Dark shadows

472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-492-9181.

Shop till you sleep

Last weekend's storm certainly tossed a mangy elf at the shopping plans of many, including Go! Despite the snow, we tromped along Newbury Street like the super trooper that we are, looking for gifts for the kinfolk. But despite our best attempts to play Sandy Claws, most of the Newbury Street stores were closed tight. So instead of purchasing frou-frou hair care products for our poor mother so her coif will no longer resemble Heat Miser's from ``The Year Without a Santa Claus,'' we'll be forced to give her a basket containing a box of Fruit Roll-Ups and a liter of Mountain Dew. Perhaps we're overreacting just a bit. There are plenty of shopping opportunities left before the big holiday, including something tonight in Cambridge called Shop Inman by Moonlight. Many of the businesses in Inman Square are open until midnight, and they're offering refreshments and entertainment to keep your mood pert. Did we mention that Christmas is exactly two weeks from today? Get shopping, kids.

For information about the event, call Absolutely Fabulous at 617-864-0656.

Your hit parade

Think of it as TRL for folks over the age of 11 (OK, technically 21, but you get our drift). On the second Thursday of the month - meaning tonight - Rivergods hosts a night called Ointment. The party features jocks from WZBC-FM playing the 20 most played songs of the month. And before and after the countdown, DJs spin their new favorite tracks. All of this adds up to an evening of fresh sounds and a chance for you to branch away from your Eddie Money vinyl collection, if just for one night. The party starts at 9 with DJ Sarah spinning everything from Adult to Grandaddy. At 11:30, DJ Grace spins a motley mix from electro-lounge to punk.

125 River St., Cambridge, 617-576-1881.

Mature audiences

They may be from Detroit, but we'll be a hogtied monkey's uncle if Adult's latest disc, "Anxiety Always, '' doesn't sound as if it dropped directly from Munich. This abrasive tangle of electro-fied scratches has ``spawn of Kraftwerk'' written all over it. Tonight, the duo of Nicola Kuperus and Adam Lee Miller are performing at T. T. the Bear's Place at 11. Get there early for opening sets from Electronicat (meow!) and Tamian 12 Inch; $10.

10 Brookline St., Cambridge, 617-492-2327.

Sweet celebration

It seems that we have some anniversaries tonight in Jamaica Plain, and for some reason, the bourgeoisie has been invited to join the celebration. The evening begins at the petit bistro Ten Tables. The restaurant is offering a four-course prix -fix menu (which includes a spot of the bubbly) for $45. The dinner is served from 5:30 to 9, and reservations are highly recommended. Down the road at the Midway Cafe, Dyke Night heads into its sixth year with a show featuring drag kings and belly dancing. The show is followed by dancing with music from DJ Mix Mistress 'til the wee hour of 2 a.m.

Ten Tables, 597 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 617-524-8810. Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington St. Jamaica Plain, 617-524-9038.

Hot holiday

We're not sure how this happened, but the infamous Globe Santa has turned matchmaker. Tonight, from 6 to 9, the Rack hosts a party for singles looking for snuggle action under the mistletoe. The $25 tickets go to help kids who might otherwise miss out on Christmas. If Go! were in the habit of using corporate cliches, we'd call this a ``win win.'' But because we're not, we'll simply call it a good time.

24 Clinton St., 617-725-1051.

Events can always be canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call to confirm. Go! can be reached at go@globe.com or by calling 617-929-8257.