saturday
11am-2pm: the inaugural whiskey, waffles and workshops event at ny distilling co. offers the chance to make two different coasters while feasting on waffles with toppings and sipping a rye whiskey cocktail. $20 with promo code ‘skint’ (reg. $27). >>color>
12-6pm (ends today): go play in a gallery room filled with hundreds of big red balloons. gavin brown’s enterprise (291 grand street), free. >>color>
2pm: learn the history and theory of sideshow banners, and create your own with help from the only traditional banner painter working in coney island today, marie roberts. brooklyn museum, $16 (includes admission to the museum). >>color>
3-5pm geek forest, a new d.i.y. robotics and electronics store in williamsburg, hosts a grand opening party with 15% off all purchases. >>color>
4pm doors, 5pm show doors: ‘yule’ have a great time at the annual harry potter-themed yule ball, featuring performances from bands harry and the potters, the potter puppet pals, draco and the malfoys, and more. $5 from each ticket benefits the nonprofit harry potter alliance. the bell house, $20. >>color>
4:30pm: prep your fa-la-las for the 41st annual greenwich village caroling walk. begins and ends at judson memorial church. free (donations accepted). >>color>
6:30pm doors 7pm show: have yourself a murray little christmas at a variety show hosted by comedian/drag king murray hill(bored to death, taxicab confessions), and with performances by bridget everett, dirty martini, carmine c. covelli, the wau-wau sisters, the murrayettes, and the 12 steps. le poisson rouge, $20. >>color>
7pm doors (ends today): variations theatre group presents a staged reading parody of star wars episode iv: a new hope (1977), including audience participation, trivia, a raffle, and drinking. popcorn and hot dogs will be available for purchase. the chain theatre (lic), $15 admission includes two drinks and a raffle ticket. >>color>
7pm doors, 7:30pm show: (monthly): don’t feed the musicians!: musical comedian rob paravonian and friends play funny songs and pick apart the best and worst music out there. q.e.d. astoria, $5. >>color>
7pm doors, 8pm show: pwr bttm, and the kids and kississippi play knitting factory. $10 adv, $12 dos. >>color>
8pm the salt cracker crazies jug band performs music from the 1977 classic jim henson tv special, emmet otter’s jug-band christmascolor>. the way station, $5 suggested donation. >>color>
8pm: dfa records throws a holiday party at palisades with performances by guerilla toss, eric copeland, and more. free. >>color>
8pm doors, 8:30pm show (weekly): bring an old trophy, a souvenir shot glass, your sticker collection, or anything with a story for a shot at winning $20 cash at the show/tell show, a night of stand-up comedy and show + tell at williamsburg’s over the eight. tonight’s performers include brandon scott wolf (best time ever), jeff simmermon (this american life), sharon spell, anthony o’connell, tyler fischer, justin williams and more. free. >>color>
8pm doors, 9pm show: snowmine, salt cathedral and bellows play rough trade. $12 adv, $15 dos. >>color>
8:30pm doors, 9pm show: sunset park’s industry city distillery is the boozy setting for the captains of industry free comedy night, hosted by hoff matthews. tonight’s show includes stand up by doogie horner (america’s got talent), brett davis (andy kaufman award winner), brendan fitzgibbons (comedy central), kerry coddett, noah gardenswartz, blair socci, subhah agarwal and jimmy lechase. free admission (email rsvp to guarantee a spot). >>color>
8pm doors, 9pm show: wasabassco burlesque’s solid gold holiday party stars hostess sydni deveraux, aka the golden glamazon, and performers nasty canasta, evelyn vinyl, sapphire jones, jezebel express, penny wren, nina la voix, and amanda whip. littlefield, $15. >>color>
9:30pm (monthly): the bridge + tunnel sketch comedy show brings in an expert/personality to tell stories, and then creates a show based on their life. tonight, comedian and former macy’s elf anoush froundjian provides inspiration for the group’s third annual holiday spectacular. $10. >>color>
10:30pm (weekly thru 12/26): see an improvised puppet show from ‘the cast,’ a theatrical improv show that features an entirely made-up play that alternates between the on-stage production and backstage performer drama. magnet theater, $10. >>color>
11pm-4am (monthly): the feeling gloomy dance party (‘the party that brings a tear to your eye’) pays tribute to the cure with the band’s hits and deep cuts, plus santa robert smith photo ops, a cure coiffure contest and more. the grand victory (williamsburg), $6. >>color>
midnight-ish movies:
batman returns (fri) @ jane b. par agnès v. (sat) videology. $5. >>color>
die hard @ ifc. $14. >>color>
national lampoon’s christmas vacation @ landmark sunshine. $10. >>color>
reservoir dogs @ ifc. $14. >>color>
silent night, deadly night @ nitehawk cinema. $11. >>color>
the people under the stairs @ ifc. $14. >>color>
sunday
various times (+ 12/23): believe in santa claus again at screenings of miracle on 34th street at bow tie chelsea cinemas and amc empire 25. $10-18. >>color>
10am-5pm (sundays thru 12/27): ride back in time when the mta operates a fleet of vintage trains from the 1930s-70s along the m line between manhattan’s second avenue and queens plaza. normal $2.75 fare applies. >>color>
