This Week's Day-By-Day Picks

Andy Warhol would be proud. Warhol and his Factory peeps created an art culture that can never be duplicatedbut that doesn't mean no one else can try. Though we reckon there won't be a new Edie Sedgwick showing up on the scene or an iconic piece of fruit in the works, China is doing its best to make a place for artists with its own factory--Factory 798, to be exact. Quin Mathews, Dallas TV journalist and filmmaker, visited this up-and-coming complex in Beijing and after experiencing the arts district, made a one-hour documentary about it. The Crow Collection of Asian Art screens Mathews' New Artists in a New China Thursday at 7 p.m. The museum is located at 2010 Flora St. Admission is free for members or $10 for non-members. Call 214-979-6438. We haven't even begun our holiday gifting ritual. Nothing has been purchased, crafted or even earmarked. Our tree is still in the box. Wrapping paper remains stowed away on a high shelf in the closet. Yet even though we've not set foot in a mall or tuned in to KVIL, we've been inundated with holiday propaganda. With Lifetime, TNT and USA to guide us, we've already seen four original holiday flicks and endless seasonal commercials (the current winner for heavy rotation is Macy's "The Man With the Bag" campaign). We love the holidays, but we just need a tiny break. Thus we worship the Inwood Theatre, 5458 W. Lovers Lane, for this weekend's midnight splendor: Spooktacular! We can enjoy trailers from the best horror flicks, a creepy cartoon and an uncut screening of George A. Romero's 1968 Night of the Living Dead. Just let us have the creepy, campy gore this weekend, and then, we promise, we'll take care of that shopping, OK? Admission is $8. Call 214-764-9106. A teenage dad's night in jail. Granddaddy's off-color in-flight conversation with Pat Boone. The time Mom inadvertently coldcocked a police officer. These are the priceless gems of family storytellingat least in our family. Linda Jones might suggest a different focus during her dismally monikered workshop What I Want You to Know Before I Go: Memoir Writing. We're betting that the veteran journalist suggests more "family-friendly" anecdotes--you know, ones that incite bittersweet tears and comments like "Those were the days"--but we're not budging from our plan to detail the best in humorous and subversive experiences. When we've kicked it, we want our loved ones to remember us in between the guffaws and snorty chortles. That being said, why turn down a little guidance from an expert (as well as lunch and writing supplies)? Pre-register, then head to The Peace Place, 2530 Sunset Ave., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The workshop costs $35. Call 214-331-2677. Being single, we can attest to the undying suckage that is SDTH (single during the holidays). Friends with 'friends become doubly unavailable as they deal with two families' gatherings ("Oh, I'd love to hang out, but Mark's parents have the cutest little holiday ritual we have to attend!") and our own family pulls the ol' "When you gonna meet someone and settle down?" So in an attempt to pre-empt the rejection and soul-crashing, why not check out Single Gourmet DFW's holiday party this Sunday from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Four Seasons Resort,

4150 N. MacArthur Blvd.? Single professionals (30 to 60 years old) are welcome to attend the multicourse, black tie-optional shindig--one we like to refer to as The Last Chance for Holiday Trim--at member prices ($99). So go and give it one more shot before you get stuck under the mistletoe with your nephew's college roommateagain. Call 972-732-8000 or visit www.singlegourmetdfw.com. 'Tis the season for charitable gifts, and one cause close to our hearts is literacy. Hence, we love the concept of Grade Point Achievement Centers' Learning Tree: The public can select ornaments from the tree, purchase the books listed on the ornaments and return them to the center. The center will then donate the books to CITY House so they can be given to needy children. Grade Point doesn't just expect you to come in, grab an ornament and leave, though. The center offers an open house with multicultural treats from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. each weekday beginning Monday (and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday). Tasty morsels for powerful words seems a fair trade to us. Grade Point Learning Center is located at 3305 Dallas Parkway in Plano. Call

972-781-2323 or visit www.GPAcenters.com. Whatever you do, do not show this article to our sister. The girl has gone 30-something years and has never once seen It's a Wonderful Life. It is, in fact, one of her life goals to avoid that 1946 Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed vehicle. It is one of ours, however, to trick her into watching Frank Capra's sappy classic. The Lakewood Theater's Classic Movie Night this week gives us the perfect cover for carrying out our mission. See, Tuesday's bill features The Bishop's Wife as well as It's a Wonderful Life, so we can lure her into seeing the dashing Cary Grant in the former, and then--BLAM!--"Every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings!" What's better? We're only out a buck for admission if she catches on. Brilliant. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the first movie begins at 7:30 p.m., following some live music by Blue Diamond Trio. The Lakewood Theater is located at

1825 Abrams Parkway. Call 214-821-SHOW. It's not the musical passion of the Blind Boys of Alabama that makes the longtime gospel group so cool. It's not their conquering of adversity, and it's not their talent (harnessed at a young age by the Talladega Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Alabama). What cements the Blind Boys in the Corridor of Cool is that they played the Peach Pit After Dark. That's right, the boys were the Beverly Beat, so to speak, in one very special episode of Beverly Hills 90210. Just like they brought it to Brandon, Steve, David and Donna, on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. they'll bring the spirit to Fort Worth's Bass Performance Hall,

525 Commerce St., with the Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show. Tickets are $25 to $47.50. Call 1-877-212-4280.