holiday

Listings are events taking place Wed/22 through Tues/28. For information on how to submit a listing, see 8 Days a Week.

attractions

Exploratorium 3601 Lyon; EXP-LORE, www.exploratorium.edu. $8-12. The museum's screens classic and contemporary films in its "Holiday Animation Film Festival" (Dec 26-30, noon and 2pm).

Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Sanctuary Visitor Center, Presidio Bldg 991, West Crissy Field Beach, the Presidio; 561-6625, www.farallones.org. Free. The center hosts "Creature Features," free programs for kids five and up and adults: "Awesome Jaws" (Wed, 11-11:45am); "Blubber and Fur" (Thurs, 11-11:45am); and "The Rocky Intertidal Show" (Fri, 11-11:45am).

San Francisco SPCA Holiday Windows Express Macy's, Stockton at O'Farrell; 522-3500, www.sfspca.org. Through Fri, during store hours. Free (adoption fees $75-225). The animal welfare nonprofit brings cats and dogs to Union Square to help them find adoptive homes.

'Studio 105' Metreon, Fourth St at Mission; 369-6000, www.metreon.com. Wed-Fri. In addition to hourly indoor "snowfalls" (11am-9pm) and other seasonal events, the Metreon hosts radio station LIVE 105 for daily live broadcasts and performances.

Bay Area

Children's Fairyland 699 Bellevue, Oakl; (510) 452-2259, www.fairyland.org. $6. This week's events include the "Fairy Winter Wonderland Celebration" (Wed-Thurs, noon-7pm).

'Gingerbread Architecture Extravaganza' Bay Area Discovery Museum, Fort Baker, 557 McReynolds, Sausalito; (415) 339-3900, www.baykidsmuseum.org (pre-registration required). Wed-Thurs, 11am, noon, 1pm, and 2pm. $15 plus museum admission ($7.50-8.50). Kids and their families can create gingerbread-and-candy houses.

'Holidays on Solano' Solano Ave, Berk and Albany; www.solanoave.org. Wed-Fri, 1pm. Free. Shop while enjoying live entertainment along this store-packed street. Friday, take a cable car ride up and down Solano and along San Pablo Ave.

Oakland City Center Above the 12th St BART Station, Oakl; www.oaklandcitycenter.com. Free. Enjoy strolling carolers (Fri, 11am-1pm) and classical piano concerts (lobby of 1111 Broadway, Wed, 11:30am-1:30pm; Fri, 4:30-6:30pm).

benefits

'Teddy Bear Tea' Ritz-Carlton, 600 Stockton; 773-6198. Wed-Fri, 10-11:30am and 1-2:30pm. $58. The Make-a-Wish Foundation benefits from this children's tea party.

Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin; 255-7503. Volunteers needed Fri, 4-7pm; Sat, 8-11am, 12:30-4pm, and 4-7pm. Volunteer to help set up, serve, and clean up at these holiday events, which guarantee all attendees "dinner, a gift bag, and respect." Donations are also appreciated.

Bay Area

'Let Your Light Shine on Angel Island' To buy a light, call (415) 435-3522 or visit www.angelisland.org. Through Dec 31. $35-250. Remember a loved one or celebrate hope by buying a light on the holiday tree atop Mount Livermore on Angel Island State Park. Proceeds benefit the Angel Island Association, which supports preservation and volunteers on Angel Island.

celebrations

'Latke Ball' Factory, 525 Harrison; 1-877-YAD-1818, www.latkeball.org. Thurs, 9pm-2am. $22-30. The "hottest Jewish party of the season" features DJs BlaQwest and Ean Golden spinning hip-hop and house, plus a performance by Mandonna (all-male Madonna tribute band).

'Matzo Ball' Ruby Skye, 420 Mason; 1-888-633-5326, www.matzoball.org. Fri, 8pm. $20-25. The Society of Young Jewish Professionals hosts the 18th annual incarnation of this singles party.

