Entertainment blogging from The Oklahoman's Brandy McDonnell

Best Bets for Dec. 28-31, 2012: Rodney Carrington, Mannheim Steamroller, Spaghetti Eddie, Parquet Courts and New Year’s Eve with The Departed and Jason Boland

Here are my picks for the top events happening in central Oklahoma over the next few days, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.

1. SHAWNEE — Laugh with Tulsa comedian Rodney Carrington at 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday at Grand Casino Resort, Interstate 40 at Exit 178. Information: 964-7777 or www.grandcasinoshawnee.com.

2. Keep in the holiday spirit with Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas tour, playing at 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Information: 297-2264 or www.okcciviccenter.com.

3. Hear local kindie rock duo Spaghetti Eddie play at noon Friday at Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52 Street. Information: 602-3760 or www.sciencemuseumok.org.

4. Listen to Brooklyn, N.Y.-based punk rockers Parquet Courts at 8 p.m. Sunday at Bad Granny’s Bazaar, 1759 NW 16 Street in the Plaza District. Information: 528-4585.

5. STILLWATER — Ring in the New Year with red dirt stars The Departed and Jason Boland & the Stragglers at 9:30 p.m. Monday at the Tumbleweed Dance Hall, Lakeview and Country Club roads. Doors open at 8 p.m. Information: www.calffry.com.

-BAM

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Best Bets for Dec. 21-23, 2102: “End of the World” festivities, Damn Quails’ Toys for Tots benefit, Lyric’s “A Christmas Carol” and Free Crystal Bridge Sunday

Here are my picks for the Best Bets in entertainment happening in the Oklahoma City area this weekend, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.

1. NORMAN — Listen to Oklahoma hip-hop artists A.Dd+, Josh Sallee and Jabee perform a free “End of the World” show at 8 p.m. Friday at The Opolis, 113 N Crawford. Information:  www.starlightmints.com/opolis.html.

2. Watch Lyric Theatre’s production of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Lyric at the Plaza, 1725 NW 16 in the Plaza District. Performances continue through Dec. 29. Information:  524-9312 or www.lyrictheatreokc.com.

3. Hear The Damn Quails play the Wormy Dog Saloon’s annual Toys for Tots fundraiser at 8 p.m. Friday at the Wormy Dog, 311 E Sheridan. Admission is free with an unwrapped toy or $15 donation. Doors open at 6 p.m. Information: 601-6276 or www.wormydog.com.

4. See artwork that celebrates the end of the Mayan calendar’s fifth cycle at the new “End of the World” exhibition at Maya Trading Co. and Istvan Gallery, 1218 N Western Avenue. Assuming the world doesn’t end on 12/21/12, the exhibit will be on view through January. Information: www.mayatradingcompany.com or  www.istvangallery.com.

5. Take advantage of Downtown in December’s last Free Crystal Bridge Sundays of the year from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W Reno. Information:  www.downtownindecember.com.

-BAM

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Best Bets for Dec. 7-9, 2012: OKC Ballet’s “Nutcracker,” Josh Abbott Band, Paseo Gallery Walk & Eric Church

Here are my picks for the Best Bets in entertainment this weekend in Oklahoma, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.

1. Watch Oklahoma City Ballet’s staging of the seasonal favorite “The Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. Friday and Dec. 14, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 15 and 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 16 at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Information: 848-8637 or www.okcballet.com.

2. Hear Texas country standouts Josh Abbott Band with special guests Green River Ordinance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S Eastern. Information: 677-9169 or www.diamondballroom.net.

3. Meet Santa Claus, view art from local artists and take part in holiday refreshments during the monthly Paseo Gallery Walk from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Paseo Arts District. Children can get their photos taken with St. Nick for free Friday night at Rainbow Fleet, 3024 Paseo. Information: 525-2688 or www.thepaseo.com.

4. TULSA — Listen to country music star Eric Church with special guests Justin Moore and Kip Moore at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the BOK Center, 200 S Denver. Doors open at 6 p.m. Information: (866) 726-5287 or www.bokcenter.com.

-BAM

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Best Bets for Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2012: Reba McEntire, Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s “Christmas Show,” Canterbury Chorale Society’s “Baroque Christmas,” John Fullbright & Alicia Witt

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Oklahoma this weekend, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.

1. Watch the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s “The Christmas Show,” starring Broadway’s Michele Ragusa, at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Information: 842-5387 or www.okcphilharmonic.org.

2. Hear Oklahoma singer-songwriter John Fullbright and actress/musician Alicia Witt at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Doors open at 7 p.m. Information: 524-0738 or www.bluedoorokc.com.

3. Catch Canterbury Chorale Society’s concert “Baroque Christmas,” featuring Handel’s “Messiah” and Bach’s “Magnificat,” at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Information: 232-7464 or www.canterburyokc.com.

4. CATOOSA — Hear Oklahoma country music superstar Reba McEntire play a sold-out show at 8 p.m. Saturday at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, 770 W Cherokee Street. Information: (918) 384-7625 or www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com. (On Thursday, ABC announced that it was picking up more episodes of Reba’s new sitcom “Malibu Country”; to read more, click here.)

-BAM

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Best Bets for Nov. 23-25: Stoney LaRue, Graham Colton, Rick Ross and Jason Boland’s Leftover Turkey

1. Hear Oklahoma City singer-songwriter Graham Colton play his fifth annual Thanksgiving concert at 8 p.m. Friday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Regional Food Bank. Information: 524-0738 or www.bluedoorokc.com.

2. NORMAN — Listen to Oklahoma red dirt standout Stoney LaRue at 8 p.m. Friday at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: 322-6464 or www.riverwind.com.

