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SUNDAY, JULY 25

CONVENTION-RELATED

THE O’JAYS AND THE BOSTON POPS CONDUCTED BY KEITH LOCKHART perform at 7 p.m. at City Hall Plaza, Boston. Free; (617) 635-2004.

"PEOPLE’S PARTY! LET THE DELEGATES KNOW WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND" with an open mic, food, stilt walking, participatory art, dance, music, and more is from 5 to 10 p.m. across from Stony Brook T Station, Jamaica Plain. Free; (617) 491-4857.

THE JUMPOFF with Bill and Hillary Clinton, Terry McAuliffe, Al Sharpton, Biz Markie, Natalie Portman, Jon Stewart, Jerry Springer, and others is at 8:30 p.m. at Avalon, 15 Lansdowne St., Boston. For ticket info contact jumpoff@democraticGAIN.org

"WHAT MUST THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DO TO LIVE UP TO THE PROGRESSIVE VISION OF PAUL WELLSTONE?" with Alec Baldwin, Anna Burger, Jeff Blodgett, Michael Dukakis, Maria Elena Durazo, Barbara Ehrenreich, Frances Fox-Piven, Al Franken, Leo Girard, Jim Hightower, Arianna Huffington, and Major Owens is at 4 p.m. at Old West Church, 131 Cambridge St., Boston. Tickets $25-$100; (617) 524-8778.

BENEFITS

GEORGE STREET BIKE CHALLENGE TO BENEFIT THE MAYOR TAYLOR ASSOCIATION is at 11 a.m. at George and Main Sts., Worcester. Registration $15; (508) 831-0301.

AT THE CLUBS

ROCK. Although they were among the first of LA’s punk bands, the Weirdos broke up in the early ’80s without releasing a proper album — and even though they’ve since put out a pair of belated compilation discs of singles and demos that are prized by vintage-punk fans everywhere, they’re still down around zero on the recognition meter. Don’t let that keep you from seeing ’em tonight: their "We Got the Neutron Bomb" is a certified classic, and if they’re in a fighting mood, maybe they’ll dig out their instrumental "Hey Big Oil." They’re on a bill with the Starlite Desperation, whose 2001 debut, Show You What a Baby Won’t (GSL), anticipated the kind of neo-garage punk that the Hives, the Von Bondies, and most of New York are playing right now. We should warn you, though, that the band have signed to Capitol and released a generic-sounding new EP that we’re not terribly thrilled with. Both bands are at the Middle East, 472 Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square; call (617) 864-EAST.

OTHER SHOWS:

For the following shows, see the Club Directory for phone numbers and addresses.

ALL ASIA CAFE, Cambridge. At 5 p.m., "Summer Songwriter Series" with Christie Leigh, Liz Kelly, Will Dailey, Greytone World.

AN TUA NUA, Boston. "Lounge Around" with mellow beats by DJ Dave.

ARIA, Boston. "Living Room," lounge and vocal house.

THE ATTIC, Newton Centre. Coalboilers.

AURORA, Boston. "Ginseng," soulful house, hip hop, and reggae.

AVALON, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Gay Night," house with DJ Darrin Friedman.

THE AVENUE, Allston. "Lounge Night."

BARKING CRAB, Boston. At noon, "Sunday Brunch" with Bruce Marshall. At 6 p.m., Melissa Bolling, Peter Bell.

THE BEACHCOMBER, Quincy. At 2:30 p.m., Inchicore. At 5:30 p.m., Jackie Brown Band. At 9 p.m., 80s Dance Party.

BLARNEY STONE PUB, Dorchester. "Laid Back Sunday."

BLUE CAT CAFE, Boston. DJ Armen.

BOB THE CHEF’S, Boston. At 10 a.m., "Sunday Jazz Brunch" with Paulo Daney Jazz Quartet.

BRAVO@THE MFA, Boston. "Jazz Brunch" with Ronnie Ron Duo.

THE BURREN, Somerville. Front Room: At 2 p.m., "Traditional Irish Music." Back Room: At 8 p.m., "Singer-Songwriter Series" with Danielle.

CANTAB LOUNGE/THIRD RAIL, Cambridge. "Candy’s Blues Jam."

CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN NATICK, Natick. Gary Bohan.

CHOPPIN’ BLOCK PUB, Boston. At 10 p.m., "RawCuts Hip-hop Night."

CLARK’S IN FANEUIL HALL, Boston. 9 Pound Bag.

CLUB PASSIM, Cambridge. At 7:30 p.m., Jez Lowe.

