FRI., DEC. 19, 2003

Alrighty folks, it’s go time. No matter how hard you’ve been trying to shove the schmaltz to the back of your brain and concentrate on important matters, at some point you’re going to have to accept the fact that the holidaze are here. You have roughly five shopping days until Dec. 25 – that very special day when your dining-out options are limited to cuisines of the Pacific Rim. That’s actually a good thing. By C-Day you’ll be needing a few days at the bottom of the food pyramid. If you’re like the bulk of America, your diet until then will consist of mall pretzels, Chick-fil-A, Orange Julius, Lammes Candies and handfuls of Karmelkorn dredged out of huge, garishly decorated tins the size of oil drums. Don’t worry, the transition from Karmelkorn to baby corn is easier than you might think. If nothing else, the fiber will act as a nice purgative. If you’re looking for a purgative of a more spiritual nature, you might want to head over to the Alamo Drafthouse on Friday or Saturday and check out the 3rd Annual Mr. Sinus Holiday Spectacular. For several years now, Jerm, Owen, and John have made this a must-see staple of the Drafthouse’s holiday fare. The show includes more than 40 clips from classics like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “The Fat Albert Christmas Special,” and “A Christmas Carol,” as well as lesser-known gems like the “Star Wars Holiday Special” and “Christmas Evil.” All are woven into the centerpiece of Frank Capra’s beloved 1946 classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” but don’t expect to get misty-eyed with anything but laughter. Also included in the evening’s festivities are sing-alongs, drinking games, and free milk and cookies. This weekend features 7 and 9:45pm shows both Friday and Saturday, but you’ll still want to get your tickets online to nail down a seat.