Folks of any age or gender are invited to a free knitting and crocheting class this Saturday, Jan. 7, 2:30-4:00 p.m. at the A-Space Gallery (4722 Baltimore Ave). Long-term West Philly resident and activist Katie Krauss will teach you how to knit or crochet (it’s your choice) a variety of things, such as arm warmers for winter biking, baby hats and more.

Katie will also bring a list of resources so that you can easily continue your project and will discuss thrifty ways to get fancy yarn. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to kate[at]aidspolicyproject.org and let her know whether you own knitting needles or a crochet hook or need them. If you have a choice, bring the biggest ones you have (small ones will work too).

Yarn and snacks will be provided. A contribution to the A-space of a few dollars is appreciated but not mandatory. If you already know how to do needlework and just want to hang out and work on a project, you are also welcome.

Anyone interested in starting or joining a town watch group on their block or neighborhood is invited to a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Renewal Presbyterian Church which is on the corner of 47th and Cedar.

The meeting will include a discussion with Tara Smith from Town Watch. The meeting is specifically aimed at a group forming from St. Bernard to 47th, Kingsessing to Baltimore. But anyone interested in starting a group of their own will find the meeting useful.

If you are interested in attending, contact Patty Bulack at pbulack[at]gmail.com so she can get a rough head count.

Here’s a sampling of New Year’s Eve parties, concerts and special events taking place in the neighborhood. If you know of other events please drop them in the comments.

• New Year’s Eve with Philly Bloco • World Cafe Live • 3025 Walnut Street • 10:30 p.m. (doors 9:30 p.m.) • Tickets: $30

Philly Bloco’s 20+ members bring their raucous mash-up of Samba, Funk and Reggae for a very special New Year’s Eve dance party.

• New Year’s Eve Yoga and Mochi • Studio 34 • 4522 Baltimore Ave. • 8 – 10 p.m. • Suggested donation $5 – $15

Wring out your body before you ring in the New Year with this special 2-hour all-levels hatha yoga practice. Class includes brief meditation, pranayama (breathing), seated and standing poses, plus special sequences for reflecting on the past year while looking forward to the future. After practice, enjoy hot tea and mochi (sweet Japanese rice cakes) in the warmth of Studio 34′s community lounge.

• Beth Hart – New Year’s Eve concert • The Blockley • 38th & Chestnut • 7 p.m. (doors 5 p.m.) • Tickets: $135

The concert includes: Admission to Show; Dinner Buffet – 7 – 9 p.m.; Top Shelf Open Bar – 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.; Beth’s new CD with Joe Bonamassa, “Don’t Explain”; Beth Hart event shirt; Midnight Champagne Toast.

• Gojjo (www.gojjos.com) • 4540 Baltimore Ave • 11 p.m.-2 a.m. • No cover

Champagne is on the house.

• New Deck Tavern (www.newdecktavern.com) • 3408 Sansom Street • 10 p.m. • No cover

Specials: $2 Coors Light Pints, $3 Coors Light bottles and $5 Flavored Martini’s. DJ starts at 10 p.m.

• Slainte Pub (www.slaintephilly.com) • 3000 Market Street • 10 p.m. • No cover

DJ @ 10 p.m. Free Flare & Noisemakers. $2 Miller Lite Pints & Firework Shots 10 p.m.-close.

Think it’s impossible to shop and dance at the same time? Think again. Tomorrow (Dec. 23) you’ll get a chance to do last-minute holiday shopping at VIX Emporium and cut a rug at the Independent Rock school next door with The Last of the Red-Hot Lovers led by IR director and Stinking Lizaveta band member Yanni Papadopoulos (pictured).

The dance show is free and features a full band playing lively swing jazz. Refreshments will be available for a modest donation. The show will run from 6 – 9 p.m.

VIX will be open until 9 for your last-minute gift needs. Also Friday night, don’t miss a presentation of a new “West Philly” graphic, the fourth so far to celebrate this awesome neighborhood. To bring it to life, VIX enlisted the help of local artist Justin Turkus. Justin, who is a tattoo artist and the author and illustrator of picture book “Earth is a Wonderful Place to Be” (available at VIX), will be there to debut his new design. Handprinted notecards and stickers of the new image will be available starting from tomorrow, and totes, t-shirts and hoodies will arrive in the new year.

On December 24 VIX will be open from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (closed December 25 and 26).

Kol Tzedek, West Philly’s progressive,  Reconstructionist synagogue, will host its annual Hanukkah party (Facebook event page) tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to the synagogue, located in the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th and Baltimore).

The party will feature lots of latkes, a vegetarian potluck (you’re encouraged to bring a dish), music by the synagogue’s Simcha Band playing klezmer and all kinds of stuff for kids. If you can swing it, bring your own plates, napkins and silverware and a donation of winter clothing for a local charity. You are also invited to bring a menorah for the table and dreidel and pennies.

Your donation of $5 to $25 at the door goes toward Kol Tzedek’s mission to provide diverse and inclusive Jewish spiritual community in West Philly.

This Friday, Dec. 23, at 7:30 p.m. a benefit performance of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” will take place at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (3916 Locust Walk). All proceeds will go to support the church community programs. Curio Theatre‘s Artistic Associate Jared Reed is featured in this performance. Suggested donation is $10 (free for children aged 5 – 12). After the show everyone is invited for a reception. For more information call 215-386-3916.