skint pick
8pm (thru 12/31): gritty ‘nutcracker: rated r,’ set in 1980’s new york, is back for its 4th season @ theater for the new city. sat 3pm shows are pay-what-you-will ($20 reg)
around town today
6pm: ny radio hosts annie bergen, elliott forrest and others perform the strand’s 6th annual reading of ‘a christmas carol’ (adapted by clayelle dalferes), free >>
7pm: isabella rossellini hosts an outdoor screening (on 3 jumbotron monitors!) of the winning videos of the metropolis art prize. times sqare, free >>
7pm: elizabeth soychak's renegade cabaret returns to the high line with a holiday show >>
7pm (thru 12/19): the 4th annual blip festival kicks off 3 days of chip tunes, workshops, screenings and presentations @ the bell house. $15/night ($40/3-day pass) >>
7:30pm: kiss's gene simmons signs his 'kiss kompendium' @ borders columbus circle, free >>
7:30pm: author joshua clover reads excerpts from his '1989: bob dylan didn't have this to sing about,' linking the historic changes of that year (like the falling of the berlin wall) with the changes in pop music. bonus: 1989 karaoke! union hall, $5 >>
8pm: the final between the lines program of the season, 'it's not you, it's me,' features authors stephen elliott and leslie jamison, neuroscientist + economist paul glimcher, filmmaker jamie meltzer, plus indie-folk duo wye oak. bamcafe, $10 >>
8pm: rachel kramer bussel and other authors tackle sex and religion for the last 'in the flesh' reading series event of the year. free chips, candy, mini peanut butter cups and cupcakes! happy ending, free >>
9pm: tonight's 'nerd nite' program covers world war ii codebreaking, wolverine's influence on young men, and the nyc census. nerdtastic! galapagos, $10 >>
9pm: 'mortified' = adults sharing their cringe-worthy adolescent journals, letters, home movies, more. 92yt, $15 >>
9:30pm: the american contemporary music ensemble (acme) explores the similarities of composers john cage and phil kline (of 'unsilent night' fame) @ the tank, $12 >>
10pm: the ladies of wasabassco burleque bare their gifts for a special holiday show @ union hall, $10 >>
sales, deals, freebies
4-10pm (thru 12/21): indie music merch store insound launches pop-up at 303 grand w. posters, t-shirts, music art, more. free cocktails 7-10 every night. >>
5pm-closing (thru ?): 2-4-1 gourmet hot dogs with a korean twist daily at new york hot dog and coffee >>
6-8pm: sexy lingerie brand la perla is throwing a holiday gentlemen's evening @ saks w. informal modeling, refreshments, and 25% discount >>
groupon alert! get a $20 gift card for energy kitchen for just $10 (good at all 9 locations) >>
get tickets to see 'the great recession' at the flea theater for just $10 (reg $25) for 10pm performances thru 12/19. use code 'great10' (plus $1 beer!) >>
740 online retailers are participating in 'free shipping day' today. (includes the apple store, beauty.com, ralph lauren, many more) >>
free mp3s: 10-track winter sampler from filter mag (air, florence + the machine, tom waits, more) >>
