1. Thirteen international architects and designers built cool structures for their pets -- i.e. doghouses -- and the results are here. They've included all the plans, instructions and how-to videos so you can make a special holiday gift for your Fido, too.
2. Photo of the Day: Since you loved the bacon scarf, how about a bacon kitchen towel? Only $17.99 here.
3. Barney Frank has signed up with talent agent Ari Emanuel. After decades spent in the US House of Representatives, he's retiring at the end of the year. [AP]
4, 5. Giant Step hosts their annual holiday party tonight, December 17, at Le Bain in the Standard Hotel (848 Washington Street) with A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed Muhammad DJing. Plus there's a special guest -- all the way from Berlin -- DJ San Gabriel. Doors at 8 p.m. and it's free with RSVP here. PLUS: Patrick McMullan, Michael Musto, Michelle Park and Niki & Shaokao Cheng bring more holiday cheer with DJ Lady Bunny at BoConcept (105 Madison Avenue). You must rsvp@boconceptny.com. They're promising Swedish men's underwear, modeled by New York Swim Team. Ho, Ho, Ho.
6. NY photographer Janette Beckman recalls her 1988 photo shoot with N.W.A.: "Afterward, they asked if I would come do a voiceover in the studio for one of their tracks. I looked at what they wanted me to read and it was about how to give the perfect blowjob. I said, 'Ah, no. I don't think so.' But now I think I should have. I could have been famous!" [Miami New Times]
7. Williamsburg Cinemas -- "7 state of the art theatres" -- opens on Wednesday, December 19, at the corner of Grand Street and Driggs Avenue.