3. Hear rapper Rick Ross, with Meek Mill and Wale, at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W Reno. Information: (800) 745-3000 or www.chesapeakearena.com.

4. TULSA — Take a break from holiday feasting at the seventh annual Leftover Turkey Show with Jason Boland & the Stragglers and the Turnpike Troubadours at 7 p.m. Friday at Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main. Information: www.cainsballroom.com.

-BAM

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Best Bests for Nov. 16-18, 2012: Bill Engvall, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wiz Khalifa

1. SHAWNEE — Laugh along as Bill Engvall performs at 7 and 10 p.m. Friday Grand Casino Resort, Interstate 40 at Exit 178. Information: 964-7777 or www.grandcasinoshawnee.com.

2. Listen to pianist Barry Douglas play his fourth engagement with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, titled “Blazing Colors With A French Twist,” at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Information: 842-5387 or www.okcphilharmonic.org.

3. CONCHO — Hear Lynyrd Skynyrd at 8 p.m. Saturday at Lucky Star Casino, 7777 N U.S. 81. Doors open at 7 p.m. Information: 262-7612 or www.luckystarcasino.org.

4. Catch rapper Wiz Khalifa’s “2050 Tour” at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W Reno. Information: (800) 745-3000 or www.chesapeakearena.com.

-BAM

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Best Bets for Nov. 9-11, 2012: George Lopez, Reduxion’s “Richard III,” Anthony Bourdain and Camille Harp, Ali Harter & Samantha Crain

1. CONCHO — Laugh along as George Lopez performs at 8 p.m. Saturday at Lucky Star Casino, 7777 N U.S. 81. Doors open at 7 p.m. Information: 262-7612 or www.luckystarcasino.org.

2. See Reduxion Theatre’s 1920s cabaret reimagining of “Richard III” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at its Broadway Theater, 1613 N Broadway Ave. Information: 651-3191 or www.reduxiontheatre.com.

3. Hear Oklahoma singer-songwriters Camille Harp, Ali Harter and Samantha Crain at 10 p.m. Friday at Kamp’s Lounge, 1310 NW 25. Doors open at 9 p.m. Information: www.facebook.com/kampslounge.

4. MIDWEST CITY — Listen to chef/TV personality Anthony Bourdain share uncensored stories on his “Guts & Glory” tour at 7 p.m. Sunday at Rose State College Performing Arts Theatre, 6420 SE 15. Information: 297-2264 or www.myticketoffice.com.

-BAM

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Best Bets for Nov. 2-4, 2012: Lindsey Buckingham, Eli Young Band, Bob Dylan & OKC Philharmonic

1. Listen to Fleetwood Mac singer/songwriter/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham at 8 p.m. Saturday at the ACM@UCO Performance Lab, 329 E Sheridan. To read my excellent colleague George Lang’s picks for the essential cuts of Buckingham’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career, click here. Information: www.facebook.com/ACM.UCO.

2. NORMAN — Hear Texas country-rockers the Eli Young Band at 8 p.m. Sunday at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: 322-6464 or www.riverwind.com.

3. Get down with “Disco Days and Boogie Nights,” part of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s Pops Series, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Information: 842-5387 or www.okcphilharmonic.org.

4. TULSA — Catch rock ‘n’ roll legend Bob Dylan and special guest Mark Knopfler in concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the BOK Center, 200 S Denver. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Information: (866) 726-5287 or www.bokcenter.com.

-BAM

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Best Bets for Oct. 26-28, 2012: Canterbury Chorale Society, Doc Tate Nevaquaya, New West Guitar Group, OKC Philharmonic’s “Monster Bash”

Here are the Best Bets for entertainment this weekend in the Oklahoma City area, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.

1. Catch Canterbury Chorale Society’s season-opening concert “Broadway to Bricktown,” featuring stage and TV star Ron Raines,at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Information: 232-7464 or www.canterburyokc.com.

2. See “Doc Tate Nevaquaya: In the Realm of the Thirteen Feathers,” an exhibit of original paintings, signed prints and a photographic essay on the life of the renowned Comanche artist, through Jan. 31 at the Red Earth Museum & Gallery, 6 Santa Fe Plaza. Information: 427-5228 or www.redearth.org.

3. NORMAN — Hear New West Guitar Group open the 2012-13 Sunday Jazz Series at the Norman Depot, 200 S Jones, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Information: 307-9320 or www.pasnorman.org.

4. Check out the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s “Phil’s Monster Bash,” a family-friendly Halloween-theme concert, at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Information: 842-5387 or www.okcphilharmonic.org. For more Halloween events, click here.

-BAM

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Best Bets for Oct. 19-21, 2012: Joe Ely, REO Speedwagon, Rocktoberfest & Oklahoma City Ballet

Here are the Best Bets for entertainment in central Oklahoma this weekend, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.

1. Hear The Cult, BuckCherry, Oklahoma City rockers Hinder and more at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Rocktoberfest 2012 at the Zoo Amphitheatre, 2101 NE 50. Doors open at 1 p.m. Information: 364-3700 or www.zooamp.com.

2. SHAWNEE — Catch REO Speedwagon in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at Grand Casino Resort, Interstate 40 at Exit 178. Information: 964-7777 or www.grandcasinoshawnee.com.

3. Watch Oklahoma City Ballet’s season opener “Director’s Choice” — featuring the Oklahoma premieres of Anthony Tudor’s “Lilac Garden,” Nicolo Fonte’s “Left Unsaid” and Margo Sappington’s “Cobras” — at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Information: 848-8637 or www.okcballet.com.

4. Listen to singer-songwriter Joe Ely at 8 p.m. Friday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Information: 524-0738 or  www.bluedoorokc.com.

-BAM

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