The annual slog/joyous crush (depending on how you see it) of holiday parties is upon us, and whether you're boozing it up with friends in annual fashion or drinking to deal with socializing with coworkers in annual fashion, you're very likely either drunk or hungover right now, or about to get drunk and, sidebar, I really feel for the sober folks this time of year, because god bless you, I don't know how I'd deal. But here are some non-obligatory things to do in case you need to break up your week, including a major benefit for Oakland fire victims that you should probably take note of.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13
HOLIDAY PARODY CABARET: Longtime drag quartet The Kinsey Sicks bring their holiday show, "Oy Vey In A Manger," to Oasis this week, starting tonight. They promise some musical mayhem and "Jewish-Gentile tensions," along with their parody "hits," "God Bless Ye Femmy Lesbians," "Satan Baby", "Soylent Night," "I'm Dreaming of a Vanna White Christmas," and the Chanukah spa classic "I Had a Little Facial." Oasis, 298 11th Street, 7 p.m., $25-$35, tickets here.
WORLD MUSIC AND BELLY DANCE SHOW: Underground Nomads hosts this weekly event in SoMa celebrating world music and "breaking barriers of genre and culture." This week's lineup, with music beginning at 8 and performances at 9:15, features Wendy Marlatt, Millie Rose, Rose Harden, and Paige Lawrence all showing off their belly-dancing talents. F8, 1192 Folsom Street, 8 p.m., free before 9 p.m., $5 after
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14
BIG BENEFIT FOR FIRE VICTIMS: As we told you last week, Another Planet has joined forces with Paradigm Agency’s Oakland office and the Gray Area Foundation For The Arts to host this benefit event and "evening of remembrance and community" that features a pretty stellar lineup including Beats Antique, Conspiracy of Beards, Dan Deacon, Fantastic Negrito, Geographer, Hieroglyphics, Jay Som, Primus, Rogue Wave, Thao Nguyen, The Coup, tUnE-yArDs, Tycho, and others to be announced. Also performing for the first time since the tragedy will be Kennedy Ashlyn, one half of the duo Them Are Us Two, who lost partner Cash Askew in the fire, and who'll be performing with Askew's girlfriend Anya Taylor. Fox Theater, Oakland, 7 p.m., $35-$50, tickets here.
SANTASPLOITATION FILMS: For this holiday edition of Weird Wednesdays at Alamo Drafthouse, they'll be showing their signature series The Funtastic World of Santasploitation, featuring creepy vintage Christmas shorts and "exposing Santa Claus as a harbinger of trans-dimensional nightmares." It's presented by the American Genre Film Archive, and it looks really fucking weird. Alamo Drafthouse, 2550 Mission Street, 10:30 p.m., $6
IMPROV AND WITTY BANTER: Endgames Improv is putting on a couple of shows this evening starting with Nate Light with Corinne and Lexi, described as "Yountville’s one and only public access late night show." Then there will be some sort of improv as part of their weekly Harold Night. StageWerx Theater, 446 Valencia Street, 8 p.m. $5
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15
DINNER AND COOKBOOK PARTY: Camino in Oakland is celebrating the release of Chez Panisse chef Cal Peternell's new book, A Recipe For Cooking. The dinner will feature a cocktail reception, book signing and meet-and-greet, and then a multi-course meal prepared over Camino's fireplace. Camino, 3917 Grand Avenue, Oakland, 6 p.m., $100 (incl. drinks and tip), reserve here.
ROGUE ONE PRE-PARTY: Are you staying up late Thursday to catch one of the first screenings of Rogue One? Well you can first head to Union Square for a Star Wars-themed pre-party at Love + Propaganda where they'll be giving out a $500 prize for the best costume. Also, DJs Austin Afridi and Lauren Canas will be spinning "a vast variety of pop, house music, classic throw backs and if the force wills it to be, a little bit of R&B." 85 Campton Place, 9:30 p.m., free before 10:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16
UGLY SWEATER FLASH MOB: Flash mobs are still a thing? I guess maybe? Anyway, they're having one at the Stockton Street Winter Walk, in honor of ugly Christmas sweaters everywhere, this Friday, and it coincides with a toy drive, AND the beer garden will be open, so if you enjoy such mass tomfoolery, you should definitely grab your silver-bell-festooned cardigan and go. Stockton at Geary, 4:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., free
DRAG HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR: San Francisco’s self-proclaimed favorite Russian redhead, Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, is bringing her show "Katya A Holiday Spectacular" to Oasis on Friday in its 10th annual iteration. The talented and funny, fictional Russian cabaret star will do her vodka-soaked best to make your Yuletide gay, and take you on a "heartwarming and brilliantly funny journey through [her] holiday misadventures." Though advance tickets are sold out, some will be available at the door for early arrivers. Oasis, 298 11th Street, 7 p.m., $35 (show plays Saturday as well).
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17
APPLE BUYING FOR A GOOD CAUSE: At the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market this weekend, should you be shopping there anyway, the CUESA Info Booth will be accepting donations of purchased apples and lemons as part of an ingredient drive that will go toward the baking of 100 apple pies to be given to senior and disabled veterans at The Veterans Academy, in partnership with Food Runners. Cash donations are also welcome. Ferry Building, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
HOLIDAY SALE AND HAPPY HOUR: Avenues Dry Goods, co-founded by SFist's own Eve Batey, will having a holiday event/mixer this weekend with $10 off t-shirts ($5 off kids' t-shirts), 50% off potted plants, hot cider, snacks, and more. Avenues Dry Goods, 4120 Irving Street, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18
MOTHER HIPS DAYTIME SHOW: SF based band The Mother Hips are on a mini holiday tour, and they'll be doing a holiday matinee show at Slim's with all ages (6 and up) welcome, just like they did last year. And they're asking for toy donations for Toys For Tots, which can be donated at the show. Slim's, 333 11th Street, doors at 3 p.m., show at 4, $25
