FridayâÄôs events: Music: Private Dancer Just like Nick Drake liked to talk about moons and leaves, Private Dancer also has their own recurring symbols: businessmen, perfume and uh âĦ hot dogs. Lots of hot dogs. Quickly nestling in amongst the ranks of laid-back, poetry-inverting hyper punks the likes of the Black Lips, Private Dancer has a no-filler song lineup complete with an inspired arsenal of vocal âÄúhoo hoos.âÄù Like any true rockâÄônâÄôroll band, they should combine serenely with the Triple Rock, a bar that never leaves a drink too weak. This is definitely where A&E is going to be. The Triple Rock, 629 Cedar Avenue 9 p.m. $6 21+ Art: Scholastic Art Awards Gallery Opening at MCAD What could be more pure than art created in the years when kids are figuring out that KDWB isnâÄôt the end-all say on good music and still have some idea what y=mx+b means? Ok, maybe a lot of things, but there is still something endlessly fascinating about art created by youth – self-portraits, cut-and-paste collages, and compositions obviously formed by teachers whose final word of advice is always, âÄúWhy not turn it upside down? Brilliant!âÄù Stereotypes aside, the Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards are firmly grounded in the modern avenues of expression. Art categories include everything from apparel design to computer art to printmaking, so those who remember high school art class as a big mess of acrylics and dirty potters wheels will be pleasantly surprised. MCAD Concourse Gallery, 2501 Stevens Ave. Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Performance: Fringe Favorites at the Southern Theater So you missed the Fringe Festival? You loathsome âÄúAmerican IdolâÄù-addicted homebody, you. Just kidding. Luckily, the Southern theater has run out with nets and snatched up a few of the brightest plays floating around in the field of local theater. This weekend features âÄúThe Nosdrahcir SistersâÄù and âÄúThe Gypsy and the General.âÄù The first is a quirky blending of fantasy and reality, and the second is a tale of lost travelers in the vein of ShakespeareâÄôs âÄúThe Tempest.âÄù As with most Friday night fare, the two-for-one is the better deal. The Southern Theater 1420 Washington Avenue S 8 p.m. âÄúNosdrahcir SistersâÄù 9:30 p.m. âÄúThe Gypsy and the GeneralâÄù $24 for both $14 for one Music: Background Noise Crew at the Dinkytowner Sampling everything from âÄúBlood Sugar Sex MagikâÄù âÄì era Chili Peppers to the type of bawdy saxophone lick beloved by âÄò90s sitcom themes, Background Noise Crew is bound to at least induce nostalgia if not delight ears. Plus, their CD release party is at the Dinkytowner, so making the commute wonâÄôt get the old boots too soggy. 9:00 p.m. $2 The Dinkytowner Café SaturdayâÄôs Events: Art: Art of Performance at Altered Esthetics The idea of pieces of static art inspired by all forms of art that arenâÄôt static may have the initial effect of causing many a finger to approach many a head, and the result of fingernails scratching confusedly on skin. But, as is their tradition, Altered Esthetics has taken the idea to its most creative and intriguing limits with their gallery âÄúArt of Performance.âÄù Each piece sets out to communicate the âÄúlanguageâÄù of performance arts. Not sure what that looks like? Think a painting of Hamlet resting amongst a scattering of beer cans and a minimalistic print of two melancholy ballerinas. This is the galleryâÄôs last weekend, so check it out while you can. Altered Esthetics, 1224 Quincy Street NE Open 1 p.m. âÄì 5 p.m. Books: âÄúGo NegativeâÄù Zine Launch at the Turf Club âÄúGo NegativâÄù is the newest of the Twin CitiesâÄô literary journals, standing out amongst the likes of âÄúRain TaxiâÄù and âÄúWhistling ShadeâÄù by maintaining a trademark âÄúdarkâÄù tone in its works. But just because they donâÄôt like poems about sunshine doesnâÄôt mean they don’tâÄô know how to party. Keeping the launch more lively than your average poetry reading are a set of accompanying bands, like MinneapolisâÄô The Dad in Common, who sounds like Vic Chestnutt fully emerged in the acid and India-inspired experimentalism of the âÄô60s. Turf Club 1601 University Avenue W 9 p.m. $5 Performance: Roller Girls at the Roy Wilkins Roller Girls are their own breed of this new millenniumâÄôs fiercest of feminine kind. You may find them hanging out in teams called the âÄúAtomic BombshellsâÄù or the âÄúDagger Dolls,âÄù and to captain the teams they may take on pseudonyms derived from sly cultural references mixed with slant rhymes, like âÄúBuffy the Vampire Skater.âÄù With a record high fleet of 80 skaters, this roller derby will make ice skaters and cheerleaders alike quiver in their skirts. Roy Wilkins Auditorium 7:30 p.m. $12 at the door Performance: Chinese New Year at Coffman ItâÄôs the year of the ox. That calls for a party. Coffman Union 5 p.m. Music: Aby Wolf with Lucy Michelle + The Velvet Lapelles and Black Blondie Want to feel vastly superior to friends? Want to be ahead of the curve? Want ten scene points? Well, be sure to head over to The Cedar to catch Aby WolfâÄôs CD release show. The up and coming singer/songwriter is unveiling her debut LP âÄúSweet PrudenceâÄù and is doing so in good company âÄì the much buzzed about Lucy Michelle and the always gigging Black Blondie. WolfâÄôs dense, layered folk borrows heavily from R&B and soul and the formula works to a tee. On top of that, she boasts some of the most impactful pipes in The Twin Cities scene. Cedar Cultural Center 7:00 p.m. $12 at the door SundayâÄôs Events: Comedy: Improv at Brave New Workshop Brave New Workshop really understands us âÄì or at least we better hope they do, because theyâÄôre soon to premier a play called, âÄúHow to Make Love Like a Minnesotan: Sleepless in Shakopee.