Gift Guide 2011: Christmas Events Guide

By WW Culture Staff

Santa

Dec
. 15: Photos with Santa
Ace Hotel and the Impossible Project present instant snaps of St. Nick.
Ace Hotel, 1022 SW Stark St., acehotel.com/portland. 5 pm Thursday. Free.
Dec. 17: Santacon
The largest of this year’s three Santa-themed bar crawls begins at the Mission Theater and ends at the Star Theater. Crawl begins at noon Saturday at 1624 NW Glisan St., facebook.com/JollyOldBastard. Free. 21+. Costumes required.
Dec. 17-18: McMenamins Breakfast with Santa
A buffet, wreath-making and lap-sitting. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. 8 am Saturday-Sunday. $15 adults, $10 kids.

Music

Dec. 8-11: Holidays with the Trail Band
Rindy Ross & Co. get Christmasy. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., aladdin-theater.com. 7 pm Thursday-Friday, 3 and 7 pm Saturday-Sunday. $13.50-$38.
Dec. 9: Bach Cantata Choir
J.S. Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio,” Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto” and F. Melius Christiansen’s Wake, Awake. Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, 1907 NE 45th Ave., bachcantatachoir.org. 7:30 pm Friday. $20-$25.
Dec. 9-10: Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, “Joy to the Modern World”
“A new-fashioned wonder that shines a holiday spotlight on the global community, contemporary classics and technology.” Newmark Theatre, Portland Center for the Performing Arts, 1111 SW Broadway, pdxgmc.org. 8 pm Friday, 2 and 8 pm Saturday. $16-$42.
Dec. 9-11: Oregon Symphony Gospel Christmas
Charles Floyd and the Northwest Community Gospel Choir join the Symphony. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, orsymphony.org. 7:30 pm Friday-Saturday, 4 pm Sunday. $25-$90.
Dec. 9, 10 and 17: Electric Opera Company
The EOC performs Vivaldi’s “Winter” concerto and The Nutcracker Suite in its entirety. 9 pm Friday, Dec. 9 at Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave., mississippipizza.com. $5. 21+. 5 pm Saturday, Dec. 10 at ZooLights (see below). All ages, free with ZooLights admission. 1 pm Saturday, Dec. 17 at Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave., mississippistudios.com. All ages. $10.
Dec. 10: Tuba Christmas Concert
So. Many. Tubas. Over 225 of them will play in unison. Pioneer Courthouse Square, Southwest Broadway and Morrison Street, pcspdx.org. 1:30 pm Saturday. Free.
Dec. 11 and 16-18: Glory of Christmas
Featuring Benjamin Britten’s A Hymn to the Virgin and the perennial Ave Maria. St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1716 NW Davis St., 230-0652. 2 pm Sundays, 8 pm Friday-Saturday. $10-$30.
Dec. 15: A Celtic Christmas
Molly’s Revenge and Christa Burch perform carols for Gaels. The Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St., albertarosetheatre.com. 7:30 pm Thursday. $18-$20.
Dec. 16: The Canadian Tenors Christmas
Four-part harmony for them carols, eh? Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, orsymphony.org. 7:30 pm Friday. $25-$90.
Dec. 16-17: Portland Cello Project
A “Holiday Showdown” featuring unspecified guests. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., aladdin-theater.com. 8 pm Friday-Saturday. $15.
Dec. 16-18: Portland Baroque Orchestra, Handel’s Messiah
No one handles Handel better than the PBO. First Baptist Church, 909 SW 11th Ave., pbo.org. 7:30 pm Friday-Saturday, 4 pm Sunday. $26-$54.
Dec. 17: Mannheim Steamroller
With multimedia effects! Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, orsymphony.org. 4 and 8 pm Saturday. $30-$125.
Dec. 17: Portland Girlchoir
The choir performs Choose Something Like a Star, Night of Silence, Handel’s O Let the Merry Bells Ring, etc. Zion Lutheran Church, 1015 SW 18th Ave., 226-6162. 2 pm Saturday. $13-$18.
Dec. 18: Oregon Symphony, Happy Holidays
A kids’ concert with dancing and “silliness.” Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, orsymphony.org. 2 pm Sunday. $10-$35.
Dec. 20: Pink Martini and Saori Yuki
Thomas Lauderdale and company perform with great Japanese singer with whom they recorded their newest album. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, pcpa.com. 8 pm Tuesday. $37.50-$94.50.
Dec. 21: The Blind Boys of Alabama
They sing carols! Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave., mississippistudios.com. 8 pm Wednesday. $40-$45. 21+.
Dec. 21: In Mulieribus, Lux ex Nocte
The choir performs a world premiere by Richard Toensing. St. Philip Neri Church, 2408 SE 16th Ave., inmulieribus.org. 7:30 pm Wednesday. $12-$20.
Dec. 21 and 23: Handel’s Messiah
Portland Chamber Orchestra performs the Easter chorus. 7:30 pm Wednesday at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1739 NW Couch St.; 7:30 pm Friday at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 477 SE 3rd Ave., Hillsboro, portlandchamberorchestra.org. $15-$25.
Dec. 22: Emily Katz and Jessi Friedrich
Music at the Ace. Ace Hotel, 1022 SW Stark St., acehotel.com/portland. 5 pm Thursday. Free.
Dec. 22: Magical Strings Celtic Yuletide Concert
The Seattle Celtic band returns for its annual holiday show. The Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St., albertarosetheatre.com. 7:30 pm Thursday. $18-$26.
Dec. 22: Oregon Symphony, Comfort and Joy
Family-friendly classical and popular Christmas music, with a singalong. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, orsymphony.org. 7:30 pm Thursday. $10-$40.
Dec. 26: Portland Youth Philharmonic
Dance music for Boxing Day. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, portlandyouthphil.org. 7:30 pm Monday. $11-$40.

