FRIDAY, DEC. 9
Babes in Joyland: Opening a three-performance run, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus is joined by soprano Marnie Breckenridge for a concert of holiday favorites. [8 p.m., Nourse, 275 Hayes St., S.F.]
Humanimal: A Heart-to-Heart Habitat: The interactive exhibition by award-winning designer Xiaoxiao Zeng, which teaches users how to communicate with animals using body language and sounds, opens with a reception. [8 p.m., Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearny St., third floor, S.F.]
Mortified: Sara Abelson, Karl Coryat, Jessie Conradi and Will Seymour appear in an 11th anniversary “best of” installment of the show, which mines real adolescent journals and writing for priceless comedy. [7:30 p.m., DNA Lounge, 375 11th St., S.F.]
Recent Paintings by Matt Rogers: The show by the Bay Area artist, which includes moody black and white abstracts and vibrant graphic landscapes, opens with a reception. [6 p.m., Caldwell Snyder Gallery, 341 Sutter St., S.F.]
Sløtface: The Norwegian pop punk band headlines a show also with DYAN. a new synth pop act featuring film composer duo Alexis Marsh and Samuel Jones, and Dan Dorff Jr. [9 p.m., Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell St., S.F.]
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet: John Dearman, Matthew Greif, William Kanengiser and Scott Tennant, individually and collectively, have been energizing guitar ensemble music from Bach to bluegrass for decades. [7:30 p.m., Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
Lacuna Arts Chorale: The singers perform “A Time for Harmony,” featuring Hugo Distler’s “Die Weihnachtsgeschichte” {“The Christmas Story”) conducted by Sven Edward Olbash. [8 p.m., Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St., S.F.]
Denny Zeitlin: The great jazz pianist plays a solo concert titled “Remembering Miles Davis.” [8 and 10 p.m., Piedmont Piano Company, 1728 San Pablo Ave., Oakland]
Singin’ in the Rain: The classic film musical screens, with live accompaniment from the San Francisco Symphony. [7:30 p.m., Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
The Christmas Revels: The annual musical theatrical celebration of the winter solstice is “coming home” this year, with a setting in Wales. [8 p.m., Scottish Rite Temple, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland]
SATURDAY, DEC. 10
Los Van Van: Cuba’s most popular dance band for more than 35 years makes a rare Bay Area appearance. [9 p.m., Roccapulco, 3140 Mission St., S.F.]
Mark Foehringer’s Nutcracker Sweets: The family-oriented. 50-minute rendition of the famed ballet (with a contemporary twist and live chamber music accompaniment) opens its eighth season. [11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Cowell Theater, Fort Mason, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street, S.F.]
San Francisco Ballet: The City’s premier dance company kicks off its 2016 presentation of its lavish production, and America’s longest-running, “Nutcracker.” [7 p.m., War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
City Ballet School: The “Nutcracker” production features students performing choreography by Galina Alexandrova, a former dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet. [1 and 6 p.m., Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon St., S.F.]
Chuck Ragan: The folk troubadour appears in a benefit for Cast Hope (a nonprofit that brings kids outdoors), on a bill with the Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Rocky Votolato, Travis Hayes and Royal Oaks. [7 p.m., Slim’s, 333 11th St., S.F.]
Annual Holiday Mercado: The Mexican Museum opens its annual seasonal store with one day of discounts for guests and members. [Noon to 4 p.m., Fort Mason Center, Building D, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street, S.F.]
Jeff Greenwald: The popular Bay Area travel writer and storyteller recounts some of his favorite tales in the solo show ““Dancing Lessons from God.” [8 p.m., Stage Werx, 446 Valencia St., S.F.]
Redmodelista: The holiday market at Heath Ceramics showcases items created by up-and-coming, mostly local, designers. [10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 2900 18th St., S.F.]
Irvin Lin: The baker and author of “Marbled, Swirled, and Layered” does a demonstration and signs copies of his book. [11 a.m., Macy’s, Cellar Kitchen, lower level, Stockton and O’Farrell streets, S.F.]
San Francisco Boys Chorus: “Swing a Christmas Carol” features catchy favorites, Broadway tunes and holiday classics. [5 p.m., Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2515 Fillmore St., S.F.]
Pacifica Edge Voices: “Adoration & Celebration: Bach and More” includes traditional and contemporary of holiday music and accompaniment by the Amaranth String Quartet. [7:30 p.m. Green Room, Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
Ragazzi Continuo: “Christmastime Is Here” includes holiday tunes, winter-inspired music from across the globe and a new arrangement of the English folk tune “The Snow It Melts the Soonest” by Derek Sup. [7:30 p.m., St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 178 Clinton St., Redwood City]
San Francisco Renaissance Voices: The free, fifth annual “Festival of Lessons & Carols” is based on a tradition that began in 1918 at King’s College in England. [7:30 p.m., Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1329 Seventh Ave., S.F.]
Strange Reprise: An exhibition of work by Bay Area artists Maria Forde and Chris Thorson — who take on pop culture via sculpture, stickers and drawings — opens with a reception. [6 to 9 p.m., State, 1295 Alabama St., S.F.]
