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Now that December is upon us, Jerusalem is all abuzz over Hamshushalayim. A portmanteau of portmanteaus essentially combining the words for "long weekend" and "Jerusalem," the festival, now four weekends long, brings out the best in the city, with prices that can't be beat, from food to shows to late-night museum openings. And what of the rest of the week, you ask? With a different kind of festival opening nearly every night, there's no need to worry.

• Never seen a poem so lovely as a tree? Then head over to the Beit Yehudit community center in the German Colony for Jerusalem's 15th Love of Poetry festival on Thursday night, where verse both mushy and sophisticated flows freely.
  
  Two major highlights from the inaugural Hamshushalayim weekend of 2011 include a performance tonight at the Islamic Museum by globally celebrated, locally bred ethnic maestro Yair Dallal (pictured) and a night of food stands, art and music at the Israel Museum.

• Americans get one Black Friday a year, but in Jerusalem, every Friday is Black Friday, with crowds gathering everywhere from Machane Yehuda to the Old City. This Friday, see the Old City's markets as you never have before, with a celebrity chef-run culinary tour originating at the Tower of David, through the various quarters and ending up in the Cardo.

• Israeli alternative rock and roll would likely not be what it is today without the dense, sludgy and melodic Nikmat Hatractor. Back making music after a decade in the ether, the band hits the Zappa club Saturday in support of its newest album.

• Jerusalem Design Week is back, with more intensive and varied offerings than last year's freshman outing. On Sunday, a design fair kicks off with a number of exhibit openings at the Hansen House. Following last year's Design Week success, the Jerusalem Development Authority's Jerusalem Design Center has expanded the initiative, with this year's series including an international conference, design exhibitions, artists' workshops, a designers' fair and a discussion on design in film.
  
  Does Alan Dershowitz really think that Larry David is the key to reviving the peace process? Ask him in person at Sunday's Defending Israel and International Law gathering at the Begin Center. A panel discussion moderated by Bar Ilan University Professor Gerald Steinberg is scheduled to include participation by Harvard Law's Dershowitz, IDF in-house legal rep Major General Avichai Mandelblit and University of San Diego's Professor Abraham Bell.

• HaTza'atzua (the "Toy Bar") isn't all child's play, but on Monday, the young'ns get the run of the place, with university student night. DJ Shai Daniel spins the tunes, and drink specials are on offer for those carrying student IDs.

• On Tuesday, Jerusalem's very own international dance festival Machol Shalem continues its running start at the Gerard Bechar center. On tap are performance debuts directed by Shlomo Plasner, four pieces by the Choreographers Association collective and European guest performer Nigel Charnock.

• The gentiles may have had Mark Twain, but the Jews had Sholom Aleichem! Between Tevye the Milkman and the wise fools of Chelm, Aleichem is remembered as among the greatest of Jewish playwrights and humorists. On Wednesday, Beit Avi Chai pays tribute to the man with an artistic evening devoted to his works.