The Mercury's Do This, Do That: Your Top Events for December 8-14

"It's that time of the year when all of your holiday obligations might be catching up to you-parties, presents, navigating family dynamics-and if you're like, "I don't wanna Do This, Do That," we understand. But then again, you did click the link to read this article, so you have to be at least a little intrigued by what's happening this week, right? Below you'll find festive cocktails, holiday horror films, and a few events that have virtually nothing to do with Christmas, like a pop-punk show with puppet accompaniment. Consider this your permission slip to forget about that party you really don't want to go to-these alternate options are a gift to yourself."

"Bob Clark's filmography might be accurately described as unhinged, or, at the very least, eclectic. The lo-fi zombie schlocker Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things was one of his first features. He'd later direct Porky's, A Christmas Story, and, for reasons he'll have to explain to God at the gates, Baby Geniuses. Clark's most confusing entry is Black Christmas (1974), because it's a legitimately terrifying film by the Baby Geniuses guy. Sorority girls are picked off one by one against a backdrop of twinkle lights. Black Christmas even popularized a persistent horror trope-a homicidal maniac's phone calls come from iiiiinside the hoooouse."

Holiday obligations and seasonal pressures can be countered by choosing alternative outings and indulgences. Options include festive cocktails, nostalgic treats, holiday horror screenings, and offbeat events such as pop-punk shows with puppet accompaniment. A screening of Black Christmas (1974) is noted for its unexpected terror and for popularizing the "inside the house" homicidal-caller trope. The Hey Love cocktail bar offers tacky, nostalgic drinks like the eggnog slushie "Noggy by Nature" spiked with rye, rum, cognac, and sherry, and the frozen Irish-coffee variant "Toboggan Time" topped with Rumplemintz, whipped cream, and candy-cane sprinkles.

Read at Portland Mercury