15 December 11

Undercurrents

UNTIL 31 JAN

LONDON, UK
GIBSON THROUGH THE LENS
The photographers featured in this exhibition are almost as big as the rock stars pictured. Bringing together the work of iconic snappers like Mick Rock and David Redfern, this show captures guitar gods as diverse as Marc Bolan, Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix (pictured) in all their Gibson-strumming glory. See it at the British Music Experience, within the 0² Arena.

WWW.BRITISHMUSICEXPERIENCE.COM

UNTIL 29 JAN

LIVERPOOL, UK
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
This enthralling exhibition at Tate Liverpool features original manuscripts and early illustrations for Lewis Carroll’s iconic Alice stories: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. But much more than that, it’s the first exhibition to look at the writer’s influence on visual artists. So at this show you can view Alice-related work by a host of artists, including greats like Max Ernst, René Magritte and Salvador Dalí. Pictured here is a Carroll-inspired work by John Wesley.

WWW.TATE.ORG.UK/LIVERPOOL

30 DEC-1 JAN

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Fireworks light up the sky over Hohensalzburg Fortress (pictured) during this three-day festival — perfect if you’re heading to the slopes over Christmas. Sip on hot punsch as you catch the DJs and bands on Residence Square, and be sure to join in the Blue Danube Waltz at midnight. Scores of classical concerts, and an historic setting make this one party not to miss.

WWW.SALZBURG.INFO

12-22 JAN

ACROSS PORTUGAL
INTERNATIONAL GOURMET FESTIVAL
This high-end food festival sees a 10-day programme of fine dining and wine tasting events across Portugal. The main venue is the Vila Joya resort in Albufeira, about 40 minutes from Faro. The event brings together more than 20 chefs from across the globe – all of whom have at least one Michelin star under their hats – and there’ll also be workshops and vineyard tours. Tickets start at €350 and go up to €600 for the top tables. One for the serious foodies.

WWW.INTERNATIONALGOURMETFESTIVAL.COM

17 DEC-8 JAN

TALLINN, ESTONIA
GINGERBREAD MANIA
One for the sweet-toothed among you, Gingerbread Mania (“Piparkoogi Maania” in Estonian) is an exhibition in the centre of Tallinn dedicated to the biscuit delicacy. Gingerbread art might not be a genre you’ve paid much attention to before, but at this gallery everything from gingerbread sculptures to detailed dioramas of festive scenes have been created by local artists, designers and architects. We’re definitely not talking your usual gingerbread men here — but it’s sure to look pretty tasty.

6 PÄRNU MAANTEE, WWW.PIPARKOOGIMAANIA.EE

ALL YEAR

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
BRUSSELICIOUS 2012
Belgium is a world leader when it comes to top-flight food and drink, and not just because the country produces some of the world’s best chocolate, beer and waffles – although those things all help. Brusselicious 2012 is a whole year of foodie events being dished up in the Belgian capital. One of our favourites is the Tram Experience, available from mid- January. For €75 you can be one of 34 guests eating dinner while travelling on a unique tram-restaurant, as it makes a two-hour round trip of Brussels’ sights.

WWW.BRUSSELICIOUS.BE

27 JAN - 6 FEB

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN
GOTHENBURG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
This trophy (pictured) puts us in mind of the Welsh flag, but it’s actually the coveted Dragon Award for the Best Nordic Film, awarded by the Gothenburg International Film Festival.

The biggest film festival in Scandinavia, each year it screens more than 450 films from about 70 countries. Drawing an audience of about 200,000 cinephiles, it’s one of the largest public film festivals in the world. Don’t worry if you need to brush up on your svenska – almost all the films are subtitled in English. Tickets for screenings cost 80SEK (€9). See the website for movie listings and more.

WWW.GIFF.SE

2 DEC-3 JAN

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
RUDOLF
Head to arts venue The Arches in Glasgow this winter to enjoy an innovative new take on the story of everyone’s favourite reindeer. Well, more specifically, it’s the story of a curious chicken called Esmerelda, whose human owners (pictured) put on a play about the reindeer to help her lay an egg. It’s all brought to you by theatre artist Andy Manley, whose imaginative children’s show White earned him a clutch of awards at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe.

WWW.THEARCHES.CO.UK/EVENTS/ARTS/RUDOLPH