There’s lots of reasons why your plans may be free this weekend — maybe you’re not in the mood for travel, maybe you don’t celebrate Christmas, or maybe the idea of having to withstand another one of Aunt Sharon’s weird hugs is enough to keep you home for the holidays.
Regardless of why, here’s a few things you can still do this weekend while everything closes up for the holidays.
Take to the ice
The Bellevue Downtown ice rink is open until 8 p.m. on both Christmas Eve + Christmas Day — there’s even an “ugly sweater” skate on Sat., Dec. 24 with holiday music playing. Be sure to reserve tickets ahead of time, since this is a popular venue.
Watch a movie
Did you catch the new “Avatar” flick yet? It’s playing at the Ark Lodge in Columbia City all weekend long. For the more indie-minded, Beacon Cinema is showing the 1934 film “The Thin Man” and “Christmas Evil” a few blocks down. And for aspiring Broadway stars, don’t forget that the annual “Fiddler on the Roof” sing-along event is happening at SIFF Cinema Uptown.
Explore the Chinatown-International District
Japantown Jingle — a neighborhood-wide event involving shopping + food specials — continues through Christmas Eve. And those who want to grab a bite on Christmas may want to warm up with some hot pot at Happy Lamb or swing by the iconic Tai Tung for a Chinese food feast (Bruce Lee was a huge fan).
Have a comforting seasonal drink
The kitsch is real at Rob Roy’s holiday-themed pop-up Miracle on 2nd Avenue in Belltown, open until 2 a.m. on Christmas Eve and 12 a.m. on Christmas. For something a little thicker, Capitol Hill’s Sol Liquor Lounge will serve its famed aged eggnog on Christmas Day until 2 a.m., while retrofied late-night diner Lost Lake a few blocks away offers its own boozy ‘nog + some mulled wine, too.
