In The Bay Area This Weekend?

...Here's a list of five cultural activities to make the holiday weekend more holiday-like:

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair

Now 30 years old, a Bay Area favorite yuletide tradition returns to Cow Palace.

Through December 20, Cow Palace, San Francisco

http://www.dickensfair.com/



Joe Sample and Lalah Hathaway

The jazz pianist/composer and vocalist reunite for three not-to-be-missed performances.

November 27 - November 29, Yoshi's, Oakland

http://www.yoshis.com/oakland/jazzclub/artist/show/1044



The Bald Soprano

Thank the Gods of absurdist performance that the Cutting Ball Theater Company's slick production of Eugene Ionesco's mad classic has been extended.

Through December 12, Exit on Taylor, San Francisco

http://www.cuttingball.com



Sing-a-Long Sound of Music

Don your lederhosen, wave your eidelweis and climb every mountain as The Castro Theater screens this family favorite.

November 27 - November 29, Castro Cinema, San Francisco


http://www.castrotheatre.com/p-list.html#nov25



Ari Marcopoulos - Within Arm's Reach

This mid-career retrospective of the Dutch-born, New York-based photographer captures New York's downtown art world, the emerging hip-hop scene, and hurtling snowboarders among other subjects.

Through February 7, The Berkeley Art Museum, Berkeley

http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/marcopoulos_2009