December 2008 Events California

Thursday, December 11, 2008

HOLLYWOOD - Zappa plays Zappa at The Roxy. Dweezil Zappa has studied and put together a band that accurately portrays the music his late, great father, Frank Zappa, wrote and performed throughout the world. Included in Dweezil's orchestration are top musical talents and often special guests such as Ray White, guitar and vocals, who was a member of the touring band during the Zappa in New York, Tinsel Town Rebellion and You are What You Is era.  Dweezil Zappa's tribute concert to Frank Zappa has been featured on public television. If you've seen it, you won't want to miss this live event. Time: 7:30 p.m. Cost: $110 - 150. Location: Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90069. Tickets: theroxyonsunset.com 

BRENTWOOD - Holiday on Ice. Outdoor seasonal ice rink offers outdoor fun. Twinkling outdoor light-filled rink under a big tent. Time: 2:30 -10:30 p.m. Cost: $10; $5/skate rental. brentwoodholidayonice.com

BUENA PARK- Knotts Christmas Crafts Village. Holiday decor, gifts, strolling carolers and visits from Santa are included in this unique once-a-year shopping extravaganza.  Hours: Open daily except Christmas. Cost (Monday through Friday): $10 adult; $5 senior; $5 age 3-11. Must pay park admission to access fair on weekends. Location: 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA. knotts.com

CHICO- The Nutcracker. Chico Community Ballet's colorful performance delights audiences of all ages. Cost: $20 - 25.   Time: 7:30 p.m. Cost: $22 - 27.  Location: California State University, Chico, Laxson Auditorium, 2nd & Normal Ave., Chico, CA. Call: (530) 898-6333. chicoperformances.com

CULVER CITY - The Little Dog Laughed, Play. Douglas Carter Beane's farce about America's celebrity-obsessed culture. Time: 2 and 8 p.m.  Runs through Dec. 21. Cost: $25-$65. Location: Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA. Call: (213) 628-2772. centertheatregroup.org

DEL MAR - Holiday of Lights Drive-Thru Display. Largest animated show on the West Coast features over 400 displays. Time: 5:30 to 10 p.m.; Fri & Sat open till 11 p.m. Cost: $14/ car (up to 5 people). Location: The Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA. Call: (858) 755-1161. sdfair.com

FREMONT - Train of Lights is an actual train that offers a holiday light display in a 75 minute ride between Niles and Sunol. The brightly decorated holiday train, covered with thousands of lights, as it winds through the darkness of Niles Canyon on a 75-minute round-trip ride from either Niles or Sunol runs through Dec. 29, seating is limited.  Time: 4:15 & 6:45 p.m. from Niles & 4:30 & 7 p.m. from Sunol. Cost: $25. Location: Niles Station, 37001 Mission Blvd., Freemont, CA.  Sunol Depot, 6 Kilkare Rd., Sunol, CA. Call: (510) 996-8430. ncry.org

GARDEN GROVE - The Glory of Christmas Musical. Discount Night. A blend of Christmas carols, pageantry, live animals, flying angels, and special effects unfold in the nativity story. Location: Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove, CA. Time: 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. Cost: $20-45. Call: 714-54-GLORY (714-544-5679) or 877-544-5679. crystalcathedral.org

HOLLYWOOD - Zappa plays Zappa at The Roxy. Dweezil Zappa has studied and put together a band that accurately portrays the music his late, great father, Frank Zappa, wrote and performed throughout the world. Included in Dweezil's orchestration are top musical talents and often special guests such as Ray White, guitar and vocals, who was a member of the touring band during the Zappa in New York, Tinsel Town Rebelion and You are What You Is era.  Dweezil Zappa's tribute concert to Frank Zappa has been featured on public television. If you've seen it, you won't want to miss this live event. Time: 7:30 p.m. Cost: $110 - 150. Location: Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90069. Tickets: theroxyonsunset.com 

