We’re only a week out from both Christmas and Hanukkah and the city is in full throttle festive mode. Here's what's going down: more singing than a bus load of teenage girls, a massive free-for-all lightsaber battle, your last chance in 2016 to find inner peace at a yoga expo and an entire bake sale of cute dispirited cakes — for a good cause. In fact there’s so much happening for a good cause this weekend that you should already feel warm and fuzzy. Whether you hit up the ballet, a stage full of drag queens or a dance party, it’s all happening, Los Angeles!
Wednesday, December 14
Pretty Thai for a White Guy
Silver Lake’s Thai wine bar Same Same Thai hosts its first “Pretty Thai for a White Guy” event — a celebration of its two Thai chefs and three farang restaurateurs. The highlight of the evening will be the infamous Thai-ger burger which will be accompanied by $20 bottomless red and white wines and Thai music. You’ll also receive a small wooden elephant, and we’re told that as long as the elephant remains standing, the wine will keep on flowing.
Deets: 6.p.m.; Same Same; More info HERE
Image courtesy of Same Same Thai
Thursday, December 15 - Sunday, December 18
Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles Holiday Spectacular
If there’s an annual LA holiday event that knows how to put the spectacle in spectacular, this is the one. Expect plenty of glitter, gaiety and gorgeous vocal with special guest singer/actor/studuffin Cheyenne Jackson. Get ready for the well-known classics alongside plenty of “fabulous” surprises. GMCLA’s holiday show sells out every year, so get onto those tickets today. Santa never looked so sexy.
Deets: Thursday 8:00 pm, Saturday 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm, Sunday 2:00 pm; Alex Theatre; More info and tickets HERE
Image courtesy of GMCLA
Friday, December 16 - Sunday, December 18
The Nutcracker
It wouldn’t be a complete holiday season without catching a performance of Tchaikovsky’s beloved Christmas masterpiece. The Los Angeles Ballet’s production plays through Christmas Eve and is touring through a handful of venues. This weekend, they’re at UCLA’s Royce Hall. The Mouse King never gets old.
Deets: Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.; Royce Hall; More info and tickets HERE
Glow Sword Battle L.A.
Admit it: you’ve been craving a glow-in-the-dark lightsaber battle. Choose your weapon of choice HERE and then get down to Pershing Square on Friday night for the ultimate glow sword showdown. It’s free and open to all ages with light saber purchases at just $10 or you can BYO if the saber’s already chosen the jedi. If you do buy one, however, your purchase will benefit the Gray Area Foundation for the Arts, which is raising money for the families of the Oakland warehouse fire victims.
Image courtesy of Newmindspace
The Music Center Holiday Sing-Along
The carolers are here! Come one, come all to the Music Center for a free and heart warming event for the whole family. You’ll be fully stocked with lyric sheets so that you can sound at least halfway decent … well at least until you get to "O Holy Night”, which is still regarded as the only advanced Christmas carol out there. Here’s proof.
Deets: Tickets will be distributed starting at 6 p.m., one per person waiting in line, first come, first served; The Music Center FREE; More info HERE
Image courtesy of The Music Center
Nudist Priest Reunion
If you’re looking for something a little less PG, head to the Teragram to watch naked grown men playing Judas Priest classics at Nudist Priest’s reunion concert. Considered to be one of the greatest tribute bands around, the boys of Nudist Priest haven’t dropped their pants all together in nine years. And apparently they really can thrash the crap out of those guitars. There will be no studded leather, but there should be plenty of rock hard … hairy beer bellies.
Deets: Doors: 8:00 p.m., show: 9:00 p.m.; The Teragram Ballroom; Tickets $18; More info and tickets HERE
Image courtesy of Nudist Priest
Desert Hearts presents City Hearts
The beloved Mojave Desert music festival celebrating house, techno and love that morphed into a record company dubbed by Thump Magazine as "The West Coast's Fastest Growing Party Squad” is still crushing it. This weekend, Desert Hearts is hitting up LA with City Hearts, a celebration of music and giving. They’re asking every attendee to please bring a toy to donate, and in return you’ll receive a special Desert Hearts souvenir. The line-up includes Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds, Mars, Porkchop and Deep Jesus. We’ll drink to that.
Image courtesy of Want Tickets
Saturday, December 17
The Yoga Expo
A last chance attempt to zen out en masse before Christmas and Hanukkah hit, The Yoga Expo is an all-day event that highlights various teachers and their unique styles and practices. There will also be plenty of organic, vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free food and drink vendors. There’s a huge variety of classes and talks available as well, including meditation, sound baths and Kundalini with live music. Check out the full schedule HERE.
Deets: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Los Angeles Convention Center; Tickets $35 - $45; More info and tickets HERE
Image courtesy of The Yoga Expo
LAMP X Understated: Giving Tree at V Lounge
Los Angeles Music Project and Understated team up for a holiday party and toy drive with six of LA’s best underground DJs including Kevin Knapp B2B, J. Worra and PZB. They've also partnered with Toys for Tots to host a toy drive and you’ll find US Marines dressed in their blues collecting donations at the door so please play Santa and bring them a toy!
Image courtesy of Understated
Christmas Queens
A festive get together of some of the greatest former contestants of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Christmas Queens will see them back on stage together and belting out classic holiday music, alongside some original tracks. Last year they put out their “Christmas Queens” album and they have an upcoming part deux aptly named “Christmas Queens 2”. Michelle Visage is hosting, so expect the likes of Ginger Minj, Jiggly Caliente Brooks and The Only Detox. Indeed, while on the subject, Michelle Visage, Thorgy Thor from Season 8 of RuPaul, a violinist, team up for their own version of "O Holy Night" which is meant to be nothing short of spectacular.
Image courtesy of Christmas Queens
A Depressed Cake Shop Pop-up
This time of year can be extra rough for some so it’s a good time to highlight mental health in our community. The Depressed Bake Shop is a community of bakers and makers committed to “ending the stigma surrounding mental illness one gray cake at a time”. For this particular bake sale, over 20 local bakers will present their melancholic edibles to raise money for the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Mental Health Services Program. But don’t think this is a depressing event — these cakes and cookies are cute as a button!
Image courtesy of The Depressed Cake Shop
Angel City Brewery’s Holiday Paw-ty
A puppy party! Need we say more? Finally you can take your real best friend out to celebrate the holiday season. Angel City’s second holiday event, alongside Best Friends LA and Best Friends Animal Society, invites you to bring your pup in for treats, beats and eats. You can even snap a family photo in the photo booth, including dress-up accessories for the furry one. Sportleash, Brewbites, HOPN Bakery and Bean Goods will be on hand with gear for purchase or you can adopt a new family member at the onsite mobile adoption station.
Image courtesy of Angel City Brewery
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Featured image courtesy of Newmindspace
