Brunch and a sing-along make a merry afternoon at the Hamilton

Last Christmas, Charlie Barnett, an Emmy-nominated composer of film and television, gave his annual Christmas party at home for 250 of his closest friends, neighbors and acquaintances.

“I take the holidays seriously, and I have been doing this for 20 years,” he explained. “It is a big, happy mess, and anyone who wants to sing comes close to the piano, [the group] spreading out through three rooms. It’s quite a joyful noise, and I love doing it.”