Parkland Press

Creative collaborations do not often happen easily, nor do they always produce powerful songwriting unions.

But that was the case when A.J. Swearingen and Jayne Kelli met at Judy's Highway Cafe, Tequesta, Fla. The trendy venue brought together two songwriters of different ages, gender and styles who blended beautifully to create a folk-pop duo with undeniable chemistry.

@Body.8 Days Head: CONCERTS

MUHLENBERG COLLEGE

2400 W. Chew St. Allentown. 484-664-3100

Lehigh Saengerbund, 4 p.m. Dec. 14, Egner Chapel: Christmas concert

@Body.8 Days Head: PENN'S PEAK

325 Maury Road, Penn Forest Township. 1-866-605-7325

"Christmas with the Celts," 8 p.m. Dec. 14

Phil Vassar, 8 p.m. Jan. 11

KIX, 8 p.m. Jan. 31

Fran Cosmo, 8 p.m. Feb. 1

Vince Gill, 8 p.m. Feb. 21

Bruce in the USA, 8 p.m. Feb. 22: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band tribute

Pink Floyd Experience, 8 p.m. March 1

@Body.8 Days Head: LITERARY EVENTS

ALLENTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY

1210 Hamilton St., Allentown. 610-820-2400

William Allen High School Chorale, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12

Knitting Club December Meeting, 2 p.m. Dec. 14

Used Book Sale, Dec. 16 - 21

Adult Winter Reading Program, Jan. 2 - Feb. 28

Vellamo, 2 p.m. Jan. 11

Lap-sit Story Time, 10 a.m. Thursdays: Up to 2-year-olds

Time for Twos, 6 p.m. Wednesdays; 10:15 a.m. Fridays: 2-year-olds

Preschool Story Time, 10 a.m., 6:45 p.m. Wednesdays, 2 p.m. Thursdays: 3- to 5-year-olds

@Body.8 Days Head: CINEMA

ARTSQUEST CENTER

Frank Banko Alehouse Cinema, SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. 610-332-1300

"Nebraska," 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45 p.m. Dec. 13; 1:30, 4:15, 6:45, 9:15 p.m. Dec. 14; 2, 4:15, 6:45 p.m. Dec. 15; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, 17; 7:15 p.m. Dec. 18; 4:15, 8:45 p.m. Dec. 19

"Dallas Buyers Club," 7:15 p.m. Dec. 11; 4:15 p.m. Dec. 12

@Body.8 Days: DANCE

ALLENTOWN AREA SWING DANCE SOCIETY

Fearless Fire Company, 1221 S. Front St., Allentown. 610-797-2542

East Coast Swing, 7 p.m. Dec. 10

West Coast Swing, 7 p.m. Jan. 7, 14

Country Waltz, 7 p.m. Dec. 17

Hustle, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 11

Cha-Cha, 7 p.m. Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 18

15th Anniversary Winter Ball, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4

Social Dance, 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays

@Body.8 Days Head: ANTONIO SALEMME FOUNDATION

Empire Ballroom, 542 Hamilton St., Allentown 610-433-4150

@Body.8 Days Head: EVENTS, FESTIVALS

ALLENTOWN FAIRGROUNDS

Agri-Plex, 17th and Chew streets, Allentown. 484-553-2947

Star of Bethlehem Dog Show, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Dec. 21; 8:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. Dec. 22, Ed Charles Hall, William T. Harris Agricultural Hall

@Body.8 Days Head: ARTSQUEST

SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. 610-332-3378

Christkindlmarkt, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Dec. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21; 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Dec. 15, 22, PNC Plaza, East First Street

Breakfast with Saint Nicholas, 9 a.m. Dec. 14, 21, PNC Plaza

@Body.8 Days Head: ART EXHIBITS

ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM

31 N. Fifth St., Allentown. 610-432-4333

South Asian Temple Art, through Dec. 29, Fowler Gallery

American Wildlife Art, through Dec. 29, Scheller and Rodale Galleries

Drawings on Character: The Art of Children's Graphic Novels, through Dec. 29, Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery

Assemblage: Contemporary Fiber Art, through Feb. 23, Goodman Gallery

@Body.8 Days Head: AMERICA ON WHEELS MUSEUM

5 N. Front St., Allentown. 610-432-4200

Brilliant Brass Beauties, through April 30

@Body.8 Days Head: CONCERTS

ARTSQUEST

Musikfest Café, ArtsQuest Center, SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. 610-297-7100

Swearingen and Keli, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15

Start Making Sense, 9 p.m. Dec. 31: Talking Heads tribute; Great White Caps; HmfO: Hall and Oates tribute

Leon Russell, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 3

Stanley Clarke, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10

The Aardvarks, 8 p.m. Jan. 18

The Front Bottoms, 8 p.m. Jan. 31

Angélique Kidjo, 8 p.m. Feb. 19

Blood, Sweat & Tears, 7:30 p.m. March 5

The Irish Comedy Tour, 7:30 p.m. March 7

If you don't feel the Christmas spirit after seeing "A Christmas Carol," through Dec. 21 at Civic Theatre of Allentown, you might get a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking.

This terrifically well-done production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is directed and choreographed by William Sanders. The play was adapted by Sanders and Sharon Lee Glassman for the Civic production. It couldn't be better.