So, it’s the holiday season, and you’re about to go stark raving mad with all the family joy and whatnot. Want to get away? Here’s some suggestions for just a few hours of relief.
LAUGH OUT LOUD
Nothing like a little comedy to shake off the holiday stress. The Washington Improv Theater has its “Seasonal Disorder” show Friday and Saturday; D.C. Improv welcomes comedian Gary Valentine through Sunday; and Good for the Jews is at Jammin’ Java on Thursday. (jamminjava.com, washingtonimprovtheater.com, dcimprov.com)
CATCH A FLICK
There’s nothing like the peace and quiet of two hours in a darkened room. If you want to stick with the theme, AFI is showing holiday films such as “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Christmas Vacation” and “Home Alone” through Dec. 24. Or, you can see one of the films recently nominated for a Golden Globe so you can say things such as “I think George Clooney’s understated, Cary Grant-like performance in ‘Up in the Air’ is the best of his career” at your New Year’s Eve party. (afi.com/silver; goldenglobes.org)
ROCK OUT
Unleash some of that pent up frustration through music. Local rock band Army of Me is at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Friday; local acts Junior League and Justin Jones take the stage at the 9:30 Club on Saturday; Last Train Home plays three consecutive days Friday to Sunday at IOTA Club & Cafe; and the Black Cat celebrates the anniversary of James Brown’s death on Christmas night with its James Brown Death-mas Holiday Bash. (rockandrollhoteldc.com, 930.com, iotaclubandcafe.com, blackcatdc.com)
DRINK
Simple enough — head to your favorite local bar for a drink or two. Asylum has a deal that helps everyone: Through Christmas, donate a can of food (not just soup) and receive a free can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, with the purchase of your first can of PBR. There’s also a pair of pub crawls to be had: The Fraternal Order of Leatherheads Society (FOOLS) hosts its Naughty or Nice Pub Crawl at the Reston Town Center on Monday. It costs $10, with proceeds benefiting the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department. And the Boomerang bus is having its annual bar and club Santa Stumble on Saturday in D.C. for $35. On Christmas Eve, there’s the Gefilte Fish Gala fundraiser at both Union Jack’s in Bethesda and K Street Lounge in D.C. (asylumdc.com, northernvirginiafools.com, ridetheboomerang.com, unionjacksbethesda.com, kstreetdc.com)
GET IN THE SPIRIT, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
Don’t be a Grinch. Sure, you need a break from the fam, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay in the holiday spirit. Visit the National Zoo for its ZooLights celebration as the zoo is decorated with thousands of sparkling lights through Jan. 2 (except Dec. 24, 25 and 31); catch the absurdity of the Water-Skiing Santa at National Harbor on Dec. 24 at 1 p.m.; or just walk by the National Christmas Tree and appreciate the area we live in. (nationalzoo.si.edu, waterskiingsanta.com)
