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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11

ART

At the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, whose founder left strict instructions with her heirs not to let anybody touch anything, curating exhibits of new work is an art unto itself. And yet the Gardner keeps coming up with inspired new twists. Come see how much portrait photographer Dayanita Singh, furniture historian Fausto Calderai, designer Andrea Anastasio, art educator Carla Hartman, and filmmaker Michael Sheridan can do with Isabella’s collection of "Chairs" in an exhibit that runs through May 9. That’s at 280 the Fenway in Boston; call (617) 566-1401.

BENEFITS

Hugh Masekela, who was brought to the US by Harry Belafonte in the early 1960s, commemorates the 15th anniversary of Nelson Mandella’s release from a South African prison with a program at Scullers that’s a benefit for the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists and for a traveling exhibition of South African art. Masekela won’t be performing at this event — though he will be back to perform at Scullers June 23 through 25 — but instead will speak at a reception where attendees will enjoy CDs, dinner, and a copy of his autobiography Still Grazing, the title of which harks back to his biggest hit, 1968’s "Grazing in the Grass." Tickets are $125. Scullers is at the DoubleTree Guest Suites, 400 Soldiers Field Road in Allston; call (617) 576-0680.

CONCERT TO BENEFIT MASSCANN/NORML with Haloburn, Stock 7, Down 2 Zero, and Roots of Creation is at 8 p.m. at the Good Time Emporium, 30 Sturtevant St., Somerville. Tickets $7; (617) 628-5559.

AT THE CLUBS

Cold enough for ya? Warming up to the soothing (but not too saccharine) sounds of the Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience has never been so nice. They will be gracing a dozen stateside venues this winter, blending beautiful harmonies and finger-picked guitars. The Kings’ sound started simply back in 2001; now, with the larger release of their new album, they’ve added a few more musical flourishes to the mix. Tonight they invite you to take a stroll though their newly variegated musical garden. Snag a seat at the Paradise (967 Comm Ave, Boston), lean back, and let the melodies swirl in your ears. Doors open at 8; tickets are $12 at www.thedise.com

New York’s the Brought Low enhance their classic- and Southern-rock evocations with a Queens-bred, punked-out, broken-muffler rumble and roar led by frontguy Ben Smith’s encyclopædic guitar licks. They’re upstairs at the Middle East, 472 Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square, with Lamont, Superpower, and Radar Eyes for an 18-plus show; call (617) 864-EAST.

Also tonight: even the guys in Creed couldn’t stand Scott Stapp, so they got a new singer and formed Alter Bridge, who’re at Avalon (15 Lansdowne Street in Boston; 617-262-2424) with Philly’s Silvertide — think Silverchair, only without the grunge patina disguising their ’70s stadium-rock ambitions. The clever young Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman is at P.A.’s Lounge (345 Somerville Avenue in Somerville; 617-776-1557) behind his new When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog. (Elisabeth Donnelly’s review is in "Off the Record," on the "Music" page of this site.) Opening are their label mates, the Indiana indie-pop group Impossible Shapes, whose new Tum is available as a free download at www.secretlycanadian.com. Playing their first local gig since signing to Island/Def Jam, Damone are threatening to break out the smoke machine — an appropriate prop, since their new high-octane material borrows a few tricks from ’80s dirtbag metal. (See if you can guess which song they’re trying to get Nikki Sixx to produce.) They’re at the Middle East (480 Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square; 617-864-EAST) with Damn Personals and Favorite Atomic Hero. The militant wing of Jade Tree’s empire occupies the ICC Church (557 Cambridge Street in Allston; 617-782-8120), with Strike Anywhere and the Loved Ones heading up a bill also featuring With Honor and Stand Accused. It’s an all-ages, 6 p.m. show. And at Axis (13 Lansdowne Street in Boston; 617-262-2437), Island’s latest mallpunk signing, Letter Kills, headline a bill with Squad 5-0 and Stutterfly; it’s also a 6 p.m. all-ages gig.

