Another weekend closer to Christmas, another weekend full of things to do that look more fun than buying presents for other people, am I right? Just give up on this annual game you play with yourself where you pretend you’re not getting everyone gift cards because they’re lazy and impersonal and remember that everyone got you gift cards last year, which was actually pretty sweet, especially when you found some in your winter coat last week and it was like, free Starbucks? Don’t mind if I do.
| Thursday, December 11 – Christmas Cavalcade for the Homeless |
Do people actually give out those “a donation in your name has been made to…” cards for the holidays? Probably just rich people who already own everything they could ever want, right? Instead, you could make a donation to a worthy cause in someone’s name, and then you bring that someone to the sweet benefit concert with the tickets paid for by “their” donation. Chandler Travis Philharmonic & Friends host the 10th annual Christmas Cavalcade for the Homeless at Johnny D’s to benefit the Somerville Homeless Coalition. The lineup of more than 20 bands, including the Boston Typewriter Orchestra, the Philharmonic Trombone Shout Band, Jenny Dee & the Delinquents, Sarah Borges, Sidewalk Driver, and lots more. (7:30 p.m., $25, 21+)
| Friday, December 12 – DJ Holiday Mmmmixer |
Boston Date Night, danger!awesome, and Mmmmaven present a DJ Holiday Mmmmixer at the Cambridge electronic music studio. Learn to DJ, create music, dance, and enjoy an open bar with drinks by Deep Eddy Vodka and holiday treats. Proceeds will provide funding for underserved Cambridge students to attend Mmmmaven and danger!awesome classes as part of local STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education initiatives. Yeah, we need that “A” in there for arts. Otherwise we’ll get a bunch of scientists going to art museums and thinking they can touch the art as if they were at a science museum. Hands off, scientists! (6 p.m., $15, 21+)
| Saturday, December 13 – City Awake Finale Party |
The City Awake social impact festival goes out in style with a massive finale party at District Hall. Celebrate the 233 partner organizations and Boston changemakers that came together for the festival with an interactive art bar/art salon, two DJ’s throughout the night, a storytelling open mic, and live music including Boston Music Awards-winning The Field Effect. The theme of the night is “inclusion,” and for once that even includes us poor people: tickets are free with RSVP. (7 p.m., FREE, all ages)
| Saturday, December 13 – Bright Nights |
Survivor Theatre Project (a free, innovative theater arts program for survivors of sexual violence) presents Bright Nights, an evening of inspiring dance, film, and music at Green Street Studios in Central Square. The night of performance and conversation will feature In Divine Company, The Blue Rose, Maggie Leon, Rashin Fahandej, Becky Thompson, Julie Ann Otis, Nadia Issa & Boston Arts Academy dancers, and more. (6:30 p.m., $25, all ages)
| Saturday and Sunday, December 13-14 – Etheria Film Night |
All Things Horror and the Somerville Theater host this year’s Etheria Film Night, a short film showcase for the talented women working in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. The festival packs a doozie of a lineup, including the New England premiere of Axelle Carolyn’s gothic, supernatural romance “Soulmate” and yes, you would be doing much cooler things in life if you had a cool name like Axelle, too. The festival screens Saturday night, with an encore showing on Sunday afternoon (“Etheria Film Afternoon” just doesn’t sound as cool). (7 p.m./2 p.m., $12, 18+)
| Sunday, December 14 – Rockin’ Holiday Flea Market |
This ain’t yo Nana’s flea market! Unless your Nana’s a real cool lady who likes to ROCK OUT and get drunk on Sunday afternoons, in which case can I borrow your Nana? T.T. the Bear’s annual Rockin’ Holiday Flea Market features vendors selling vintage vinyl, jewelry, collectibles, and lots more, plus the aforementioned Bloody Marys, a full bar and plump, juicy hot dogs to help keep your strength up. Admission is free, but they’ll be collecting donations for the MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Center. (11 a.m., FREE, all ages)
| Sunday, December 14 – Eat Your Heart Out |
The fifth installment of Eat Your Heart Out at The Sinclair pairs award-winning chefs with a headlining band, with proceeds funding Future Chefs and the Girls’ Rock Band Campaign. Chefs will roll up their sleeves (to expose their arm tattoos and remind everyone that chefs are in fact the new rock stars) and get to work on small plates inspired by their favorite musical band or genre, such as Beef Tongue (KISS), Ain’t Nothin Butter Hound Dog (Elvis), and Ashtray Pubic Hair Spring Rolls (Keith Richards). (6 p.m., $40, 21+)
Photo credit: Eat Your Heart Out Boston
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