6 Things to Do This Weekend (Dec. 4-6)

Live jazz music, holiday merriment, and The Freep Film Fest keep winter blues at bay
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things to do - mark sarmel
Mark Sarmel photograph courtesy of Detroit Shipping Co.

Mark Sarmel

Artist and College for Creative Studies graduate Mark Sarmel references mythologies from myriad cultures and societies to create an imaginative, alternate universe. Rendered in bright, bold colors and fluid line work, Sarmel’s art depicts a world in which diverse peoples can be revered as heroes, monarchs, and even gods. No cost. Through Jan. 3. Detroit Shipping Co., 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; detroitshippingcompany.com

Richard Preston’s Christmas Capers

Stuart MacDonald — 2017 champion of Penn and Teller’s competitive magic show, Fool Us — makes his return to the virtual stage with an interactive, live performance and a brand-new character. You’re invited to a magical, holiday cocktail party at the mid-century modern home of Richard Preston, the greatest magician of the 1960s. $20. Dec. 4 and 5. Live streaming; stuartmacdonaldmagic.com

A Woman's Work - freep film festival
A Woman’s Work still courtesy of Detroit Free Press

Freep Film Festival

Postposed in April due to COVID-19, the Detroit Free Press’s annual film festival is taking place virtually. The documentary-focused festival presents a number of films linked, in various ways, to Detroit or Michigan, as well as a few wild cards. This year’s lineup includes diverse selections, including Breed and Bootleg: The History and Future of Flint Rap Music, which explores the vibrant history of Flint’s hip-hop scene, and A Woman’s Work: The NFL’s Cheerleader Problem, a documentary about NFL cheerleaders and their legal battle for fair treatment. $8+. Through Dec. 6. Streaming; freepfilmfestival.com

Belles

Belles tells the story of six Southern sisters coming to terms with a shattered family history, while also striving to bridge the physical and emotional distance separating them. This weekend, you can watch the Birmingham Village Players perform this poignant and often-comical play told in “two acts and forty-five phone calls.” $10. Dec. 4 and 5. Streaming; birminghamvillageplayers.com

Cyrus Chestnut DSO
Cyrus Chestnut photograph courtesy of DSO

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Lauded as the best jazz pianist of his generation by Time magazine, Cyrus Chestnut is best known for his notable gospel and hard bop influences. This weekend, he’ll ring in the holiday season with Vince Guaraldi’s classic score from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Accompanied by saxophone, bass, and drums, Chestnut will perform favorites, such as “Linus and Lucy,” “Christmas Time is Here,” and “O Tannenbaum,” with his own soulful twist. $12. Dec. 6. Live streaming; dso.org

Epiphany Studios Holiday Show

Known for its colorful and contemporary glass sculptures, Epiphany Studios will host its 2020 Holiday Show this weekend. In-person and virtual attendees alike can peruse one-of-a-kind sculptures and unique, handmade gifts, and even see how they’re made, with glassblowing demonstrations. No cost. Dec. 4-6. Epiphany Studios, 770 Orchard Lake Road, Pontiac; facebook.com