Date Night w/ Alex Grant, N’East Style: A Christmas Story

There isn’t a time of the year that has given me more great memories throughout my 25 years on this Earth. It’s a time of traditions and family, tons of food and good cheer. After moving out after college and coming to NYC, going home for the holidays has been a breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively). I find myself reminiscing about the times that were and reveling in the times that are.

I’m very excited to be a part of this specific “Date Night” as it involves one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time. A Christmas Story is one of those movies you can’t help but see. It’s on for 24 hours starting Midnight on Christmas Day on TNT. The “kids” table (I say “kids” because it really meant anyone under the age of 35) at our Christmas Eve parties would plant ourselves in front of the TV and watch until we passed out. I probably caught the full movie over the course of 6 or 7 hours, watching bits and pieces throughout Christmas Day.

That’s how I remember Christmas over the last decade or so. A fireplace, the smell of pine, some hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps, and A Christmas Story. They weren’t all like that, when all my family was around the NY/NJ we would throw some Cuban bangers. Dancing all night, kids would go to “sleep” at midnight, wake up a few hours later because Santa came, the adults were far more drunk, and the party would continue. Those were my childhood Navidades.

One isn’t better than the other, things change. That’s what the holidays are about, to remember where you’ve come from and think about where you’re going to go. With that in mind, I present to you a cross-section of my favorite Christmas tunes. I’m a big fan of the oldies doing it right – Sinatra, Crosby, Springsteen. I remember hearing the Boss blasting in our stereo on Christmas Eve every year. It’s not Christmas without a little Jersey rock in the Alonso household.

I’m going to forego the usual track-listing as it’s an extensive playlist (32 songs, over 1.5 hours). I couldn’t stop adding songs, they’re all too good! From Bing Crosby to Elvis, from Alvin, Simon, and Theodore to the Beatles, and even some Mariah and Boyz II Men. We’ve got it all!

So, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! I hope you enjoy my gift to you all for reading as much as you do. Click the link below, it’ll be active through Christmas day. After which you know the drill – get at me.

Don’t forget to check out the outfits inspired by A Christmas Story over at N’East Style and Alexander Grant.

“Oh, it’s the most wonderful time of the year…” (link closed)

"Fra-GEE-lay. It must be Italian."