Bay Area

Christmas dinner and concert Badarikashrama, 15602 Maubert, San Leandro; (510) 278-2444. Sat, 3pm. Free. The Hindu spiritual and cultural center hosts a vegetarian dinner of Indian cuisine, plus a concert by veena player Srikanth Chary.

kwanzaa

Bay Area Discovery MuseumFort Baker, 557 McReynolds, Sausalito; (415) 339-3900, www.baykidsmuseum.org. $5-9. Dec 26-31. The museum honors the African American celebration of family and community with a variety of activities. See 8 Days a Week.

music

'Fandango Village Holiday Blowout' 12 Galaxies, 2565 Mission; 970-9777. Wed, 8pm. Free. DJs Steve Courtney, Ezra, and Annie spin.

'Golden Bough: A Celtic Christmas' Old First Concerts, 1751 Sacramento; 474-1608, www.oldfirstconcerts.org. Fri, 8pm. $12-15. Golden Bough performs traditional Scottish, Irish, and Welsh carols.

'Home for the Holidays' Castro Theatre, 429 Castro; 865-3650, www.sfgmc.org. Fri, 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm. $15-20. The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus present its annual Castro concerts, featuring traditional favorites and sing-alongs. The 9pm show features special guests the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco.

'Karla LaVey's Black X-Mass' Elbo Room, 647 Valencia; 552-7788, www.elbo.com. Sat, 9pm. $6.66. See 8 Days a Week.

'Seth Montfort's Christmas Eve Piano Concerts' Victorian Englander House, 807 Franklin; 362-6080, www.sfclassicalmusic.com. Fri, 7pm, 9pm, 11pm. $15 (all three shows, $20). Pianist Seth Montfort performs "The Complete Christmas Music of Liszt" (7pm and 11pm) and "Christmas and Solstice Music" (9pm). The Liszt program repeats Sun, 3pm, $7-12. See 8 Days a Week.

'A Winter Celebration' Tongue and Groove, 2513 Van Ness; 261-2121, www.geocities.com/wearepopular. Wed, 8pm. $7. Popular: 365 presents this concert by hip-hop artist Chozen.

nutcrackers and cracked nuts

'Nutcracker' War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness; 865-2000, www.sfballet.org. Wed/22-Thurs/23, Dec 26-30, 1 and 7pm; Fri/24 and Dec 31, 11am and 5pm. $22-135. The San Francisco Ballet unveils an all-new, grand-scale version of the classic, with choreography by Helgi Tomasson.

Bay Area

'MeshugaNutcracker!' Paramount's Great America, Showtime Theater, 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara; 1-877-456-TIXS, www.njtf.org. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. $15-25. The National Jewish Theatre Festival puts a twist on tradition with this show, which layers Hannukah stories over Tchaikovsky's score.

'Nutcracker' San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden, San Jose; (408) 288-2800, www.balletsanjose.org. Wed-Fri, 7:30pm (also Wed-Thurs, 1:30pm); Sun, 3pm. $22-68. Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley performs Dennis Nahat's take on the classic.

theater, comedy, and performance

'Beach Blanket Babylon Seasonal Extravaganza' Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St); 421-4222. This week: Sun, 1 and 4pm; Mon-Tues, 8pm. $25-70. Steve Silver's long-running pop-culture musical comedy gets its annual seasonal makeover.

'The Christmas Ballet' Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard; 978-2787, www.smuinballet.org. Wed-Fri, 8pm; Sat, 2 and 8pm; Sun, 2 and 7pm. $20-60. The company performs Michael Smuin's eclectic holiday show, with ballet, tap, swing, and jazz dance set to a variety of music styles.

'A Christmas Carol' Geary Theater, 415 Geary; 749-2228, www.act-sf.org. Wed-Thurs, 2pm (also Wed, 7pm); Fri, noon and 4:30pm. American Conservatory Theater presents Laird Williamson and Dennis Powers's adaptation of the Dickens holiday tale; Steven Anthony Jones stars as Scrooge.

'Cirque du Somethin'' Marsh, 1062 Valencia; 826-5750, www.ticketweb.com. Wed/22-Thurs/23, Dec 27-30, Jan 2, and 8-9, 3:30pm. $5-15. Clowns Unique Derique and Moshe "YooWho" Cohen celebrate "the humorous human in us all" with this family-friendly holiday show.

