Gozapalooza, Matzo Ball Set for Christmas Eve
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Gozapalooza, Matzo Ball Set for Christmas Eve

Two options for Jews looking to stray from the traditional Chinese food and movie on Christmas Eve this year.

David R. Cohen

David R. Cohen is the former Associate Editor of the Atlanta Jewish Times. He is originally from Marietta, GA and studied Journalism at the University of Tennessee.

Goza Tequila, owned and operated by young Jewish Atlantans, hosts an annual Christmas Eve party, Gozapalooza, where young professionals can meet and mingle.
Goza Tequila, owned and operated by young Jewish Atlantans, hosts an annual Christmas Eve party, Gozapalooza, where young professionals can meet and mingle.

When Christmas Eve fell on the first night of Chanukah last year, an array of events occurred on a night Jews traditionally spend watching a movie and eating Chinese food.

This year, with Chanukah ending almost a week before Christmas, two events stand out as options Sunday night, Dec. 24 — one for young professionals, the other for people over 35.

After switching venues three times, the fourth annual Gozapalooza will be held from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Westside Cultural Arts Center in West Midtown. The previous venues had issues with finding staff to work on Christmas Eve and with the regulations for Sunday night alcohol sales.

Atlanta-based Goza Tequila is hosting the event, joined by second-year co-sponsors David Shapiro, a Realtor, and the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival.

Goza founders Adam Hirsch and Jacob Gluck said the party began because of their desire to create something exciting and different for young Jewish people on Christmas Eve.

Partial proceeds from the event will go to the young adult division of Jewish National Fund in Atlanta, JNFuture. “Not only are we a company local to Atlanta, but we have received so much support from the Atlanta Jewish community over the years,” Hirsch said. “It’s nice to enhance the community experience and give back to JNFuture.”

Tickets to the 21-and-up event, available at www.gozapalooza.com, cost $20 and include one Goza drink. Goza swag, including T-shirts, hats and shot glasses, will be given away. Mag-nificent will provide photo magnets.

More than 600 people attended Gozapalooza at Park Tavern in 2016, and organizers expect a similar number this year.

For those looking for a slightly more mature crowd, Atlanta Jewish Singles (www.facebook.com/groups/367504616619781) is holding the Matzo Ball for singles 35 and older from 8 to 11 p.m. at Hudson Grille in Sandy Springs.

Tickets are $12 in advance at tiny.cc/322jpy, with a free membership to Meetup (www.meetup.com) required. Or you can get in for $20 at the door.

Admission covers snacks (chips and salsa, pretzel bites, brownies, cookies) while they last in a private room with a cash bar.

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