COSTELLO’S Jamaica Plain. At 9 p.m., James Merenda’s Masked Marvels,

COTTONWOOD CAFE, Boston. D Street Band.

DEVLIN’S LOUNGE AND BAR, Brighton. DJ Ren Justice.

DICK’S LAST RESORT, Boston. At 10 a.m., "Sunday Brunch." At 7:20 p.m., Big Time.

ENCORE, Boston. Dorothy Miller & Michael Larson.

THE E ROOM AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE, Brookline. House and acid jazz with DJ Johan Van Cauwenberghe.

THE EXCHANGE, Boston. "Menage A Trois," Brazilian dance and Eurohouse with DJ Roland.

GRAFTON STREET PUB & GRILL, Cambridge. At 9 p.m., Beantown Project.

GREAT SCOTT, Brighton. Blue Van Residency.

GREEN DRAGON, Boston. Swinging Johnsons.

GREEN STREET GRILL, Cambridge. Balla.

HENNESSY’S, Boston. Travolte.

THE INDEPENDENT, Somerville. Frank Morey.

IRISH VILLAGE, Brighton. DJ Kieran.

JACQUES UNDERGROUND, Boston. "Diamond Dunhill’s Drag-Ons Review."

JOHNNY D’S, Somerville. At 9 a.m., "Jazz Brunch." At 4:30 p.m., "Open Blues Jam." At 9 p.m., "Salsa Dancing" with Rumba Na Ma.

THE KELLS, Allston. "Fiesta Brazillian Night" with DJ Claudio.

KENNEDY’S, Boston. At noon, "Sunday Brunch" with Gordon Michaels.

MADFISH GRILLE, Gloucester. Jack Lee & Divercity.

METROPOLIS, Providence, RI. "Industry," uplifting house and dance anthems, with DJ Rick Naples.

MIDDLE EAST, Cambridge. Upstairs: Weirdos, Starlite Desperation, Coffin Lids, Sleazies. Downstairs: Slackers, Stray Bullets, Linus.

MIDWAY CAFE, Jamaica Plain. Stump the Undertaker’s Organ.

MILKY WAY, Jamaica Plain. "Satellite" with DJ Mix Mistress, Babes in Dragland, All the Kings Men.

O’BRIEN’S, Allston. Swivel, Concept 6.

O’LEARY’S, Brookline. At 7:30 p.m., "Irish Music Session."

ORLEANS, Somerville. At 7 p.m., "Jazz Session."

PARADISE ROCK CLUB, Boston. At 9 p.m., Arrested Development, Spookie Daly Pride.

PHOENIX LANDING, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., "Celtica." At 10 p.m., "Bump," house music with DJs Demarkus Lewis, George Nessis.

PLOUGH & STARS, Cambridge. At 5 p.m., Northshore Musicians. At 9:30 p.m., Cranktones.

PURPLE SHAMROCK, Boston. James McKenna Duo.

Q, Boston. At 9 p.m., Danny Trucker & the Vibe Tribe.

THE RACK, Boston. At 10 p.m., DJ Mike Janedy.

REDLINE, Cambridge. At 10 p.m., DJ Brynmore.

RIVER GODS, Cambridge. "Sound Dimension Soul" with the Captain.

RYLES, Cambridge. At 10 a.m., "Jazz Brunch" with Bob Gay.

SEA NOTE, Nantasket Beach. "Brazilian Night."

SISSY K’S, Boston. Greg Luttrell.

TIR NA NOG, Somerville. Ronan "Fluffy" Quinn.

TRATTORIA IL PANINO, Boston. "International Night" with DJs Nino, Antoine, Giulano, and Giovanni.

T.T. THE BEAR’S PLACE, Cambridge. Dusky Silo, Stephan Smith, Dave Wildman.

VAPOR, Boston. "T-Dance," old school house with DJ Danae.

VENU, Boston. "Carnival," Brazilian night with DJ Adilson.

VERTIGO, Boston. Caribbean and World Beat with DJ Deville.

WALLY’S CAFE, Boston. At 3 p.m., "Sunday Afternoon Jazz Jam." At 9 p.m., Wally’s Stepchildren.

WELLFLEET BEACHCOMBER, Wellfleet. Papa Grows Funk.

WONDER BAR, Allston. Johnny Horner/Joe McMahon Trio featuring Barry Ries.

ZEITGEIST GALLERY, Cambridge. At 9 p.m., Shumai, Snoozer, Walker Kong.

