Dickens on the Strand Of course, another way to get your Christmas Dickens fill is by wandering the streets of Galveston this weekend, in one of the admittedly oddest, but perhaps happiest festivals in Texas. Besides enjoying all the costumed revelers, street performers, festival food, Christmas shopping, caroling, parading and completely out-of-left-field Ho'ola Ame Ho'ouli Kamano' Hawaiian dancing, you can actually meet, in the flesh, the Dickens family. Mark Charles Dickens, Charles Dickens's great-great grandson, will be on hand to sign copies of his illustrious ancestor's work at the Strand Visitors Center during both afternoons of Dickens on the Strand. Put on your top hat and tails, your bustle and gown -- that is, dress like you stepped out of the pages of David Copperfield -- and you'll get into the festival free. 10 am.-9 p.m., festival site: The Strand and Mechanic Street, between 20th and 25th streets, Galveston, (409) 765-7834, e-mail [email protected]. $8; free, children under 12; free to all those sporting a Victorian costume.
sunday
november 7
Shake Russell and Dana Cooper These fellas have been around a long, long while, and for good reason, too. They write some terrific, heart-hurting, fist-clenching, toe-tapping songs. Their music is old-fashioned rhythm and blues folk-rock, and when Shake Russell sings, you can't help but feel kind of shivery all deep down inside. They don't play here often, but when they do, it's a good night to turn off the TV and get out of the house. Rockefeller's, 3620 Washington Ave., 869-8427. $8.
That's Life What could be better than a film starring Jack Lemmon as a sputtering, whining hypochondriac who goes to pieces on the threshold of his 60th birthday? What about finding that a director such as the blatantly irreverent and wildly hilarious Blake Edwards made Jack Lemmon even better than he is all on his lonesome? Lucky us: That's Life, from 1986, combines the gifts of these two enormous talents, throws in Julie Andrews as Lemmon's co-star, and comes up with a movie that Leonard Maltin says is "believable and deeply moving." Alas, Edwards won't be in attendance, as was once scheduled. 7:30 p.m., Rice University Media Center, entrance no. 8 off University, 527-4853. $5.
monday
december 8
R-E-L-E-A-S-E Ever had that sick feeling in your throat when you pull up a knotted piece of paper from the innards of a jacket you wore last March and realize it's a speeding ticket you forgot to pay? By now there's a warrant out for your arrest seven times over, and only the sweet kiss of providence has kept you from the confines of a Houston city jail. And you know, that fine has doubled or even tripled by now, not to mention that the authorities just might throw your criminal heinie in the slammer. Not to worry. Even the city is getting into the giving spirit. And today, or any day until Dec. 15, you can pay your delinquent ticket, in its original amount, without being arrested or having your car registration or driver's license application denied. Thank Judge Sylvia Garcia and the city for your small window of opportunity to set things right. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.Fri. 1301 Municipal Courts Parking Division; 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.Fri., 8300 Mykawa Road; 24 hours daily, Municipal Courts, 1400 Lubbock.
tuesday
december 9
Messiah Sing-Along George Frederick Handel might be spinning in his grave, but we think it's sort of sweet: A whole bunch of music-loving, Camry-driving Houstonians all groovin' together to the beat of Handel's profound and spirit-moving music. The croaky, pocket-protector-wearing chemical engineer standing next to the sweet-voiced, velvet-ribboned systems analyst, both singing full out some of the most stirring Christmas music ever written -- it sounds so much better than neighborhood caroling. Join the Shepherd Society and the Shepherd School of Music, along with the Rice Chorale and the Shepherd Singers, bring your neighbors and belt out a few in excelsis deo's. 7:30 p.m. Rice University, Stude Concert Hall, entrance no. 8 off University Blvd., 527-4854. Free.
wednesday
december 10
Candlelight Tour Sometimes, after a really bad day at the Christmas-infested mall, you might come home, park your packages in the middle of the room, park your fanny on the couch and just sit there, dazed and flabbergasted at what Christmas has become. How did it ever happen, you might ask your Grinch-feeling self, Christmas, without megamalls and supermarkets and parking-lot seas of navy blue Explorers? Tonight, instead of shopping, take yourself and your family over to Sam Houston Park and find out what Christmas used to be, back in the good old days when most gifts were homemade and the turkey on the table had a pet name. The eight historic buildings in the park, dating from 1823 to 1905, are decked out for the holidays, and you can see exactly how Christmas in America was before consumerism so thoroughly infected our souls. 6:30-9 p.m., Sam Houston Park, 1100 Bagby, 655-1912. $5; $3, seniors; $2, kids 6-12.