Occasionally, the phrase “college town” is synonymous with “cultural diversity” — and the University of Oregon is no exception. But according to Andiel Brown, the director of UO’s Gospel Choirs and Ensembles, this isn’t entirely true, and more can be done to diversify. Thursday and Saturday of this week both offer a chance to do so, set to the pounding of Afro-Cuban style drumming.

“I thought we needed something like this to open our eyes to the beauties of other people and other cultures,” Brown said. “What better way to do that than through music and dance?”

This something is actually plural, a public lecture entitled “Culture and Dance of Afro-Cuba” happening this Thursday and a series of hands-on Afro-Cuban dance workshops on Saturday highlighting the unique rhythms and movements of the Caribbean island nation.

“This is something that has never been done at any Oregon university and we have the amazing opportunity to be the first of potentially many fun, educational and culturally diversifying events within the higher education system in the great state of Oregon,” Brown said.

With support from the UO Office of International Affairs, the Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies, the African Studies and Anthropology departments and Brown, this opportunity is a reality.

“We may not all be in a position to hop onto a plane to Havana just at this moment, but we can soak in some of the feel and meaningfulness of the place by experiencing the culture when it comes to us,” said Dennis Galvan, of the UO Office of International Affairs . ”We’re lucky to have colleagues like Professor Andiel Brown who bring the live, warm arts of places like Cuba to our special — and right now, slightly damp and chilly— corner of the planet.”

To headline the events Brown corralled Kati Hernandez, an Afro-Cuban dance instructor he met two years ago at a salsa festival in San Francisco, and Miguel Bernal, who — according to his own website — was a master Afro-Cuban percussionist for 20 years for the Cuban folkloric dance company “Raices Profundas.”

Participants will get a full dose of a distinct culture — and a workout, too. Afro-Cuban dance is a unique mixture of movements and rhythms incorporating the multitudes of influences that shape Afro-Cuban culture.

A diverse collection of people populate Cuba, and, according to Brown, this makes defining elements of it complex.

“Afro-Cuban is a general blanket statement for all of these different Afro-ethnic groups represented in the melting pot that is Cuba,” Brown said. “Dances like Salsa, Cha-cha and Cabaret have roots in Afro-Cuban dance motions. Most people think of folkloric dances, rumba and more aggressive warrior dances when they hear this word but it should not be limited to just these.”

The free public lecture this Thursday takes place at 7 p.m. at the Beall Concert Hall. The workshops run this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Dougherty Dance Theatre, and span three separate clinics: Afro-Cuban folkloric dance, rumba with folkloric movements and Casino (Cuban salsa dance). Admission is $12 per session(or $30 for all three) or $6 each (or $15 for all three) for students with a valid university ID card.

A cold blast of air whooshes through the door as it swings shut — a little slice of winter trying to expand its territory but it’s stonewalled by a wall of warmth and the steely gaze of a wall of 43 beer and wine taps, and as of Dec. 28, 43 new soldiers in the beer growler revolution.

The revolution is centered on large reusable containers that can be filled with your beverage of choice and taken home. Inside the welcoming confines of the newly opened Growler University sit rows of growlers waiting for their appointment with the wide array of craft beer and wine waiting behind the 43 taps.

“Growlers are the next generation of beer and wine distribution,” Mark Bilton-Smith, founder of Growler University, said. “And the campus community offers an opportunity to expand that growing culture.”

Growler University is the latest in a wave of growler stations opened in Eugene in the last year. Unlike its competitors, however, it practically sits right on the back porch of the University of Oregon campus, just on the other side of Villard Street from Matthew Knight Arena and right next to Market of Choice.

“I think University of Oregon students are more educated about beer than most college kids, but there’s always room to learn,” Growler University’s Joy Welker said. “And growlers present that opportunity.”

That’s why the folks at Growler University think they’ve found the perfect location to continue the revolution.

“College is about exploration, doing things differently, and that applies to alcohol too,” Bilton-Smith said. “It’s not just about pouring beer down your throat. There are other ways to enjoy alcohol, and growlers can help people find quality, not just the quantity, in beer.”

Beer growlers are reusable containers ranging from 32 to 64 ounces that can be filled up with your beverage of choice, sealed and taken home. Once filled, the shelf life varies depending on which fill station you visit, but according to Welker, theirs will stay fresh unopened for a week.

