Aaah! It can’t be! The last weekend before Christmas. But nobody panic. Here are some events to keep your mind off it. It’s gonna be OK.

Thursday, December 17

Four at Checkers: Holiday Punches and Cocktails
In a very special holiday happy hour, Four at Checkers will feature favorite holiday punches, mulled wine and hot buttered rum, in addition to specialty cocktails like Hot Apple Pie made with apple cider, Tuaca liqueur and whipped cream. $4 apps like bay scallops, crab salad and Chef Todd’s take on  pork loin will fill you up.

• 4-8pm. Hilton Checkers, 535 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown (map). (213) 624-0000

Friday, December 18

Epicure Imports’ Open Warehouse Sale
Thank goodness! Wholesale food warehouse Epicure Imports is having a sale that’s open to the public. Just in time for holiday parties and your New Year’s bash. Stock up on a huge selection of gourmet goods like champagne, French and Spanish cheeses, truffle oils and dried pasta. If you plan to do some serious shopping, don’t forget to bring coolers and canvas bags. BTW, sampling is highly encouraged. Yum.

• Friday, 1:30-6pm and Saturday, 9:30am-2pm. Epicure Imports, 6900 Beck Avenue, North Hollywood (map). (818) 985-9800.

New Bar The Tar Pit Opens
Audrey Saunders from Pegu Club in New York and Campanile duo Mark Peel and Jay Perrin debut their brand new cocktail collaboration, a 1940s Hollywood-inspired watering hole with cocktails served on trolleys, housemade sodas and Marcos Tello, of The Varnish, as the head bartender. It’s gonna be gooood!

• The Tar Pit, 609 N. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Saturday, December 19

1st Annual Santa Monica Pub Crawl
The inaugural (I just hates it when people say “1st Annual” when it hasn’t been around a year, heh) Santa Monica pub crawl kicks off in what will hopefully be another fun holiday tradition, especially for Westsiders who can’t make it east for SantaCon. Santas, reindeers, carolers and elves will visit area bars all in the name of good cheer and to benefit the Westside Food Bank. Bars on the agenda include W 4th/Jane, Ye Olde King’s Head, Shangri La Hotel and Dakota Lounge, most of which will feature food and drink specials.

• Starts at 5pm at Rusty’s, Wokcano or Enterprise Fish Co.

Sunday, December 20

Last Night of Cirque Du Soleil’s Kooza
If you haven’t yet seen Kooza, now’s your last chance before the Cirque packs up and heads down to Irvine. Ooh and ahh and feel like a little kid all over again as you marvel at all the stupendous human tricks these circus folk can do. Afterward, hold onto your tickets to score some discounts around Santa Monica.

• 1pm or 5pm. $60-$125. Santa Monica Pier, 100 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica (map).