'Hooray for the Holidays! @#$!' Off Market Theater, 965 Mission; 896-6477, www.cafearts.com. Wed, 8pm. $5-10. The performance features local comedians riffing on the holidays.

'It Could Have Been a Wonderful Life' Phoenix Theater, 414 Mason, sixth fl; 989-0023, www.ticketweb.com. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. $18-20. Fred Raker performs his comedic look at showbiz.

'Kinsey Sicks: Oy Vey in a Manger' New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness; 861-8972, www.nctcsf.org. Wed-Fri and Dec 28, 8pm (no show Fri/24); Sat and Dec 31, 7:30pm (no show Sat/25). Through Dec 31. $25-35. The "dragapella beauty shop quartet" takes on the holidays, with new songs added for this year's production.

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy New Asia Restaurant, 772 Pacific; (925) 275-9005, www.koshercomedy.com. Thurs-Sat, 6 and 9:30pm; Sun, 5 and 8:30pm. $36-54. See 8 Days a Week.

'Irving Berlin's White Christmas' Curran Theatre, 445 Geary; 512-7770, www.bestofbroadwaysf.com. Extended run: Tues-Sat, 8pm (also Wed-Thurs and Sat, 2pm; no show Fri/24; no 2pm show Sat/25); Sun, 2pm (also Sun/26, 7:30pm). Through Jan 1. $30-85. Best of Broadway presents a new musical based on the classic holiday film.

'The Non-Denominational Holiday Orphan Show' Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St; www.wkbonline.com. Wed, 8pm. $8. See 8 Days a Week.

*'The Wrapping Paper Caper' Marsh, 1062 Valencia; 826-5750, www.lunfan.com. Wed/22-Thurs/23, Dec 27-30, and Jan 2, 2pm. $10-12. It's the holiday season and most of us are more interested in what's inside a gift box than the box itself. But packaging materials play a starring role in Lunatique Fantastique's family-oriented holiday jamboree The Wrapping Paper Caper, in which seven dexterous puppeteers transform stray bits of wrapping paper, tinsel, a tape dispenser, and other holiday debris, into an ingenious puppet whodunit featuring a hapless detective, a saucy French demoiselle, and a strange being made from styrofoam peanuts. Since its inception five years ago, the production has been successfully staged in comparatively large and high-tech venues like Zeum, where, regardless of your position in the auditorium, the puppets's cartoonish antics often appear to be the work of invisible hands against a black backdrop. The Marsh, though more limited in terms of space and technical amenities, provides a different yet equally pleasing aesthetic. Wittily turning the imposing and decidedly un-invisible presence of the black-clad puppeteers into a theatrical virtue, the company makes the most of this intimate space. (Chloe Veltman)

Bay Area

'Striking 12' Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield, Palo Alto; (650) 903-6000, www.theatreworks.org. Extended run: Tues, 7:30pm; Wed-Sat, 8pm (no shows Fri/24-Sat/25); Sun, 2 and 7pm (no shows Sun/26). Through Jan 8. $20-50. Theatreworks performs a "rewired" musical version of Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Match Girl.

arts and crafts

'Affordable Art' City Art Gallery, 828 Valencia; 970-9900, www.cityartgallery.org. Wed-Sun, noon-9pm. Through Dec 31. Free. Pick up a piece created by a local, emerging artist for $150 or less at this aptly named sale.

'Arty Smarty Holiday Workshops' Hyena Theater, 2390 Mission, third fl; 821-3444. Tues, 9am-1pm. Through Dec 28. $25 per class. Teacher Erika Peterson leads kids ages 3 to 7 in making gingerbread houses, ornaments, and other craft items.

Blue Room Gallery 2331 Mission; 282-8411, www.blueroomgallery.org. Wed-Sun, 1-8pm. Through Jan 9. Free. The gallery hosts its annual holiday group exhibit, featuring more than 100 reasonably priced works of art.