1:30pm doors, 2pm show: cram six hours of comedy with more than 30 performers into your stocking at the great christmas mind f*ck show, hosted by jo firestone (the chris gethard show, punderdome 3000 co-host) and taylor moore. union hall, $15. >>color>
3pm music prelude, 4pm show: listen to the 104th annual reading of ”twas the night before christmas’’ followed by a lantern procession and wreath laying at the tomb of author clement c. moore. a reception follows. church of the intercession (broadway + w. 155th st), free. >>color>
3pm: we’re not sure if an angel gets its wings every time the script of it’s a wonderful life is read aloud, but you can find out when you submit your name for a part in the annual it’s a wonderful life live act-along at metropolitan playhouse. $5 suggested donation (rsvp). >>color>
3pm: bring 2 quarts of your spiked secret recipe to bearded lady brooklyn’s third annual nog-a-thon for a chance to win prizes and bragging rights. free to enter and to judge. >>color>
3pm (ends today): sing traditional german and american christmas carols at alphabet city’s zum schneider bavarian bierhaus while drinking the day away and enjoying free cookies. >>color>
3pm (monthly): the concerts on the slope series at park slope’s st. john’s episcopal church continues the season with an afternoon of works performed by sandbox percussion and mezzo-soprano elspeth davis. free (donations welcome). >>color>
4pm doors, 5pm pre-show, 5:30pm show (ends today): the united palace of cultural arts presents a centennial salute to fox studios with the ‘women of fox film festival’. each screening includes pre-movie entertainment, q+a, and special guests. today: natalie wood stars in george seaton’s miracle on 34th street (1947). $10 general adv ($15 door), $5 seniors adv ($10 door), free if wearing a tuxedo or gown! >>color>
4:30pm, 7:30pm: get free tickets to pink pig ballet’s modern nutcracker, in a nutshell, welcome to new york suite-y, at players theatre in the west village 12/20 (plus ticket fees, reg. $22). >>color>
6:45pm doors, 7pm show (+ 12/21): visit the guggenheim after hours for the vox vocal ensemble’s annual holiday concert, held in the guggenheim’s rotunda. note: this usually sells out in advance. $10+. >>color>
7pm: hear strange-but-true stories behind some of the most familiar christmas traditions, including st. nicholas’ grave robbers, the dissent-filled history of christmas trees, and a stanta letter scam artist. kgb bar, free. >>color>
7pm doors, 8pm show: the macaulay culkin comedy and variety show — which mr. culkin has nothing to do with — celebrates its 2-year anniversary with guests jd amato (the chris gethard show), john early (wet hot american summer), bridey elliott (fort tilden, letterman), ana fabrega (comedy central, ifc), jacqueline novak (the late late show with james corden), conner o’malley (seth meyers) colin burgess, good cop/great cop and more. shea stadium, $5. >>color>
8pm (weekly): the if you build it comedy show with host kara klenk features performances by chris gethard (the chris gethard show, broad city), jared logan (james corden), eliot glazer(broad city, younger), chris thayer (the pete holmes show), jason saenz, maria heinegg, and boris khaykin. ucb east village, $5. >>color>
8:30pm doors, 9pm show (monthly): ‘the tell,’ a new storytelling series hosted and curated by michael leviton, features tales and/or music by myisha battle (down for whatever), jenna sauers (village voice, buzzfeed), matt sweeney (chavez), kyp malone (tv on the radio, rain machine) and okay kaya. national sawdust, $15. >>color>
all weekend
in addition to the holiday markets and gift fairs listed in our website’s ongoing events sectioncolor>, here are 6 noteworthy ones that are this weekend only:
artists + fleas holiday pop-up at the ace hotel lobby (12-8pm sat) >>color>
astoria market holiday market (12-6pm sun) >>color>
bust magazine holiday craftacular (11am-7pm sat + sun) >>color>
french morning’s third annual christmas market (10am-7pm sat, 11am-6pm sun) >>color>
shwick holiday market (11am-6pm sun) >>color>
vegan shop-up (12-5pm sun) >>color>
5pm sat, 7pm sun: the cantori new york vocal ensemble presents its annual holiday concert of carols, hanukkah favorites and musical classics. church of st. luke of the fields (sat) and saint ignatius of antioch episcopal church (sun) $15. >>color>
10pm sat, 1pm + 10pm sun: clara and co. get raunchy in the smutcracker, a retelling of the nutcracker in a dreamworld of sexually passionate aerialists, drag queens, fire performers, and more. bizarre bushwick, $5 adv, $7 dos (admission to the 1pm sunday show is donation-based). >>color>
various times sat + sun (ends sun): performers put on a family-friendly live performance of a charlie brown christmas with the help of a jazz trio performing vince guaraldi’s classic score. redwood studios (gowanus), $12. >>color>
check our website for ongoing events. >>color>
ticket deals
get free tickets to select performances of drunk shakespeare at the lounge at roy arias studios thru 12/30 (plus ticket fees, reg. $58+). >>color>
get tickets to handel’s messiah at carnegie hall 12/23 for $16.50+ (plus ticket fees, reg. $33+). >>color>
get free tickets to requiem for the living: the music of dan forrest at carnegie hall 1/19 (plus ticket fees, reg. $20+). >>color>
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