THE WEEK/CITY PICK

Dec. 1 through Dec. 7

All entries must be submitted by noon Friday. Fax 953-1394 or e-mail calendar@dmcityview.com.

thursday01
Scrooge-A-Thon
7 and 8:45 p.m.
Fleur Cinema & Cafe
Scrooge never was one for giving - at least not until the end of the story. But thanks to the Fleur Cinema and CafŽ, Scrooge will be giving to the Terrace Hill Foundation through the theater's Scrooge-A-Thon. Three different versions of Scrooge's story will be shown throughout December, including 1951's black-and-white "A Christmas Carol" (Dec. 1 at 7 and 8:45 p.m., Dec. 4 at 3:30 p.m.), 1984's "A Christmas Carol" with George C. Scott (Dec. 8 at 7 and 9 p.m., Dec. 11 at 3:30 p.m., and 1962's "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" (Dec. 15 at 7 and 8:15 p.m., Dec. 18 at 4 p.m.). Movie marathon tickets (one viewing per film) are $15 and single show tickets are $6. Ticket Sales benefit the Terrace Hill Foundation. For more information, call 287-4545 or visit www.fleurcinema.com.

friday02
Nada Silent Night
7 p.m.
Hoyt Sherman Place Theater
For the third year, The Nadas, the frat-boy CD collection staple, is hosting Nada Silent Night, an evening of music at Hoyt Sherman Place Theater to benefit Toys For Tots. The music starts at 8 p.m., with The Nadas, Towncrier, Josh Davis and Benjamin Wagner taking the stage. However, festivities start earlier, with a silent auction at 7 p.m. to benefit Habitat For Humanity's Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Tickets are $20 through IowaTix, but that ticket isn't enough for entry. All showgoers will also be required to bring a new, unopened toy. No exceptions. That donation will be made to Toys For Tots, and will stay in Central Iowa.

saturday03
"Monty Python & the Holy Grail"
Midnight
Billy Joe's Pitcher Show
"Monty Python & the Holy Grail" is the kind of movie that sticks in people's minds, mostly because its lines have been quoted and re-quoted with unrelenting fervor. Billy Joe's Pitcher Show has always been known as the gathering place for fans of the cult-classic film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," which the theater still screens at midnight on Fridays. Now, however, they're showing the cult-classic "Monty Python" both tonight and Dec. 10 at midnight. Don't miss your chance to see this British comedy on the big screen, showcasing the dry humor of the Monty Python troupe.

sunday04

Rob Thomas
7:30 p.m.
Civic Center of Greater Des Moines
Rob Thomas is best known for his stint as the singer and main songwriter for Matchbox Twenty, the darling of adult contemporary radio stations and the admiration of clueless teenagers for songs like "Push," "Bent" and "If You're Gone." But Thomas' star pushed him into the solo limelight after he co-wrote for the Carlos Santana album "Supernatural," with his and Santana's song "Smooth" receiving countless spins on the radio. After Thomas' Matchbox Twenty bandmates decided they needed a break, he further separated his name from the band by releasing "Lonely No More," a funky dance-pop album that debuted in 2005. See Thomas tonight at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. Tickets range from $35-$45 and are available at the Civic Center box office or through Ticketmaster.

monday05
Cannae
5 p.m.
Hairy Mary's
Named after one of history's most celebrated military achievements, Cannae helped usher in the rising success of metal and hardcore in Massachusetts with its debut album "Troubleshooting Death" in 2000. In 216 BCE, Hannibal led his troops to the Alps, into Italy and defeated the Roman army despite being outnumbered in what is still referred to as the "world's bloodiest battle." So why would a band like Cannae name itself after such a milestone? Well, the fiercely metal band say the historic victory teaches an important lesson - that the underdog can win a war armed with nothing more than dedication and unity towards a common purpose. The only difference here is that Cannae also has instruments in tow in its quest towards musical domination. See the band tonight with openers Hell Within, Architect and Jacknife. Cost is $10.

tuesday06
Lecture: Jeff Koons
6:30 p.m.
Des Moines Art Center
The Des Moines Art Center is hosting a free lecture by internationally acclaimed artist Jeff Koons tonight. Interested in kitsch, pop culture and consumer commodities, Koons will speak about his work, including his 1981 sculpture "The New Shelton Wet/Dry Triple Decker," which the Art Center considers one of the most "provocative" pieces in the museum's collections. Though it's a free lecture, advance tickets are required through IowaTix.com.

wednesday07
Chris Merz and the X-tet
8 p.m.
Vaudeville Mews
Chris Merz is the director of jazz studies at the University of Northern Iowa. He also is a saxophonist/composer who leads a 12-piece ensemble dubbed the X-tet, a group that combines the power and excitement of a big band with the intimacy of a small group. The ensemble's compositions touch on styles ranging from counterpoint to freedom, with touches of straight-ahead hard bop, Kansas City riffs, hip-hop and more. Tickets for the performance are $6 in advance through IowaTix and $8 day of show. Students with an ID will receive a $1 discount the day of the show. CV

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