The Syracuse University men’s basketball team hosts the Tulane Green Wave at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, at the Carrier Dome. Thursday’s game will be telecast by Time Warner Cable Sports.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, the Seton Hall Pirates dribble into the Dome to take on Syracuse’s nationally ranked roundballers. Wednesday’s game will be broadcast by both the Big East Network and MSG.
Ticket prices for Tulane range from $15 to $95; for Seton Hall they range from $20 to $125; 1-888-DOMETIX; suathletics.syr.edu.
Comedy: ‘Ho Ho Ho…HA HA HA?’
Comedians Jessimae Peluso, Dan Frigolette and Moody McCarthy got their starts in Syracuse but now ply their talking trade in New York City. The zany trio is home for the holidays to perform a show they’ve titled “Ho Ho Ho…HA HA HA?” at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, at Justin’s Tuscan Grill, 6400 Yorktown Circle; $15; 437-1461.
Peluso graduated from Henninger High School in 2000 and has since appeared on TV’s “Last Comic Standing” and the “Tyra Banks Show.” In October 2010, Peluso headlined a Hometown Humor Tour at the Palace Theater.
Dan Frigolette, a 2001 alum of Baldwinsville’s Baker High School, debuted as a stand-up in 2002 as part of Joe DeLion’s Viva Debris. Now he opens for Lisa Lampanelli all over the East Coast and performs weekly at the Big Apple’s biggest clubs.
Moody McCarthy, a Corcoran High School grad, got his start in 1992 at the original WiseGuys Comedy Club on Erie Boulevard East. He moved to NYC in 1998 and has since been featured on TV’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “Star Search.”
North Side native Jessimae Peluso joins forces with two other CNY-bred comedians, Dan Frigolette and Moody McCarthy, for a seasonal stand-up show at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, at Justin’s Tuscan Grill, 6400 Yorktown Circle; 437-1461.
Music: Mandolins at Music Barn
A plaintive mandolin, a rhythmic guitar and a ringing banjo will rise to the rafters inside the Music Barn when Kellish Hill Farm presents an open mic from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, outside Manlius. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. Coffee and tea will be provided.
Musicians, songwriters and singers are all invited to perform cover songs and original tunes in any style at the weekly gathering. “Come express yourself,” said hostess Kathy Kellish. “Poets and dancers are welcome too.”
Kellish Hill Farm is located at 3191 Pompey Center Road, 4.2 miles from Route 92 in Manlius or .5 mile north of Route 20; rhbamericana.com; 682-1578.
Z-Bones rock in Liverpool
The Z-Bones call their mix of rock, funk, blues and boogie “melting pot music.” The Tipperary Hill-based quintet covers artists such as Sam Cooke and the Allman Brothers while writing their own tunes such as “You Must Be Kidding” and “Here Comes Another Christmas.”
The combo led by guitarist Ed Zacholl lays down its deep grooves at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, at the Limp Lizard Lounge at 201 First St., in the village of Liverpool. Admission is free and the barbecue is bodacious; 451-9774. The Z-Bones are bandleader Zacholl, plus Lorne Coon, Louie Fortin, Mike Gridley and Mike Lounsbery.
Salsa Friday-Saturday
A veritable melting pot of Syracuse, the Havana Nights Latin Dance Party convenes from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Friday, at Johnston’s BallyBay, 550 Richmond Ave., at the corner of Sackett Street, on the city’s West End. The dances are hosted by La Familia de la Salsa. Admission costs $5, or you can take a salsa lesson at 8:15 p.m. and pay $10 total; 447-6287.
DJ la Maquina is now featuring a danceable Latin mix direct from the streets of la Habana, Puerto Rico, Colombia y todo el mundo! Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Chachacha, Reggaeton y Timba!.
La Familia also hosts dances from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Saturday at the Metro Lounge, 505 Westcott St., on the East Side., where admission also costs $5; lafamiliadelasalsa.com; 636-7133.
Blues Christmas
It’ll be a blues Christmas when Los Blancos returns at 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25, to Al’s (no longer Awful) Wine & Whiskey Lounge, 321 S. Clinton St., just a stone’s throw from Armory Square, downtown.
The Sammy Award-winning quartet features guitarist Colin Aberdeen, keyboardist Mark Nanni, bassist Steve Winston and drummer Mark Tiffault. The foursome plays a fearsome blend of blues, roots rock and originals.
On Wednesday, Dec. 28, the neo-bluegrass band Driftwood will play its updated version of old-time country. Admission is always free at Al’s; 703-4773; www.alswineandwhiskey.com.
Blues at the Bar-B-Que!
Jeff Jones’ rock combo the Pale Green Stars returns to the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, followed by none other than guitarist Phil Petroff & The Natural Fact at 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23.
The world-famous honky-tonk and smokehouse will be open for booze and barbecue until 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day.
Big D and Dr. Pickle entertain at 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27, followed by Capt. Howdy on Tuesday, Dec. 27.
The Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is at 246 W. Willow St., at the corner of North Franklin Street. Admission is free and the food is fabulous; 476-4937.
Hockey: Crunch return Wednesday
The Syracuse Crunch continues its climb up the American Hockey League’s East Division standings with a home game against the Springfield Falcons at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at the Onondaga County War Memorial at State and Harrison streets, downtown.
The Crunch is affiliated with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. Springfield is the top farm club of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Ticket prices range from $14 to $21; 473-4444.
Stage: ‘The Lion’ at Syracuse Stage
“The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,” a thrilling musical adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ inspiring tale, continues to enthrall family audiences at Syracuse Stage through New Year’s Eve.
Produced in cooperation with Syracuse University’s Department of Drama, the musical is directed by Linda Hartzell with musical direction by Dianne Adams McDowell and choreography by Anthony Salatino.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday Dec. 22; 2 and 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23; 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29; 8 p.m. Dec. 30; and it closes at 3 p.m. Dec. 31.
Syracuse Stage is at 820 E. Genesee St. Ticket prices range from $28 to $48; 443-3275; www.syracusestage.org.
