Best Bets Around Nashville

Beginners, Intermediate Salsa Classes 7 P.M. WEDNESDAY, BEGINNERS; 8:30 INTERMEDIATE Where: FIT Center, 125 12th Ave. S. Tickets: $10 per lesson, $40 for a package About the event: Dance classes designed for students with some or without salsa experience. For more information, write to FuntopiaNashville@gmail.com or call 901-484-0541. Nashville Striders Fun Run 5:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY Where:Centennial Park Tickets: Free About the event: Run starts from the Activity Center. For more information, visit www.nashvillestriders.com/GroupFunRuns.htm. 862-8424. Mouth Odyssey 7 P.M. WEDNESDAY Where: Bongo Java, 2007 Belmont Blvd. Tickets: $8, $5 students with ID; 385-5282. About the event: FuseBox Theatre presents two-man, fully improvised, time-traveling, vaudevillian serial drama upstairs at Bongo After Hours. For details, call 615-509-0089 or visit www.fuseboxtheatre.com. A Storybook Christmas WEDNESDAY THROUGH JAN. 4 9:30 A.M.-4:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY –DEC. 20, 23-24, 26-27, 30-31; 11 A.M.-4:30 P.M. DEC. 21 AND 28 Where: Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art, 1200 Forrest Park Drive Tickets: $10, $8 ages 65+, $5 ages 6-17, active military with ID and college students with ID, free ages 5-under. About the event: Seven tall trees will be decorated to evoke memories of favorite childhood stories in this display on view through Jan. 4. For more information, visit www.cheekwood.org. 356-8000. World's Largest Tower of Shoes WEDNESDAY- DEC. 31 DAILY Where: Opry Mills, 433 Opry Mills Drive Tickets: Donations requested About the event: A 12-foot tall display, located near the courtyard area at mall entrance 2, will feature photographs and stories illustrating children and adults around the world who have been touched by the gift of new shoes. Donations to Soles4Souls' holiday shoe drive will create the Tower. For more information, visit www.giveshoes.org. 1-877—740-7386. Dialing In 7-9 P.M. WEDNESDAY Where: Rocketown, 401 Sixth Ave. S. Tickets: $10 donation About the event: Walk57 sponsors evening of music, ministry to benefit The Aid Sudan Radio Station Project. Singles of Nashville will be challenged to purchase satellite radio for $10 to support project. Radios have capability to reach 10–15 people around camp fires, in huts and on plains of Sudan sharing word of God. For details, contact Kelly Donovan at 615-484-9651 or walk57hhbc@gmail.com. Visit www.walk57.com. Winter Wonders WEDNESDAY THROUGH JAN. 4; 10 A.M.-5 P.M. WEDNESDAY- DEC. 20, 22-23, 26-27, 29-31; 12:30-5:30 P.M. DEC. 21 AND 28; 10 A.M.-3 P.M. DEC. 24 Where: Adventure Science Center, 800 Fort Negley Blvd. Tickets: part of regular fee of $11, $9 ages 3-12 and ages 62+, active military families with ID and college students with ID; free for certified Tennessee teachers. About the event: Experience and learn about winter weather conditions through a number of interactive exhibits and activities, including virtual snowball fights and the opportunity to start an indoor blizzard. For more information, visit www.adventuresci.com. 862-5160. The Road to Bethlehem 7:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY- DEC. 21 Where: Darkhorse Theatre, 4610 Charlotte Ave. Tickets: $12-$15 About the event: In this Christmas comedy, on the eve of the big event in Bethlehem, two simple shepherds get a visit from a well-meaning but occasionally dim Angel, trying to steer them toward the City of David. GroundWorks Theatre, 262-5485 or www.groundworkstheatre.com. Lost Claus 11 A.M. WEDNESDAY- DEC. 20 Where: Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, 8204 Highway 100 Tickets: $8 for all ages, includes show and beverage About the event: In play for kids, Woody, the hardest working elf at the North Pole, discovers Santa is missing. Teaming with Donner, Frosty the Snowman and Olivia Neutron-Bomb, they decide they can do a better job than Santa. Bringing sack lunches, snacks allowed. Pictures with Santa and his elves available afterward. Reservations for show and pictures required. Call 615-646-9977. For details, visit www.dinnertheatre.com. Greetings 6 P.M. WEDNESDAY- DEC. 20, 26-27, 30-31 Where: Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, 8204 Highway 100 Tickets: $45, $35 ages 13-18, $25 ages 12-under, with dinner, show, tax; $33, $29 ages 13-18, $25 ages 12-under, show only. About the event: A man brings home his outspoken and progressive fiancee to spend Christmas Eve with his devoutly Catholic parents. As things start to heat up his brother breaks the tension with a surprise holding the power to change all of them forever. Reservations are required by calling 615-646-9977. Community Cinema: Independent Lens — Helvetica: 5:15 RECEPTION, 6 P.M. FILM, WEDNESDAY Where: Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St. Tickets: Free About the event: Documentary preview preceded by a reception at 5:15 p.m. and followed by discussion. The film examines how this one typeface is part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. 862-5800. Gingerbread World Holiday Celebration: Ginger's Night Out 7 P.M. THURSDAY Where: Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Ave. Tickets: $85 per person; $200 Patron Reserved House package; $700 reserved patron tables for six available About the event: Gathering for grown-up girlfriends featuring appetizers and refreshments held in the Skylight Foyer. All proceeds benefit Centerstone's mental health services for children and families. Elizabeth Callis, 463-6646 or development@centerstone.org. Short Story Lunch Hour NOON, THURSDAY Where: Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St. Tickets: Free About the event: Author Ann Patchett will read her lauded Sarah Lawrence College commencement address, offering ideas for those graduating, changing careers or transitioning from one life stage to another. Author's Corner. Bag lunches welcome. 862-5800. Handel's Messiah 7 P.M. THURSDAY, 8 P.M. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY Where: Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 1 Symphony Place Tickets: Start at $35 About the event: The Nashville Symphony and Nashville Symphony Chorus join together for this performance. For more information, call 615-687-6400 or visit www.nashvillesymphony.org.