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Drive Thru Nativity Pageant. This annual event on the lawns of the First Christian Church allows guests to either walk or drive through a series of stops to watch scenes from the nativity. Live animals, colorful costumes and traditional messages are included. Time: 6 -9:30 p.m. Cost: Free. Location: 1207 Main St., Huntington Beach, CA. Call: (714) 536-2589. fcc-connection.com

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Cruise of Lights. Annual holiday boat tours of Huntington Harbour lit homes on five manmade channels. Time: 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 & 8:30 p.m. Cost: $13 adult; $9 child. Location: 16889 Algonquin Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92649. Call: 714/840-7542. cruiseoflights.org

LONG BEACH  - Harbor Lights Christmas Cruise. See the decorated homes and boats of Naples Island on a one-hour cruise aboard the 140 passenger Party Boat, The Star. Offering a cash bar with beer, wine, cocktails and snacks for kids, there's also some sweets, cocoa and foods to munch on for adults.  Christmas Cruise departs from Alamitos Bay Landing, 140 Marina Dr., Long Beach, CA 90803. Call for times: (562) 799-7000. Tickets: $10 -15. reggaeboat.com

LOS ANGELES - Downtown on Ice. Holiday ice rink is an annual event with free concerts and paid ice skating at temporary rink constructed at Pershing Square near the Civic Center. Rink is open daily through Jan. 19, 2009. Time: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Cost: $6/ adult, $3 child 4 to 12, free age 3 & under. Location: Pershing Square 532 South Olive Drive Los Angeles, CA. Call: (213) 847-4968. laparks.org

LOS ANGELES - Holiday Light Festival. 13th Annual Los Angeles Department of Water and Power holiday lights event in Griffith Park is a display of lights spanning a mile of Crystal Springs Drive. The driving route, walking and shuttles all run December 8 through December 30. Shuttle buses will be available weekends and December 19-30. Walkers on these days will enjoy the walking path. Both options are accessible from the Los Angeles Zoo parking lot. Time: 5 to 10 p.m.  Location: 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA. Call: (213) 367-1255. dwplightfestival.com

MENDOCINO - Mendocino Coast Candlelight Inn Tour. Celebrate the holiday season with the innkeepers of the Inns in North Coast.  Each town hosts one evening and offers light refreshments. Cost: $25, includes all 3 days and light refreshments at the inns. Time: 4 to  8 p.m. Call: (707) 964-1228.

MONTEREY - Christmas in the Adobes. Nearly 20 of Monterey’s historic adobes are featured with staff, docents, and volunteers on hand to tell about the unique buildings and share stories of their former occupants. Musical entertainment, refreshments, and period Christmas decorations. Time: 5 to 9 p.m.  Tickets: $20 Adult; $2 Child 6-17 years. Free parking is included with your ticket. Ticket locations: Cooper Museum Store, 525 Polk Street (831-649-7111); Pacific House Museum, 10 Custom House Plaza (831-649-2907). Call: (831) 649-7118. parks.ca.gov

ORANGE - Christmas Train to Santa's Village. Hop aboard the train in Irvine Regional Park for a starlit, holiday ride to Santa's Village where you can meet Santa, take photos and enjoy many activities. Time: 5 to 8 p.m. Cost: $8, Free under 24 months. Parking for Christmas Train is free after 5 p.m. Santa photos can be purchased, or bring your own camera. Location: 1 Irvine Park Rd., Orange, CA.  Call: (714) 997-3968. irvineparkrailroad.com

OXNARD -  Christmas Tree Lane. Take a magical drive through Henry T. Oxnard Historical District, which includes homes decked out and all aglow for visitors to enjoy. Time: 6 to 10 p.m. Location: "F" and "G" Streets Between Fifth and Palm, Oxnard, CA.

OXNARD - Holiday Lights on the Water at Channel Islands Harbor. The Channel Islands Harbor Water Taxi offers "Holiday Lights on the Water" charters with one-hour tours of the sparkling waterways that reflect the lights from decorated homes in the channel. Time: 6  & 7:30 p.m. Cost: $10. Call: Call: (805) 985-5828. channelislandsharbor.org

REDONDO BEACH - Seaside Ice Rink. Public Skating.  Time: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Cost to skate: $12 - 14. Location: Seaside Lagoon, 200 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach, CA. Parking at 181 N. Harbor Drive Call: (310) 318-6300. seasideice.com

SAN DIEGO - Fantasy on Ice. Holiday public ice skating rink at Horton Plaza. Time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Location: 225 Broadway, San Diego, CA. sdice.com

SAN DIEGO - Skating by the Sea. Hotel del Coronado resort offers outdoor ice-skating overlooking the Pacific! Time: 2 to 5 p.m. & 6 to 9 p.m. Cost: $20/adult; $15/child age 10 & under; matinee session: $15/adult; $10/child; Skate Rental: $5. Location: 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado Island, CA. hoteldel.com

SAN JOSE - Downtown Ice. Outdoor ice skating rink for the holidays. Time: 5 to 10 p.m. Cost: $15/ adult. $13/ youth 12 and under. Admission includes rental skates and ice time. Runs through Jan. 11, 2009. Location:  120 S. Market St., San Jose, CA. Call:  (408) 279-1775. sjdowntown.com

SAN JOSE - Gentry Magazine Nutcracker Opening Night Celebration. Join the 3rd annual celebration with emcees Leigh Weimers, columnist and commentator and Ysabel Duron, weekend anchor of “KRON 4 Weekend Morning News”. Time: 5 to  7 p.m. Ticket: $150; $225 includes Dress Circle seating for the Opening Night of Dennis Nahat’s The Nutcracker. Location: The Hotel Sainte Claire, 302 South Market Street, San Jose, CA. Call: (408) 288-2820 x 204; Mondays through Fridays 10 AM to 4 PM or buy online at balletsanjose.org.

SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco Ballet's The Nutcracker. As the company that introduced the first American version of The Nutcracker, San Francisco Ballet's current production under the direction of the esteemed Helgi Tomasson is recognized as one of the finest ballet presentations anywhere. Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $20 -112. Location: War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. at Grove St., San Francisco, CA.  Call: (415) 865-2000. sfballet.org

SANTA ANA - The Science of Gingerbread. Discovery Science Center annual exhibit. Study it and build a gingerbread  creation in the Science of Gingerbread. Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $9 - 13, plus $3 parking. Location: 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA. discoverycube.org

THOUSAND OAKS -  Frost. Talent Lab's holiday dance fantasy offers enchantment. Time: 7:30 p.m. Cost: $24 -34. Location: Scherr Forum Theatre - Thousand Oaks Civic Arts, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA. Call: (805) 449-2787. civicartsplaza.com

WALNUT CREEK - Downtown Walnut Creek on Ice. This seasonal ice skating rink offers holiday exercise and fun in a beautiful outdoor setting. Time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Cost: $11 - 15. Location: Civic Park, Clay Arts Parking Lot, Walnut Creek, CA. Call: (925) 935-7669. iceskatewalnutcreek.com

WALNUT CREEK - Holidays at Shadelands Faire and Teas.  Walnut Creek Historical Society annual decorated, historic home, will be filled with high-quality crafts and specialty holiday items for sale. Hand-made gifts and quilts, clothing, jewelry, porcelain, and gourmet foods are only a few of the items available. Admission to the house and vendors is free, and free parking is available.  A high tea three-course luncheon will be served in the parlor and dining room daily at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., for $28 per person. Time: a.m. to 4 p.m. Call: (925) 935-7871. Location: 2660 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, CA.

YUBA CITY - A Hillbilly Christmas Carol. Christmas Eve has come to the Ozarks. The audience can watch a mountaineer version of The Christmas Carol in this Magic Theater Production. Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $5. Location: 815 B St, Yuba City, CA. Phone: (530) 751-1100. yubasutterarts.org

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