It’s not easy finding a lot of happenings this month that don’t involve the ho-ho-ho, but we’ve cultivated a few off-the-radar events that are worth exploring this weekend.

Café Miranda comes out of retirement for one weekend

Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10 —Rockland

Café Miranda, which was a fixture in Rockland for the last 29 years, had to close this past June, unable to find staff, to the heartbreak of the community. Well, the gang is getting back together, just for one weekend, and it’s for a good cause–to benefit the Knox County Gleaners, a new community kitchen that’s working with local farms to glean produce, then take it to local food pantries for neighbors in need. You can only pre-order their pizza for a Firday and Saturday pick up. But it’s nice to see Kerry and the gang firing up the old wood-fired oven again. There will also be raffle items from The Strand, The Farnsworth Art Museum, and more. FMI: Order Here

Killer Road Trip: Unspoken Word

Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10 — Blue Hill

Killer Road Trip: The Vault Market: Naughty or Nice

Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 —Winthrop

A while back, I did a story on Freckles Salvage Co., a quirky vintage store in the lake district of Winthop that was getting all kinds of press for being different, a little weird, and  a lot of fun. Each month, they throw an under-the-radar pop-up called The Vault in a 6,000-square-foot space (whose cavernous interior is worth the visit alone). At the market, people will find a curated selection of vintage goods including; furniture, art, books, home decor, clothing, accessories, and more under the theme “Naughty or Nice.” Whatever you find, it’s going to be one of a kind. Both days go from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plus, it’s a cool town to check out for restaurants, as well. FMI: The Vault

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com