THEATER

Dec 11–13
Beauty and the Beast
All the dancing-housewares glory of the Academy Award–winning Disney animated classic comes to life when the unlikely love story of Belle and the Beast hits the stage. With only a single weekend run, Beauty and the Beast will be gone quicker than a rose wilts, so don’t miss your chance to see this tale as old as time (song as old as rhyme). Paramount Theatre, $46–$166

CONCERTS

Thur, Dec 10
A Very Belltown Christmas 2015
Do206 hosts its second annual Belltown Christmas party at the Crocodile, and you won’t find a better value this holiday season. Featuring Thunderpussy, Hibou, the holiday tunes of Dancer and Prancer, and plenty of Goose Island beer, there should be plenty of Christmas cheer and great music to go around. The Crocodile, $3 with RSVP

Fri & Sat, Dec 11 & 12
The Moondoggies and the Maldives
They say you should spend the holidays with your friends and family, which is why this time of year always brings about a couple of Maldoggies concerts. Seattle band besties the Maldives and the Moodoggies team up once again to spread the spirit via rock and alt-country jams. Tractor Tavern, $15

Sat, Dec 12
Muse
English rock powerhouse Muse returns to KeyArena with a fresh new concert experience. In support of its latest album Drones, the group will play its soaring spacey rock in the round (i.e. the stage will be set up in the middle of the arena with a 360 degree production). It’s a decent bet to be one of the best arena productions of the year both from a visual and sonic standpoint. Bonus: Barsuk Records’ own electronic rock outfit Phantogram will open the show. KeyArena, $35–$70

Sun, Dec 13
Tacocat and Sallie Ford
After retreating to the studio this September to record the followup to NVM with local producer extraordinaire Erik Blood, Tacocat returns to the stage with new tunes in tow. The group’s colorful and effervescent feminist pop punk is always a blast live, and it should be another sugar-fueled treat when Tacocat winds down a short western tour with Portland rocker Sallie Ford. Neumos, $15

DANCE

Dec 10–27
Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker
While the Pacific Northwest Ballet undergoes a Nutcracker overhaul, Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker continues to deliver the artful spectacle that audiences at the Triple Door have come to expect. Now in its 10th year, the show mixes dancers, aerialists, comedy, theatrics, music, and the right dose of sensuality to create a sweet holiday treat. The Triple Door, $40–$65

Dec 11–13
Next Fest NW 2015
As Seattle continues its transformation into a national dance hub, Next Fest NW remains one of the best chances to check out the best up-and-coming talent in the city. This year’s festival theme, Utopia, asks dancers to imagine what a perfect society would entail and to examine the utopian aspirations of their art form. Velocity Dance Center, $20–$50

VISUAL ART

Thru Dec 12
Ariana Page Russell: Interior Optics
Everyone has their muse. For artist Ariana Page Russell, it’s human skin. With Interior Optics she uses a photographic process which mimics scientific optical instruments to look at how skin reflects and refracts light, similar to a prism. The surface of the skin is highlighted, allowing the viewer to see the the vibrant, colorful topography that exists in layers of skin, hairs, follicles, and glands. Platform Gallery, Free

BOOKS & TALKS

Thur, Dec 10
David Shields: War is Beautiful Book Launch 
In a mere three pages of prose, War is Beautiful, David Shields’s new coffee table book with a message, argues that the Afghan and Iraqi war photography published on the front page of The New York Times since 2001 promoted institutional power by glamorizing war through artistic beauty. He proves his point by curating A1 photos organized by thematic tropes—nature, death, father, movie—with contextualizing quotes. Hugo House, Free

Thur, Dec 10
Rick Steves
There’s never a slow day for the Northwest’s most beloved travel guide. When Steves isn’t hosting Rick Steves’ Europe on public television or Travel with Rick Steves on public radio or penning newspaper columns with useful tips, he’s working on his popular series of guidebooks. This December he makes the short trip from Edmonds to Broadway Hall to share his expertise as part of AARP’s Life Reimagined Speaker Series. Broadway Performance Hall, Sold out

FILM

Thru Dec 11
BANFF Mountain Film Festival
Even if it’s another disastrously snow-free winter on the regional peaks, skiers and snowboarders can still get their annual powder fix when the adventurous cinema of the BANFF Mountain Film Festival World Tour stops at the Neptune Theatre. Besides, a pre-screening stop at the concession stand is notably cheaper than a premountain trip to REI. Neptune Theatre, Sold out