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Pencil This In: An Ugly Sweater Contest and 'It's a Wonderful Life' on the Big Screen
The holiday season is in full swing, and we found a few events tonight to get you in the spirit of things. This editor's favorite Christmas film It's a Wonderful Life is on the big screen; there's an Ugly Sweater Contest to benefit the LA Mission; Scrooge and Cratchit are together again on stage in NoHo; and there's a Kwanzaa kickoff celebration in DTLA. Read on for all the details.
FILM*
Zuzu’s petals! Frank Capra’s 1946 classic holiday film It’s a Wonderful Lifeplays on the big screen tonight at 7:30 pm at the Egyptian Theater. Some people might consider the Jimmy Stewart flick a bit too schmaltzy for their tastes, but to them, we say “Bah humbug!” We love Stewart as George Bailey, who’s about to commit suicide on Christmas Eve, until he’s shown by Clarence the angel in training what the world would be like without him. Tickets: $11.
UGLY SWEATER
Lot 1 holds an Ugly X-Mas Sweater Contest with proceeds benefiting the LA Mission. It’s time to bust out the ugliest mo-fo of a holiday sweater—feel free to embellish the garment—tonight at 8 pm for fun and prizes. Show up in a Christmas sweater with some canned food to get in free, OR pay $7 at the door to benefit the mission. Lot 1 provides live music and beer specials. 21+ event.
THEATER
Tonight at 7:30 pm, there’s a staging of Bob Cratchit & Mr. Tightwad, a new re-telling of Charles Dickens’A Christmas Carol. Writer/adapter/composer Katrina Wood mixes the traditional Victorian elements with contemporary elements—one of the ghosts is a rock n’ roll Goth girl—to appeal to a modern audience. Scrooge is still in the picture, but the play also focuses on Bob Cratchit, too. At the Secret Rose Theatre in North Hollywood. Tickets: $20; seniors (62+) $15; children 13 and under, $12.
KWANZAA
Tonight at 8 pm, there’s a Kwanzaa celebration at Downtown Ice in Pershing Square. It’s a cultural holiday celebrating “first fruits”—children, family, and community with
a special dance/entertainment presentation by members of the Lula Washington
Contemporary Dance Foundation. Free. The ice rink stays open until 10 pm tonight, too.
*Pencil pick of the day
Want more events? Follow me on Twitter (@christineziemba). Or follow Lauren Lloyd—who takes care of Pencil on Wednesdays (@LadyyyLloyd).
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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