Friday

The CurrentâÄôs 6th Birthday Party

First Avenue

7 p.m.

$12

Minnesota Public RadioâÄôs âÄúThe CurrentâÄù radio station will celebrate its sixth year of bringing that beloved indie rock to local airwaves at First AvenueâÄôs main room. TheyâÄôve put one hell of a bill together: the cityâÄôs favorite troubadour, Jeremy Messersmith, along with Rhymesayers mainstay Brother Ali. The big present, however, will likely be the St. Paul via Philadelphia pop rockers Free Energy. A lineup like this beats a âÄúHappy BirthdayâÄù sing-along any day.

Saturday

Alpha Consumer CD Release Show

7th Street Entry

9 p.m.

$8

Minneapolis trio Alpha Consumer takes a pretty simple approach to their rock âÄònâÄô roll methods. And thatâÄôs not necessarily a bad thing. After a big year on the road that included some live stints with Andrew Bird, their style of garage rock composition and wandering guitars will be filling First AvenueâÄôs 7th Street Entry. Not enough of a selling point? Fuzzed-out âÄúPicked to ClickâÄù winners Pink Mink open up the evening, and thatâÄôs a reason in and of itself to be there.

Sunday

âÄúBreakfast at TiffanyâÄôsâÄù

The Loring Theater

2 p.m.

$8

Blake EdwardsâÄô cinematic rendition of the 1958 Truman Capote novella takes a bit of a sunnier approach to the original authorâÄôs story of Holly Golightly, the beautiful socialite for hire. And it is Audrey HepburnâÄôs iconic performance as that central role that has solidified the character in the pop-culture bedrock. Given the current time of year, when multiplexes are typically churning out their garbage prior to blockbuster season, taking in a classic is likely a better move for the cinephiles.

CULTURE TO CONSUME

Listen to this: âÄúWalking Far From HomeâÄù âÄî Iron &Wine

Sam BeamâÄôs next LP under his Iron & Wine moniker, âÄúKiss Each Other Clean,âÄù doesnâÄôt hit shelves until next Tuesday, but this opening track will give you a hint of how his group has been able to transcend earlier indications that he may be a one-trick pony. Beam continues to appear unquestionably brave in his instrumentation and effect decisions. The guitars are restrained to steady static, letting his layered harmonies carry the bittersweet lyrics âÄî words that clearly come from an artist of journeyed experience.

Drink this: Psycho SuziâÄôs signature cocktails

ItâÄôs been a few months since Northeast staple Psycho SuziâÄôs upgraded to a more spacious abode. With plenty more room to luau, itâÄôs the perfect time of year to take in some distractingly sunnier nightlife. Their signature drink menu, arranged by varied tiers of booziness, will surely have the cure for what ails you.

Eat this: Bean dip

Even the art kids should be excited about the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers going head-to-head in the NFC championship Sunday. ItâÄôs an afternoon of television that is sure to have the drama, dance and intrigue that will hopefully make âÄúBlack SwanâÄù look like âÄúSave the Last Dance.âÄù Sure, bean dip may sound like a bit of a lazy suggestion. However, as the NFC North comes together for what will surely be a drunken communal experience, give guests what they want. If itâÄôs not broken, donâÄôt fix it.

Watch this: âÄúSkinsâÄù

Imagine this British gem as âÄúDegrassiâÄù meets âÄúTrainspotting.âÄù Creators Jamie Brittain and Brian Elsley have taken an unmatched visceral approach to teenaged life in Bristol, U.K. âÄî one that continually offers an emotive odyssey from the heartbreaking to hilarious. With four series and two generations of characters already in the bag, (every two seasons follow a new group of kids) Elsley and Brittain plan to reach new hedonistic heights as series five kicks off next week. While getting your hands on new episodes of this import in can be tricky, it is not too late to check out the first few series on Netflix or MTVâÄôs American version, which premiered Monday.

Read this: âÄúA Practical Guide to RacismâÄù by C.H. Dalton

As everyone continues to buy a small fortuneâÄôs worth of textbooks, most which will never have their spine cracked, pick up this much more affordable and jarringly politically incorrect read. The hilarity ultimately comes from âÄúThe Daily ShowâÄù alumnus Sam MeansâÄô deadpan matter-of-fact approach as he embodies this fictional professor. The dense glossary of racial slurs alone has the capacity to widen the eyes of even those hardest to offend.