Our arts critics have already recommended 57 awesome things to do this week, but if you’re looking for something a little more offbeat and outside-the-box, we’ve got you covered, from Star Wars cabaret (#10) to an “old-fashioned Hanukkah shindig” (#16).
TUESDAY
1. Soup and Cinema
The Nordic Heritage Museum will screen Princess/Princessa, a Finnish film that tells the true story of cabaret dancer Anna Lappalainen who went to the Kellokoski Psychiatric Hospital in 1945, and serve hot soup, fresh bread, coffee, and cookies.
2. The Doubleclicks
Noted geek rock duo the Doubleclicks headline El Corazón.
WEDNESDAY
3. Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
A film festival featuring the “world’s best mountain films,” presented by National Geographic and The North Face.
4. Aesthetic Mess
“Expect these serious record collectors to dig deeply into their stashes and spin cuts from the post-punk/minimal-synth diaspora, spanning the late ’70s to the present.” -Dave Segal
5. The Seattle Process, with Brett Hamil
Described as “Seattle’s only intentionally funny talk show” and “a mudpie lobbed into the halls of power,” the local Stewart-like presence of Brett Hamil is one of exasperation, information, and comedy.
6. Taylor Swift vs. Ryan Adams
Neumos decides to settle the question of who rocked 1989 better: Taylor Swift or Ryan Adams, who alt-countrified the whole endeavor.
THURSDAY
7. Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
This isn’t just any clown act. Sure, Gregory Popovich impressively juggles and balances, but he does it onstage with a crew that comprises a Shetland pony, a German goat duo, and over 30 pets (including dogs, cats, geese, white doves, and parrots).
8. Keeping It Real: Injecting Reality Into Online War-Gaming
At this event, put on by Paul Allen’s fighter plane display and restoration project “The Flying Heritage Collection,” you’ll hear from Capt Patrick Najmulski, USMC (Ret), Senior Military Research Analyst for Wargaming, Seattle, and find out about the precise and detailed background research put into your favorite time suck.
9. Seattle AntiFreeze: The Architecture of Gingerbread Houses
On a dreary December day in Seattle, take an hour out of your day to socialize, learn, and make gingerbread houses at this free event. The Seattle Architecture Foundation will help you recreate your favorite Seattle landmarks (like the Space Needle and the Smith Tower) in glimmering cookie and icing.
FRIDAY
10. Star Wars Cabaret
Just what it sounds like: bellydance and burlesque performances inspired by Star Wars. Geek out, enjoy the show, and check out the trailers for the new film.
11. Sviridov: Georgy Sviridov Centennial
A group called The Esoterics lives up to their name and celebrates the life and times of neo-Romantic Russian composer Georgy Sviridov, performing his choral works and swelling their ranks to 50 members.
12. Hot and Hard: Combining Cigar Play with Rough Body Play for Fiery Fun
The Center for Sex Positive Culture puts on an “advanced workshop” in which “Rough combines his love for cigars and his expertise in rough body play into a new and very edge- play class.”
13. Menagerie Xmas Party
Kremwerk’s animal-themed dance party throws itself a holiday edition.
14. Darigold’s New Naturally White Cheddar Cheese Samples
Is there anything more normal or regular than a cheddar cheese tasting at the zoo?
SATURDAY
15. 4th Annual Pioneer Square Howlidays
The four-legged members of our family can sometimes get left out during the holiday season. However, this event more than makes up for it, featuring a canine-oriented photobooth, agility course, and costume contest.
16. The Debaucherauntes’ 4th Annual Bubbe’s Old-Fashioned Hanukkah Shindig!
We’ll let Fremont Abbey speak for themselves on this one: “Our annual mishegas Hanukkah blowout that leaves you chaleshen is coming up on December 12th, with the most concentrated group of oldschool performance art from PNW Jews and friends you will find this Hanukkah! Feast your eyes on our usual complement of Jewish circus, burlesque, and fire dance, and our 4 local Jewish bands with throwback flare will keep you dancing all night long, all under one roof!”
17. Seattle Men in Leather’s Pictures with Santa
The Seattle Men in Leather cordially invite you to pose for a photo with a hunky Santa, his elves, and a reindeer at a fundraiser for Seattle Area Support Groups. And, as Matt Baume says, “If you’re lucky, you might also receive a slightly reddened bottom from a little light spanking. The spanking is optional, of course—but you wouldn’t say no to Santa, would you?”
18. Theater Anonymous Presents It’s a Wonderful Life
A one-night-only performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” with a real twist: nobody knows the cast, not even the cast.
19. KPC’s Campy Christmas
What kind of Christmas could be better than a campy one? This show features Captain Smartypants (of Seattle Men’s Chorus) and Sensible Shoes (of Seattle Women’s Chorus), alongside Steve Thoreson, host David Hunter Koch, and special guests.
20. SnowGlobed
The fifth iteration of SnowGlobed features five new holiday inspired plays by Nicky Davis, K. Brian Neel, Kelleen Conway Blanchard, Benjamin Benne, and Pilar O’Connell. Look out for divorce courts, miserable orphanages, bloody puppet shows, and all the usual holiday staples.
SUNDAY
21. A(n Improvised) Christmas Carol
You may think you know the story of A Christmas Carol, but you have no idea.
