fa ra ra ra ra The Christmas Story house.

Women's roller derby has something for everyone. It combines the girl power of modern feminism with the retro-sexist (and gay camp) appeal of watching leggy broads in fetish gear and tattoos go after each other. Is it any surprise that this louche sport has made a huge comeback? There are now knockabout teams of the fishnet-clad athletes in most every major city, and Cleveland's own ass-kick chicks are the Burning River Roller Girls. The BRRG has an exhibition and fundraiser, Black and Blue Friday, at United Skates of America (30325 Palisades Pkwy., Wickliffe). Come watch demo bouts, "full-contact musical chairs," and music from Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival and DJ Larry Szyms. It's 8 p.m.-midnight; admission is $5. For info, call 440.944.5301. — Charles Cassady Jr.

Thursday, November 23

Ray DeVito

Comedian Ray Devito's family and friends will undoubtedly be having an early Thanksgiving dinner so they can head out and catch this Lakewood prodigal son's return. Based in New York City now, he's been working the comedy circuit for seven years, racking up appearances on MTV, Entertainment Tonight and the Lifetime Network with his quotidian observations and stories about family, friends, American culture and habits, and Greg Allman. He'll be at the Winchester (12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216.226.5681) at 9:30 p.m. Thursday with fellow comics Carl Ferrara and Rob O'Reilly. Admission: $5. — Anastasia Pantsios

Thanksgiving at the Zoo

If your family doesn't go in for high-maintenance Thanksgivings, head for the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (3900 Wildlife Way, 216.661.6500). The zoo will be keeping regular hours — 10 a.m.-5 p.m. — and will have "animal enrichment" demonstrations showing how the zoo keeps its animals engaged, active and boredom-free by creating environments and activities designed to stimulate animals' natural instincts. You can watch chimps digging for cranberries at 11 a.m., take in an elephant-training demonstration at 12:30 p.m., see the Persian leopard hunt for a papiér-mache turkey at 1 p.m. and watch grizzly bears navigate a cornstalk maze for food at 2:30 p.m. Best of all, zoo admission is free for the day. — A.P.

Friday, November 24

A Christmas Story

House opens

This weekend, Tremont's Christmas Story House, a veritable shrine devoted to the movie classic in the neighborhood where exteriors were filmed, opens. When A Christmas Story premiered in 1983, critics were lukewarm: No spaceships or robots? No mad slasher stalking that Ralphie boy? This isn't cinema! None foresaw the film's enduring legacy or Christmas Story mania, enough going on that you could poke your eye out, kid! South Park Mall in Strongsville hosts a fan event, with a reunion of cast members from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 3-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, whilst the original feature plays continuously all three days at Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. The renovated house (and its behind-the-scenes stills, Red Ryder artifacts and leg lamps for sale) opens its doors (3159 W.11 St.) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Councilman Joe Cimperman and the actors preside for the ribbon-cutting on Saturday morning. Trolley trips depart regularly between the hotel and Tremont. House admission: $5 adults, $3 children. For info, go to achristmasstoryhouse.com. — C.C.

Decking the Halls

 

This weekend, you can't turn around without hitting a holiday kick-off event. The Cleveland Botanical Garden's annual Winter Show theme is "Gingerbread Dreams" and it centers on more than 80 gingerbread houses of all sizes, along with a "spice islands" exhibit of holiday spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger, vintage toy trains and other decorations. A beer-tasting, co-sponsored by Great Lakes Brewing Company, helps kick it off from 5-7 p.m. Friday. Admission is $5, with a $5 fee for five tasting tickets. Regular museum admission: $7.50 adults, $3 kids 3-12. The show runs through December 31. Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens (714 N. Portage Path, Akron, 330.836.5533) decks the halls with its Deck the Halls Preview Nights from 6:30-8:30 p.m. this Friday-Sunday. View its lavish decorations, which will be on display December 8-30, for $6-$8 for the grounds only; $12-$14 for the house. — A.P.

Larchmere

Holiday Stroll

Larchmere Boulevard, a block north of Shaker Square, has a collection of more than 50 locally owned shops and dining spots — not a chain joint in sight — which are joining to celebrate the 33rd annual Larchmere Holiday Stroll, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. It's a chance to get gifts ranging from clothing and jewelry to antiques, books, toys, paintings and home furnishings. Mr. Jingeling will be on the street from 1-3 p.m. Friday, local musicians will be performing, and many shops will be offering holiday-themed refreshments. It's free; go to larchmere.com for info. — A.P.

Winter Sports

It's officially time to enjoy traditional outdoor winter sports. The Cleveland Metroparks twin toboggan chutes on Valley Parkway in the Mill Stream Run Reservation, Strongsville, open for the season Friday, and remain open through the first weekend in March. It's $8 for adults, $6 kids 11 and under; season passes also available. Go to clevelandmetroparks.com for open times and other info. Also opening Friday is the 30-by-80-foot polymer "ice" rink, surrounded by holiday lights, outside the Great Lakes Science Center. It's part of a month-long series of festivities at the Science Center, called Holiday at the Harbor, which starts Friday. Admission: $5; skate rental: $2. It's open from noon-5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays through December 21 and daily from December 22-January 2. Go to greatscience.com. — A.P.

Saturday, November 25

Christmas in Peninsula

Cleveland's ringed by small towns that have retained some of their old-fashioned charm. One of these is Peninsula, which you've undoubtedly driven through if you've ever taken Rt. 303 to Blossom Music Center. Its collection of shops will be in full Christmas array when Christmas in Peninsula kicks off this Saturday and Sunday and continues each weekend through December 17. There'll be a display of trees decorated by local merchants, carolers and other activities. Go to explorepeninsula.com for info. The Peninsula Art Center will hold an open house from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, followed by its monthly open mic blues night from 7-10 p.m. It'll also have Cathy the Elf posing for photos in front of a Christmas tree from 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Go to peninsulaartacademy.com for info. — A.P.

Dunham Tavern

Antiques Show

Taking place at Shaker Middle School (Shaker Boulevard and Warrensville Center Road, Shaker Heights), the 111th edition of the Dunham Tavern Antiques Show is an antiques roadshow to benefit an antique road house. One of the oldest free-standing structures in Cleveland and a stagecoach stop from 1832-1842, the historic Tavern and Museum (6709 Euclid Ave.) is a rare example of a surviving federalist-style home. The facility derives a portion of its upkeep expenses from this well-attended show, a marketplace for approximately 75 top dealers in decorative arts, classic collectibles and vintage "stuff," held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Two-day admission: $7, but early birds can partake of an exclusive 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Saturday preview (including continental breakfast and live music) for $25. For preview reservations, call 216.431.1060. — C.C.