Sunset marks the beginning of Hanukkah. Check with your local temple for times and events commemorating the beginning of the holiday.
Chabad Jewish Center of West Pasco celebrates the Festival of Lights with a public Menorah kindling ceremony. Honorary guests include Fire Rescue Chief Duncan Hitchcock and State Sen. Mike Fasano.
The celebration highlights the kindling of the Menorah each of the eight nights of the holiday. Hebrew for "dedication," Hanukkah dates back to the second Century BCE, when Jews rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. Hanukkah also propagates the universal message that ultimately good will prevail over evil, freedom over oppression and light over darkness. In its Chanukah outreach campaign, Chabad of West Pasco joins thousands of Chabad centers across the globe that are staging similar public displays of the Menorah and its symbolic lights. The grand Hanukkah celebration takes place at 6 p.m. at 9945 Trinity Blvd. (front of Chabad Center) In New Port Richey. For more information, call 1-727-376-3366. www.ChabadWP.com.
It's also World AIDS Day. Take a moment to reflect on the millions of lives lost to AIDS/HIV and reach out to someone in your life who is struggling with the disease. Believe it or not, there's a fun and stylish way to commemorate this important worldwide event — the World AIDS Day Cut-a-Thon. Get a $10 haircut 4:30-8 p.m. from the stylists of Wicked Salon and help out ASAP (AIDS Services Association of Pinellas). The fundraising event is at Flamingo Resort, 4601 34th St. S., St. Petersburg, 727-821-0099.
Just about every red-blooded American male has snuck off to his room to perform a pretend Jimmy Page solo. Who'da thunk it that there would be an event that capitalizes on these skills. The Air Guitar Contest, a last-minute brainchild of Seminole Heights' Cappy's owner Todd "Scooter" Gabel, is being hosted by New Granada Presents at 9:30 p.m. at the pizzeria hangout. Judges include Shawn Kyle (The Beauvilles), Matt Slate (King of Spain) and Susie Ulrey (Rec Center, New Granada Records). The event is structured Karaoke-style — people submit their names and perform as their name is drawn. They can either provide their own music or choose from a short stack of classics. Semi-finals will be determined on how many people participate, if only a few, it'll be a simple winner of who received the best score. If 10 or more compete, the judges may narrow it down to five and then have another go around with Top 3. Pizza by the slice and beer specials will be featured.