That may not sound that much different than a six-pack, but according to Kiefer Versteegh, Growler University employee and a UO student, growlers transcend the six-pack and grocery store beer buying experience.

“Growlers offer you the chance to be adventurous with your beer selection,” Versteegh said. “When you buy a six pack you’re stuck with it, but at a fill station you can taste four or five beers and find what you like.”

And according to Versteegh, growlers are an environmentally-friendly way to enjoy beer and wine.

“The carbon footprint of growlers is considerably less,” Versteegh said. “There’s only one bottle that can be used hundreds of times, and no labels and cardboard cases.”

The revolution may not reach everyone, but Growler University and other fill stations in Eugene are trying to.

“I think every campus in the nation should have a fill station,” Bilton-Smith said. “It’s an atmosphere. It’s a culture.”

Diced onions crackle in a frying pan, their odor wafting together with the smell of fresh cilantro and slow-cooked chicken. Someone is making tacos in an effort to make this dingy college apartment a home. Soon a gourmet meal graces a chipped dinner plate, pots and pans sit on the stove, pools of grease cooling, promising to be a nuisance later. But that’s not a problem yet. There are more pressing issues: devouring food and deciding what to wash the meal down with.

“I don’t put a lot of thought into it but sometimes, like tonight, when I make Mexican food or something, I like to have a beer that complements it,” recent University of Oregon graduate Andrew Holdun said as he cracked the tab on his Dos Equis tallboy.

“Sometimes, like tonight, there are certain beers that work well with certain food and make the meal better,” he said.

Perhaps it’s a bit extreme, (Hey, a beer’s a beer, right?) but food and beer pairing is a real thing. As we prepare to enter the “real world” these culture lessons take on exaggerated meaning.

Knowing whether the hoppy bitterness of an IPA complements a spicy dish or a decadent dessert could be the difference between getting that first big promotion or crashing on your parent’s couch while you update your LinkedIn account. Yes, food and beer pairing is important. Luckily we live in a perfect environment to take baby steps into refinement: Eugene has a wide variety of restaurants, an equally wide variety of local microbrews and a highly concentrated group of young people eager to share their beer and food habits.

“I like a lot of curries and similar type foods, and an India Pale Ale really works nicely with them,” UO senior Kelly Kirk said. “The hoppiness of an IPA kind of equalizes the bite of the spicy food. They complement each other.”

Eugene has plenty of restaurants. For example Sweet Basil or Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen and BBQ to name but a few, offer plenty of spicy food. Local breweries like Ninkasi, Oakshire and Falling Sky have prolific IPAs in their ranks.

“Porters and stouts are really rich and filling, and when you drink them with dinner they can overpower the food,” UO senior Kacy Neal said. “But they really work well with some foods like desserts.”

Who knew that beer and food could be so complicated? No one can fault someone if they want to drink a Rolling Rock and eat a bag of potato chips, but it doesn’t take a lot of effort to transform your beer and food palette.

“I mean it’s not a big deal, but drinking a hefeweizen and eating a salad together is great, or red ale and burger,” Kirk said. “It’s a pretty simple thing, but it makes eating and drinking more enjoyable.”

Beer and food offer a wealth of possibilities individually, and together they’re a complicated and rewarding tandem.

“Choosing the wrong kind of beer and food together can be disastrous,” Neal said. “But the right ones together can be great.”

This is food and beer for thought, but perhaps the only fool-proof method is trial and error.

Just because the December holidays are receding in the rearview mirror doesn’t mean that the festivities are over. We may be mired in the middle of another dreary Oregon winter, but in Eugene there should be an opportunity for merriment and socializing that’s good for both you and your wallet. Here’s some of the recurring weekly options:

Monday

Bingo Night at Sam Bond’s Garage, located at 407 Blair Blvd.

“Two Beers and A Brat for $10 special” at 16 Tons Taphouse, located at 265 E 13th.

Half off bottles of wine at Agate Alley Bistro, located at 1461 East 19th Ave.

Board game Night at The Barn Light 7 p.m., located at 924 Willamette St.

Tuesday

Taco Tuesdays at Agate Alley Bistro.

