First lights, fun night in OG

Joy Haenlein in Old Greenwich on Sound Beach Avenue and on line reporting at Darlene's.

First came First Lights. Then came the snow.

The Old Greenwich business district’s annual holiday bash was the perfect prelude to the village’s first measurable snowfall of the season. Every teen and pre-teen within 50 miles of Old Greenwich, not to mention every dog in Santa coat or reindeer antlers, seemed to be on central Sound Beach Avenue or Arcadia Road Saturday night. Most of the stores in the village, as well as others in Greenwich, joined the celebration.

Maybe they came to see or be seen. Maybe they came to chat up Santa at the Sound Beach fire house or ride through the village in a horse-drawn carriage. Perhaps it was the prospect of eating their way through town for the evening, free of charge: ice cream at Darlene’s, french fries and more at Garden Catering; chili at Coldwell Banker; hot dogs at Feinsod’s; cotton candy at Pastiche; red bagels at the Upper Crust; buschetta and hors d’oeuvres at Applausi!; popcorn at Anna Banana; hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows at the Arcadia coffee shop. Cookies, brownies, cupcakes and candy were everywhere. So was the apple cider — your choice, sparkling or hot.

The line for samples was out the door at Sam’s Wine and Liquor. There were roses at the Old Greenwich Flower Shop. Lots of foot traffic inside Catherine’s Jewelers and Bennett’s Jewelers. And cheer was all around.

But with all the hustle and bustle, one of the most pleasant places to pass the time was off the beaten path. Peter Parente, an owner of Soundview Servicecenter North on Arcadia Road, across from Porricelli’s Food Mart, warmed his garage and threw a party.

“That’s my brother Ralph on drums,” Peter said, motioning to a band playing Christmas Carols right outside the glass garage bay doors. Ralph is another co-owner, as is brother Joseph.

Peter’s neighbors at Porricelli’s brought over plenty of goodies. Peter made his special sausage and peppers; his wife contributed pot pie. Space was cleared on a work counter for beverages. Ice cubes in a cut-glass bowl and gallon bottles of soda sat next to the rearview mirror adhesive. Holiday lights were strung around a piece of portable equipment. Peter set up a few tables and the crowd did the rest. They ate and watched the horse-drawn carriage go by.

As if not to be outdone, a talented three-piece band entertained just down the street at Mackey’s Service Station on Sound Beach Avenue. Kids took cookies and soda while their parents listened to such songs as The Cure’s “Love Song” and The Velvet Underground/Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane.”

Sweet, indeed!