Despite the fact that Christmas is on Friday, there are still lots of things to go out and do this week. Our arts critics have recommended the best of them, including many holiday-themed events like the closing week of Homo for the Holidays, Stout’s winter solstice beer festival, and the 12th annual Blue Moon Christmas Pageant. See them all below, and, if you still want more great things to do this week, check out our complete Things To Do calendar.
MONDAY
PERFORMANCE
Dina Martina Christmas Show
“You’d think the chubby-older-woman-with-a-hairy-back-and-no-talent-but-thinks-she’s-God’s-gift-to-singing shtick would get old, but it doesn’t, because Grady West, who inhabits her horrible fashion choices, is a world-class artist, a first-rate writer, and a comedy genius.” -Christopher Frizzelle (Daily, through Dec 31)
Homo for the Holidays
“This drag and burlesque gigglefest features a bunch of wacky little holiday-themed skits that our own Dan Savage once called ‘FUCKING GREAT….FUCKING HILARIOUS!'” -Rich Smith (Daily, through Sun)
The Nutcracker
“Watching The Nutcracker is like watching NASCAR. Lots of colors, everyone is dancing around in a circle, and the whole time you’re thinking, ‘Oh my god, one of those dancers is going to crash into another one and there’s going to be a sugar-plum explosion.'” -Rich Smith (Daily, through Dec 28)
MUSIC
Alex’s Hand
“Prog-rock fans should check out Alex’s Hand, one of the few modern exponents of the genre doing it as rigorously as their ’70s progenitors.” -Dave Segal
Home for the Holidays
Directing the Seattle Men’s Chorus for the last time, Dennis Coleman will pull out all the “beloved carols, soaring holiday classics, and charming, cheeky antics” audiences have loved over the years. Tonight is the last show.
Pity Sex, Colleen Green, Eskimeaux, and Where My Bones Rest Easy
“Feelings (particularly the sad-face-emoticon kind) are the common thread of this excellent lineup tonight filled with bands who would do anything, and are pretty much guaranteed, to make you feel.” -Robin Edwards
FOOD & DRINK
Darkest Days Beer Festival
“Dark winter days are made better by dark winter beers, which are rife with warm, toasty flavors and spices. They also tend to be higher in alcohol content, making them more conducive to long winter naps or much-needed social interaction. To help you through the Winter Solstice, Stout holding a three-day celebration featuring over ten different specialty stouts, porters, and winter drafts.” -Angela Garbes
FILM
It’s a Wonderful Life
“The sacrifices George makes for being ‘the richest man in town’ resonate bitterly even as they lead to the finale’s effusive payoff. Those sacrifices are what make It’s a Wonderful Life, in all its ‘Capraesque’ glory, endure.” -Sean Nelson
The Princess Bride Quote-Along
Think you know all the words? Now’s your chance to prove it—although there will be subtitles for “all the best lines.” Plus, free inflatable swords and ROUS.
TUESDAY
ART
Turn
“You’ve heard of an exquisite corpse drawing, probably, or if you haven’t, you’ve probably still been part of making one in an art class at some point—it’s a drawing where one person puts down a part, then the next person, without looking at the first, adds her own part, and on and on until the paper is filled with a segmented beast of a thing. See the result of the newest rebirth tonight.” -Jen Graves
Roger Shimomura: Great American Muse
“In this new crop of crisp, bright paintings, Shimomura cuts apart and remixes Pop Art icons he was first introduced to as an undergrad in the 1960s. “While Pop was generally understood as cool and detached, I was interested in making it hot and relevant.” His Pop burns.” -Jen Graves (Closes Thurs)
MUSIC
Obie Trice
“Shady Records progeny Obie Trice cuts an entertaining, though sometimes hazily defined, unreliable narrator through the weed fog.” -Kyle Fleck
COMEDY
Comedy Womb Open Mic
The rules of this pro-lady stand-up night are refreshing in their simplicity: no misogyny and no heckling.
