In Case You Don't Have Enough Holiday Parties To Attend This Weekend...

I often put together a little weekend guide for my coworkers on Thursday, so I figured I would publish it here too.  Suggestions are always welcome!

Hi Team!

Even though most of us will probably curl up on the couch all weekend with a good book and the remote due to all this weather going on, here are a few things happening around the Bay!  BTW, have you heard that this has been dubbed the #hellastorm on Twitter, etc?  Hilarious!

SPORTS

Probably the most exciting thing going on in Bay Area sports is the Golden State Warriors current win streak of 14 games, setting a franchise record!  This weekend has some tough games for them, with a road game in Dallas against the Mavericks Saturdaymorning, and another away game Sunday afternoon against the New Orleans Pelicans.  Has anyone heard a peep from any Lakers fans this season?  #imjustsaying

The San Jose Sharks are playing the Minnesota Wild tonight at home at the SAP Center, and then playing the Nashville Predators at home on Saturday night.

The San Francisco 49ers (who lost to the Raiders last week) are heading up to Seattle to try their hand against the SeahawksSunday at 1:25.  Did you hear that the Niners lost to the Raiders last week?

The Oakland Raiders (who beat the Niners last week) are riding high off their second victory of the year, which was worth dousing their coach with Gatorade.  Next, they head to sunny Kansas City to take on the Chiefs Sunday at 10am. 

CONCERTS/EVENTS

Live105’s Not So Silent Night has two nights of shows this weekend at Oracle Arena.  Friday night is headlined by Linkin Park, Fall Out Boy (even if every NFL team in the country has been using it as their warm up music, I still dig Centuries), and Rise Against.  Night 2 is Imagine Dragons, Alt-J, and Interpol.  All info is available here:  http://live105.cbslocal.com/show/not-so-silent-night/

Los Lobos is performing Saturday night at the Fillmore.  As someone who has seen Los Lobos 3 times (long story, not a groupie or devotee but still saw them 3 times all for free within 1 year) and once at the Fillmore, this is a can’t miss show.                          

Yusuf/Cat Stevens (a la Prince, he’s now just throwing whatever combinations of his name together that he feels like) is playing  the Masonic Friday night.  I’ve always wanted to see him after he taught me one of the most important life lessons a young woman can learn –that it’s hard to get by just upon a smile.

HOLIDAY EVENTS

This weekend is SantaCon, an unofficial pub crawl/Santa gathering. It starts Saturday at noon: Meet at Union Square Park. The main rules: 1) Wear a full-on santa suit 2) Don’t be a drunken jerk; don’t mess with the police, bartenders, or kids 3) Download Santa’s song book 4) Bring a toy to donate at Union Square (optional, but awesome).  Good luck.

Christmas in the Park in Downtown San Jose – a family oriented Christmas celebration with lights, trees, and exhibits.  Info here: http://christmasinthepark.com/

For a Victorian Christmas, check out the Dickens Fair in San Francisco: http://www.dickensfair.com/ Chestnuts are involved. Here’s a cute article about one of the veteran interpreters, the people who dress up in character.  Since I went to college literally in the middle of Colonial Williamsburg, I’m quite familiar with running into historical interpreters at the local Taco Bell, but for the rest of you THIS IS YOUR CHANCE.

The Winchester Mystery House has a holiday lights tour, with carolers, hot cider, Santa, and the ghost of some totally crazy lady who built the weirdest house ever.  Check it out!  http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/specialevents.cfm

Ice Rinks! There is the Embarcadero Ice Rink, the Union Square Ice Rink, and the Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice Rink in San Jose.  I still remember crying with joy as a 6year old when Miss Kristi won gold… and then again as a 26year old when she won Dancing With the Stars JUST KIDDING (kind of).

Here are some “best of” lists for holiday cheer around the Bay:

http://redtri.com/san-francisco/the-best-bay-area-holiday-lights/slide/1/#slide

http://www.lightsofthevalley.com/

http://radioalice.cbslocal.com/2012/12/06/top-10-bay-area-christmas-lights/ (this has all the best neighborhoods to take your kids to, I highly recommend The Arlington in Berkeley – look for the peace mandalas made of holiday lights #howberkeleycanyoube)

ONGOING EVENTS

I’ve mentioned Cirque du Soleil Kurios a few times now, but it’s still worth pointing out it’ll be in the Bay Area through March.  It moves from SF to SJ in January I believe, and there are actually some good deals on LivingSocial.

Kinky Boots is also playing at the Orpheum.  It’s a musical about a struggling British shoe factory's young, straitlaced owner, Charlie, who forms an unlikely partnership with Lola, a drag queen, to save the business.  Music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper!

Okay, stay warm, dry, and happy this weekend!