Trivia Night starting at 8 p.m. at Webfoot Bar and Grill, located at 839 E 13th Ave.

“Ladies Night” at Luckey’s Club: $1 PBR and $3 Absolute Drinks for the ladies, located at 933 Olive St.

Bluegrass Jam Sessions at Sam Bond’s Garage.

Tricycle Races starting at 9 p.m. at McShanes, located at 86495 College View Rd.

Weekly new beer release at Oakshire Public House, located on 207 Madison St.

$2 Movie Tickets at David Minor Theater and Pub, located at 180 E 5th Ave.

Wednesday

Dollar Beers at Taylor’s Bar and Grill from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The infamous $1 domestics and $2 micro beer fest located at 849 E 13th Ave.

8 p.m. to close: $1 domestics and $2 well cocktails and prizes at Sixth Street Grill.

All pints are $2.50 all day at Agate Alley Bistro.

Trivia Night at The Barn Light.

Thursday

“Drink Wheel” at Agate Alley Bistro: The infamous wheel of arbitrary $3 drinks starts spinning at 10 p.m.

“Thirsty Thursday” at Sixth Street Grill: $2 drink menu starts at 8 p.m. and goes until closing time.

Trivia Night at Rogue Public House at 8 p.m., located at 844 Olive St.

Friday

$3 Jameson & Crater Lake Vodka at Luckey’s Club starts at 9 p.m. and runs until 10:30 p.m.

“Bartender’s Choice” at Jackalope Lounge, located at 453 Willamette St.

Saturday

$3 Jameson & Crater Lake Vodka from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Luckey’s.

Jim Beam & Coke specials at Jackalope Lounge.

Sunday

Karaoke Night and drink specials at Agate Alley Bistro starting at 8 p.m.

$2 movie tickets at David Minor Theater and Pub.

“Analog Sundays” at The Barn Light: A weekly vinyl listening party beginning at 5 p.m.

Free pool all day and bloody mary specials at Jackalope Lounge.

Movie trailers are often overlooked as an art form in their own right. Many people — myself included— will see a film without ever having viewed its promotional trailer. But for some people, a trailer can be the catalyst for discovering and then going and paying to see a film. A good trailer should make a film look good even if the actual film itself isn’t. A trailer needs to build enthusiasm and anticipation for a film without giving away too much or too little. And in roughly two minutes — a pretty average length for a movie trailer — that can be hard to do. In 2013, these were some of the films that found the perfect balance — or were just incredible and deserve to be watched.

5. “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”

The trailer for the second installment of The Hobbit series pulls a nice trick. A good portion of viewers already know where this film, and the series, is headed, but instead of giving the viewer what they already know and want — the climatic battle with a dragon and other forces of evil — Peter Jackson and company don’t reveal the goods. It’s so tantalizingly close, but they make sure you have to see the film to be completely satiated.

4. “The Wolf of Wall Street”

This trailer is dangerous. It sucks you into a maelstrom of cool. Kanye West’s “Black Skinhead” smacks you immediately in the face, and then you’re along for the tightly edited ride that makes this film look like a surefire hit. It’s sure to inspire audiences to enthusiastically line up outside the theater.

3. “American Hustle”

The trailer for American Hustle doesn’t give a whole lot of insight into the plot of the film, but it makes up for it by simply oozing style and cool. You feel cool just watching this trailer. It has an incredibly talented cast and director, it’s tightly edited and when it’s over you won’t soon forget it.

2. “Only God Forgives”

Only God Forgives is — in a manner — a phenomenal trailer because it made a movie that ended up polarizing critics look like it was going to be incredible (actually polarizing might be to forgiving, most people hated this film). Nicolas Winding-Refn’s follow up to Drive looked like it had a lot going for it: cool location, cool premise and Ryan Gosling. And the trailer lived up to the hype. It’s lit in flashes of fluorescent lights and driven by a pulsing song as it sets up what looks like an awesome revenge flick centered on a troubled Ryan Gosling in a seedy criminal underground. The filmmakers probably couldn’t have asked for anything more; regardless of their intention was with the film (commercial suicide? The Kid A of movies?), the trailer knocks it out of the park.

