EAT

Dec. 24-25: Christmas Takeout 

Various locations. 

Between tracking down last-minute online gift orders, juggling Zoom calls with family and friends, and remembering to move the Elf on the Shelf, perhaps a homemade Christmas dinner just isn’t in the cards this year. Luckily, these local eateries are offering tasty takeout options to help make holiday feasting a breeze. For an elevated twist on traditional fare, try ordering in from Rec Pier Chop House. The Thames Street hotspot (located inside the Sagamore Pendry Hotel) is ditching its usual housemade pasta, steaks, and chops for a prix-fixe feast of seasonal staples including roasted turkey with cranberry compote and cornbread stuffing. You can also opt for elegance with a swanky brunch spread of Ossetra caviar and house-smoked salmon from Magdelena inside The Ivy Hotel, or choose from classic, comforting favorites (think eggplant parmigiana and baked rigatoni) from Sabatino’s in Little Italy. Wherever you order your holiday meal, you’ll be helping your favorite local chefs and restaurateurs when they need it most.

DRINK

Dec. 25: Mr. Nice Guy x Full Circle Doughnut 2020 Box Sets

Mr. Nice Guy Cocktails. 800 S Kenwood Ave. Full Circle Doughnuts. 3528 Chestnut Ave. Prices Vary.

Nothing beats a hand-crafted holiday pour paired with a tasty pastry. For this sweet collaboration, the crew at Mr. Nice Guy Cocktails in Canton is teaming up with Full Circle Doughnuts in Hampden to bring diners their 2020 Christmas Day Box Sets. To place a preorder, visit the Canton cocktail bar’s online shop. From there, choose your box (we suggest “NOW! That’s What We Call 2020,” which includes your choice of six cocktails plus Full Circle’s six-pack of holiday doughnuts) or create a custom sampling with your choice of festive sweets, like Full Circle’s Holiday Spiced Sugar doughnut made with ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. Cocktails to choose from include Mr. Nice Guy’s “Tiger Tears”—which combines aperol, watermelon, lime, and sparkling wine. Then, select your pickup location at either the bakery or bar (or choose delivery for a $5 fee) and count the hours until Christmas brunch.

SEE

Dec. 25: Sci-Fi Friday: Edward Scissorhands 

Hulu Premium or Amazon Prime. 7 p.m.

Though there’s mixed opinions regarding whether this Tim Burton classic qualifies as a bonafide Christmas movie, that’s not stopping The Maryland Science Center from featuring it in the latest installment of its virtual sci-fi screening series. Visit the museum’s Facebook page ahead of the showing to receive notifications with quizzes and fun facts about the quirky cult favorite. Then, tune back in on Christmas night at 7 p.m. to enjoy a science experiment and themed cocktail recipe inspired by the 1990 film before you queue it up (on Hulu or Amazon Prime) to revisit the story of a mysterious, but gentle creature known for his dodgy digits.

HEAR

Dec. 25: Christmas Day with Greg Murphy Trio 

An Die Musik. Instantseats.com. 7-8 p.m. $7

A pioneer of the New York City jazz scene, renowned pianist Greg Murphy has worked alongside musical greats such as Ornette Coleman and Carlos Santana. This Friday, tune in as the Chicago native performs a live-streamed evening of festive tunes. Snag a ticket online (donations also encouraged) and listen from home as the trio takes An Die Musik’s Charles Street stage. Joining Murphy for this hour-long performance are Baltimore natives Blake Meister on bass and Eric Kennedy on drums. Curl up with some cocoa, turn on the tree lights, and kick back on the couch as you soak up the jazzy sounds, available for streaming through December 31.

DO

Dec. 26- Jan. 1: Creative Alliance Kwanzaa Kickoff

Creativealliance.org. 12/26 at 7 p.m. to  1/1 at 7:30 p.m.

Founded in 1966 by Black Power activist Maluana Karenga, the weeklong Kwanzaa festival of life and harvest celebrates African American culture. Beginning this Saturday, join the Creative Alliance in honoring the Kwanzaa tradition of poetry. Each day leading up to Jan. 1, visit the Highlandtown arts center’s website for spoken-word performances by local Black poets. Watch and listen as the artists share what Kwanzaa means to them, and explore the holiday’s seven core principles of Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith.)