cupcakes
courtesy of christaki

Well, we’re in the home stretch on that whole holiday shopping thing. Have you indulged your wretched excess? It’s also the time to be jolly, and by jolly I mean stuff your face with food and get fatter. Here’s what we have planned to do and eat. You?

Patrick: It’s not only the holidays- but it’s the holiday party season. My office is throwing their annual Holiday Party over at Lincoln and if you haven’t seen the signage, the coverage, or the past reviews– it should be a good time. When midnight strikes at the party it will be my birthday so if you see me downtown afterwards say hi and I’ll buy you a drink- just say We Love DC sent ya! On my actual birthday I’ll be covering the first of two Wizards pre-season basketball games. There are still plenty of tickets for Friday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers- if you see me there, say hi and I’ll buy you a beer. Saturday night I’ll be exploring the mysterious NoMa neighborhood of DC- tweet me some suggestions and once again if you see me out- say hi and I’ll buy you a drink.

Rachel: My weekend starts tonight at the Wonderland Ballroom in Columbia Heights with Listen Local First’s inaugural DC Holiday Jangle. The night features live local artists and drink specials, among other festive things. Listen Local First is a “local music initiative devoted to building awareness and creating opportunities for local musicians and venues in order to raise the profile of DC’s local music scene” and as one of those local DC musicians, I firmly believe in its message. So come on out tonight, the party starts at 6 p.m. with a schmoozing session followed by music from 8 p.m. to midnight. Then, the music filled weekend continues Saturday when I perform my last show of 2011 as part of the Capital City Showcase at the D.C. Arts Center in Adams Morgan. The show starts at 10 p.m. and tickets are still available for a early bird price of $10 on the showcase’s website. Tickets are $15 at the door.

National Santa
courtesy of philliefan99

Paulo: It would be nice to go visit the National Tree and Capitol Tree this weekend, but instead I’ll probably be buried in classy high-end Christmas shopping at our local Five Below and Unique outlets. The suburbs are awesome. Don’t judge me.

Mosley: The Christmas Spirit is upon me!  Or, to be more exact, it’s being thrust upon me by the fact that Christmas is almost a week away!!!  And this weekend couldn’t be more packed with things to do.  Friday night I need to get my small Christmas tree up in my apartment; it’s a personal failing that I haven’t gotten it decorated yet.  Saturday is the busy day: I’ve got to go shopping to give the gift of craft beer (either a DC Brau growler or a Chocolate City growler; decisions, decisions); I have a group of friends who want me to take part in the craziness of Santarchy DC; and then I have a Christmas party to go to in my hometown of Cheverly.  Sunday will probably be devoted to recovery.  The Holiday Season is going to kill me!

The Washington Revels
courtesy of Mr. T in DC

Fedward: This is our last weekend in town before we head to Seattle for Christmas. And I’m getting into the Christmas spirit, dammit! I’ll be caroling in various locations this weekend, at Mt. Vernon Square Friday evening and at numerous stops on Sunday (look for us in Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, Lafayette Square, and the National Gallery Sculpture Garden). In between those, on Saturday afternoon I’ll be in the audience at a Children’s Chorus of Washington concert, and I’ve got holiday parties to attend both Friday and Saturday nights. If I have a chance I’ll also try to whip up a batch of eggnog.

Sex Pistols i Norge, 1977
courtesy of Riksarkivet (National Archives of Norway)

Jenn: It’s no secret I’m a serious fan of artist Dana Ellyn’s work. This Friday night from 7-11pm at The Dunes, she and fellow artist Matt Sesow present their vision of a “degraded and totalitarian future” in Dystopia. NYC punk bank Drunken Sufis will perform at 10pm. If I know anything about this artist couple, it’s bound to be an insane party, so head on over, have a drink, and pick up some of their vibrant, politically charged work.

Even before Christmas has said Hello……..
courtesy of LaTur

Don: I’m going to be recovering from a shindig of my own come Saturday so it may be a low-keep weekend for me. The temptation of Santarchy is strong; I haven’t been in 5 years now and it was great fun, but we have  company function we must go to Saturday night. Confusing tourists on the mall is fun but the real joy is being part of the drunken yule tide which washes over the local bars once the sun goes down. Other than that I may spin over to the Penn Quarter area to look around the Holiday Market on Sunday.