Whassup: Keepin' it Hot Edition

via thechedda.com

Hey! HEY! Are you awake yet? I know the after-effects of holiday binge-eating, New Year's hangovers, and hibernation-inducing Celsius plunges might have you thinking of staying inside until NYC thaws. Don't do it! You live in Brooklyn, and if you're not going to have fun, who is? The terrorists? Yep. That's who. Stay active with Whassup: Keepin' it Hot Edition:

* Thursday, Jan. 5: CasHank Sing-a-long, Freddy's: Local, old-school country ringmaster Alex Battles leads the (once-again) monthly CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree. Bring an instrument (that can include your stompin' boots and/or twanged-out vocals) and join in, or just enjoy some lively (read: pretty drunken) renditions of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams classics. 8:30pm, FREE.

* Saturday, Jan. 7-Sunday, Jan.8: X-Mas Tree Mulch, Prospect Park: In case you missed it, we let you know how to recycle your tannenbaum back into the circle of life in the form of mulch. You can drop your tree-that-somehow-is-supposed-to-commemorate-Jesus'-birth off at a Prospect Park location. 10am-2pm.    

* Monday, Jan. 9: Liam Finn's Murmuration, Rock Shop: New Zealand singer-songwriter Liam Finn opens a four-show residency at the Rock Shop tonight. Sprung from the musical loins of Crowded House frontman Neil Finn, Liam stuffs poppy tidbits inside walls of messed-with sound. Plus, you know -- he's from Middle Earth. Prep yourself for the aural pleasure that is the Kiwi accent with some Flight of the Concord clips. 8pm, $20.

* Monday, Jan. 9: Punderdome 3000, Southpaw: The monthly groan/cheer/groan-again-fest of wordplay returns with another citizen-pun competition. 7:30pm Doors, $5.

* Tuesday, Jan. 10: Become a Story Master, Tea Lounge: FiPS' own story slinger Kerri Doherty (host of I Like You, Maude) and Moth champ Andy Ross lead a one-hour session on killing it narrative style. This latest edition of the Brooklyn Skillshare will teach you how to shape a winning, or at least crowd-pleasing, encapsulation of your own favorite anecdotes. 7:30pm, FREE.

* Wednesday, Jan. 11: All-Star Country, Bell House: Norah Jones joins musician friends from other projects in the Little Willies, a celebration of classic country and folk. Playing covers of Hank, Willie, and other dudes who could sport a cowboy hat un-ironically, they're hitting the Bell House for a one-time gig. So they say. If enough of you buy tickets, those dollars may just whisper too loudly in their ears. 7:30pm Doors, $35.