Here we are, at the end of the year. And what a year it’s been.

The staff and residents of Marjorie P. Lee — and all of us here at Episcopal Retirement Services — would like to wish Cincinnati’s seniors, their families, caregivers and friends a safe and wonderful holiday season.

Now on to the events residents and staff members will be taking part in here at Marjorie P. Lee this month. See you in the New Year!

December Events

Friday, Dec. 9

11 p.m.

Discussion group. Our current events interest group, News and Views, meets this morning in the Craft Room.

1:30 p.m.

Chorus rehearsal. Our MPL singers will meet in the Chapel this afternoon.

7:30 p.m.

Bingo night. Come join us in the Event Center and play everybody’s favorite — bingo!

Saturday, Dec. 10

7 p.m.

Movie night. Join us in the Event Center as Saturday Cinema continues! Tonight, we’ll watch director Rob Marshall’s 2002 screen adaptation of the smash Broadway musical Chicago, starring Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere!

Sunday, Dec. 11

3:30 p.m.

Concert. Join us in the Chapel for a music performance by Bob Pollack.

7 p.m.

Documentary viewing. Tonight, we’ll watch director Peter Mettler’s Picture of Light, which documented an expedition to Churchill, Manitoba, to film the Northern Lights.

Monday, Dec. 12

7 p.m.

Concert. Cellist Angela Bolen will be performing a Christmas concert in the Chapel this evening.

Tuesday, Dec. 13

2 p.m.

Farewell reception. Come to the Shaw Lobby and join the Marjorie P. Lee staff in wishing a happy retirement to Doug Spitler, ERS’ President & CEO of the last 34 years. Residents and their family members are most welcome.

6:30 p.m.

Group outing. The Marjorie P. Lee Auxiliary is sponsoring a ride to the new “Christmas Nights of Lights” at Coney Island. This event features a 2-mile ride through Christmas displays and light shows consisting of over one million LED lights, all driven by more than 10,000 computer channels! You’ll enjoy larger-than-life trees, glowing snowflakes, dancing candy canes and fantastic tunnels of lights. In the warmth of bus, sing along to the sounds of the season, synchronized to each holiday display.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

1:30 p.m.

Pen Pals Program kickoff event. Come to the Lending Library and meet the Hyde Park School first graders who will be participating in our Pen Pals Program this year! Please consider being a pen pal — we have about 75 children looking for someone to correspond through letters over the course of the school year.  Letters from the children are available now. Contact Debbie MacLean to be matched up with pen pal.

7 p.m.

Lecture. Historian Diane Shields will be in the Event Center this evening to share stories about the life of actor Jimmy Stewart — or, if you will, one Mr. George Bailey of Bedford Falls, New York.

Thursday, Dec. 15

3 p.m.

MPL Holiday Open House party. Don’t miss our annual holiday open house in the Shaw Lobby! Meet and greet your neighbors, and share the joy of the season with our very grateful staff members.

Friday, Dec. 16

1:30 p.m.

Concert and sing-along. The MPL Chorus would like to invite you to its Christmas Carol Holiday Sing-Along, taking place in the Event Center.

7 p.m.

Concert. Students from the Suzuki Strings program will be performing holiday songs for us this evening in the Chapel.

Saturday, Dec. 17

3:30 p.m.

Piano recital. Eliana Corredor’s piano students will perform Christmas music in the Chapel. Come down to listen and meet our new pianists!

7 p.m.

Movie night. Join us in the Event Center as Saturday Cinema continues! Tonight, we’ll watch the 1962 political thriller, The Manchurian Candidate, starring Frank Sinatra and Janet Leigh.

Sunday, Dec. 18

3:30 p.m.

Concert. Join long-time UC College-Conservatory of Music faculty member and church choir director, Dr. Phil Crabtree, as he presents historic carols and familiar songs of the season.  This festive program includes Phil’s solo performances of traditional pieces for flute and recorder, as well as group sing-alongs of holiday favorites.

Monday, Dec. 19

Group dinner outing. Tonight, we’ll dine at Seasons 52, located at the Rookwood Exchange.  

Tuesday, Dec. 20

2 p.m.

“Books with Blossom” reading group. The head librarian from the Hyde Park branch will be bringing us new reading selections today! If you still have any books from her last visit, please be sure to bring them to return today.

Wednesday, Dec. 21

2 p.m.

Lecture and slideshow. Historian Jack Lightcap will be in the Event Center to present his slideshow lecture, “Will the Real St. Nick Please Step Forward?,” a look at the historical and cultural evolution of the Jolly Old Elf himself!

3 p.m.

Caregiver support group. We’ll meet in the Lee Library this afternoon.

7 p.m.

Concert. Pianist Mike Pendell will be in the Event Center, playing and singing the songs you know and love!

Thursday, Dec. 22

7 p.m.

Piano recital. Pattie Hattendorf’s Music Studio piano students will perform for us tonight in the Chapel.

Friday, Dec. 23

10 a.m.

Exercise class. Water Fitness meets in the pool.

11 a.m.

Discussion group. Our “News and Views” group meets in the Craft Room.

1:30 p.m.

Chorus rehearsal. The MPL Chorus practices every Friday in the Chapel at this time.

Saturday, Dec. 24*

10:30 a.m.

Church service. We’ll hold a special Christmas Eve service in the Chapel this morning.

2 p.m.

Church service. For those wishing to attend Christmas Eve services at St. Mary’s Church, the bus departs at this time.

7 p.m.

Movie night. Join us in the Event Center as Saturday Cinema continues! Tonight, we’ll watch Florence Foster Jenkins, director Stephen Frears’ 2016 biopic and comedy about a 1940s New York heiress who wanted to become an opera singer, despite being possessed of a terrible voice. Starring Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg.

*NOTE: It’s Christmas Eve and Santa Claus is on his way. Behave. Click here to track his progress, courtesy of the ever-vigilant American and Canadian service members at NORAD. Also, Happy Hanukkah! Hanukkah begins at sundown this evening.

Sunday, Dec. 25

The staff members of Deupree House and Episcopal Retirement Services wish all our residents and their families a very merry Christmas.

Monday, Dec. 26

3 p.m.

Book discussion group. Our readers group will meet today in the Lee Library to discuss My Name is Lucy Barton, by Elizabeth Strout.

Wednesday, Dec. 28

7 p.m.

Concert. Tonight, we’ll welcome student performers from the College-Conservatory of Music to the Chapel, where they’ll give a special performance.

Thursday, Dec. 29

11:30 a.m.

Group lunch outing. Today we’ll head out for a holiday luncheon at Restaurant L, Chef Jean Robert de Cavel’s new Parisian-style restaurant at Queen City Square.

Friday, Dec. 30

7 p.m.

Movie night. Join us for a special Friday night installment of our weekly cinema in the Event Center! Tonight, we’ll watch director James Ivory’s 1993 romantic drama The Remains of the Day, starring Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson and John Haycraft.

Saturday, Dec. 31

1 p.m.

Group outing. Today, we’ll board the bus to the annual Boar’s Head Yule Log Festival at Christ Church Cathedral.

*NOTE: 10 free tickets are available and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact Debbie MacLean at 513-533-5044 to reserve yours today!

7 p.m.

New Year’s Eve party. Here’s to best wishes for 2017! Come toast the new year with us in the Event Center, with music provided by pianist Bob Pollack and drummer Jack Rowekamp.

Happy New Year to all!