-- Winged Migration (Le peuple migrateur): Birds! We tend to think nothing of them here in the Bay Area - well, as far as the homely and picked upon poor pigeon goes - but birds are exciting creatures. Colors, flying, migrating, the ability to form perfect V-shapes - just see for yourself tonight at 7:15 p.m. and 9:25 at The Red Vic; $6-8.50.

-- Mike Stern: The controversial opening of Yoshi's SF won't hinder you from enjoying any of the aural enjoyment care of noted American jazz guitarist Mike Stern. He performs alongside smooth "master bassist Richard Bona, monster drummer Dennis Chambers, and dynamic saxophonist Bob Franceschini" twice at 8 p.m. and 10 at Yoshi's SF; $20, 24.

-- The Nutcracker: "Smurf-Berry Crunch is fun to eat, a Smurfy fruity breakfast treat/Made by Smurfs so happily, it tastes like crunchy Smurf Berries/It's berry shaped and crispy too, in berry red and Smurfy blue." OK, although the SF Ballet probably won't use these lyrics, sadly, this time-honored and Xmas-y ballet will still have you feeling like a kid again. Starts tonight at 7 p.m. (and continues all of December) at the War Memorial Opera House, $18-198.