Photo by Biketripper. FRIDAY
PARTY: Celebrate a very merry scary Krampus Kristmas at the Black Cat’s (1811 14th Street NW) punk, garage, and metal holiday party with staff DJs tonight. There will also be Great Lakes Christmas Ale for $5. 9:30 p.m. Free. — Lis Grant
DIE HARD: The AFI’s annual Holiday Classics series offers the usual suspects like It’s a Wonderful Life (remaining screenings December 19-24) and The Muppet Christmas Carol (December 20-24) as well as a Blu-Ray screening of the late Peter O’Toole in The Lion in Winter (December 23-24). But Christmas isn’t just about sentimental favorites. The AFI Silver is showing a 4K DCP restoration of director John McTiernan’s 1988 classic Die Hard, the first and best of a series that saw the Bruce Willis character John McLane develop from an heroic ordinary Joe trying to get home on Christmas to an arrogant hot dog to a washed up shell of a man to an actor who should know when enough is enough. The fifth and latest installment of this franchise, A Good Day to Die Hard, was a lousy action movie and one of the worst movies of the year. See one of the great action movies on the big screen. Screens tonight at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. — Pat Padua
DRINKING FOR THE CHILDREN: The Gibson (2009 14th Street NW) will host He Knows When You’ve Been Drinking, a holiday tree trimming and fundraising event that benefits Toys for Tots. Proceeds from sales of cocktails and ornaments from Miss Pixie’s and Target will go to the kids. 6 p.m. until close.
QUILTS: The National Museum of Women in the Art kicks off their Workt by Hand”: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts exhibit, which “explores the presentation, contextualization and interpretation of historical quilts.” The exhibit runs until April 27. The museum is open until 5 p.m., so if you can’t make it today, best try Saturday or Sunday. Admission to the museum is $10, and it’s located at the corner of New York Ave. and 13th St. NW.
SATURDAY
BRUNCH COMEDY: Local comedian and radio host Danny Rouhier will headline a special brunch-time comedy show at Shaw’s Tavern (520 Florida Avenue NW). You should probably go because comedy is best served on a plate with poached eggs, fresh fruit, and mimosas. Starts at 2 p.m. No cover.
EVENING COMEDY: And if you’re looking for some more comedy later in the night, head on over to Black Cat for the Church Night variety show, which combines comedy, music, and burlesque for an evening of excessive sinning. On the bill: Jonny Grave, Pria Puss, Sara Armour, and The North Country. Doors at 9 p.m., $10.
FUTURE TIMING: Future Times—D.C.’s coolest dance-music label—is throwing their annual holiday party at U Street Music Hall (1115 U Street NW). Some of the city’s best electronic acts are playing, including Beautiful Swimmers, who we listed in our Best Local Music of 2013 list. Also on the bill is Protect-U, playing their first live show since their gear was stolen in Paris a year ago. Get stoked. Starts at 10 p.m., tickets are $10.
SUNDAY
FOOD & DRINK: “Look what you did, you little jerk!” Yep, it’s a Home Alone night at Bar Pilar (1833 14th Street NW). They’re serving up an all-you-can-eat comfort food buffet, which includes Kung Pao pork, tempura veggies, shrimp toast, house pizza bagels, stromboli, deep-fried PB & J, white trash mac ‘n cheese, and more. $25 gets you the buffet, a drink ticket, and some homemade eggnog. 6 to 9 p.m.
MUSIC: Over at The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, D.C. favorites Last Train Home will put their roots-rock spin on classic holiday tunes as well as their own originals. Free, starts at 6 p.m.
YOGA TUNES: Transcendental meditation is encouraged at U Street Music Hall tonight for Glide, a new age DJ night. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own yoga mats and/or blankets “for enhanced relaxation.” Say it with me: “OOOOOMMMMMM” Free, starts at 9 p.m.