ZUZU, Cambridge. "Rockabilly Night."

AT THE COMEDY CLUBS

BEANTOWN COMEDY VAULT, Boston. "The Politics of Open Mic Night" with Kelly MacFarland.

BROTHER JIMMY’S BBQ, Cambridge. At 9:30 p.m., "Hari-Kari Karaoke Jewkbox."

CHARLES PLAYHOUSE (617-426-6912), 74 Warrenton St., Boston. At 8 p.m., "Comedy Fiasco."

COMEDY STUDIO AT HONG KONG, Cambridge. Abe Smith, Derek Gerry, Toby Muresianu, Steve Calechman, Tommy Morello, Dave Grabiner, Joe Wong, Maxi Silvestri.

IMPROVBOSTON THEATRE, Cambridge. At 7 p.m., "Sgt. Culpepper’s Improvisational Jamboree."

JIMMY TINGLE’S OFF BROADWAY, Somerville. At 7 p.m., "Unconventional Comedy Convention: A Celebration of Political Humor" with Janeane Garofalo, Sam Seder, and Jimmy Tingle. At 9:30 p.m., Lewis Black.

MILKY WAY, Jamaica Plain. "Laughing Gas" with Tim McIntire, Central Artery Project.

POPULAR MUSIC CONCERTS

Chances are you won’t be among the privileged few invited to the Lifetime/Rock the Vote party Carole King is playing later this week, but you can catch her at FleetBoston Pavilion, on Northern Avenue near the World Trade Center. The songwriting legend’s hits span four decades, from the deathless girl-group and doo-wop dramas she penned for the Drifters, the Shirelles, and the Crystals through the pop and alterna-rock hits she’s still pumping out for groups from Hanson and Semisonic to Celine Dion. On her current "Living Room Tour," she’s playing stripped-down sets covering her own storied solo career as well as some of the classics she’s penned for others. Show time is 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $37 to $77; call (617) 931-2000.

Cambridge is thumbing its nose at the DNC, taking advantage of its freedom, and pulling out all the festivals this week as part of its "Destination: Cambridge — The Unconventional City" celebration. So shake off last night’s hangover for an afternoon full of dancing in the streets. In conjunction with the Old Central Square World’s Fair committee, the city is throwing the Citywide Music Festival on Mass Ave, smack-dab in the middle of Central Square. The Green Street Grill has coordinated nine stages, each hosting a different musical genre, including Latin, R&B, Caribbean, African, Irish, gospel, and much more (See "Events," below, for participating bands). You’re sure to find a little something for everyone. Plus, there will be venders and booths of all shapes, flavors, and sizes, hawking goodies from food to art. Call all your friends, and pack up the kids for this magical musical spectacular. The event runs from noon until six, but we predict some lingering due to encores. And, of course, the whole day is free.

LOWELL FOLK FESTIVAL with the Abyssinians, Cana Ramblers, Dale Hawkins, Gilles Roy & the Stepping Ambassadors, Huun Huur Tu, Kevin Burke, Mark Halata & Texavia, Red Stick Ramblers, Warner Williams & Jay Summerour, and others wraps up today from noon to 7 p.m. along the streets and canals of downtown Lowell. Free; (978) 970-5000.

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER performs tonight at 8 p.m. at the Cape Cod Melody Tent, 21 West Main St., Hyannis. Tickets $34.75-$45.75; (508) 931-2787.

NEW BEDFORD WHALING BLUES FESTIVAL with Mighty Sam McClain, the Holmes Brothers, Young Neil & the Vipers, Entrain, and Jamison T Band is from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ft. Taber Park, New Bedford. Tickets $25, $10 for students, seniors; (508) 990-1425.

CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERTS

TANGLEWOOD. Peter Serkin playing Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Winds is by itself reason not to rush into town to catch the convention’s opening gavel. The rest of the program is classic summer Sunday-afternoon comfort food: Vaughan Williams’s Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, and Elgar’s Enigma Variations. Mark Elder leads the BSO, it starts at 2:30 p.m. in the Koussevitzky Music Shed, and tickets are $16 to $82; call (617) 566-1200.

INTERNATIONAL BAROQUE INSTITUTE AT LONGY OPENING NIGHT CONCERT is at 8 p.m. at Longy School of Music, 27 Garden St., Cambridge. Tickets $12, $7 for students, seniors; (617) 876-0956.

