D.C.-area nightlife, events and dining

An opening reception for Hillyer's three December exhibitions, featuring the work of R.K. Dickson, Erika Kim Milenkovic and Matthew Malone.

There's no shortage of majestic light displays to choose from this holiday season, but why settle for a land-locked show when you have the chance to catch the reflection of twinkling lights on the water? This annual parade illuminates Annapolis Harbor as a procession of yachts and sailboats, decked out in twinkling holiday lights and baubles, float past jolly, cheering onlookers.

There are only a handful of artists who perform like Mark de Clive-Lowe. Combining jazz, soul, electronic music and DJing, MdCL, as he is known, improvises a whole show with keyboards, a sequencer, effects units and a drum machine, weaving in special guest vocalists to walk the improv tightrope with him. The first set is usually more traditional, then the second set goes off into experimental territory. Dubbed “Church,” this show makes its first D.C. appearance at Liv.

Holiday beers are big, bold ales that are spiced for the season and far more boozy than your average brew. If you find yourself craving a nice winter warmer, there’s no better place to be than ChurchKey this Monday. Each of the bar’s 50 taps will be turned over to a seasonal beer, and because this is ChurchKey, it’s the kind of thing beer geeks dream of: Eight selections from England’s Ridgeway brewery (including the whole Bad Elf/Very Bad Elf/Criminally Bad Elf series), four vintages of Belgium’s Gouden Carolus Noel, rarities from Jolly Pumpkin, Mikkeller, de Struise and Hoppin Frog, plus a couple of local ales. Bring a designated driver. And bring canned goods to benefit to local charity Martha’s Table: Your donation is worth 10 percent off your total bill at the end of the night.

Earlier this year, the women who brew for Lost Rhino, Bluejacket, Vintage 50 and Hardywood Park teamed up to create Pretty in Pink, a pomegranate and hibiscus saison. Sales benefits breast cancer research at Richmond’s Massey Cancer Center. Meridian Pint is helping out by hosting a special night with eight Lost Rhino beers on tap and donating 50 cents for each pint sold between 5 and 11 p.m.

DC Brau takes over 19 of Meridian Pint’s 24 taps for the DC Brau Holiday Party, where all beers will be sold at happy hour prices all night. If you dig the Corruption IPA or Citizen Pale Ale but have never tried On the Wings of Armegeddon, Burial at Sea or Ghoul’s Night Out, this is the chance. There will also be five barrel-aged beers, including versions of Stone of Arbroath and Penn Quarter Porter.