How do you solve a problem like Maria? I don’t know, but you can solve your winter-blahs problem by heading over to the 5th Avenue Theatre for a "Sound of Music Sing-Along," back after a four-year hiatus. Dress up like your favorite Von Trapp, warm up your vocal chords with guest host John Curley, boo the bad guys and cheer the good guys. $25, ages 12 and younger $18. Friday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 3, 1 p.m. Call 206-625-1900 or visit 5thavenue.org for tickets.
Juggling, tumbling, plate spinning — the brilliant Peking Acrobats do it all while dressed in colorful costumes. The troupe performs on Saturday, Jan. 10 (2 p.m., 8 p.m.) at Meany Hall in Seattle. Tickets are $35, $20 for students; purchase at uwworldseries.org.
Kick off 2009 with a happenin’ freebie: Sponge’s “New Year Nibbles” workshop. Kids can attend abbreviated language classes (in Spanish, Mandarin, French and Japanese), work on crafts and pretend cooking projects, and create “good luck” noodle salads with Cookalicious Club. It’s for families with kids 7 and younger; newborns and infants are welcome. Sunday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m.-noon, with language classes between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. RSVP at 425-274-5188 or emailing events@spongeschool.com; specify which language class you’re interested in. Sponge, 375 N.W. Gilman Blvd., Issaquah. spongeschool.com
—Kris Collingridge