1. “Gravity”

This trailer throws my own notion about what a trailer should be out the window for one very simple reason: I didn’t go see Alphonso Cauron’s Gravity specifically because of the trailer. It scared the living daylights out of me; it left me clenching the arm of my chair, eyes blinking rapidly and muttering profanities. And it did so because it’s a masterful piece of work that managed to stir a disturbing emotional response from me in just two minutes and 33 seconds. Most films can’t manage that in two hours. The Gravity trailer is beautifully rendered, with a terrifying near 30 second unedited shot focused on an astronaut played by Sandra Bullock spinning out of control in space hundreds of miles above Earth. It’s disorientating, pulse quickening and gorgeous all at the same time. Perhaps it defeated its own purpose — but I’m afraid of space so whatever it doesn’t count — but the Gravity trailer is incredible in its own right.

Finals week is at the height of its fury, and that presumably means the last time you read something for pleasure was about three months ago. Fortunately, fall term will soon be over and books can once again represent something other than source material for 10-page essays. If you’re one of those individuals prone to curling up on the couch and getting lost in a good book over winter break, get ready. Your hunger can be satiated in a few days and 2013 has plenty to offer in literary fare. Let’s take a look at what other people have been reading and buying over the last calendar year.

“William Shakespeare’s Star Wars” by Ian Doescher 

This book is exactly what it sounds like: “Star Wars” through the voice of William Shakespeare, and it follows the trend of other recent parodies like “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” “It’s the impulse buy book of the year,” Steve Altman of Smith Family Bookstore said. “A lot of people walk by the register and see it, having never heard of it — and they just buy it.”

“The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy With Autism” by Naoki Higashida

“This memoir by Higashida is a first-person account of what it’s like to be autistic. It opened up knowledge about autism that I’d never known before,” University of Oregon senior Robert Jaques said. “It’s great. It gave me a direct look into the mind of an autistic individual.” It is also highly endorsed by Jon Stewart — which is never a bad thing.

“Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety” by Eric Scholsser

This nonfiction work from famed investigative journalist Eric Schlosser takes the reader inside the history of the United States’ nuclear arsenal. According to Jeremy Nissel of J. Michaels Books, “Command and Control” is a “chilling” account of technological breakthroughs and near-disasters throughout the nuclear age.

“S” by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst

This mystery from J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst is, according to Nissel, a “fascinating” mystery novel that’s packaged to look like an old library book. Inside the book are “handwritten” notes in the margins, postcards, photographs and newspaper clippings — all of which are crucial to picking apart the novel’s mystery. “S” is a novel that transcends the usual and turns the experience of reading into an interactive pursuit.

“The Circle” by David Eggers

My personal favorite of 2013, “The Circle” is a frightening look at the power of the Internet. A fictional account of a burgeoning Internet company, “The Circle” is like a disturbing cross between “The Social Network” and the fourth season of “Arrested Development.” It will probably cause you to change your name and all of your email passwords immediately.

The ugly sweater party is no longer simply just a party. It’s a race. On Sunday, Dec. 15, at Alton Baker Park, scores of people adorned in Christmas tree and reindeer-patterned sweaters will toe a starting line and prepare to traverse 3.1 miles of holiday cheer.

The event is the first annual Oregon’s Ugliest Sweater Run, created in September by Derek Zinser, and its goal is to bring people together to enjoy December’s finest traditions, get exercise and promote causes like Toys For Tots, Foster and Adoptive Parent Association of Lane County and Food For Lane County by donating part of the proceeds.

“I love Christmas. I’m a huge Christmas dork,” race director Zinser said. “I thought it’d be cool to combine a sweater party and a run.”

And now his idea is a reality. Over 400 people have already registered, a course is laid out running from Alton Baker to the finish line at Fifth Street Market and local businesses have jumped on board to sponsor the event.

The theme of the event — beyond just ugly sweaters —  is the “Twelve Days of Christmas.”

“Every quarter mile along the course we’ll have a rest station,” Zinser said. “The first one will have 12 drummers drumming.”

The following ones will continue this theme, with Dari Mart even providing a live cow for the eight maids a milking.

Though the event is a “race,” according to Zinser, the times aren’t important and the race is for everyone, regardless of age or athletic ability. It’s about having a good time — and doing so while wearing the most hideous sweater you can lay your hands on.

