Things to do this week: Celebrate Christmas with John Waters, the Griswolds and Chinese food

Need something to do this week? We got you covered. 

Monday

Love rockin' around the Christmas tree? Do it right with the 102.9 'MGK Classic Rock Art Show, featuring drawings; paintings; lithographs; photographs by and about musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, the Doors, the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, U2; plus concert posters; gold records; and animation art. It's at the Montgomery Mall, North Wales Road and Route 309, North Wales, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday. Admission is free. Call 215-362-1600.

Here's an interesting factoid for your Christmas stocking (we have a bagful of 'em): For the first decade or so of his time in Hollywood, Jack Nicholson was a fringe player, acting in B movies and writing same, and he had pretty much resolved to stick to screenwriting after losing out to John Cassavetes for the demonic-husband role in the 1968 psychological horror classic Rosemary's Baby (directed by Roman Polanski, who would later cause Nicholson more grief, both on screen and off). The director's creepy skills are on fine display in the film, with the terror more implied than shown directly (though Ruth Gordon's wild makeup could qualify as a special effect). The film screens at 7:15 p.m. at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr. Tickets are $12; $9 seniors; $8 students. Call 610-527-9898.

Tuesday

It just wouldn't be Yule around here without the holiday tradition that is A John Waters Christmas, starring the eccentric filmmaker and raconteur. The show goes on at 8:30 p.m. at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St. Tickets are $40 to $99. Call 215-232-2100.

Sometimes you have to see a band just because their name is so darn good. In this case, the music is as good as the name. The Philly instrumental prog-rock-jazz combo Baffle the Cat plays on a four-band bill at 8:30 p.m. at the Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave. Tickets are $7. Call 267-671-9298.

Wednesday

Chevy Chase returns as the hapless Clark Griswold, trying and (spectacularly) failing to create festive perfection in the 1989 slapstick comedy Christmas Vacation, based on John Hughes' National Lampoon stories. The film screens at 7:30 p.m. at the PFS Roxy Theater, 2023 Sansom St. Tickets are $10; $9 seniors and students. Call 267-639-9508.

With the annual revue This Is the Week That Is, the estimable 1812 Productions has been putting a silly spin on politics and current events for 10 years, and the players likely had to go to some lengths to top the actual happenings this year. From the 2016 presidential race covered as a fashion show to the immigration debate as a Star Wars battle, the troupe looks for the funny in the topical. The show goes on at 2 p.m. Sunday at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St., and continues on a varied schedule to Dec. 31. Tickets are $28 to $42. Call 215-592-9560.

Thursday

The Gershman Y presents its annual Moo Shu Jew Show, with emcee Cory Kahaney, stand-up comics Dan Naturman and Buddy Fitzpatrick, and a Chinese banquet at 6 p.m. at Ocean Harbor Restaurant, 1023 Race St. Tickets are $85. Call 215-545-4400.

Friday & Saturday

Fun day The program Being ____ for Christmas encourages you to fill in the blank as you wish. The family event -- including art activities with the Clay Studio, comedy by the Great Holtzie, storytelling, face painting, balloon art, Marx Brothers and Three Stooges movies, and music by Alex and the Kaleidoscope -- goes on at the National Museum of American Jewish History, Fifth and Market Streets, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $12; $5 ages 12 and younger. Call 215-923-3811.

The fine Philly songwriter Ben Vaughn plays a Boxing Day concert to celebrate Five By Five, his new record with his quintet, at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $17. Call 215-222-1400.