Best Things To Do This Week In Los Angeles And SoCal: Dec. 18 - 21

Artistic Director Grant Gershon conducts 2,200 audience members who become the choir. Sopranos, altos, tenors and basses of all levels — plus newbies with no singing experience — are welcome to join in the fun. The event features a professional chamber orchestra, 20 singers and a quartet of professional soloists. Get there early for a free Carols on the Plaza event at 6 p.m. with the Chorale on the Music Center Plaza.

Pacific Chorale presents a family-friendly concert featuring carols, seasonal songs and a visit from Santa. Listen to a night of music from the Grammy-winning chorus, under the direction of Artistic Director Robert Istad, along with the Southern California Children’s Chorus, led by founder Lori Loftus, and members of Pacific Symphony.

Watch and listen to people tell true stories they never thought they’d share (in public, no less). Hosted by storyteller and author David Crabb, with tales by Jen Curcio, Linda Bailey Walsh, Rich Tackenberg, and Jonathan Bradley Welch.

The holidays kick into fifth gear as singer-songwriters Aimee Mann and Ted Leo return for several of their Christmas shows this week (Dec. 18 - 21). Tuesday's show is your best bet for scoring tickets. Be ready for original songs and holiday classics with a little variety, comedy and special guests.

Winter holidays in the Northern Hemisphere including St. Lucia’s Day, St. Nicolas Day, Hanukkah and Christmas, are celebrated with light, decorations, music and treats. At this family-friendly event, learn about the winter solstice, while making decorations, sipping on hot chocolate and sampling international holiday treats. The event is included in admission.

The L.A. Phil’s Deck the Hall holiday concert series presents three nights of the comedy Home Alone (1990) with Macaulay Culkin as an 8-year-old accidentally left home by his family during the holidays. Screening from Wednesday, Dec. 20 to Friday, Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the score is performed live by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by David Newman.

The Comedy Basement is the stand-up showcase that takes place at the lower level of Grand Central Market. Thursday's show features Ron Funches, Laura Peek, Kimberly Clark, Subhah Agarwal, Jeff Buck and others.

The Popular Kids return with their last show of the year, featuring a super secret headliner they've been trying to book for a while. Also performing are Adam Conover, Roz Hernandez, Fumi Abe and DeAnne Smith. There will also be candy, prizes and a bar available for attendees. NOTE: Despite the name, all (21+) are welcome, including the unpopular.

Open Fist Theatre Company’s annual holiday charity concert spectacular combines The Beatles with the story of Christmas. Both: A Hard Day’s Silent Night features a 50-person chorus singing Gospel arrangements of Beatles songs that together tell the Nativity story. The children's charity Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) is this year's beneficiary.

Don't know what to do with the kiddos out of school? Take them to a Holiday Movie Afternoon at The Regent. The Nightmare Before Christmas begins at 2 p.m., and The Muppet Christmas Carol begins at 3:30 p.m. Doors at 1:30 p.m.

The smash burger eatery opens its first location south of LAX this week. Menu faves include the famous $4.25 cheeseburger, the fried chicken sandwich ($7.25), the $8 grain bowl with six veggies and the vegetarian Beauty Burger ($8.25). The Win~Dow Long Beach also has a full ice cream menu with seasonal shakes and old-school dipped cones.

Center for Culinary Culture presents Réveillon! A Creole Christmas Feast & Bottle Auction with Martingale Cognac & Friends. The event features a nine-course meal enjoyed by generations of New Orleans residents and French-speaking people around the world to celebrate the Christmas season. Nosh on charred oysters, crawfish étoufée, and soft-shell crabs—all prepared by Chef Ryan Legaux—and classic New Orleans cocktails, including the Sazerac, Vieux Carré, and Café Brûlot, all made with award-winning Martingale Cognac.

Palma Lounge at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel has launched an afternoon tea with a distinctly California flavor. Highlights of the new menu include a beetroot tartlet with herbs de provence goat cheese and pistachio powder; Persian cucumber tea sandwiches with herbed cream cheese and pink peppercorn aioli on brioche; Drake’s farm aged goat cheese & chive scone; and a Valrhona chocolate profiterole. Served with a glass of Veuve Clicquot or N/A cocktail. The tea is available Friday to Sunday, 2 - 4 p.m.