.Decaf Latkes?

Something for everyone

SUN 12/21

Have yourself a merry little Kwanzaa-Las Posadas-Chanukah this Sunday afternoon (noon-4 p.m.) at the Oakland Museum of California’s WinterFest, a kid-friendly holiday celebration that touches most cultural bases. Hear Kwanzaa legends and watch the African Queen dancers. Take part in a Las Posadas procession and break piñatas. Listen to the story of Chanukah and prepare latkes (not lattes, you jokers). WinterFest is free with museum admission ($8 adults, $5 seniors and students six and over). 10th and Oak streets, Oakland. Info: MuseumCA.orgKelly Vance

12/19-12/23

All-Dancing, All-Singing

A pair of less than obvious family holiday entertainments

As much as we enjoy all the traditional holiday offerings, it doesn’t hurt to shake things up a little now and then. Friday through Sunday at Zellerbach Hall, the Mark Morris Dance Group finishes final performances of The Hard Nut, Morris’ exhilarating send-up of The Nutcracker. By vaulting the action into 1960s suburbia, Morris retains all the warmth and dreaminess of the original but mixes up the rats and nutcracking with Pop Art and miniskirts, freshening up a hackneyed classic. For tickets, visit CalPerfs.berkeley.edu or call 510-642-9988.On Tuesday evening, across the bridge at SF’s Davies Hall, you can sing along with three hundred members of the award-winning San Francisco Girls Chorus — it’s the chorus’ 21st annual Christmas concert and sing-along. The chorus is especially known for first-rate versions of contemporary compositions, so you’ll also enjoy the Christmas Cantata by Daniel Pinkham, a protege of Aaron Copland. For tickets, visit SFGirlsChorus.org or call the City Box Office at 415-392-4400. — Sarah Cahill

SAT 12/20

Solstice Snuggle

Since October 2002, singer/writer/activist Betsy Rose has led biweekly sessions of “Singing for Peace,” soothing BART stations and other Bay Area locations with traditional and contemporary tunes of peace and justice. This Saturday, she brings her sense of peace to the harried holiday season with Cozy Darkness, Winter Lights, a program of music and creative activities for families at La Peña Cultural Center (3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley). The event will feature the creation of a solstice sculpture, comprising items that guests bring, representing things that go to sleep or underground in winter — such as bears, worms, peach trees, and Moomintrolls. This family solstice celebration starts at 10:30 a.m., and requested donation for admission is $4 for adults, $3 for kids. — Stefanie Kalem

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

East Bay Express E-edition East Bay Express E-edition
19,045FansLike
14,592FollowersFollow
61,790FollowersFollow
spot_img