The Weekender: Our don't-miss list for Asia

Shanghai
A Christmas Carol
Follow Scrooge through his famous transformation from miser to giver, with Shanghai Repertory Theater’s rendition of “A Christmas Carol.”
December 2-6, weekdays at 8pm, weekend 3pm and 8pm, Ke Center for Contemporary Arts, 613-B Kai Xuan Lu near Wuyi Lu, 凯旋路613号近武夷路, RMB 150 (student/child), RMB 200 (adult), or RMB 600 Family Pack (two children, two adults), order tickets at +86 136 4170 1170, Ke Center or Ticket2010.
more via Ke Center

Yuyintang Five Year Anniversary Show
Shanghai's beloved live music oasis and dive bar Yuyintang celebrates half a decade of great music this weekend. Listen up as legends Cold Fairyland, Yuguo, Mushrooms and Weghur come together to pay tribute. Get your tickets at Chaoyun music stores before they’re sold out.
December 4, Yuyintang, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu, entrance at Kaixuan Lu 延安西路1731号, 入口在凯旋路 9-11:30pm, no cover, yuyintanglivehouse@gmail.com
more via Yuyintang Tokyo
Tokyo Meat Rea Opens
Out in Hachioji's Minami-Osawa, Keio will open Japan's first "meat theme park": Tokyo Meat Rea. We are guessing that they meant "meat lair," but whatever. They have all types of meat, from Gold Ru$h's grilled hamburg steaks to ¥3,600 babyback pork ribs.
Opens December 3, 11am-10pm, Minami-Osawa New Buiding 5F, tel. 042 653 3729, www.keio-ekichika.com/tokyomeatrea
The Dream of Pearls, the Memory of Ballet
Pearl purveyor Mikimoto hosts a gallery exhibit in its Ginza building celebrating 100 years of the Ballet Russes.
November 27 opening, Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-12-1, Toshima-ku, tel. 03 5812 1310, 10:30am-9:30pm (stores)
Bangkok
HM the King’s Birthday December 5 is His Majesty the King’s birthday. Fireworks, parades and festivals will take place in three main areas of Bangkok: Sanam Luang, the open field and public square in front of the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha; the surrounding area of Dusit Palace; and Ratchadamnoen Road.
Motor Expo 2009 Check out the latest automobile models at the 26th Thailand International Motor Expo 2009, on from December 1-13 at BITEC Bangna . The hired ‘pretties’ have been known to attract a few visitors too.   Singapore
Broadway Beng: Jiak Liu Lian!
Sebastian Tan is back with the fourth installment of Broadway Beng -- a popular and irreverent standup comedy about the local Singlish gangster who finds that he has something in common with the Queen of England, and that musicals can be Hokkienized if he put his mind to it. Directed by Royston Tan of movie 881 fame.
December 3-12, at The Esplanade Theatres. Tickets from S$35 onwards via Sistic.
Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2009
The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) is the most successful homegrown sporting event in Singapore, attracting a record number of 50,000 last year. Runners can still register for the 42km full marathon, or opt for the 21km half-marathon.
December 6, flag-off from the Esplanade Bridge onwards. Register for each event via the Singapore marathon website. Hong Kong
Asia Adult Expo 2009
Asia Adult Expo 2009 will be held at the Venetian in Macau this weekend and features the world's most expensive gilded vibrator. How very Venetian.
December 4 - 6, the Cotai Strip Convention and Exhibition Center, The Venetian Macau
more via Asia Adult Expo

We Love Live
Hong Kong GOBOB winners Qiu Hong, Jun Kun, 22 Cats, local favorite Dear Jane, and Beijing "It" band Carsick Cars heats up HITEC this Saturday night.  
December 5, 7:30pm, Rotunda 1, HITEC.
more via www.moov.hk Mumbai