Theater and Dance

Dec. 7-23: A Christmas Carol
Bag & Baggage plays up the humor in Dickens’ chestnut. The Venetian Theatre, 253 E Main St., Hillsboro, 345-9590, bagnbaggage.org. 7:30 pm Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 pm Sundays. $14-$27.
Dec. 7-24: A Christmas Story
Portland Center Stage will shoot your eye out with this thing. Gerding Theater, 128 NW 11th Ave., pcs.org. 7:30 pm Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 7:30 pm Saturdays-Sundays. $29-$64.
Dec. 7-24: Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol
Artists Rep gets mysterious for the holidays with John Longenbaugh’s Holmesian take on Dickens. Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St., 241-1278. 7:30 pm Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 and 7:30 pm Sundays. $20-$50.
 
Dec. 7-31: The Santaland Diaries
Jim Lichtscheidl dons the booties for Portland Center Stage. Gerding Theater, 128 NW 11th Ave., pcs.org. 7:30 pm Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 pm Saturdays-Sundays. Noon and 5 pm Dec. 24, no show Dec. 25. $31-$51.
Dec. 8-10: White Album Christmas
Wanderlust Circus presents Beatles-themed circus spectacular, scored by a live performance of the White Album. The Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St., albertarosetheatre.com. 9 pm Thursday-Saturday. $20-$25.
Dec. 8-11: Portland Revels
This year’s revels is titled “The King and the Fool,” and has a medieval English theme. Scottish Rite Theater, 709 SW 15th Ave., 274-4654, portlandrevels.org. 7:30 pm Thursday-Friday, 1 and 7:30 pm Saturday, 1 and 5 pm Sunday. $7-$36.
Dec. 8-18: A Very Merry PDX-MAS
A delightful, humorous holiday revue—in Tigard. Broadway Rose New Stage Theater, 12850 SW Grant Ave., Tigard, broadwayrose.org. 7:30 pm Thursdays-Fridays, 2 and 7:30 pm Saturdays, 2 pm Sundays. $28-$35.
Dec. 8-18: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
Exactly what it sounds like. Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S State St., Lake Oswego, 635-3901. 7:30 pm Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 and 7 pm Sunday, Dec. 11, 2 pm Sunday, Dec. 18. $29-$32
.
Dec. 8-Jan. 1: ZooZoo
Imago Theatre’s holiday menagerie now features cats. Imago Theatre, 17 SE 8th Ave., 231-9581. See imagotheatre.com for showtimes. $16-$29.
Dec. 9-17: Northwest Dance Project
In Good Company
Company members perform new pieces inspired by vintage vinyl records, which will be spun at the shows by DJ Anjali. NWDP Studio, 833 N Shaver St., nwdanceproject.org. 7:30 pm Fridays-Saturdays, 4 pm Sunday, Dec. 11. $30, advance tickets required.
Dec. 9-23: Fruitcake!
Christmas-themed improv comedy. Curious Comedy, 5225 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., curiouscomedy.org. 8 pm Fridays-Saturdays. $12-$15.
Dec. 9-24: Ebenezer Ever After
Stumptown Stages reprises the musical sequel to Dickens’ story. Brunish Hall, Portland Center for the Performing Arts, 1111 SW Broadway, stumptownstages.com. 7:30 pm Dec. 9-10, 16-17 and 23, 2 pm
Dec. 18 and 24. $39.70.
Dec. 9-Jan. 1: Do Jump! Ahhh HA!
The dance theater’s latest spectacle. The Echo Theatre, 1515 SE 37th Ave., 231-1232. Showtimes too complex to list here, at dojump.org. $20-$32.
Dec. 10-22: Oregon Ballet Theatre Holiday Revue
Marv and Rindy Ross, Susannah Mars and Richard Bower perform seasonal music while the company dances. Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay, obt.org, 222-5538. 7:30 pm Saturday, 2 pm Sunday, Dec. 10-11; 7:30 pm Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 15-17 and Thursday, Dec. 22. $23-$140
Dec. 10-24: Oregon Ballet Theatre The Nutcracker
The usual Balanchine to-do. Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., 222-5538. See obt.org for performance times. $21-$90.25.
Dec. 17: Breakfast with Santa
The students of Billings Dance and Performing Arts Center perform at this benefit for Kids in the Arts and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Portland Hilton Tower, 921 SW 6th Ave., portlandsbreakfastwithsanta.org. 9 am Saturday. $30.
Dec. 18, 22 and 23: Leilani’s Secret Christmas Wish
Five kids travel to the North Pole to deliver a letter to Santa. CoHo Theater, 2257 NW Raleigh St., 205-0715. 3:30 pm Sunday, 6:30 pm Thursday-Friday. $10.

