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Recording artist Keri Hilson, known for her sexiness and power collaborations (Nelly, R. Kelly and Kanye West), appears to be hot ’n’ heavy these days with Serge Ibaka, OKC Thunder’s power forward. A few weeks ago, Hilson celebrated her birthday in Bricktown after the Thunder’s trouncing of the Los Angeles Lakers at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

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Okie country cutie Carrie Underwood is guilty of many things: having a powerful singing voice, being hot, winning Grammys, being hot, lending legitimacy to American Idol, being hot, marrying a hockey player, being hot and being hot.

Food and Drink Features
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If you’re reading this, the Mayans were wrong and the world did not end. Cheers to that! Now you’ll need some plans for New Year’s Eve.

OKG7 things to do
Gazette staff

Hey, kids! Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 N.E. 52nd, wants you to rock in the new year with Spaghetti Eddie! The “kindie” rocker will appear live in concert at noon Friday, and the show is free with general admission, which is $9.95-$11.95. Arrive early for a kazoo and a party hat. Call 602-6664 or visit sciencemuseumok.org.

Friday

OKG7 things to do
Gazette staff

Fresh from his TBS talk show, George Lopez returns to his stand-up roots. At 8 p.m. Saturday, he’ll take the stage at WinStar World Casino, 777 Casino Ave. in Thackerville. Nick at Nite reruns of his ABC sitcom have garnered him a young fan base, but this show’s 18-and-up only. So expect dirty jokes. Tickets are $41- $61. Call 800-622-6317 or visit winstarworldcasino.com.

Saturday

OKG7 things to do
Gazette staff

If sleeping overnight at the zoo is on your bucket list, it’s about to get one item shorter. Starting at 7 p.m. Saturday (and ending 9 a.m. the next morning), it’s Zoosnooze at Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 N.E. 50th. That includes a guided night hike with hot cocoa and popcorn, and breakfast when you wake. Parents must accompany children; ages 4 and up only. Tickets are $10 per adult, $25 per child. Call 425-0218 or visit okczooed.com.

Saturday

OKG7 things to do
Gazette staff

About to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Mountain Smoke presents its new album, Roads Well Traveled, with two shows Sunday at UCO Jazz Lab, 100 E. Fifth in Edmond. The acoustic newgrass band plays at 3 and 7 p.m.; tickets are $20 and $25, respectively, which includes the CD. Call 818-5591 or visit ucojazzlab.com.

Sunday

OKG7 things to do
Gazette staff

Armstrong Auditorium, 14400 S. Bryant in Edmond, has hosted several world-class performers, but never a musical composed in-house. That will change at 3 p.m. Sunday with the premiere of Jeremiah, a production featuring the art of step dancing and a 12-piece orchestra. Admission is free. Call 285-1010 or visit armstrongauditorium.org.

Sunday

OKG7 things to do
Gazette staff
Ever wanted to see Keira Knightley in shorts? What about Judi Dench? Colin Firth? Jason Alexander? They’re all part of Stars in Shorts, a feature-length collection of seven short films covering everything from funerals to sexting. Gotta catch ’em all at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Friday- Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch. Tickets are $5-$8. Call 236-3100 or visit okcmoa.com.

Thursday-Sunday

OKG7 things to do
Gazette staff

It’s a New Age holiday as Mannheim Steamroller rolls back into town for two holiday music concerts Saturday. Making its 27th Christmas tour, the venerable “18th-century rock band” plays at 5 and 8 p.m. at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker. Tickets are $25-$75. Call 800-869-1451 or visit celebrityattractions.com.

Saturday

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Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett will need to clear some room on a bookshelf for an award celebrating something that hasn’t happened yet, sorta.

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Kobe Bryant is not known for his graciousness. Especially not toward excellent young players who repeatedly school him on the court, sometimes in his own house.

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How many make-believe cops can you name off the bat? Let’s see … there’s Sgt. Joe Friday, Dirty Harry, Axel Foley … oh, and John Doak. If the name of Oklahoma’s insurance commissioner doesn’t immediately strike fear among the criminal kind, it’s certainly not for lack of trying. Doak’s agency has bolstered its anti-fraud unit by spending more than $180,000 on police cars, pump-action shotguns, bulletproof vests and the like.

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That scream you heard carry across the metro at 8:48 a.m. Dec. 10 was untold thousands of tween girls reacting to Chesapeake Energy Arena’s announcement that Justin Bieber had scheduled a local stop for his “Believe” world tour, for July 2, 2013.

Features
Gazette staff
Once a year, for about a month or more, people can get away with eye-popping light displays plastered outside their home or business in the name of seasonal decor.

And not just “get away with it,” either, but celebrate it, photograph it and commemorate it with song.

’Tis the season! As photographer Shannon Cornman found, there’s plenty of shining — or twinkling, as the case may be — holiday spirit to soak up among area neighborhoods and icons.