The Lonely Jew at Christmas
Unlike most years, Hanukah falls after Christmas. Actually, the first candle lighting will take place the day of. What does this mean? Besides the fact that Jews might be able to save Christmas, it'll mean the shoes on the other foot this holiday season. Usually, by the time Christmas rolls around, us Jews have become so over our presents that we can only enviously watch as the Goyim open up their presents. "Oh man, they got an XBox. We only got socks!" But this time, the shoes on the other foot. Now all the Goyim will enviously watch us open up our presents. "Oh man, they got socks. All we got was an XBox!"
Suck on it, boy-os.
With Hanukah actually falling on Christmas, it'll mean menorah lighting parties, but for those looking for something to do until then, and for those Christmas orphans stuck here instead of with the fam, there's plenty of options.
Image from "South Park"
The big thing in Jewville and those looking for a nice Jewish boy/girl is, of course, the Latke Ball run by YAD on Christmas Eve. We went a few times and found it way too crowded, way too loud, and way too awkward, but the people having sex in the lounge area of 1015 Folsom probably didn't think it was that bad. What would their mothers think?
There's also the 13th Annual Kung Pao Kosher comedy (the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Year!), Lisa Geduldig's brilliant combination of Jews two favorite things-- making fun of ourselves and Chinese food. Entertainers are Comedy Central's Greg Rogell, writer and stand-up comic Betsy Salkind, and headliner Wendy Liebman (of Letterman, Leno, and HBO fame). The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner shows are sold out; but the cocktail show those two days still have available tix.
Chabad will start in with the Menorah lighting festivities at Union Square at 2, with the lights getting turned on at 5. They are also doing one in Palo Alto and at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland. For a list of other Jewish-related events, go here.
And those looking to be a little less holy, there's also plenty going on. Tonight and Tomorrow, Buzz Theater is doing their annual performance of "Jesus Christ Superstar" at Studio Z. We saw this once at the old Paradise Lounge and loved it, but our undying love of JC Superstar defies explanation (we think it's because that main riff is one of the most awesome guitar riffs in history, but because it's by Andrew Lloyd Webber, you're not allowed to say that). For those of the goth/Satan worshipping persuasion, tomorrow night Karla LeVey and the First Satanic Church are putting on their eighth annual Black X-Mas at the Elbo Room on Christmas Eve. No word on whether Bill O'Reilly will be there. And on Christmas Day, Bud E. Luv will perform at the Red Devil Lounge. We went last year and had a yabba dabba doo time.
The season will also include events at the Exploratorium, kayaking, and David Sedaris. Who doesn't love David Sedaris? For a full listing of other events, we recommend the SF Weekly's listings.