1
See some tasty houses. Those gingerbread houses you made when you were a kid, slathered with enough frosting to make them collapse just before you devoured them? Not going to cut it in Lake Las Vegas’ Holidays Around the World gingerbread-house competition. The feats of confectionary architecture, created by local chefs of all ages, both professional and amateur, will be on display at Lake Las Vegas through December 22. No eating allowed. Call 564-1600 or visit www.lakelasvegas.com for more info.
2
Hear tons of music. Ex-Blink-182 frontman? Check. Politically charged punk rockers? Check. Ethiopian-born synthmeister? Check. Duran Duran tour buddies? Area 107.9’s Big Damn Holiday Jam brings together all of the above, with Angels & Airwaves, Against Me!, Kenna and VHS or Beta teaming for a super-eclectic bill that should either turn single-act fans on to the music of the others, or result in an all-out, awesomely freakish turf war. December 11, 7 p.m., $27. The Joint, 693-5066.
3
Be a little dirty. ’Tis the season to be naughty, and Empire Ballroom has just the event. Dark Christmas, December 12 at 11 p.m., features sexy performances by the entertainers from the Pussycat Dolls, Stomp Out Loud, Sirens of TI and Fashionistas, plus Lost Vega’s Crew, DJ Miss Joy and Bryan Cheatham & the Flaunt Foxxes—with a holiday vibe! General admission $15 in advance, $20 at the door. VIP seating $25. Empire Ballroom, 3765 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
4
Get to know Joel. 
Joel Gion may be the nicest guy in rock. As the affable, lovable counterpart to Brian Jonestown Massacre frontman Anton Newcombe in Dig!, a movie about the band’s rise to and fall from glory, Gion played tambourine and provided humor in disaster and fun in the chaos that was the violent and vicious BJM of the turn of the century. Now, the mutton-chop-wearing renegade of San Francisco and his own band, The Dilettantes—playing at the Beauty Bar, 517 E. Fremont Street, 598-1965, December 8, 10 p.m., $5-$10—bring forth past images of BJM but add their own sort of Gionish feel to the psychedelic-garage group. In other words, not only do they totally rule, but you also won’t have to worry about getting a foot in the face if you see them live.
5
Buy a date. The BIG Mix bachelor and bachelorette auction will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada. Hosted by KVBC-TV 3’s Kim and Dana Wagner, the event’s featured singles for sale include former Miss Nevada and Miss Black USA Elizabeth Muto, David Burns of MTV’s The Real World and SpyOnVegas.com, Jonathan Fine, BBBS board member and owner of the Rockhouse and Sting Surveillance, Maxim “Hometown Hottie” Monica White of Vegas Passport and more. Tickets are $100 per person and available by calling 731-2227. Friday, December 7, 7-10 p.m., The Rockhouse at Imperial Palace.
6
Watch a brawl. 
Saturday night, December 8, at 8 p.m., undefeated Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton faces unbeaten WBC welterweight champion “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, broadcast live on HBO pay-per-view. The reason you can only watch it on pay-per-view—all the tickets at the MGM Grand Garden Arena had sold out in fewer than 30 seconds and all the seats at designated closed-circuit locations are filled to capacity, too—is the same reason you should pay to watch it on pay-per-view: It’s going to be one hell of a scrap, between two men who share nothing in common except their unblemished records, and come Saturday night somebody’s “0” has got to go.
Floyd Mayweather photo courtesy of The Las Vegas Sun