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Amahl and the Night Visitors. The story of the three wise men, a lame little boy and his mother is one of hope, healing and adoration. Amahl is performed with simple sets and costumes, sign language, and humor. The work, performed to the original broadcast recording, is a perfect fit for Houston's Sandra Organ Dance Company in both size and scope. Houston events at the Hobby Center. Call 713-315-2525 for more info.

Houston Symphony - Handel's Messiah. Feed your soul through this transcendent experience of text and music. Hear your favorite choruses and solos from this most beloved choral work of all, a cathedral of music. Houston events at Jones Hall. Call 713-224-7575 for more info. Event ID: 12/21

Stages Theatre - Panto Cinderella: An Outrageous Family Musical. The storytelling style that gave rise to American Vaudeville breathes new life into the familiar tale of humble Cinderella, her fairy godmother, her awkward prince, and her hideous (and hilarious!) stepsisters. Packed with sharp wit, wild fun and original music, this unusual twist on a magnificent classic is as entertaining for grownups as it is for kids. Houston events at Stages Theatre. Call 713-527-0123 for more info. Event ID: 12/28

White Christmas the Musical presented by Theatre Under the Stars. Call 713-558-TUTS for more info. Event ID: 12/21

Outdoor Ice Skating at Discovery Green.  The Ice at Discovery Green will span 7,200 square feet of the model boat basin on Kinder Lake, hold 6,000-gallons of water, and measure a cool 22 degrees. The skating experience will also include a toddler ice rink, skate shop, special performances by regional figure skating stars; jazz music, film and DJ nights; and skating with Santa, and more. Houston events at Discovery Park in Downtown Houston. Event ID: 1/19/09

The Santaland Diaries. Houston events at the Alley Theatre. Call 713-220-5700 for more info. Event ID: 12/28

The Nutcracker. Houston events at the Wortham Center. Call 713-227-2787 for tickets. Event ID: 12/28

Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol. Houston events at the Alley Theatre. Call 713-220-5700 for more info. Event ID: 12/28

Festival of Lights. At Moody Gardens. Call 800-582-4673 for more info. Event ID: 1/6

Body Worlds 2. Houston events at the Museum of Natural Science. Exhibit features the latest neuroscience findings on brain development and function and more. The exhibit also incorporates 200 real human body specimens, including more than 20 full-body specimens in life-like, dramatic poses; healthy and unhealthy organs; body parts and slices—all preserved through a remarkable process called Plastination. Call 713-639-IMAX for more info. Event ID: 2/22/09

Imaginary Spaces. Artists and writers have long been intrigued with the idea of constructing imaginary space. The exhibition is inspired by a series of installations organized by John and Dominique de Menil in the late-1960s-that dealt with spatial constructs: from hypothetical and utopian environments to invisible cities to earth art projects. Houston events at Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross. Call 713-525-9400 for more info. Event ID: 3/1/09

Where Clouds Disperse: Ink Paintings by Suh Se-ok.  Over his 40-year career, Suh Se-ok has incorporated his traditional training with his Modernist sensibility to create dynamic works that embody his artistic vision. He has been especially transfixed by the figurative form and has continually explored and perfected it until it evolved into powerful formal gestures of simple lines that comprise his definitive pictorial vocabulary. Location: Museum of Fine Arts, 1001 Bissonnet. Call 713-639-7300 for more info.