SHOPPING This art sale has nothing to do with “The O.C.”— sorry, Seth Cohen fans — but it will be chock full of original creations from 50 different local artisans, sure to confound and/or delight whoever’s on your gift list this season. Forget the mall! Forget the Internet! Buy local and handmade! It’s what Seth would want. GOING OUT Consider this listing as much an invitation to participate in this annual bar crawl as a warning that a bunch of people will be traipsing around downtown on Saturday dressed in Santa clothes, at varying levels of inebriation. Last year, there were 2,000 Santas. If you find this annoying, we offer up the old adage: “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” PERFORMANCE Pro tip: before you watch Mayor Walsh light up this year’s Boston Common tree, take in a free figure skating show from the Skating Club of Boston, featuring national and international talents, synchronized skating and Theater on Ice. If you feel twice as self-conscious about your lack of balance after the rink opens again at 6:30, that’ll be your problem. TALKS
Is this a hoax? From the synopsis, we’re not sure what to make of it: Princeton’s D. Graham Burnett and artist Sal Randolph will discuss the weird papers of an alleged mid-20thcentury society of scholars and artists known as Order of the Third Bird. You’ll have the chance to experiment with the esoteric techniques described therein—if you dare. ART The Cambridge Art Association presents 80-plus New England artists, juried by Katherine French of Vermont’s Catamount Arts. We’re not sure why it’s called “Blue,” but you can’t go wrong with the color of the sky, right? Work will be shown at both the Kathryn Schultz Gallery, listed above, and the University Place Gallery.
Chrismukkah
Friday through Sunday
SOWA Artists Guild
450 Harrison Ave., Boston
Free
www.chrismukkahatsowa.com
SantaCon Boston 2015
Saturday, 12 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Various locations
Downtown Boston
Free
www.facebook.com/santaconboston
Frog Pond Skating Spectacular
Thursday, 5 p.m.
Frog Pond, Boston Common
46 Beacon St., Boston
Free, 617-635-2120
www.bostonfrogpond.com
The Nachtigall Convolute: Metempsychotic Figuration and the Matter of Lost Objects
Thursday, 6 p.m.
Harvard Art Museums
32 Quincy St., Cambridge
Free, 617-495-9400
www.harvardartmuseums.org
Blue
Through January 5
Kathryn Schultz Gallery
25 Lowell St., Cambridge
Free, 617-876-0246
www.cambridgeart.org
Free Boston events: SantaCon, Chrismukkah and the Order of the Third Bird
The Skating Club of Boston
