Give the gift of experience
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Happy Holidays from the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall!
As the paper copy of this issue of the Signal Item hits your doorstep or mailbox on Dec. 8, there are 17 days until Christmas. Is your holiday shopping done? Or, like the much-beloved character Ralphie from “A Christmas Story,” can you feel the Christmas noose beginning to tighten?
Or more like Lucy Van Pelt from “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” do you share the sentiment, “We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.”
Let us help save you from long post office lines, extra charges for rushed shipping and a bah-humbug outlook.
In the midst of what can truly be a stressful time of year and sunlight in shorter supply, why not give your loved one the valuable gift of time and shared experiences? Most physical gifts are a one-time moment. Although there are undoubtedly meaningful presents, gift experiences can be much more special. Take time to create memories together. Physical gifts “last longer” than experiences timewise. But the powerful, happy memories created during gift experiences can truly last a lifetime.
How about a multi-culture cooking class for your friend, the adventurous gourmand? Your sister loves wine, how about scheduling a wine tasting together? If your local music hall director needs some self-care – whoops! I meant wife – gift her a spa day! The music lover in your life? My friend, look no further! The ACFL&MH has you covered.
As you may know, we have a historically beautiful and acoustically superb music hall at the top of the hill in Carnegie, where Broadway meets Main Street. Visit CarnegieCarnegie.org to stay up to date on the eclectic mix of programming to take the stage in the hall for 2023. And while you’re there, sign up for our monthly email blast to stay up to date. (You certainly won’t want to miss the ever-dynamic Cello Fury on March 31!)
And as we hope you know, the Carnegie Carnegie has an alternative performance venue in our downstairs studio. If you haven’t visited the studio before, this space provides an intimate club-style setting that is fantastic for an evening of jazz while enjoying a glass of wine or beer. Emerging from one of the best-kept secrets in Carnegie, we’re ready to make a little noise to kick off some great music in 2023.
If you happen to be looking for ideas on how to present experiential gifts, pick up a (music-themed) calendar and mark down the following dates before wrapping it up with a ribbon and a bow:
• Pete & Scott, 7 p.m. Jan. 12. Regional favorite guitar-and-keyboard duo Pete Hewlett and Scott Anderson deliver a lively evening of pop and soft rock covers,along with original works. Scott and Pete both won Emmys for their work on WQED’s “Live from Studio A: American Standards.”
• The Ben Benack Quartet, 7 p.m. Jan. 26. Pittsburgh’s sax man offers up an evening of smokin’ jazz! Benny Benack Jr. is a legend in the Pittsburgh jazz and nightclub scene, a band leader well known for his virtuosic musicianship and charismatic audience appeal.
• The Maureen Renihan Trio, 7 p.m. Feb. 23. Maureen is a native Pittsburgher with a voice reminiscent of Billie Holiday and passion for jazz standards. You won’t want to miss this evening of Rodgers and Hart-inspired music with Maureen on the microphone, Jonathan DiGiulian on guitar and Paul Thompson on bass.
• “The Great Women of Jazz” with Jessica Lee and Mark Strickland Jazz Duo, 7 p.m. March 16. This intimate musical journey explores the songs and stories of the great women of jazz and is the duo’s second chapter on this topic. Spanning from the early years of the blues to the jazz era to rhythm and blues, Jessica and Mark celebrate female musicians and their contributions to the genre.
When weighing options for gifts for that extra-hard-to-shop-for person on your list, would they get more enjoyment from a pair of novelty socks or a gift that includes reconnecting with one another through the emotion, excitement and joy of live music?
Give the gift of experience. Give the gift of a night out. Give the gift of, well, music! Even better, buy yourself a ticket and plan to be part of the experience with the people on the receiving end of your gift, or treat yourself!
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit carnegiecarnegie.org; call 412-276-3456, ext. 6; or email matthewsh@CarnegieCarnegie.org.
Heidi Matthews is the music hall director at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie.