GET OUT: 5 Things to Do this Weekend

FRIDAY, DEC. 9

Santa Cruz Santa Con

All over Downtown

7:30 p.m.---

This is an informal event relating to Burning Man parties, in which a large group of people don Santa costumes and do a pub crawl through downtown Santa Cruz.

There is a special twist this year, celebrating the bachelor/bachelorette party for Rupert Hart and Marie Logan, who are getting married next week. Rupert is the driving force behind the Joyism camp at Burning Man and well known for being one of Santa Cruz's great party masters. Marie is the director of Resource Management at UCSC.

From their release: "Starts 7.30pm. Men start at Blue Lagoon at 7:30p.m. Women start at Cypress Lounge at 7:30 p.m. with a certain specially-organized women-only stop organized at a certain "lingerie parlor". We all come together at Rosie McCann's halfway down Pacific Ave at 8:30ish! The next destinations are top secret but will be revealed to pubcrawlers on the day as we go."

"A Gaelic Christmas" with Mary Mc Laughlin

Friday Dec. 9

8 p.m.

Holy Cross Catholic Church 126 High St.

$18/general, $12/students & seniors.

One former music critic (me) once wrote that Mary McLaughlin was California's answer to Enya. Her voice is soothing and enticing, taking you on a trip through the cosmos.

She's now part of North America's only Irish Gaelic Christmas choir, Cór Ainglí (Irish for "Angelic Choir"), which will will sing original choral and ensemble arrangements of traditional Irish carols as well as familiar European and American carols that have been translated into the Irish language. They will be joined by Irish traditional musicians in a night of music guaranteed to take you to spiritual places.

Friday and Saturday Dec. 9/10

The Expendables at the Catalyst

8 p.m. 1011 Pacific Ave.

$20/25

Santa Cruz homegrown progenitors of reggae and good vibes, the Expendables, headline the Catalyst. The band featuring Geoff Weers (Guitar and Vocals), Adam Patterson (Drums and Vocals), Raul Bianchi (Lead Guitar) and Ryan DeMars (Bass) has been a favorite here since 1997 and is known nationwide. This is like a two-night homecoming party.

SATURDAY DEC. 10

SANTA CRUISE FOOD DRIVE

8 a.m. -5 p.m.

Catch vintage cars, firetrucks, Santa and fun, as this rolling rockade travels for its third year all over Santa Cruz letting families check out colorful cars, Santa and cool firetrucks. It's a blast for everyone and raises food for the hungry.

It starts at 8 a.m. at the Starbucks in the Safeway Plaza on 41st Street in Soquel, rolls down to Whole Foods on Soquel in Santa Cruz at 11:30 a.m, where children can meet Santa; and winds up at 2:30 p.m. at the Safeway on Mission Street in the Westside.

It's a great local event that is growing and growing. Among the participants are the The Kingsmen Car Club, Santa Cruise Fire Fighters and Santa Cruise Neighbors, in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank.

An Altared Christmas

Saturday Dec. 10

8 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave.

$25/adv, $28/door.

So, Christmas doesn't always have to be so high and mighty. Remember The Nightmare Before Christmas?

This Altared Affair takes everything you know about the holiday songs and stands them on their head.

As their release says:

"Imagine all of your favorite (and perhaps not so favorite) Holiday tunes recast in minor keys, lyrics intact, yet telling at times a completely different story than you are used to.

"Funny, poignant, hilarious, and dark all describe this this 'new' Santa Cruz holiday tradition whose aim is to restore and redefine a holiday taken over by consumerism.

Performers include: Rhan Wilson, Tammi Brown, Celina Gutierrez, Patti Maxine, Pipa Piñon, Janet Roitz, Dan Robbins, Dale Ockerman, Gary Regina, Ernie Rideout, Olaf Schiappacasse, Richard Stockton,
Ukulele Dick, David A. Wallis, Gary Kehoe, Coleen Douglas, Barry Phillips, Matthew Banks, Kyle Gorath and Rick Zeek.

CHECK the video to the right. You won't want to miss it.