Have more fun in Baltimore’s underwater world. The National Aquarium hosts Dollar Day Weekend, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Explore Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes, one of the Aquarium’s newest exhibits, which depicts a typical river gorge in Australia’s Northern Territory: It’s home to 1,800 individual native animals representing 120 species, including freshwater crocodiles, turtles, fishes, free-flying birds and flying foxes.
For an extra $4 dollars, visitors can enjoy a showing of The Polar Express 4-D Experience. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $4. The National Aquarium in Baltimore, 501 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore. www.aqua.org
HOLIDAY CRAFT WORKSHOP
Get ready for the holidays with some park naturalists in Red Dog Lodge at Soldiers Delight. Enjoy the crackling fire while you make holiday crafts, such as bookmarks, greeting cards, tree ornaments and bird feeders from nature’s own gifts. For ages 6 and up. Program is limited to 12 participants. 1 to 3p.m., 5100 Deer Park Road, Owings Mills. Please call 410-461-5005 in advance to sign-up or for more information. For last minute registration, please call 410-922-3044 on the day of the workshop to see if space is available. Cost: $2.00 per person.
WHO’S IN TOWN
New York bellydancer Aszmara makes her first Baltimore appearance. One of the best interpreters of the ethnic dance, Aszmara impresses through her expressive stage presence and interprets music with her own blend of modern and ethnic Arab and Turkish styles. Today, Aszmara teaches a veil-dancing workshop students of all levels at the Maryland Athletic Club (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Then, at 3:45 p.m., she performs at Cafe Spice in Towson. Class: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., $45; Maryland Athletic Club Harbor East, 655 President Street, Baltimore. Performance: 3:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; $22 (includes Indian buffet and show), 321 York Road, Towson. www.bellydancebaltimore.com
MUSIC
Electric Junkyard Gamelan rocks the Metro Gallery with original groove-driven music played on invented instruments made from found objects. 8 p.m. Free. Metro Gallery, 1700 North Charles St., Baltimore.
www.myspace.com/metrogallery
Golden Heart Yoga presents World beat/artist/musician Wynne Paris for an afternoon Kirtan, a a performance that blends jazz, gospel and rock with traditional yoga chanting. All ages. 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. 415 to $20. Golden Heart Yoga, 179 Admiral Cochrane Drive Suite # 120, Annapolis. 410-224-3278; www.goldenheartyoga.com
Head to Harborplace Amphitheater for Holiday Sing 2008, a special tribute to Baltimore’s Godmother of jazz, the late Ruby Glover. 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free; donation of new book or toy requested. Harborplace Amphitheater at Light and Pratt streets. 410-332-4191; www.baltimore.to/amphitheater
The Hard Travelers, a folk/folk-bluegrass-country band comprising Kenn Roberts, Mack Bailey, Mike Munford, Jon Glik and Ira Gitlin wows crowds at its annual holiday celebration. What you’ll hear: A mixture of varied voices blending into tight harmonies along with guitars, banjo, mandolin, acoustic bass and fiddle. 8 p.m. $22.50. Rams Head OnStage, 33 West Street, Annapolis. Ramsheadonstage.com
ART
Maryland collage artist Stephen Parlato’s animal forms are full of “visual puns” with a “double identity of forms.” In this show at Baltimore Pho restaurant put together by the folks at Sowebo Arts Gallery, look closely at the works constructed of bits and pieces of the familiar are meticulously rearranged into strange, exotic and breathtakingly magical creatures like this rhinocerous. Through Jan. 13. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday; Baltimore Pho, 1116 Hollins Street, Baltimore; free (food sold separately). 410-752-4746; www.baltimorepho.com
KIDS
The Children’s Chorus of Maryland performs its “Wintersong” concert, featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Cesar Franck, Lajos Bardos, Randall Thompson, and others. Due to live recording, children under 5 cannot be admitted. 3 p.m. $12 to $18. The Gordon Center for Performing Arts, 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills. 410-356-7469; www.ccmsings.org
AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Get your read on at Enoch Pratt Central Library’s annual book sale. Select from CDs, DVDs, magazines, and photographs. An added bonus: Sunday is “Dollar Box Day.” Proceeds are used to purchase more materials for the library itself! 1 to 5 p.m. Enoch Pratt Central Library, 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore. 410-396-5430; www.prattlibrary.org
LECTURE
How does a seamstress sew so fast? At Baltimore Museum of Industry’s “Ask the Expert: Sewing” budding designers and curious types will learn, through demonstrations by a tailor/seamstress, about one of Baltimore’s biggest industries. 1 to 2 p.m. $6 to $10; members free. Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway, Baltimore. 410-727-4808; www.thebmi.org
Renowned Jewish educator Rivkah Lambert Adler discusses the history of Aliyah and Jewish immigration to the State of Israel. 2 to 4 p.m. $5 to $15. Jewish Museum of Maryland, 15 Lloyd St., Baltimore. 410-732-6400; www.jewishmuseummd.org
EVENTS
At the Creative Alliance’s Merry Mart, more than 30 handpicked artists sell the coolest Baltimore-made items, from vessels to jewelry, stuffed critters, origami lights photos in jars, totes and more. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave. 410-276-1651; www.creativealliance.org
Help raise money and take a jog! Today’s holiday-themed 5K run/walk will raise funds and awareness for the Arthritis Foundation, Maryland Chapter. Runners are encouraged to tie jingle bells shoes laces. 9 a.m. $35 to participate; free to watch. Du Burns Arena, 1301 S. Ellwood Avenue, Baltimore. www.arthritis.org/chapters/maryland/
Santa Claus, reindeer and marching bands hit the ground today. The 36th Annual Mayor’s Christmas Parade kicks off mid-afternoon. Look out for marching Ravens, Harley Davidson motorcycles, marching bands, the Boumi Temple performers, floats and more. 2 p.m. Poly/Western Complex, 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore. For detailed information on the parade’s route, visit www.mayorschristmasparade.com
