Our favorite “Christmas Story” co-star {thanks, Los Angeles Times}

1. ‘A Christmas Story’ marathon
If you don’t watch this modern Christmas classic at least three times during the yearly 24-hour marathon, you have no soul … and probably shouldn’t be allowed to celebrate Christmas at all. OK, maybe that’s a little drastic, but you should tune in anyway. Starts 8 p.m. Thursday on TBS. MARISSA GALLO, B

2. Ravens @ Steelers
The Ravens return to Heinz Field, the site of last year’s heartbreaking AFC title game loss. Can they sweep the Steelers and keep their playoff hopes alive? 1 p.m. Sunday, WJZ-23 CBS and 98 Rock. MATT VENSEL, B

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thanks, stock.xchng --- NOTE: NOT A CONTESTANT

We received a lot of holiday-cheer-filled photos, but there can only be eight finalists. Vote on your favorite holiday photo until noon Sunday, Dec. 20. The winner — and another winner as chosen by the b staff — will win a Nikon D60 camera courtesy of Ritz Camera and Image, as well as have their picture appear in an edition of b. Good luck to everyone!
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Kind of blue: “Avatar” {thanks, 20th Century Fox}

1. ‘Avatar’
I really hope James Cameron hasn’t wasted away his career with this venture. I love geeky science fiction stuff and hope “Avatar” delivers. Who wouldn’t want their DNA combined with some alien species to create a nifty physical avatar to mix and mingle with the native folk? Jump into the experience Friday. TIM WONG, B

2. Gridiron Sing-Off
Ray Rice and Kelley Washington host the Gridiron Sing-Off Tuesday at Rams Head Live. Don’t miss your chance to see your favorite Ravens showcase their singing abilities during the event that raises money for charities of their choice. Tickets are $20 and the show starts at 7 p.m. ramsheadlive.com. BRIAN KRISTA, B

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It’s not very often I get to listen to Christmas music anymore since people who shall remain nameless (*cough*mr.gallo*cough*) rather listen to 24 hours straight of Miley Cyrus than anything with holiday cheer.

So when I do, I like to mix it up a bit with a modern take on old classics and new tunes. I just started making a Christmas playlist and here’s what I have so far:

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” - Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan
“Are You Coming Over For Christmas?” - Belle and Sebastian
“Blue Christmas” - Bright Eyes
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” - Coldplay
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” - Death Cab for Cutie
“12/23/95″ - Jimmy Eat World
“Christmas Tree” - Lady Gaga
“Winter Wonderland” - Phantom Planet
“When I Get Home for Christmas” - Snow Patrol
“Only at Christmas Time” - Sufjan Stevens
“Silent Night” - Alexi Murdoch
“Snow Angel” - Tori Amos

If you have suggestions or want to share yours, leave them in the comments or e-mail me at marissa@bthesite.com.
Here are some great sites to help you with your holiday playlists:

Woxy Holiday Mixer: Streams old and new Christmas tunes and can buy the mp3s
Amazon’s 25 Days of Free: The shopping site unveils one song each day until Dec. 25 that you can download for free (where I got the Lady Gaga and Tori Amos tracks).
Last Christmas: A blog dedicated to covers of one of the best Christmas songs ever made.
“All I Want for Christmas” dance remix: Popeater.com posted a (necessary) remix of the Mariah Carey tune.
Used Wigs’ Favorite Modern Holiday Songs: Introduced me to a bunch of covers and originals I didn’t know existed. My Christmas is now complete.

thanks, stock.xchng

What is at the top of your holiday wish list?

Time to Squidfire it up {thanks, Squidfire}

1. Squidfire’s Holiday Art Mart
Looking for unique holiday gift ideas? There will be plenty of DIY art and clothing options from more than 60 vendors at Squidfire’s Art Mart. There’s also no dealing with the weather, became the event is at Du Burns Arena in Canton. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Free. BRIAN KRISTA, B

2. Unsilent Night
For a (fairly) new holiday celebration that doesn’t reek of commercialism, join this parade of boomboxes (CD, cassette, MP3 all OK) blasting parts of Phil Kline’s “Unsilent Night.” No boombox? That’s OK, too. 6:45 p.m. Saturday at Penn Station; afterparty at Metro Gallery. Free. mobtownmodern.com ANNE TALLENT, B

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thanks, Sony

What is your favorite modern holiday tune?

Give the special gift of the Rock Chick {thanks, Rocks-Off Ltd.)

Despite its gams-tastic cover, b’s holiday gift guide last week was, sadly, sexy-free — in case you count the Snuggie as sexy.

We’re sure someone, somewhere, does.So, in order to right this wrong, I’ve decided to compile my favorite sexy gifts this year.

No, I haven’t tried them myself. That would be expensive/tiring (but probably fun).

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thanks, stock.xchng

You take all sorts of photos during the holidays. Why not win something for it?

Enter your holiday-themed pics in b’s holiday photo contest and the two best will win a digital camera from Ritz Camera and Image.

Pretty sweet, huh?

E-mail your entries along with your name, town, age and phone number to contests@bthesite.com by noon Dec. 16.

Good luck to everyone!

(Full contest rules here.)

Just try to avoid “A Dog Named Christmas.” We dare you {thanks, CBS}

Keep the holidays happy with our movie and TV picks. You can’t spend every second shopping, can you? jordan bartel, b

IN THEATERS
•••• “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (Out Wednesday): Quirky auteur Wes Anderson gets (stop-motion) animated, taking on the Roald Dahl tale about a wily fox patriarch (George Clooney) trying to go straight. Thank God for no CGI (finally!).
•••• “Brothers” (Dec. 4): One of this year’s late Important Dramatic Movie entries focuses on a man (Jake Gyllenhaal) comforting his brother’s (Tobey Maguire) wife (Natalie Portman) after he goes missing in Afghanistan. Honestly, we’d see Gyllenhaal and Portman in anything, even in torture porn or a sickeningly sweet rom-com.
•••• “Up in the Air” (Dec. 25): Clooney (again) is getting raves as a man whose job is to travel around the country firing people. It’s actually a comedy from director Jason Reitman (“Juno”). Convinced?
•••• “Sherlock Holmes” (Dec. 25): Director Guy Ritchie is an acquired taste, but he’s going mainstream with his take on the beloved detective (a perfectly cast Robert Downey Jr.). Plus, Rachel McAdams and Jude Law!

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