Cheap Date: 'Purple Rain,' Krazy Karaoke and Chinese Food

Alright, dear penny-pinchers: Hanukkah has come and gone, Christmas is almost upon us, and hopefully by now you’ve figured out how to make and/or purchase some gifts for your loved ones without forfeiting your lunch money for the next six months.

If, however, said shopping (or, you know, life in the most expensive metropolitan area in the United States) has left you feeling a little light in the bank account, it’s still entirely possible to get out and have fun this week. Bonus: Roughly half the city is gone!

If you’re among those of us still here — you might be a native or you might just not want to go home to Wisconsin — do yourself a favor and get out and enjoy it: These streets is ours. Here are six $20-and-under options, a.k.a. this week’s Cheap Date.

Christmas Eve: 

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir (two shows) at Slim’s, SF. Joyful, raucous, rowdy, grin-inducing gospel music for everyone, regardless of denomination. 7 p.m., and 10 p.m., both $15; details here. 

The Annual Krazy for Karaoke Holiday Party at The Knockout, SF. “Screeching begins at 10 p.m.” So you have time to take in an early gospel show, then tear it up to “Love Is a Battlefield” or “Gin & Juice” a few hours later. Details here. 

Christmas Day:

Purple Rain at the New Parkway, Oakland. Because nothing says “holiday spirit” like watching Prince, at his prime, fight (with concert sequences!) for his deserved stardom — and his girl. $8; details here. 

Jewish Christmas at the Make Out Room, SF. Standup comedy, strip dreidel, live music, and a neverending stream of films by Woody Allen, Larry David, and Sascha Baron Cohen — and Chinese food, of course. What, you want we should starve? $5 – $10; Details here. 

Saturday, Dec. 26: 

Monophonics at the Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley. One of the Bay Area’s best-loved funk-soul acts proudly carries a torch passed down by the likes of Parliament-Funkadelic and Sly & the Family Stone. $20 in advance; details here. 

Mother: Nightmare After Christmas, a Tim Burton tribute night at Oasis, SF. You read all about local drag legend Heklina in last week’s Backstage Heroes — why not visit her club for yourself, especially on night that promises campy dance routines of the most gleefully weird variety? $10; details here.