• HOT TICKETS
Music and Nightlife: Spyro Gyra plays Jonathan’s
SPYRO GYRA were pioneers of jazz-pop fusion in the 1970s, or maybe it was pop-jazz fusion. Either way, “Morning Dance” was a big radio hit, and some 30 years later, the guys in Spyro Gyra still sound smooth.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Jonathan’s, 92 Bourne Lane, Ogunquit
HOW MUCH: $44.50
INFO: 646-4777; jonathansrestaurant.com
Art and Theater: PSC holiday show fit for a ‘Queen’
PORTLAND STAGE COMPANY’S new production “The Snow Queen” transports audiences to a fairy-tale winter world. Originally envisioned by Hans Christian Andersen, the tale has a new look and feel thanks to the Portland Stage artistic team led by Anita Stewart.
WHERE: Portland Stage Company, 25A Forest Ave.
WHEN: Through Dec. 24
HOW MUCH: $30 to $40; $12 for children
INFO: 774-0465; portlandstage.org
Dining and Drink: Warm up, chill out at Fire and Ice event
GRAB A MARTINI at the ice bar and some food from local restaurants, then settle in by the bonfire at the annual Fire and Ice event by the Kennebunk River. There will be fireworks Friday night.
WHEN: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
WHERE: Nonantum Resort, 95 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport
HOW MUCH: $20
MORE INFO: 967-4050; nonantumresort.com/fire-and-ice
Et Cetera: Elves in ugly sweaters are prey in mall competition
GRAB A BUDDY and head to the Maine Mall this Friday to hunt down 12 elves dressed in ugly holiday sweaters. The first team to find all 12 wins a $1,000 shopping spree.
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Santa’s Village, Center Court, Maine Mall, South Portland
HOW MUCH: $10 per team of two
INFO: portsportsmaine.com
• CHEAP THRILLS
Music and Nightlife: HD R&B does its groove thing at Empire
HATE IT WHEN a band says, “You can’t define us.” Love it when the band puts a lot of thought into describing its music, like this from the band HD R&B: “Original R&B/soul/funk/groove socially conscious lyric woven into mid- and up-tempo dance grooves.”
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Empire Dine & Dance, 575 Congress St., Portland
HOW MUCH: $5
INFO: 879-8988; portlandempire.com
Art and Theater: Freeport compnay stages stripped-down ‘Carol’
FREEPORT FACTORY STAGE hosts a one-man version of the Charles Dickens holiday classic “A Christmas Carol.” This show features veteran New York actor Will Rhys, who moved to Bridgton a few years ago.
WHERE: Freeport Factory Stage, 5 Depot St.
WHEN: 7 p.m. today through Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
HOW MUCH: Tonight is pay what you can; Friday through Sunday costs $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students.
INFO: 865-5505; freeportfactory.com
Dining and Drink: Make delicious and healthy holiday food
WANT HEALTHIER TREATS for the holidays? Learn how to keep processed foods out of your holiday menu at a class taught by healthy eating specialist Tanja Kunz.
WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: Whole Foods Market, 2 Somerset St., Portland
HOW MUCH: $5
MORE INFO: Registration and payment required in advance; stop by or call 774-7711.
Et Cetera: Multi-media show explores porn phenomenon in non-explicit way
IN A WORLD where sex sells and porn is a billion-dollar business, see a more intellectual side of the industry when Sam Benjamin presents “A Brief History of Porn.” The multi-media show uses non-explicit clips to trace the genre’s evolution.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. today
WHERE: Space Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland
HOW MUCH: $5/donation
INFO: space538.org
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