“It can be Christmas themed. It can have a cat on it. Just find an ugly sweater, and then make it uglier,” Zinser said. “The uglier the better.”

And sweater wearing will continue once the participants cross the finish line. After the race there will be live music, eggnog chugging contests, fruitcake eating contests and — of course — an ugly sweater contest. The event will later move down the block to the Tap and Growler, where the merriment will continue.

Zinser’s goal for the event is to have between 1,000 to 1,300 people participate in the run, and despite not quite being there yet, he thinks in the coming days that registrations should pick up considerably.

Parking for the event, located at the EWEB complex, will cost $5 or five cans of food or an unwrapped toy. All will be donated to one of the three charities.

According to Food for Lane County, it was Oregon’s Ugliest Sweater Run that reached out to the organization to see if such an event could benefit it.

“This is TrackTown USA, so there’s a lot of community support for an event like this,” said Kalub Hall, one of the event’s organizers. “It helps promote change in the community.”

Registration before the event is $35 for adults and $45 on the day of the race. For children ages 5 to 14, the event costs $15. For children under age 5, the event is free.

The first flight of runners will hit the course at 10 a.m. and the post-race festivities will commence at 12 p.m.

Director Scott Cooper is carving out quite a name for himself — or just associating his name with names that are etched all over Hollywood. His first movie, 2009’s Crazy Heart, was a beautiful portrait of an aging musician played by Jeff Bridges. And now his second film delves into darker territory, relating a violent story of two brothers struggling to make a living the Pennsylvania Rust Belt.  His first movie he snagged Bridges and Robert Duvall, for his second he rented the services of Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck, Forrest Whitaker, William Defoe, and Zoey Saldana. That’s not too bad for a director with two films to his name.

But this isn’t just dumb luck on Cooper’s part. He’s luring big-name actors and actresses to his film because he possesses some directorial chops.

“Out of the Furnace” is a brooding crime thriller that sheds light on the bleak economic times in the backwaters of America. The film simmers on the brink of barely contained rage throughout and is punctuated by moments of intense violence. It’s kind of like Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive if it were set in the Pennsylvania backwoods.

In actuality, it’s closer to 2010′s Winter’s Bone, and even echoes The Deer Hunter at times. The film revolves around crime and violence bred from economic despair and paints a bleak image of those individuals caught up in the undertow.

Despite the bleak setting and subject matter, this film is beautifully shot. Faces are bathed in shadows that reveal the character’s wrinkles and scowls. The watcher feels like they’re actually in the decaying Pennsylvania town or woods, or that they’re the one dodging a fusillade of right-hooks.  Each scene seems like it was obsessed over. The atmosphere they evoke is just as important as the narrative they’re building.

Furnace isn’t perfect. The plot, while suitably interesting enough (brother gets in too deep with thugs, other brother intervenes), isn’t setting any precedents for narrative excellence. The film is predictable.

It thinks it’s more profound than it actually is, but if you can get pass that little gripe, you should experience a beautifully shot and wonderfully acted film.

Bale sheds his bat-cape here and delivers a powerhouse performance as Russell, a down on his luck steel worker. The nuances Bale brings to his character here are remarkable, especially in a role he easily could’ve mailed in. For those who forgot, Bale is actually a pretty decent actor when he’s not fighting off comic book baddies or ranting about how “we are the resistance.” In a film crammed with Oscar winners, Bale rises to the top.

But the competition is stiff.

Harrelson delivers yet again an awesome performance (but I mean really, when doesn’t he?) This time as a sadistic backwoods crime lord with a penchant for lollipops. Harrelson oozes despicableness in every scene — and he looks like he’s having the time of his life doing it.

Affleck also turns in a burning performance as Russell’s war-vet brother Rodney who boxes to pay off debts and presumably, to find release for his pent-up rage.

Rodney tangles with Harrelson’s DeGroat, and that’s where the narrative finds its fodder. Affleck, like Harrelson, continues his impressive string of roles and in Furnace you can’t help but salivate over what he’ll do next.

The rest of the cast pulls their weight, but it’s Bale, Harrelson and Affleck who really make this film a knockout. The film easily could’ve suffered from diminishing returns with such a gifted cast, but Cooper guides them through it deftly.

