester County (including Rae Ballard of Katonah) offering one of a kind, hand made jewelry, hats, knitwear, glassware, artisanal lotions, soaps, paintings and photographs. Like Water Lilly (shown here) by Rebecca Singer of New Rochelle. With snacks & drinks from Hastings Tea. Sat, 12/7, 14: 11am-6pm & Sun, 12/8,15: 11am-5pm. (31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains;

www.artswestchester.org)

From Beethoven to Radiohead at PAC 
Here's an "eclectic audio adventure" for fans of all kinds of music. Pianist Christopher O'Riley and cellist Matt Haimovitz (billed as O'Riley & Haimovitz) offer a genre bending afternoon of music that sounds so good we're listing the entire program: Vertigo, Prelude, (Bernard Herrmann) Pyramid Song, (Radiohead) Arpeggi, Radiohead) Sonata for Cello and Piano Op. 119, (Prokofiev) Empty Room, (Arcade Fire) 12 Variations on a Theme by Handel, (Beethoven) The Orchard, (Phillip Glass) Le Grand Tango, (Astor Piazzolla) Scene d'Amour, (Herrmann) and The Dance of Maya (John McLauglin.) Sun, 12/8: 3pm (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)

Rappeling Santa at Stamford Heights & Lights 

Santa Claus rappels 22 stories down Landmark Square with guest rappelers Yankees GM Brian Cashman and Bobby Valentine. Then it's off to Latham Park for live music from the Swingset Mamas and Stamford's annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony. Sun, 12/8: 5pm. (Landmark Square, Stamford, CT) More SANTA sightings here on www.whattododigital.com 

Fourth Annual Ken Ken Tournament at Chappaqua Library Match wits with Ken Ken puzzle enthusiasts at the Chappaqua Library's Ken Ken puzzle tournament. Local resident Robert Fuhrer, President and Founder of the Ken Ken Puzzle Company, leads this challenge for people of all ages and abilities. For free puzzles and to learn the rules just click the image above. (Warning Ken Ken can be addictive.)  Register at the library information desk or here.  Sat, 12/14: 10am. (Chappaqua Library, 195 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua.)

Where To See: The Nutcracker

From White Plains to Lincoln Center, What To Do's Holiday 

Events Guide puts you front row center for the world's most famous holiday ballet. We take you from George Ballanchine's choreographic classic of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece to Max & Ruby in The Nutcracker for the wee ones. Put it on your to do list 'cause you have everything Nutcracker at your finger tips.

NYBG Holiday Train Show
The New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show features a dozen large scale model trains (some 2 feet long) zipping across a quarter mile of track. The spectacular backdrop features 140 replicas of iconic NYC buildings made of bark, twigs, fruits, seeds and pine cones. Including, Radio City Music Hall, Penn Station, Yankee Stadium, Brooklyn Bridge and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Sat-Sun, 11/16-1/12/2014. 

Bah humbug. What's all this holiday stuff? There's plenty of great December music that wasn't written in the 18th century or sung by Perry Como. This week see Rod Stewart and Steve Winwood at the Prudential Center, John Pizzarelli in Stamford, and Cyndi Lauper at the Beacon. Find out where to see Pink, Beyonce and Wynton Marsalis at www.whattododigital.com.

Where to hear: Brandenburg Concertos 
Anthony Newman, who Wynton Marsalis called "the high priest of Bach," leads the Bedford Chamber Orchestra in a performance of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos at the acoustically significant St. Matthews Church in Bedford on Wed, 12/11. Find out where to get your holiday fix of the Brandenburgs in What To Do's Holiday Events guide. 

  Coming to Tarrytown 

Last year, to celebrate The Beach Boys 50th anniversary (egads!) Rolling Stone Magazine asked their readers to name their favorite Beach Boys songs. Here's their list: 10: "California Girls" 9: "Caroline, No" 8: "Barbara Ann" 7: "Sloop John  B." 6: "Don't Worry Baby" 5: "In My Room" 4: "Wouldn't It Be Nice" 3: "Surfs Up" 2: "Good Vibrations" 1: "God Only Knows." Sat, 12/14: 8pm. (Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main St. Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.org)

REBEL Baroque Pastorale: Christmas Concerti
REBEL Baroque performs a program of Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Pez, and Torelli at Caramoor's Rosen House. Including, "Gloria in Excelsis Deo," and selections from Handel's Messiah. With special guests Sherezade Panthaki, soprano, and Matthias Maute, recorder and flute. Sat, 12/14: 8pm. (Caramoor, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah)  More holiday music here 

28th Annual Antique Stocking Stuffers Show & Sale
After 43 years producing events for the Cord Shows, Vivian Cord of Armonk and her partner Ed McClure have announced their retirement. We have been proud to bring our readers news about the Cord Shows (most of which are held as benefits for worthy non-profits from the North Castle Historical Society to Friends of Karen) over the years and in turn Vivian has been a good friend to What To Do. We wish her and Ed the best in their golden years. Richard Vazzana and Beth Steele, of Ridgefield, CT, will continue to produced Cord Show events. Their stocking stuffer show is one of our favorites. It will be held on Sun, 12/15: 10am-5pm at John Jay HS in Katonah. Read more.

Ted Sperling's Winter Pops with the Westchchester Phil 
Tony-winner Ted Sperling conducts the Westchester Philharmonic's annaul Winter Pops. (SELL OUT ALERT. ORDER TICKETS NOW!) Sperling's BWAY '59 weaves a musical story of the year 1959, when Gypsy and The Sound of Music lit up the great white way. With Broadway stars Judy Kuhn (Les Miserables,) Betsy Wolf (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,) and Ryan Silverman (Phantom.) Sun, 12/22: 3pm. (The Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; More holiday music here )

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