WEDNESDAY
FILM
“The Cigar Room” Documentary Release Party
“I detect a strong whiff of Drake’s latest confessional/shit-talking material in Neema’s The Cigar Room, about which a documentary’s apparently been made and will be screened tonight.” -Kyle Fleck
ART
Remember to Come Back…
“Remember to Come Back… is aptly timed not only to current events in international migration and social transformation, but also to the American and European holiday seasons, when we all go home again in our own ways.” -Jen Graves (Closes today)
FOOD & DRINK
Festa dei Sette Pesci
Anchovies & Olives and Chef Kyl Hasselbauer present Festa dei Sette Pesci, (also known as “The Vigil,”) a traditional Christmas Eve feast from southern Italy. Notable dishes include fried squid with mint and chili vinegar and whole grilled Branzino with heirloom squash.
MUSIC
TOKiMONSTA
“TOKiMONSTA crafts luscious electronic music that radiates a winsome funkiness and melodic insouciance.” -Dave Segal
The Dynette Set
“The fantastic singers bring girl-group vocals and a pre-Beatles rock-pop sensibility to a world that thinks ‘Americana’ means dour vegetarians with beards playing fake country-folk songs.” -Sean Nelson
THURSDAY
FOOD & DRINK
Making Hand-Rolled Sushi
Chef Shota Nakajima (from Capitol Hill’s Naka) presents this workshop teaching the basics of creating hand-rolled sushi. As far as Christmas Eve activities go, this is probably one of the more sane and tranquil options.
MUSIC
12th Annual Blue Moon Christmas Pageant
“While I highly doubt anyone will try to slit a goat’s throat for good luck, or burn any wood at this annual event where a band named the Yule Loggers will play, there will be drinking, merriment, comedy acts, and other surprises.” -Kelly O
FRIDAY
QUEER
Cuff Country Fridays
“If you’re having a hard-candy Christmas, what better way to shake off the blues than with a little holiday line dance? Show off your fancy new boots at the Cuff on Friday night with the Rain Country Dance Association’s regular weekly country dancing night.” -Matt Baume
SATURDAY
FOOD & DRINK
White Fish Gift Exchange
If you got a less than stellar Christmas present, bring it to Ghostfish Brewing Company and “potentially get something cooler or something super amazing from GBC!”
MUSIC
Avatar Darko and Ugly Frank
“Two of the Puget Sound area’s most vicious mic martial artists—Avatar Darko (Seattle) and Ugly Frank (Tacoma)—will share headlining duties for this show, and take turns ripping it up at night’s end.” -Todd Hamm
Diminished Men
“For nine years now, Diminished Men have been one of Seattle’s best bands. What Diminished Men excel at is eerie, ominous jazz rock that evokes myriad noirish cinematic scenarios.” -Dave Segal
Ellington’s “Sacred Music”
“Ellington was, of course, the greatest and most creative figure of the big band era. … Tonight is devoted to the third, and in many ways most profound, of Ellington’s projects.” -Charles Mudede
Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band
“There’s something undeniably refreshing about being treated to effortlessly tight Latin jazz on what promises to be a gray-skied and frigid end of the year: Hearing Poncho Sanchez and his unendingly funky ensemble tear through decades’ worth of searing-yet-smooth classics will warm the coldest hearts.” -Kyle Fleck (Through Dec 31)
She is We
“What’s been released so far shows promise, transitioning into a more dance-y Metric-esque direction on the debut single “Boomerang.” Show up early for up-and-coming pop-punk band Amsterdam, as they consistently steal the show with their infectious hooks and energetic stage presence.” -Kevin Diers
Garlic Man & Chikn
“Olympia electronic/R&B/rap/comedy duo Garlic Man & Chikn craft a particularly weird and catchy brand of queer pop, sort of a cross between THEESatisfaction and Salt-N-Pepa.” -Kyle Fleck
SUNDAY
MUSIC
Hardly Boys
“I get giddy watching the Hardly Boys. The gleefulness of the teen friendship punk band is infectious as they belt out bop-a-long odes to hot mullets and Michael Cera (sample lyric: “Oh Canada/Thanks a lot/For this gift/From above”).” -Robin Edwards
Hot Chip
“Britain’s Hot Chip have become global standard-bearers for song-oriented house music. Their frictionless tracks bubble with a restrained optimism and melodies to which well-adjusted people like to sing along.” -Dave Segal
QUEER
Mimosas with Mama: Holiday Hangover Edition
Drag diva Mama Tits hosts this drag cabaret/brunch buffet with the titular mimosas to go along, appropriately located at the very festive/in-the-basement Narwhal, that’s currently running a 30-minute musical version of Little Shop of Horrors.