In the end Furnace is a searing film that, while not spectacular, showcases the immense potential of a young director who knows how to use a talented cast.

Oh my God Becky, dead week just got its shot at resurrection. The trend of pop music stars from the late ’90s and early 2000s popping into the Eugene area for a visit is continuing this Friday, Dec. 6. Call up your posse and get ripping, because Anthony Ray, more commonly known as Sir Mix-A-Lot, is playing a gig at Whiskey River Ranch, located at 4740 Main St., in downtown Springfield. The Seattle-based MC is best known for his Grammy Award-winning single “Baby Got Back,” the ode to women’s derrieres that sprung him from relative obscurity into the hip-hop and pop culture limelight. Despite the overwhelming success of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s butt-centric ballad, the MC also boasts several other hit singles to his name like “Posse on Broadway,” “Beepers,” ”Jump on it,” and “I Got Game,” all of which should be sprinkled into his set. Sir Mix-A-Lot’s discography spans 15 years and six albums, so those who forgo their workout tapes with Fonda and roll over to Springfield in their Hondas should be treated to a wide array of songs, and also some of the signature wit he liked to spit on VH1’s I Love the ’90s. Sir Mix-A-Lot should pull up to Whiskey River Ranch in a Benz around 7 p.m., when the doors open up to any one over the age of 21 who has purchased one of the tickets that range from $10-$50. Don’t let your homeboys (or girls) try to warn you away this Friday, because Sir Mix-A-Lot will presumably sling his unique brand of ridiculousness throughout what will presumably be a thick and juicy performance.

(On campus)

Dec. 6, Seasonal Sweater Soirée. It’s that time of year to dig out your ugly holiday sweaters! Join the soirée in the Living-Learning Center South Performance Hall for a night of free food, cookie decorating, cupcake walks, raffles, dancing and more. This event takes place from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Dec. 6, Holiday Choral Concert. Four University of Oregon choirs will band together to participate in a holiday themed concert with holiday and folk music from around the world. Tickets are $7 for general admission and $5 for students and are available at the door or at the UO ticket office. The show begins at 8 p.m., in the Beall Concert Hall.

(Off campus)

Dec. 6, Fifth Street Public Market’s Night of a Thousand Stars. The Christmas lights are up and Santa will be in town. Gather at the Fifth Street Public Market for performances by many local choirs and dance ensembles, fun and local food. The event is free and starts at 5 p.m., and lasts until 8 p.m.

Dec. 7, Comedian Joey Diaz of “My Name is Earl” will be performing stand-up on Saturday night at the McDonald Theatre. The event begins at 8 p.m., and tickets are available from $25-$29 at Safeway ticket outlets, online at TicketsWest and, if they aren’t sold out, they can be purchased the day of the performance at the theatre.

Dec. 7, Willakenzie Holiday Bazaar at the Grange. Are you in need of some good holiday treasures or treats? If so, head on over to the Willakenzie Grange this Saturday; the event hosts many local vendors, offering samples and local goods. Browse from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(PDX)

Dec. 4-8, 2013 Holiday Ale Fest: It’s time for one of the finest gatherings of winter beers. The 18th annual beer festival will take place over the course of four days at the Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event is for those 21 and over. General admission is $30 at the door and includes a tasting mug and 10 tasting tickets.

Nov. 29-Jan. 5, Oregon ZooLights are back. Grab that hot cocoa and enjoy a crisp winter night among the sparkling Christmas lights at the Oregon Zoo. With elaborately lit sculptures, forests of animated trees and animal silhouettes, it’s enjoyable for everyone. Friday and Saturday the gates open at 5 p.m., and guests can stay as late as 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Dec. 6, Young the Giant, an American indie rock band will be performing at the McMenamins Crystal Ballroom Friday night at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the box office for $29.50, get them before they sell out, because these tickets will go fast.

Dec. 5-8, Bag & Baggage presents “It’s a (somewhat) Wonderful life” at the Venetian Theater located at 253 E Main Street, Hillsboro, Ore. Tickets are $18-32 and can be purchased by calling 503-345-9590 or found at bagnbaggage.org. Thursday-Saturday the show starts at 7:30 p.m., in addition to matinees at 2 p.m., on Saturday and Sundays.