âÄù That one might hurt more than âÄúFargoâÄù mixed with âÄúDrop Dead Gorgeous.âÄù LetâÄôs just hope they donâÄôt all have Scandinavian accents and work lutefisk into their naughty bedtime routines. Those who just canâÄôt wait for the performance can settle their appetite with a night of improv at the theaterâÄôs Sunday night âÄúImprov-a-Go-Go.âÄù Brave New Workshop, 2605 Hennepin Avenue 8 p.m. $1 Performance: âÄúThe Producers âÄúat Chanhassen Dinner Theater So intrigued by all the Nazi-related movies coming out that you want something new and Nazi-related to please your war entertainment palette? Try out âÄúThe Producers,âÄù a play about a play meant to flop that ended up so bad it was good. The play in question is called, âÄúSpringtime for Hitler,âÄù a âÄúgay rompâÄù of sorts meant to horrify the audience into boycotting it forever. If this sounds vaguely familiar, that is either because you are already familiar with the Tony Awards or you saw the movie that came out in 2006. Unlike the film, the Chanhassen production is getting rave reviews. Chanhassen Dinner Theater, 501 78th Street W 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Prices vary from $49-$75 Performance: âÄúThe Ice Fishing PlayâÄù at Theater in the Round âÄúThe Ice Fishing PlayâÄù follows the classic story line of a narrator setting out for solitude to find themselves and instead finding that no matter how cold it may be on the pond, they just canâÄôt get away from their families. There is nothing Minnesotans like more than rag-tag tales of outdoor winter sports, and those turned perpetually cynical by living on our latitude are sure to be satisfied by seeing attempts at personal revelation being so constantly and humorously foiled. Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Avenue 2 p.m. $20 Music: Blues Brunch and Open Blues at Famous DaveâÄôs Just because Famous DaveâÄôs features several varieties of barbeque sauce doesnâÄôt mean theyâÄôre unfriendly with the fairer meals of the morning. Their Blues Brunch features Belgian waffles and omelettes, and this week boasts live performers like Swanee Beach and Davina and the Vagabonds. Once evening comes around, Moses Oakland takes the stage for a jam. Famous DaveâÄôs 3001 Hennepin Avenue S Breakfast 10 a.m. âÄì 2 p.m., Jam 8 p.m. Performance: The Best of Midwest Burlesque Festival 2009 When was the last time you sat down with a cocktail to watch a fine display of âÄúbullwhip artistry?âÄù If you answered âÄúnever,âÄù LiliâÄôs Burlesque Revue can help you cross that scenario off your list. Sunday is the last day (and only day with tickets still available) of the four-day vintage entertainment festival. The festival features dancers like Coco Dupree, whose profile says she was a pick-pocketer in New Orleans and that her mother was âÄúthe most famous cooch dancer of all the bayou.âÄù ItâÄôs sure to be a night of lore âĦ and feathers. Ritz Theater, 345 13th Avenue NE 8 p.m. $25 Culture to Consume: Watch this: While the weekend box office may look depressing âÄì âÄúPaul Blart: Mall CopâÄù and âÄúBride WarsâÄù are on the top ten list âÄì there are still plenty of good movies floating around. This weekend, check out âÄúFrost/Nixon,âÄù the long-time coming story of how television journalists pulled their own Woodward and Bernstein on the President. Listen to this: It was a good week for music. Animal CollectiveâÄôs âÄúMerriweather Post-PavilionâÄù is already a contender for best album of 2009, and releases from Andrew Bird, Antony and the Johnsons and Bon Iver are sure to please as well. Read this: Want to be reading a book that Barack Obama certainly should be reading as well? Look no further than âÄúNOTHING TO FEAR: FDRâÄôs Inner Circle and the Hundred Days That Created Modern AmericaâÄù by Adam Cohen. While parallels between FDR era America and ours can certainly be drawn, weâÄôre âÄì thankfully âÄì not anywhere near the 25% unemployment of yesteryear. A good, (sadly) relevant read. Drink this: Green Mill is testing the limits of what the word âÄúmargaritaâÄù can actually mean by featuring 50 different kinds of margarita. Start with an âÄúAlmond PeachâÄù margarita, get drunk with a âÄúWatermelon SwirlâÄù margarita, and go places youâÄôve never gone before with an âÄúInfinite Margarita.âÄù Click this: We know, we know. The worst part about social networking is that Facebook and Myspace accounts made for pets ring false. Well, that was until Dogster and Catster hit the scene. While fun and quirky, having your animal join one of these sites officially mean your life has become frightfully depressing. www.dogster.com www.catster.com