SPECIAL EVENTS

Thur, Dec 10
SAM Lights
Bundle up as SAM Lights illuminates Olympic Sculpture park for a winter night of artistic bliss. The festivities include a digital projection installation by Andy Behrle, stations for creating your own lanterns, silhouettes, and firework necklaces, food trucks, and live music from Lemolo and Chaotic Noise Marching Corps. Olympic Sculpture Park, Free

THE SPORTING LIFE

Thur, Dec 10
Washington Federal Battle in Seattle: Gonzaga vs. Tennessee
After a rocky start to the season, the Gonzaga Bulldogs square off against the Tennessee in KeyArena’s annual Battle in Seattle. Led by a frontline that includes the smooth shooting touch of preseason National Player of the Year favorite Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis (Arvydas’s kid), the Zags have one of the best frontcourts in the country. Unfortunately, their inexperienced backcourt has been a disaster so far this season, and will need to play better to knock off the Volunteers. KeyArena, $19–$67

CONCERTS

Thur, Dec 17
The Flavr Blue: ‘Love Notes’ Release Show
In terms of a smooth cool, few Seattle bands can match the Flavr Blue. The trio heads to Chop Suey to deliver its latest burst of souring harmony and electronic beats in the form of the Love Notes EP. With Hollis Wong-Wear’s enticing voice centering the sound, the album proves a worthy addition to the group’s growing electropop arsenal. Chop Suey, $12–$14

Fri & Sat, Dec 18 & 19
Psychedelic Holiday Freakout
Need to blow off some steam before spending the holidays with the family? Get weird and rock out to some of Seattle’s finest bands as the Psychedelic Holiday Freakout returns for its third year. With two nights of shows with the Grizzled Mighty, Wimps, No Age, and more spread across Neumos, Barboza, and the Highline, there’s plenty of mayhem to be had. Neumos, $15

Sat, Dec 19
Weezus: Destroy My Ugly Sweater Holiday Bash
Weezus, Seattle’s finest Weezer cover band, gets in the festive spirit at the Crocodile’s back bar. There will be holiday drink specials for those who prefer to get buzzed via booze rather than their hash pipes. Donning Christmas sweaters is encouraged, but careful of anyone holding any threads while you walk away. The Crocodile, $6–$8

Sun, Dec 20
David Bazan
Sick of all the Christmas cheeriness? Well David Bazan is here to bum you all out! The master Seattle singer-songwriter brings his poetic tunes of woe and lost faith to the Tractor for his first full band show in quite a while. Former bandmate (and Seattle Met Album of the Month honoree) Andy Fitts joins Bazan on the bill. Tractor Tavern, $20

DANCE

Dec 18–20
The Buttcracker
If The Nutcracker seems way too uptight, The Buttcracker offers an extreme alternative. Seattle dance veterans loosely reinterpret the holiday classic in a show which mixes modern dance with trashy ’80s hair metal (complete with over the top ridiculous costumes) to capture the wild side of the Christmas spirit. Erickson Theater Off Broadway, $22

BOOKS & TALKS

Sun, Dec 20
Sarah Galvin: ‘The Best Party of Our Lives’ Book Launch
Sarah Galvin, the whip-smart poet and author of The Stranger’s defunct Wedding Crasher column, explores real life stories of LGBT couples and their journey to matrimony in her new collection of essays The Best Party of Our Lives.  A few of the featured couples join Galvin to launch the book at Hugo House with a night of reading and Q&As. Hugo House, Free

FILM

Opens Dec 17
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
A little indie film about space battles or something. Doubt anyone will be talking about it. Various theatres, $11–$17

Thur, Dec 17
Campout Cinema: Gremlins
Does any popular movie that’s set around Christmas exist more outside of the holiday season vortex as Gremlins? Maybe Die Hard, but at least some people still sight it as their favorite Christmas film. Gizmo and the terrifying little monsters of the dark comedy seem to get no love. Is it because of the horrific scene where Phoebe Cates explains how her father died in the chimney while trying to play Santa? If so, fair. Anyway, EMP is screening Gremlins in the Sky Church. EMP/Science Fiction Museum, $12