DANCE/PERFORMANCE

This week’s Ted Shawn Theatre presentation at Jacob’s Pillow is Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, but the program is international: Mats Ek’s Solo for Two (music by Arvo Pärt); Nacho Duato’s Without Words (Schubert), which Boston Ballet did in February 2000; and Jirí Kylián’s Six Dances (Mozart). Its final performances are today at 2 in the Ted Shawn Theatre, 358 George Carter Road in Becket, and tickets are $50, $45 for children, students, and seniors; call (413) 243-0745.

LAKSHMI VISHWANATHAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS perform today at 5 p.m. at Jacob’s Pillow, Doris Duke Studio Theatre, 358 George Carter Rd., Becket. Tickets $18-$20; (413) 243-0745.

DANCE/PARTICIPATORY

CONTACT JAM IMPROVISATION DANCE is at 11:30 a.m. at the Arlington Center, 369 Mass. Ave., Arlington. Tickets $8; (781) 316-0282.

EAST COAST SWING AND TWO-STEP is at 7 p.m. at Ashland Country Dance Hall, 162 West Union St., Ashland. Tickets $4-$8; (508) 435-0950.

FREESTYLE DANCE SUNDAY is at 8 p.m. at the Brookline Community Center for the Arts, 14 Green St., Brookline. Tickets $5; (617) 738-2800.

INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCING is from 8 to 11 p.m. at MIT, Sala de Puerto Rico, Stratton Student Center (second floor), 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Tickets $1; (617) 253-3655.

ISRAELI FOLK DANCING is at 8 p.m. at Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel, 52 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge. Tickets $3, $2 for students; (617) 484-3267.

LA MILONGUITA: ARGENTINE TANGO DANCE is at 7 p.m. (lesson) and 9 p.m. (dance) at the Brazilian Cultural Center, 310 Webster Ave., Cambridge. Tickets $10; (413) 585-9695.

MAMBO/SALSA CLUB with music by Mackie Burnette and DJ O’Bruno is at 1 p.m. at the Middle East, 480 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Tickets $15, $12 for students; (617) 524-2763.

WEPA SALSA SUNDAY DANCE is from 8 p.m. to midnight at 179 South St. (sixth floor), Boston. Tickets $10; (617) 388-0925.

EVENTS

CENTRAL SQUARE WORLD’S FAIR with Billy Bang Quintet, the Rebirth Brass Band, the Revolution Dance, Kilombo Mambo, Vibewise, Superhoney, Rubyhorse, the Twinemen, Jake Brennan & the Confidence Men, Three Day Threshold, Mass Hysteria, Brothers in Christ, God Squad Gospel Singers, Silver Lining Gospel Singers, Bibletones Gospel Singers, Charlie’s Angels, Third Heaven Brass Band, Flynn Cohen, Eric Merrill, Dylan Callahan, Janet Feld, Tony Toledo, Alastair Moock & Pastures of Plenty, Alma Martina, Aruan Ortiz Cuban Jazz, Merida Castillo Cuban Sound, Latin Family Steel Band, Mass Tango, Wannetta Jackson, Stan Strickland, Toussaint, Fata Fata, Gama Gigi, La Mine Group, and Sali Oyugi plus dance with Hannah Ramsey, Carl Alleyne, Collage, Aparna Sindhoor, Lizz Canon, Jody Weber, Debra Bluth, Liz Lapuh, Marina Wolf, Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre, CTG Beyond Borders, Kate Digby Dance, and ABDM is from noon to 6 p.m. between Prospect St./Western Ave. and Brookline St., Cambridge. Free; (617) 349-4313.

"ENSO: A BURNING RITUAL" with music, dance, and the burning of a circle of gathered wood is at 5:30 p.m. at Forest Hills Cemetery, 95 Forest Hills Ave., Jamaica Plain. Free; (617) 524-0128.

"LE GRAND DAVID AND HIS OWN SPECTACULAR MAGIC COMPANY" perform at 3 p.m. at Cabot St. Cinema Theatre, 286 Cabot St., Beverly. Tickets $15, $10 for children under 12; (978) 927-3677.

WOMEN OF FOREST HILLS GUIDED WALKING TOUR is at 2 p.m. at Forest Hills Cemetery, 95 Forest Hills Ave., Jamaica Plain. Tickets $8; (617) 524-0128.

