Monday - 11/26

//clubs//

Faux Show
Rock Star Karaoke

Sure, singing along with the radio in your car is fun when you're by yourself, but isn't it even better when you can belt out your favorite Journey tune in front of an audience of inebriated fans, you egotistical jerk? Even though most of us don't possess the show-stopping pipes of a Geddy Lee or Freddy Mercury, anybody can do a passable Tom Petty—and that's still much better than Rock Star Karaoke at Slidebar requires. The house band has a reasonably extensive playlist of songs from which you can choose. All that's missing is a charismatic—or at least completely wasted—front man. That's where you come in, Elton. Zip up those leather pants, oil down your chest, and step up to the stage. Tonight, for better or worse, you're the star.

Rock Star Karaoke at Slidebar, 122 E. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, (714) 871-2233; www.myspace.com/theslidebar. Every Mon., 10 p.m. Free. 21+.
—Tom Child

//holiday//

Dolce, Gabbana and Wassail
Christmas Tree Lighting

Is there anything more satisfying than plugging in your Christmas tree for the first time, gazing at the modest spectacle as your living room is flooded with a warm peaceful glow, holding hands with your family and singing carols as outside, snow softly begins to fall? What? That's not a holiday tradition in your home? Well, in that case, head down to South Coast Plaza to watch someone else plug in the lights on a tree that doesn't belong to you. The annual South Coast Plaza tree-lighting ceremony is a sight to behold given that the bulb-covered tree is large enough to get its own ZIP code. Enjoy the mingled smell of fresh pine, expensive perfume and outrageously priced leather handbags—a smell that comes but once a year. It's enough to give Bill O'Reilly the giggles.

Christmas Tree Lighting at South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. Mon., 6 p.m. Free.
—Tom Child