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Sweating to the oldies One of 2007's best local mix tapes doesn't have anything to do with a hot underground rapper. Instead, King Otto and Mike the 2600 King's "Things Kings Do" is all about the oldies: Chubby Checker, the Crystals, Frankie Valli, Smokey Robinson, etc. After the two DJs realized they had a mutual love for '60s Motown, girl groups and British Invasion records, they put together this mix, which features more than 50 songs. On Sunday they'll host a holiday dance party called Jingle Bell Rock at 7th Street Entry, where they'll play songs from the album, plus more classics. If you can't make it, pick up the CD at Fifth Element in Uptown, or online at www.burlesquedesign.com. Mike the 2600 King, who works as a designer for the collective Burlesque of North America, also created the album's jacket. In the tradition of '60s LPs, the back features a rambling commentary on the album's greatness, plus fake vinyl impressions, as if a real LP were wedged inside. (9 p.m. Sun., 701 1st Av. N., Mpls. $5. 18 and older. 612-332-1775. www.first-avenue.com)

X-mas parties Christmas means face time with the family. Need an escape plan? A couple of downtown Minneapolis clubs have you covered on Christmas Eve. Visage is having a hip-hop night with drink specials, while Envy is hosting a Bollywood/bhangra party. Also that night: Jewbilee at Grumpy's will have karaoke, dance music and Chinese food. On Christmas Day, check out Dive Bar in Maplewood, which is offering free drinks from 9 to 11 p.m. and $1 shots all night. Also that night, the Triple Rock is having its annual Staraoke event, where any Joe Schmo can get on the club's stage and belt out songs, while Nordeast's 331 Club offers a gift-exchange program: bargoers can bring in unwanted presents to trade for someone else's.

And for the rest of us ... The Nomad is your official hangout for celebrating Festivus this year, complete with the airing of grievances, feats of strength and more from the alt-holiday popularized on "Seinfeld." (8 p.m. Sat. 501 Cedar Av. S., Mpls. 612-338-6424. www.nomadpub.com)

R.I.P. the Rush One of the south metro's biggest nightclubs, the Rush, has closed. The club's Colorado-based owners pulled the plug because of slow business, general manager Brian DeCoux said. The Rush has been a fun but peculiar place to party. For the past couple years, its rotating music format created an identity crisis, with some nights mixing cowboys with suburban hip-hop kids (a sight to see). The place saw quite a few changes over the years, too -- it opened as After the Gold Rush in 1986, then changed to the Rodeo in the mid-'90s before becoming the Rush. DeCoux brought back the country vibe of its Rodeo days this fall in hopes of appeasing its former clientele, which was made up of "farmers, cowboys and bull riders," he said. But it was not to be.

TOM HORGEN

thorgen@startribune.com • 612-673-7909