Matzoballs, Horah Burlesque, and Dreidel Tournaments: It's Hanukkah in NYC!

Today marks the first night of Hanukkah, and PAPER has some events, from strip dreidel contests to beer tournaments, to keep you nursing hangovers from now through through Christmas Eve.


FRIDAY, December 11

Battle of the Holiday Brews at Fourth Avenue Pub
Hanukkah and Christmas go foamy head to head at Park Slope drinkery Fourth Avenue Pub's Battle of the Brews, when Shmaltz Brewing Company's Jewbelation goes up against Delirium's Noel. It might be a tough call -- make sure to eat a snack at some point. Fourth Ave. Pub, Park Slope, Brooklyn. (718) 643-2273. Starts at 3 p.m.

SATURDAY, December 12

Major League Dreidel's 2009 Spin The Dreidel Tournament
Six spinners enter the Spinagogue, one leaves a champion. Such are the rules behind Major League Dreidel at the Knitting Factory Saturday. Sore losers can take out their frustrations with some Hanukkah-themed heavy metal by Gods of Fire, Category Sixx, and the World's Greatest Air Band. Your grandmother weeps. Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, (347) 529-6696. 7 p.m. $10.    

Third Annual Menorah Horah
Burlesque duo the Schlep Sisters bump and grind in the holiday with a racy night of burlesque and trivia from Sapphire Jones and Sauci Calla Horra. Klezmer punks Golem and drag sensation Kenny Mellman of Kiki & Herb will undoubtedly up the smutty ante. Southpaw, 125 Fifth Ave. (718) 230-0236. 7 p.m. $12.

THURSDAY, December 24

Heebonism
Heeb magazine's annual Christmas Eve spectacular promises a strip-dreidel contest from Jewish swingers club The Kinky Jews, plus performances from gypsy punk band the Shondes, as well as Chevonne, Ohio Party and DJ Cowboy Mark. Definitely not a party to take your visiting parents to. The Eldridge, 105 Eldridge, (212) 334-6740. 8 p.m. $20 advance-$25 door.

Jewltide 7
Vinyl nerds unite at JDubs annual vinyl appreciation night! Put on your smartest vintage gear and do the twist to Jonathan Toubin's 60s soul, funk, and 90's R&B. Southpaw, 125 Fifth Ave. (718) 230-0236. 8 p.m. $10 advance-$15 door.

Matzoball
Meet the nice Jewish girl/boy of your mother's dreams (or someone you'd like to make you latkes in the morning) at this jdate.com-sponsored singles ball, now in its seventh year. Capitale, 130 Bowery St., (212) 334-5500. 7 p.m. $25.