ATLRetro

Joe Gransden.

Monday, Dec. 17

Monday is big band night at Café 290! Come out and catch Joe Gransden with guest Francine Reed at 8 p.m.  Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam featuring blues and southern soul singer, Lola Gulley. Head over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for a hearty serving of BBQ and Dry White Toast.

Tuesday, Dec. 18

Chickens and Pigs plus 23 guest singers celebrate the Seventh Annual Keith Richards Birthday Bash, as Rock’s Worst Role Model continues to outlive everyone who tries to be Keith Richards. The party at The Earl benefits Ovarian Cycle, a local organization raising funds for ovarian cancer research.Don’t miss this week’s retro cinema classic, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. The Christmas classic is directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore. Check out the Tommy Dean Trio at the Georgia Shrimp Company in Peachtree City as they play favorites from The Rat Pack, classic soul and great American songbook standards. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab your horn and head over to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m., or you can blues it down with Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers at Northside Tavern.

Wednesday, Dec. 19

Alex Cooley presents a special benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Acoustic Road of Drivin ‘n Cryin – Kevin Kinney – and the Mystery Roadsters, Dave V. Johnson, Sadler Vaden, Dave Franklin, Ed Roland, Tom Gray, Mark Johnson, Thad Cockrell and special guest from Drag The River at Eddie’s Attic. Warm your bones and spread some holiday cheer with a good ‘ol fashioned ho-ho-ho down at the Star Bar Country Christmas with Willie Heath Neal, Rod Hamdallah and Grim Rooster (with special guest drummer TigerBeat Tony). Concrete Blonde rocks the Variety Playhouse. Don’t miss Joe Gransden’s Big Holiday Show with Francine Reed at the Red Clay Theater! Head out to see this 16-piece big band pair up with the legendary jazz diva to bring you great holiday classics. Come out to Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint to listen to the sweet blues sounds of The Breeze Kings at 6:30 p.m. Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. Disco in the Village at Mary’s is your midweek neighborhood dance party and Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck brings the gospel blues to Northside Tavern.

Jeffrey Butzer.

Thursday, Dec. 20

Jeffrey Bützer and T.T. Mahony perform Vince Guaraldi’s A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS at Nine Street Kitchen in Roswell . This all-ages show is one of the new Christmas traditions in Atlanta and you can read up on it in our interview with Jeffrey here. Get into the Irish Christmas spirit when you attend Joy, An Irish Christmas at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. Don’t miss acclaimed Irish singers, songwriters and recording artists Keith and Kristyn Getty for an unforgettable celebration of Christmas, the show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets range from $25 – $55. Head over to Atlanta’s dirty little secret, Clermont Lounge, to attend a Christmas party you don’t want to miss. Today is the last Terrific Thursday when downtown Decatur stores offer discounts and wine and refreshments. After your shopping, attend Joe Gransden’s Big Holiday Show with Francine Reed, this time at Eddie’s Attic! Head out to see this 16-piece big band pair up with the legendary jazz diva to bring you great holiday classics. Take $7 with you to The Five Spot to hear the jazz-funk sounds of Nick and the Grooves with Questionable at Best. Catch another screening of this week’s retro cinema classic, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. It’s 80s vs 90s Thursdays at The Shelter. New Wave classics versus Booty-shaking Eurodance will get your moving and rare and underground music videos will be playing on the screens throughout night. Relax with a tropical cocktail at vintage tiki bar, Trader Vic’s, where Tongo Hiti plays Retro-Polynesian luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as trippy takes on iconic pop songs, every Thursday night. Go to Northside Tavern to hear the classic 50s Chicago-style blues of The Breeze Kings. Get your groove back at Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint withThe Mar-Tans at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 21

The world ends today so why not spend your last night on earth at the Atlanta Xmas Apocalypse, this year’s incarnation of “A Krampus Christmas” with the Little 5 Points Rockstar Orchestra (the same feral folks that brought you DRACULA: THE ROCK OPERA) at 7 Stages. Take a five spot to The Five Spot to groove to the classic funk hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s with the Atlanta Funk Society and The Apostles. You will have two chances to catch a Christmas show at Eddie’s Attic with indie singer-songwriter, Ryan Horne along with Micah Dalton, Nathan Angelo and Jonathan Rich. The Ron Kimble Band plays southern rock at Cooper’s Corner in Grayson. Swing down to Northside Tavern to hear Stoney Brooks original tunes and swinging covers. Spice things up with sassy Latin rhythms and free dance lessons from Salsambo Dance Studio under the dinosaurs at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX.