Lights and Such

Dec. 7-25: Jubitz Winter Wonderland
Warm your heart with holiday cheer while you warm the atmosphere with car exhaust at the raceway’s light display. Portland International Raceway, 1940 N Victory Blvd., globaleventsgrouppdx.com/wonderland. 5-9 pm Sundays-Thursdays, 5-11 pm Fridays-Saturdays. $16 per car. 
Dec. 7-30: Christmas Festival of Lights 
How many lights can one grotto contain? The Grotto, 8840 NE Skidmore St., 261-2400, thegrotto.org. 5-9:30 pm nightly. $8, $4 children ages 3-12.
Dec. 7-Jan. 1: ZooLights
The zoo, all lit up. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road, 226-1561. 5-8 pm Sundays-Thursdays, 5-8:30 pm and Fridays-Saturdays. Closed Dec. 24-25. $7.75-$10.75.
Dec. 7-Jan. 2: Christmas Around the World
The Pittock Mansion’s holiday show goes international. Pittock Mansion, 3229 NW Pittock Drive, 823-3623. 11 am-4 pm daily. $6-$9.
Dec. 8-20: The Christmas Ship Parade
Boat! With lights! Willamette and Columbia rivers, various locations. See christmasships.org for schedule. Free.
Dec. 2-18: Storybook Lane
Alpenrose Dairy has revived the old-west winter wonderland to benefit 4-H. Alpenrose Dairy, 6149 SW Shattuck Road. 3-6 pm Fridays, 11 am-6 pm Saturdays and Sundays. Free.
Dec. 11: Posada Milagro
Miracle Theater celebrates the journey of Mary and Joseph with music, theater and dance. Miracle Theatre, 537 SE Stark St., milagro.org. 1-5 pm Sunday. Canned food donations encouraged.

Dec. 15-31: Peacock Lane
A single block of extravagantly decorated homes. Pedestrian only Dec. 15-16. Between Southeast Stark and Belmont Streets, one block east of Southeast 39th Avenue. 6-11 pm nightly, 6 pm-midnight Dec. 24 and 31. Free. 

Shopping

Dec. 8: Pendleton Blanket sale
Blankets and House Spirits hot toddies. Ace Hotel, 1022 SW Stark St., acehotel.com/portland. 5 pm Thursday. Free.
Dec. 10: Hawthorne Boulevard Holiday Stroll
Hawthorne merchants will donate a portion of their sales to charity today. Various stores on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. Noon-7 pm Saturday.
Dec. 10: Season’s Eatings
New Deal Distillery hosts a culinary bazaar to benefit the Oregon Food Bank, with goods from 10 local artisans. 1311 SE 9th Ave., newdealdistillery.com. 11 am-6 pm Saturday. Free with donation of one non-perishable food item.
Dec. 10-11: Portland Bazaar
A very hipster holiday sale featuring Pigeon Toe ceramics, Antler & Co. antlers, OMFG Co. T-shirts and wares from 67 other local designers. Sandbox Studio, 420 NE 9th Ave., portlandbazaar.com. 9 am-6 pm Saturday-Sunday. Free.
Dec. 10-11: Super Colossal Holiday Sale
A giant crafts sale produced by Crafty Wonderland. Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., craftywonderland.com. 11 am-6 pm Saturday-Sunday. Free.
Dec. 18: Formal Holiday Artisans Fair
Handmade NW squeezes over 60 crafters into the Acadian. Acadian Ballroom, 1829 NE Alberta St., handmadeNW.com. 11 am-5 pm Sunday. Free.
Dec. 18-19: Kringle’s Kraft Bazaar
A local crafts sale to benefit Adventist Medical Care’s volunteer department. Adventist Medical Center, 10123 Market St. 9 am-4 pm Sunday-Monday.
Dec. 19-24: Saturday Market’s Festival of the Last Minute
Saturday Market goes daily through Christmas day. Saturday Market, Southwest Naito Parkway and Burnside Street. Portlandsaturdaymarket.com. 11 am-5 pm Monday-Saturday.

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