This is the time of year we feel deep sympathy for everyone working in retail, if solely for the neverending medley of Christmas music piped through so many of their workplaces in which we fear to tread. At this point, we would be more irritated if the hyper-sensitive car alarms in our neighborhood blared out "Jingle Bells" or "Deck the Halls" rather than the regular beep-uh-beep-uh-beep. To salve the retail ear wounds, might we suggest:

The California Academy of Sciences presents an evening of local musicians, Jean Marie and The Finches plus DJ Mon Amie (from KALX Berkeley) providing a rock n’ roll backdrop while you take a break from work or shopping and look at dinosaur fossils and marine specimens at the Steinhart Aquarium (875 Howard St. at 5th). Fine adult beverages are available at the cash bar. (5-9pm)

Over in the East Bay, there's a Winster Solstice concert at the Julia Morgan-designed Chapel of the Chimes (4499 Piedmont Ave at Pleasant Valley, the "eastern edition" of 51st St.) featuring over 30 short solo performances by classical and experimental musicians stationed throughout the candle-lit eminently wanderable building. (6-10 pm)

At the Exit Theater Café (156 Eddy at Taylor) is Mark Romyn's Thursday Night Combo, a variety show that includes performances by magician Christian Cagigal, comic Rennie Roads, monologist Steven Karwoski, performance artist Cameron Galloway, author Marianna Cherry, and the Whistleaires, the world-famous whistling comedy team that bring the art of whistling to stratospheric levels. (8:30pm)

And if you're looking for more traditional holiday entertainment, Humbug Theatre presents a one-man rendition of A Christmas Carol performed by Ron Severdia and directed by Julian López-Marillas at the Barn Theater in the Marin Art & Garden Center (Sir Francis Drake Blvd at Lagunitas in Ross). It's definitely not required reading for the thorough enjoyment of the production, but you can peruse their blog about the production. (8pm)