Alexa Mae Asperin

Proceeds from the sale of this
shirt will go to Sandy relief.

East Village surfers, here’s something to tide you over while you wait for Patagonia Surf to open on the Bowery: Liberated China will open a pop-up store, Panda Diplomacy, at 206 East Sixth Street this Friday.

The pop-up, between Second Avenue and Cooper Square, will feature the label’s surf-, skate- and street-inspired apparel and accessories including limited-edition longboard decks, hand-knitted surf beanies and cotton tees emblazoned with the brand’s mascot, Genghis.

The store, open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until Christmas Eve, will also offer the one-eyed panda’s favorite snack (bamboo) in the form of Timber sunglasses, Sprout watches and ibamboo iPhone speakers.

As Mars Bar disappears, an artist who lived across the street from the dive and was regularly featured on its walls is honoring its memory by selling t-shirts. Last year, Sergey Aniskov marked Christmas at Mars Bar by painting a mural of a booze-swilling anarchist Santa Claus (see it below). This year, he has printed the image on limited-edition t-shirts that are going for $22.99 on eBay and will also be sold, said the artist, at Reason Clothing at 436 East Ninth Street.

“I was a regular at Mars Bar for ten years,” said Mr. Aniskov, 41, who came to New York from Moscow in the 1990s and now works at Animation Collective. “It was the place where you went when you were really having problems. You knew you’d find good company and get good feedback from the real people and the real East Village. I felt like I had to do this as a memory.” Read more…

From zombies to yogis and from guitar orchestras to boom-box symphonies, the East Village has plenty to keep you (and the kids) in good cheer this holiday season. We’ll add more events as we hear about them – feel free to tip us off.

Courtesy of Merchants House Museum

SATURDAY, DEC. 17

“Tinsel Tunes by the Tinseltones”
Enjoy a century-worth of Christmas classics from the 1840s to the 1950s performed by members of the Bond Street Euterpean Singing Society. 7:30 p.m. Merchant’s House Museum, 29 East Fourth Street near Bowery, 212-777-1089, http://merchantshouse.org/calendar; $30.

“Christmas in NickyLand 2011”
Nicky Pariso will host a weekend of performances at one of the neighborhood’s only holiday cabarets. Special performances by Poor Baby Bree, David Cale, Ellen Fisher, Jon Kinzel & Vicky Shick, John Heginbotham, and many more. Saturday, 10 p.m.; Sunday, 5:30 p.m. The Club at La MaMa, 74A East Fourth Street between Bowery and Second Avenue, Second Floor, http://lamama.org/the-club/christmas-in-nickyland-2011/; $15.

“KIDS! Holiday Foods from Around the World”
Children ages 2-14 can learn the stories of Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa through food at this event at Whole Foods. Young chefs will learn how to make popular dishes like potato latkes, chocolate eggnog floats, and African coconut cake. 12 p.m., different age groups start at different times. Whole Foods Market, 95 East Houston Street at Bowery, http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=224428; $30. Read more…

Yesterday, The Local shared some ideas for cheap gifts around the neighborhood. If you’re up for spending a little bit more for the man of – or men in – your life, today’s your day.

Above:
1. “Walls Notebook,” $16.95 – Exit9 Gift Emporium (51 Avenue A)
2. Bear shoe horn, $32 – Odin (328 East 11th Street)
3. Raw leather belt, $90 – Oliver Spencer (330 East 11th Street)
4. “Hang Over” flask, $50 – Reason Clothing (436 East 9th Street)
5. 100% baby alpaca queen-sized quilt, $525 – Seyrig (305 East 9th Street)

Read more…