Saturday, Dec. 22

Two chances to catch the Silver Screen Spookshow presents ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) at the Plaza Theater at 1 p.m. and 10 p.m.! Professor Morte offers a unique brand of eerie entertainment, complete with a cast of creepy, colorful characters, scares, comedy and horrifically hip hijinks! Watch out for our Retro Review soon! Joe Strummer/Clash tribute band Know Your Rights thrashes The Earl, along with a screening of THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN, a 2007 documentary on Strummer directed by Julien Temple. The Band/Bob Dylan tribute band The Last Waltz Ensemble play their annual holiday show at Smith’s Olde Bar. Come out to Cooper’s Corner to party with The Rolling Stones cover band, The Jagged Stones, at 9 p.m. Read our Kool Kat interview with lead singer Keef Richards here. And as usual, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours of the night. Hear the legendary R&B and jazz stylings of Nat George & The Nat George Players at Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint at 6:30 p.m.

Hustle for the Homeless.

Sunday, Dec. 23

Hustle for the Homeless at The Earl with J.J. and the Hustlers, Tag Team, The Dirty Knockouts and the original bad Santa, Santa Dang at 8 p.m. Free admission when you donate two or more cans which go to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The Georgia Legacy Foundation presents Stoop Down Sunday: A Benefit for Georgia Great, Chick Willis at Northside Tavern. Concert starts at noon features several of Atlanta favorite blues performers. David Ellington performs A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS at Eddie’s Attic at 3 p.m. Check out the Tommy Dean Trio at Big Tex Cantina in Decatur at noon as they play favorites from The Rat Pack, classic soul and great American songbook standards. Enjoy some hangover-friendly live music with Hoofingly playing dunch at 1 p.m. at The Earl.

Bumble menaces Rudolph, Hermey and Yukon in The Center for Puppetry Arts' live production of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. Photo credit: Clay Walker.

Seasonal Activities

Are you dreaming of a WHITE CHRISTMAS? Head to The Strand Theater to catch the musical based on the beloved Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye film. Now through Sunday, Dec. 23.

The Center for Puppetry Arts’ official stage adaptation of the Rankin-Bass misfit Christmas TV classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is back for a third year with Rudolph, Clarisse, Hermie, Yukon and all the beloved characters. Read our interview with adapter/director and Center Artistic Director Jon Ludwig here. Now through Jan. 6.

Take part in an Atlanta tradition dating back more than 50 years! The Pink Pig is back at Macy’s in Lenox Square Mall. Ride the Macy’s Pink Pig Train on top of the mall through the 170-ft., 1950’s themed Pink Pig Tent. A portion of the ride’s proceeds will benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The Pink Pig will be at Lenox until Jan. 1.

All this week at The Horizon Theater, catch David Sedaris in THE SANTALAND DIARIES. An outrageous holiday comedy, written by award-winning satirical writer David Sedaris, stars Crumpet, a rebel without a Clause who recounts the true-life tale of an out-of-work writer’s stint as a Macy’s Department Store elf. Now through Dec. 30.

Award-winning Dad’s Garage offers a new take on the humbug Christmas classic with INVASION: CHRISTMAS CAROL. This nutty interpretation of the Dickens’ favorite throws all the conventional aspects of the story out the window, replacing them with a delicious improv flavor as different spirits visit every evening, to the surprise of even the cast! Shows run through Dec. 23 every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

At Fernbank Museum of Natural History, enjoy the 3rd annual WINTER WONDERLAND, featuring trees and other displays from around the world. New this year will be special photo opportunities with Fernbank’s holiday mascot, Santa-saurus and hop aboard the Santa-saurus Express train, through Jan. 6.

Ongoing

Every Tuesday and Thursday night is Retro Cinema at Movie Tavern. Check out classic movies on the big screen weekly at 7:30 p.m.

Visit the High Museum of Art to see the Fast Forward: Modern Moments exhibit featuring artistic development from the past 100 years, 1913-2013. Artists include Henri Matisse, Salvador Dalí, Georgia O’Keeffe and Jeff Koons. Closes January 10, 2013.

Take retro to another level at the Genghis Khan special exhibition at Fernbank Museum of National History. Closes January 21, 2013.