Shoppers at Macy's can sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. San Franciscans can sit on John Waters' lap and tell HIM what they want for Christmas! On Dec. 13, Waters, auteur of "Hairspray" and Broadway's newest movie to-musical deity, will lead a John Waters X-Mas event at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. After a chat about his films and Hairspray, Waters will host a screening of seasonal favorite "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and sit at a Santa Station, where ticket holders can rattle off their gift lists, be they naughty or nice.

Tickets are $29.95 for the gala and $74.95 for the pre-show reception with Waters and gala. Partial proceeds will go to Positive Resource, an AIDS service agency which provides benefit counciling and job placement for HIV-positive San Franciscans. For reservations, call (415) 863-0611.

— By Christine Ehren