To start off, here's a quick survey of Christmas markets on this weekend:
Close out your Chanukkah with a dinner and dance on Saturday night at the Shaar Hashomayim in Westmount.
Megastar cellist Yo-Yo Ma is playing in the Montreal Bach Festival Friday night at the Maison symphonique. And the following day, he is following that up by playing in the metro! Catch him at Place des Arts metro at 2pm.
For folks with a dark sense of humour or who dislike Christmas (or both) be sure to check out the seasonal staple Urban Tales at Centaur Theatre. It's a series of darkly entertaining monologues, with live music between stories performed by director, Harry Standjofski.
Children's theatre company Geordie presents The Trials of Robin Hood for its annual gala fundraiser fit for the whole family. Judges, firefighters and people from all walks of life come together to star in and support this community production. Friday and Saturday at the DB Clarke Theatre.
The Stewart Museum has kicked off its holiday programming in conjunction with its current exhibit, Paris on Display. Organizers have put together a snowball ornament workshop for kids and a 1pm story hour based around the French fairy tale of The Beauty and the Beast. The whole family gets in for $10.
Storytelling series Confabulation delves into its traditional December theme: family stories! Bust a gut laughing or cry Saturday at 8pm at the Phi Centre.
Jireh Gospel Choir and Montreal Gospel Choir team up to bring over 100 singers and a live band to St Jean Baptiste Church (309 Rachel East) on Saturday, at 3 and 8pm.
The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir pays homage to Aretha Franklin at Salle Wilfrid Pelleter on Sunday night.
Rave reviews have been rolling in around the world for Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, a klezmer folk musical based on a true story about Jewish-Romanian refugees who come to Canada. Its run at the Segal Centre has just begun, and tickets are going fast. I'll be hosting the Sunday @ the Segal panel, focusing on how indie shows hit the big time! Join us for coffee, pastries and the chat starts at 11am!
The legendary burlesque dancer Scarlett James returns home to Montreal for her Christmas Review, Saturday at the Corona Theatre.
Celebrate 30 years since John McClane exploded onto movie screents with Strippee Ki-Yay: Die Hard Burlesque on Friday at the Wiggle Room, with dancers like Celesta O’Lee and Bijou Bisou. Saturday, we wanna rock and roll all night, and party every day at Kiss Burlesque.