December 25, 2002

holiday

Holiday listings are compiled by Cheryl Eddy. For information on how to submit a listing, see 8 Days a Week.

attractions

Exploratorium 3601 Lyon; 563-7337. Tues-Sun, 10am-5pm (Wed until 9pm). $6-10. Upcoming events: "Holiday Animation Program" (Thurs/26-Mon/30, 1 and 3pm); "Sparkling Science (Champagne)," a workshop on the science of sparking wines (Sat/28, 4pm).

Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink Justin Herman Plaza, Embarcadero Center; 956-2688. Daily, 10am-10pm (Fri-Sat, open till 11:30pm; Dec 31, closes at 8pm). Through Jan 5. $3.50-7 (skate rentals $3.50-4.50). The annual outdoor ice rink returns.

Metreon Fourth at Mission; 369-6098, www.metreon.com. Through Mon/30. Free. The shopping center hosts a variety of ongoing activities, including daily indoor "snowfalls;" DJs spinning every Thursday evening at Portal One; and children's holiday movies and storytelling every Saturday morning at the Action Theatre.

Bay Area

Chabot Space and Science Center 10000 Skyline, Oakl; (510) 336-7373. Tues-Sun, call for hours. $5.50-8. Ongoing events include "Holiday Choirs in the Rotunda" (Saturdays at noon through Sat/28); "The Star," a Star of Bethlehem planetarium show (daily through Tues/31).

Lawrence Hall of Science UC Berkeley, Centennial near Grizzly Peak, Berk; (510) 642-5132. $4-8. "Holiday Week" events: "The Bubble Lady" performs (Thurs/26, 1pm); "I Spy Day," spy-themed activities (Fri/27, noon-2pm); "A 49'ers Life with the Miwok," a short play about a gold miner rescued by Sierra Miwok villagers (Sat/28, 1pm); "The Wizard School of Magic and Science," hosted by clowns Benny and Bebe (Sun/29, 1pm); a performance by children's singer Joanie Bartels (Mon/30, 1pm).

benefits

'One Warm Coat' coat collection drive Stonestown Shopping Center, 19th Ave at Winston; 759-2623. Sat, noon-6pm. Through Jan 6. Bring new or gently used coats for donation.

Volunteer at Tenderloin Tessie's Holiday Dinner First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin; 637-3550, 922-0422. Wed/25, 11am-6pm. Help prepare and serve dinners to the elderly, the disabled, the homeless, and other community members.

Bay Area

'Crippsmas Place' Cripps Place, in the Brookvale neighborhood, Fremont; (415) 625-1107. Weeknights, 5-10pm; weekends, 5pm-noon. Through Tues/31. Donations accepted. To raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, over 50 homes in the neighborhood are decked out with holiday decorations.

celebrations

'Christmas Dinner' Badarikashrama, 15602 Maubert, San Leandro; (510) 278-2444. Wed/25, 3pm. Free. This free dinner of vegetarian and international cuisine also features a vocal concert by Shanthi Sriram.

'Christmas Tea at the Cohen Bray Home' Cohen Bray Home, 1440 29th Ave, Oakl; (510) 843-2906. Sat/28, 1, 2, 3, 4pm. $20-25. The Victorian Preservation Society of Oakland hosts a Christmas tea at the historic home, built in 1884.

'107.7 The Bone's Zoolights' Oakland Zoo, off Hwy 580 at Golf Links exit, Oakl; (510) 632-9525, ext 131, www.oaklandzoo.org. Mon-Thurs, 5:30-9pm; Fri-Sun, 5:30-9:30pm (closed Wed/25, Tues/31). Through Jan 4. $4.50-6.50. Hop aboard the "Crazy Train Adventure" ($2) for a tour of a display that includes more than 100 illuminated animals and light shows set to holiday and classic rock music.

'A Starry Starry Night: Coyote Point Museum's 22nd Annual Gingerbread Contest and Exhibit' Coyote Point Museum, 1651 Coyote Point, San Mateo; (650) 342-7755. Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm; Sun, noon-5pm. Through Jan 4. $2-4. Creative gingerbread houses are on display.

music

'Escape from You-Know-What-Day Musical Extravaganza' Rose Street House of Music, call (510) 549-4000, ext 687 for location info. Wed/25, 4pm. $5-20. This benefit for Shalom Bayit, an anti-domestic violence group, features folk music by the Rivkin Twins, Eileen Hazel, Bonnianne Boroson, and Helen Chaya.

kwanzaa

'Integrating the Ngyzo Saba: The Heart of Kwanzaa' Oakland Museum of California, Tenth St at Oak, Oakl; (510) 238-2200, www.museumca.org. Sun/29, noon-4pm. $4-6. The Oakland Museum hosts a community celebration with hands-on crafts, African and African American dance, drumming, storytelling, and more.

'Kwanzaa Celebration' Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds, Fort Baker, Sausalito; (415) 487-4398, www.badm.org. Thurs/26, noon-4pm. Free. Learn about the seven guiding principles of Kwanzaa, create a traditional woven mat, and enjoy drumming and dancing at this family celebration.

nutcrackers

'The Nutcracker' War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness; 865-2000, www.sfballet.org. Thurs/26-Sun/29, 2 and 7pm. $12-130. The San Francisco Ballet performs.

theater, comedy, and performance

'Beach Blanket Babylon' Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St); 421-4222. Holiday schedule: Thurs/26, 5 and 8pm; Fri/27-Sat/28, 7 and 10pm; Sun/29, 1 and 4pm; Tues/31, 7 and 10:15pm. $25-65. The long-running musical revue unfurls its annual "seasonal extravaganza."

'The Christmas Ballet' Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission; 978-2787. Thurs/26-Sat/28, 2 and 8pm; Sun/29, 2 and 7pm. $35-55. Smuin Ballet performs their annual holiday show, a blend of traditional and contemporary dance styles and songs.

'Cinderella' Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon; 1-866-462-2838, www.acteva.com/go/Shakes. Fri/27-Sat/28 and Mon/30, 8pm (also Sat/28, 3pm); Sun/29, 2 and 7pm. $17-22. See 8 Days a Week, page 46.

'An Evening of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy' New Asia Restaurant, 772 Pacific; 522-3737, www.koshercomedy.com. Wed/25, 8:30pm; Thurs/26, 6 and 9:30pm. $35-50. Chinese food and Jewish comedians Jeffrey Ross, Cory Kahaney, Eddie Sarfaty, and Lisa Geduldig mix it up at this popular annual show. Tickets go fast, so call early.

'Fred Anderson's Holiday Juggle-Rama' Pier 39, Center Stage, Embarcadero at Grant; 771-4201, www.comedyjuggler.net. Thurs/26, 3pm; Fri/27, Mon/30, 4:30, 5:45pm. Free. Juggler Fred Anderson performs.

Bay Area

'Cinderella' Marin Shakespeare Company, 142 Throckmorton, Mill Valley; (415) 499-4488. Fri/27-Sat/28, 7:30pm (also Sat/28, 2pm); Sun/29, 7:30pm. $15-20. The Marin Shakespeare Company performs the fairy tale Panto-style, with Vaudeville-style entertainment and audience participation.

'Fiddler on the Roof Sing-Along' Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro, San Rafael; (415) 444-8000. Wed/25, 11am-3pm. $20-30. This popular event sells out, so call ahead for tickets.

'Home for the Holidaze' Black Box, 1928 Telegraph, Oakl; (510) 595-5597, www.oaklandplayhouse.com. Thurs/26, 8pm. $10. The Oakland Playhouse Improv Troupe performs a 90-minute improv show to celebrate the holidays.