Weekend Holiday Happenings: Dec. 11-13

Despite all the commercialism and just plain stress of the holidays, I love Christmas.  I listen to horribly awesome Christmas music, decorate my entire house like Clark Griswold and have to drive down Candy Cane Lane at least twice for sentimental reasons.

In an attempt to share my holiday madness, I've compiled a list of events happening this weekend in Northeast Seattle:

Arts and Crafts Aplenty

Laurelhurst Holiday Art Sale
Check out artwork by local artists, send the kiddies over to do some crafts, roast marshmallows and stroll down the Luminaria Walk in Laurelhurst Park.
Laurelhurst Community Center
4554 NE 41st Street
Friday, 12/11: 1:00 – 8:30 PM (marshmallows are only from 6-8 PM)
Saturday, 12/12: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM; FREE

Holiday Wreath Making Workshop
Staff from Magnuson Community Center will show you how to make holiday wreaths with greens from Magnuson Park. As someone who is not remotely crafty but does make a wreath every year, I can attest that it's easy and so much fun!
Magnuson Community Center - Windermere Room
7110 62nd Avenue NE
Friday, 12/11: 5:00 - 8:00 PM; $12 per wreath



Ravenna Holiday Arts and Crafts Sale
Come meet and support even more local artists!
Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center
6535 Ravenna Ave. N.E.
Saturday, 12/12: 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM; FREE

University Family YMCA Holiday Open House
Holiday treats, Santa pictures, games, arts and crafts and oh so much more (I think)!
University Family YMCA
5003 12th Ave. N.E.
Saturday, 12/12: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM; FREE

Movies, Movies, Movies

It’s a Wonderful Life
The consummate holiday classic, Frank Capra's 1946 movie about an angel showing suicidal Jimmy Stewart what life would be like if he was never born.
Grand Illusion Theatre
1403 NE 50th Street
Every night until New Years Eve! - 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM

Black Christmas
If It’s a Wonderful Life is too cheery for you, try Bob Clark's 1974 thriller about sorority girls being harassed and murdered during Christmas break. Such a great film it was remade in 2006, starting Michelle Trachtenberg!
Grand Illusion Theatre
1403 NE 50th Street
Friday, 12/11 and Saturday, 12/12 - 11:00 PM

Performance Arts Galore

Fiesta Navidena
I have no idea what Anadalucian Christmas carols sound like, but if you can dance the Flamenco to them, they've got to good. Flamenco Arts NW, a non-profit dedicated to the music, song and dance of Andalucia, Spain, is performing several new works of traditional and modern dance choreography this Saturday only.
 Ethnic Cultural Theatre/Center
3940 Brooklyn Ave. N.E.
Saturday, 12/12 - 8:00 PM; $15: Seniors/Children, $20:Adults

The Northwest Boychoir
The combined forces of Northwest Boychoir and Voicepoint! Seattle make up this 80 member super-chorus celebrating its 31st year of performing A Festival of Lessons and Carols.
University Presbyterian Church
4540 15th Ave. N.E.
Saturday, 12/12 - 7:30 PM; $12-20

Rudolph: The Next Verse
According to their website, Jet City Improv presents a "comedic look at mean reindeer, stormy nights and singing snowmen." I definitely need to catch this before it ends on December 19th. Historic University Theater
5510 University Way N.E.
Saturday, 12/12 - 2:00 PM; $8-10

Know of something good that I'm missing or that's coming up soon? Comment on this post and I'll add it to the list!