Dec. 6-8, America’s Largest Christmas Bazaar is back at the Portland Expo Center! The show offers hundreds of juried handcrafted and select commercial products so there’s sure to be something for everyone. Doors are open on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $7 and are sold at the door.

Thanksgiving has packed its bags — and hopefully it included the last of autumn’s seasonal beers in its carry on. It’s been acceptable to revel in winter ales for a few weeks now, but with Christmas now peeking over the horizon and the cold strengthening its icy grip, it’s truly time to finish off the last of the Oktoberfest inspired beers lurking in the recesses of the fridge. It’s December: Don your knit sweaters, listen to Bing Crosby’s White Christmas and prepare to swig from your favorite winter beer. And fortunately, since we reside in the Northwest, we don’t have to look far to find some of the best.

Let’s look at some of the local fare:

Oakshire Ill-Tempered Gnome — Though it does retain some of the spice common to autumn beers, Oakshire complements the spice with a nice malty presence, and a subtle hoppiness that brings to mind the smell of pine. Its finish is smooth, and at 6.8 percent alcohol by volume, it shouldn’t take more than one or two to warm you up on a cold winter night. Ill-tempered Gnome is well worth a try, and should be available in most grocery stores.

Ninkasi Sleigh’r — This beer should be well known as it’s been on store shelves for months — but that doesn’t take away from Sleigh’r’s potency. A Dark Double Alt, Sleigh’r is heavy, which cuts down on its drinkability at times, but this super-charged seasonal is one of Ninkasi’s best all-around beers. Like Ill-Tempered Gnome, it’s malty. But unlike it, there’s nothing subtle about it. And at 7.2 percent ABV it packs a wallop and should complement a warm couch and Malcolm in the Middle reruns nicely. Sleigh’r should be available in most local grocery stores.

Hop Valley Festeroo — This dark ale floods the tongue with flavors ranging from toffee to a nice earthy-pine. At first this seasonal might come off as a tad sharp, but after getting to know one another Festeroo acquits itself admirably — and at 7.5 percent ABV it’s no slouch in the power department. Festeroo is harder to locate than its Ninkasi and Oakshire counterparts, but can be readily found on tap.

And now some seasonals from around greater Oregon:

Bridgeport Ebenezer Ale — This Winter Warmer style seasonal satisfies the taste buds adequately without overwhelming and should appeal to those who find Sleigh’r-like beers to be too harsh. A cherry-like scent wafts off this ale when it’s poured into a glass, but when sipped, the fruitiness diminishes and echoes the taste of a red-ale or amber. It clocks in at 6.4 percent ABV, continuing the trend of strong winter ales and should be available in most grocery stores.

Deschutes Chasin’ Freshies — This India Pale Ale style seasonal from Bend’s Deschutes Brewery is lovely. Most winter brews trend toward being darker and heavier, but Chasin’ Freshies kicks this stereotype to the curb — and at 7.4 percent ABV, it rivals any other beer on this list in potency and face-warming potential. In a glass it exudes a rich golden hue that looks like sunlight glinting off a young Santa Claus’ beard. It has citrus overtones without overwhelming and despite the staple bitter hoppiness of an IPA, it finishes smooth. If you can find it, you should drink it — and make your friends drink it too.

Hopworks Abominable Winter Ale — This seasonal from the Portland-based Hopworks falls somewhere between a red ale and an amber — and it also falls into the awesome category. In terms of consistency it balances the malt of some of the heavier winter ales and the hoppiness of an IPA to create a remarkably drinkable brew. This addition from Hopworks should satisfy the taste buds of most beer enthusiasts and takes the classiness up a level by being available in cans (perfect for Christmas sweater parties). At 7.3 percent ABV it’s not to be taken lightly, but if you’re not near a roaring fire, it’ll serve as an adequate replacement.

Widmer Brrr — It’s hard to go wrong with this Winter Warmer style brew from Portland’s Widmer Brothers. It’s not on the heavier side like some winter seasonals, but it brings a nice blend of sweetness and bitterness that echoes an IPA with a hint of citrus. It may not be for everyone, but because of Brrr’s surprising lightness and drinkability it carves out a unique identity among winter themed beers and boasts a 7.2 percent ABV to boot. And, in comparison to many of the beers on this list, it’s relatively affordable, and therefore well worth a try.