AT THE MOVIES

Local journalist and filmmaker Danny Schechter (former news director for the old WBCN, now the blogger behind the "News Dissector") won an Emmy for his film Counting on Democracy, his 2002 exposé of the 2000 Florida election shenanigans. Schecter’s new Embedded: Weapons of Mass Distraction, based on his book of the same name, presents a damning, disturbing case against the administration and the mainstream media in their deceit and manipulation regarding the war in Iraq. One Phoenix staffer who got an advance peek reported it to be more cohesive and devastating than Fahrenheit 9/11. The film gets its Boston debut at 7:30 p.m. at 38 Cameron Avenue in North Cambridge as part of the Boston Political Film Festival. Schechter will be present at the screening; call (617) 975-3361.

ALSO OPENING THIS WEEKEND: In times like these, it helps to have an alter ego to do all the dirty work. In The Bourne Supremacy, Matt Damon returns as the amnesiac secret agent, this time seeking the real identity of an assassin who claims to be himself. Isn’t this what happened last time? But then, he wouldn’t remember. Paul Greengrass (Bloody Sunday) adapts the Robert Ludlum novel; Joan Allen and Franka Potente help out. Halle Berry gets a new lease on life as Catwoman, who in this variation on the sexy villainess portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman is a murdered graphic artist who’s been reincarnated and is seeking revenge on her killers. Lambert Wilson and Sharon Stone also star; Pitof (Vidocq) directs. Having Cary Grant as one’s doppelgänger has its advantages, especially if you’re a gay Canadian Muslim living in London. Kyle MacLachlan portrays the ghost of the urbane icon in Ian Iqbal Rashid’s screwball comedy Touch of Pink. And Marlon Brando’s first incarnation as a Broadway star is just one of the nostalgic and showstopping topics of Rick McKay’s documentary Broadway: The Golden Age. Bill Clinton has more of a nemesis — Ken Starr — than an alter ego in The Hunting of the President, the documentary by Harry Thomason and Nickolas Perry based on the Joe Conason book about the vast right-wing conspiracy to impeach the president.

It’s probably not a good sign for any administration when Hollywood thinks it’s a good time to remake The Manchurian Candidate. Perhaps even more relevant is Dr. Strangelove, Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 black comedy about what happens when weapons of mass destruction are all too easily found. Starring Peter Sellers in the title role, it’s a mordant, nihilistic discourse on what happens when a hare-brained wacko gets hold of the reins of power. Uh, sound familiar? It screens today at the Brattle Theatre, with shows at 1:20, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30, and 9:30 p.m.

READINGS/LECTURES

CHARLES CALHOUN discusses his Longfellow: A Rediscovered Life at 4 p.m. at the Longfellow National Historic Site, East Lawn, 105 Brattle St., Cambridge. Free; (617) 876-4491.

TOM HAYDEN discusses his Street Wars: Gangs and the Future of Violence at 3 p.m. at Jamaicaway Books and Gifts, 676 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. Free; (617) 983-3204.

LIZARD LOUNGE POETRY SLAM & JAM is at 7:30 p.m. at the Lizard Lounge, 1667 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Tickets $6; (617) 547-0759.

POETRY EXCHANGE hosted by Richard Moore is from 3 to 5 p.m. at Harvard Coop, 1400 Mass. Ave., 3rd floor, Cambridge. Free; (617) 489-0519.

THEATER

"Come fly with me" has always been a Cirque du Soleil theme, but in the Montreal-based troupe’s latest touring production, Varekai, which is opening at Suffolk Downs, it’s the main event. This acrobatic extravaganza is partly inspired by the Greek legend of Icarus, but in Cirque’s version, the singed Icarus lands safely in an enchanted forest that includes a catwalk, turntables, elevated platforms, and a lot of awfully flexible and coordinated performers. Varekai ("Wherever") runs through September 5, but the next performance isn’t until next week — the remainder of this week’s performances have been cancelled because of (you guessed it) the DNC. Tickets are $55 to $75; call (800) 678-5440, or visit cirquedusoleil.com

Everyone expects political and religious authorities to tell us how to live, but when did jugglers get hold of a soapbox? The Flying Karamazov Brothers, a world-traveling troupe of comedians, musicians, and all-around goofballs, take a stab at philosophy with LIFE: A Guide for the Perplexed, running tonight at 7:30 at the American Repertory Theatre (64 Brattle Street, Cambridge). The Brothers toss and turn pins, balls, and just about any audience-submitted object to show how you can balance unwieldy matters without making compromises. They address this year’s most perplexing election with sections titled "Hostile Takover: Election 2000" and "Vote in November: Not for Nader," which led plenty of Republicans to leave early at a recent gig in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The show runs through August 8. Tickets cost $45; visit www.amrep.org