December 22-24
Las Posadas, the traditional Mexican procession down Olvera Street, commemorating Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn, followed by piñata-breaking contest, 6-8:30pm, free, Olvera Street, LA, 213.625.5045.
December 22
Christmas Carols at Hotel Casa del Mar with the Harmonies Girls Choir, 6-7pm, free, Hotel Casa del Mar Lobby, 1910 Ocean Way, 800.898.6999.
The Escovedo Family Orchestra’s Latin Holiday Celebration, with Pete, Alejandro and Sheila E., 8pm, $27-$79, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., LA, 323.850.2000.
December 23
Michael D. McCarty tells stories for the young and young at heart at Hotel Casa del Mar, 4pm, free, Hotel Casa Del Mar, 1910 Ocean Way, 800.898.6999.
The Play’s The Thing presents Twentieth Century by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, a screwball comedy set on a train, 10pm-midnight, KPCC-FM, 89.3.
December 24
47th Annual LA County Holiday Celebration, six hours of music and entertainment, 3-9pm, free, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., LA, 213.972.3099.
December 24-25
Christmas Eve/Night Dinner, 5-9pm, $58 adults, $29 children 6-11, The Grille, Fairmont Miramar Hotel, 101 Wilshire Blvd., 310.576.7777.
December 25
Adventures of Johnny Tao: A Kung Fu Fable, a family action film, will be shown at the first annual International Hi-Def Film Festival, 4:30pm, Fine Arts Theatre, 8556 Wilshire Blvd., BH, 310.360.0455.
Christmas Day Brunch, 11am-4pm, $58 adults, $29 children 6-11, The Starlight Ballroom, Fairmont Miramar Hotel, 101 Wilshire Blvd., 310.576.7777.
Christmas at The Laugh Factory, free turkey dinner and comedy show at the popular comedy club, seatings at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm, reservations required, The Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd., LA, 323.656.1336 x1.
December 28
Folk dance classes resume at Felicia Mahood Center following holiday break, beginner’s class 7:30pm, intermediate class 8pm, general dancing to 10:15pm, $3 at the door, Felicia Mahood Center, 11338 Santa Monica Blvd., WLA, 310.474.5953.
Winter Holiday Musical Celebration, music and rhythm for ages 2-5, 10:30am, free, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8640.
Sony Pictures Studios Tours are open through the holidays. Tours will depart from the Sony Pictures Plaza at 9:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm and 2:30pm and will last approximately two hours. No tours December 23-25 or December 30-January 1. Tickets are $25; tours not suitable for children under 12, reservations needed, 310.323.520.TOUR x8687.
Through December 31
Holiday Train Rides at Fillmore and Western Railway, The “North Pole Express” runs Wednesdays through Sundays at 6pm and 7:30pm through December 23; “Dinner With Santa” runs on Sundays at 5:30pm; The “Christmas Tree Train” runs every Sunday at 10am and 2pm, reservations needed, 800.773.8724.
Through December 24
Ride the Big Blue Bus Holiday Shuttle to shopping and events in downtown Santa Monica, weekdays noon-8pm/weekends noon-10pm, $1, 310.452.5196.
Through December 29
Charles Phoenix’s Retro Holiday Slide Show, live comedy performance with slides showing how the holidays were in times gone by, 8pm, Egyptian Theatre/American Cinematheque, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., 866.754.3374. Call for dates and times.
Through January 7
Holiday Art Show and Sale, Topanga Canyon Gallery, 120 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, 310.455.7909.
Through January 7
Slava’s Snowshow, a Russian extravaganza by Slava Polunin, call for times, Royce Hall, UCLA Campus, WW, 800.398.7021.
Mark Your Calendar
New Year’s Eve at Santa Monica Playhouse, with the premiere of Audition: The Musical, December 31.
Community Announcements
Adopt-An-Animal is a program created by the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, offering “parent/friend” sponsorships of zoo animals. To join or to receive more information, call 323.644.6035.
Community Corporation of Santa Monica’s 2007 Affordable Housing Marketing List is now open. To be considered, pick up an appointment card at 1423 2nd St., Suite B, 8am-5pm, December 26-28 or January 2-4.
The City of Santa Monica wants to remind people that the holiday season is a wonderful time to help improve the lives of those less fortunate. Please consider donating time, money or goods to one of the many Westside social service organizations in need of support. To find out more, contact Janet Craven, Administrative Assistant, Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalition at 310.314.0071 or go to www.westsideshelter.org.
The Fairview Library is looking for volunteer library tutors who will meet once a week with children in grades 1-5. To apply, call Sylvia Anderle, Fairview Branch Children’s Librarian, 310.450.0443.
The Getty Center and The Getty Villa are looking for volunteers ages 18 and over, no previous experience required, fluency in more than one language is helpful, training is provided. Day, evening and weekend shifts available. Call 310.440.7303 before December 31.
Light a virtual candle for HIV/AIDS at www.lighttounite.org and Bristol-Myers Squibb will donate $1 to National AIDS Fund.
The Santa Monica Conservancy seeks volunteers to be trained as docents for a walking tour of downtown Santa Monica. Training sessions will be held in two-hour sessions on six consecutive Saturdays beginning January 6 through February 10, 310.496.3146.
Santa Monica College’s Continuing and Community Education is now registering students for “The Magic of Theatre: Writing For the Stage,” a six-week course in playwriting taught by award-winning playwright G. Bruce Smith. The class will be held from 6:30-9:30pm, beginning January 2 at the SMC Bundy Campus, 3171 S. Bundy Dr. Cost is $95, to enroll call 310.434.3400.
The Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women is accepting nominations for the 2007 Outstanding Woman Leader (OWL) Award. Candidates must have provided outstanding service to women and girls in Santa Monica, shown commitment to women’s issues and made a contribution to the community. All age groups are eligible; awards will be given in over-21 and under-21 categories. Nominations must be received by December 31, and can be submitted to www.smgov.net/ccs/cosw.
Stitches From The Heart needs volunteers to knit, crochet or quilt blankets and baby sweaters and hats for those in need. Call Kathy Silverton at 866.472.6903.
Winter Specialty Camps in the arts and science fields are now being offered by STAR Education for children in first through fifth grades. Camps will take place January 2-5, $235 per week, 310.842.8060.