'Craft Showcase 5' Museum of Craft and Folk Art, Fort Mason Center, Bldg A, Marina at Laguna; 775-0991, www.mocfa.org. Tues-Fri and Sun, 11am-5pm; Sat, 10am-5pm (closed Sat/25). Through Dec 28. Free. Holiday gifts and collector's items by more than 40 California artists highlight this exhibit, featuring works available at all price levels.

Creativity Explored's Holiday Art Sale Creativity Explored, 3245 16th St; 863-2108, www.creativityexplored.org. Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm; Sat, 1-6pm. Through Dec 31. Free. Artists at the gallery – all of whom have developmental, psychiatric, and/or physical disabilities – contribute work to this popular annual sale.

'Gift Giving Show' Canvas Gallery, 1200 Ninth Ave; 504-0060. Sun-Thurs, 8am-midnight; Fri-Sat, 8am-2am. Through Jan 6. Free. Popular Canvas Gallery artists contribute works – all priced at $200 or less – to this multimedia show.

Holiday Show Market Street Gallery, 1554 Market; 621-2841, www.mesart.com. Mon-Sat, 11am-6pm; Sun, by appt. Through Dec 31. Free. MesArt and the Market Street Gallery present giftable works by emerging and established artists.

'Holiday Splendor Group Show' Hang Art Annex, 567 Sutter; 544-0610. Call for hours. Through Jan 3. Free. More than 50 artists contribute paintings to this show.

Meridian Gallery 545 Sutter; 398-7229, www.meridiangallery.org. Tues-Sat, 11am-5pm. Through Jan 7. Free. In conjunction with the exhibit "Issho/Together: Japanese American/Japanese National Artists in America," the gallery hosts a crafts store featuring toys, ceramics, crafts, and cards.

Mural art exhibit and sale Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitors Center, 2981 24th St; 285-2287. Wed-Thurs, 10am-4pm. Free. The Precita Eyes Muralists host their annual "holiday shopping extravaganza."

'Peace, Love, Joy, Art' ArtworkSF Gallery, 2801 Leavenworth; 673-3080, www.artworksf.com. Daily, noon-8pm. Through Jan 6. Free. ArtworkSF hosts its ninth annual holiday art exhibit and sale, with works priced at $500 or less.

Bay Area

Berkeley Potters' Guild holiday sale and show Berkeley Potter's Guild, 731 Jones, Berk; (510) 524-7031, www.berkeleypotters.com. Wed-Fri, 10am-6pm. Free. Twenty ceramic artists offer their works for sale, plus a gallery show, "Everything and the Kitchen Sink."

Berkeley Potters' Studio holiday show Berkeley Potters' Studio, 637 Cedar, Berk; www.berkeleypottersstudio.com. Wed-Fri, 10am-6pm. Free. This show features works – teacups, sculptural baskets, and more – by 17 ceramists.

'Celebration of Exceptional Handmade Crafts' ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 843-2527. Mon-Fri, 11am-6pm; Sat, 10am-6pm; Sun, noon-5pm. Through Jan 1. Free. Shop for ornaments, cards, ceramics, glass, and other items made by local artists. Weekend hours feature artist demonstrations and a performance by the Berkeley Community Chamber Singers (Dec 11, 3 to 5pm).

1870 Arts Center holiday show and sale 1870 Art Center, 1870 Ralston, Belmont; (650) 595-9679. Thurs-Sun, 1-5pm and by appointment. Through Jan 16. Free. The art center hosts its annual show and sale.

Ruth Hyndman holiday open studio 12 Onyx, Larkspur; (415) 945-9228, www.ruthhyndman.com. Thurs, 1-8pm; Fri, 1-5pm. Free. The acclaimed ceramic artist opens her studio for holiday shoppers.

Telegraph Avenue holiday street fair Telegraph between Dwight and Bancroft, Berk; (510) 234-1013. Thurs-Fri, 11am-6pm. Free. Colorful Telegraph Avenue closes to traffic and fills with merchants, craftspeople, artists, community groups, and entertainers.