FOLK. The weirder, dreadlocked half of the long-running, long-laughing anti-folk duo Bitch and Animal — namely, the bassist, electric violinist, and uke-playing woman now billing herself simply as Bitch — stops by Club Passim to debut material from her forthcoming solo album, Almost to the Water. That’s at 47 Palmer Street in Harvard Square; call (617) 492-7679.

What we imagine Martha Stewart is listening to in prison: Danger Mouse’s new thugged-out remix of "Tom’s Diner," which has Suzanne Vega singing over 50 Cent’s "In da Club." It’s available as a free download at www.suzannevega.com, and Vega herself continues a three-night stand at the Regattabar, with shows tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 and 10 p.m. The R-Bar is in the Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett Street in Harvard Square; call (617) 395-7757.

JAZZ. You can quibble with Jane Monheit’s execution of jazz swing (serviceable, but not in a league with, say, that other controversial popular jazz star, Diana Krall), but not with the richness of her voice and the control she has over it, qualities that never fail her in a big Broadway ballad. That’s not to discount the appeal of her sultry good looks, which has helped make her a star ever since she was one of the runners-up in the 1998 Thelonious Monk competition, at age 20. Monheit comes to Scullers for the Valentine’s Day weekend on the wind of her Sony Classics debut from late last year, Taking a Chance on Love. That’s in the DoubleTree Guest Suites Hotel, 400 Soldiers Field Road at the Mass Pike; call (617) 562-4111.

ROAD-TRIPPING. Last summer, you probably downloaded emo-kid-turned-lap-top-rapper (and avowed Atom and His Package fan) MC Lars’s "iGeneration," a clever micro-hit that samples the crunchy chorus from "American Hearts" by Boston (now LA) emo geeks Piebald. But that was only the second-best emo hook on Lars’s Laptop EP. If you want to hear #1, check out the new Kurt St. Thomas–directed video for Lars’s arch music-biz satire "Signing Emo," which features a cameo by Hearts That Hate — a fictitious band whose bio claims they’re from Providence and who might be the Spinal Tap of screamo. MC Lars is opening the Bowling for Soup/American Hi-Fi tour, which hits Lupo’s at the Strand (401-331-LUPO) in Providence tonight.

OTHER LIVE SHOWS:

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

ABBEY LOUNGE, Somerville. Stumbleweeds.

ALL ASIA CAFE, Cambridge. Tim Blane, Chimp Simple.

THE ASGARD, Cambridge. Tom Grolueau & Stu Lee.

AVALON, Boston. At 6:30 p.m., Alter Bridge, Silvertide, Submersed.

AXIS, Boston. At 7 p.m., Letter Kills, Squad 5-0, Stutterfly, Adair.

THE BEACHCOMBER, Quincy. Mark Morris & the Catunes.

BLACKBURN TAVERN, Gloucester. Dan King Experience.

BRAVO at THE MFA Boston. Damon Carter.

CANTAB LOUNGE, Cambridge. Upstairs: Little Joe Cook & the Thrillers. Downstairs: "Original Rock, Roots & R&B."

CLUB 58, Quincy. "Get Some Fridays," hip-hop with the Freakas.

CLUB PASSIM, Cambridge. At 8 p.m., Bitch, James O’Brien.

COMMON GROUND, Allston. Heather Hates You.

DICK’S LAST RESORT, Boston. Classic Trax.

DRUID PUB, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., "Traditional Irish Seisiun" with Peter Molloy & Friends.

ENCORE, Boston. "Cabaret Open Mic" with Jan Peters, Colleen Powers, Michael Ricca, Brian Patton.

THE GOOD LIFE DOWNTOWN, Boston. Weepin’ Willie.

GOOD TIME EMPORIUM, Somerville. "Masscann/Norml Benefit" with Haloburn, Stock 7, Down 2 Zero, Roots of Creation.

GRAND CANAL, Boston. Stoning Jo.

GREAT SCOTT, Allston. At 9:30 p.m., "The Pill" Britpop, indie, with Cyanide Valentine.

GREEN DRAGON, Boston. Bald Walter.

GREEN STREET GRILL, Cambridge. Kilombo Mambo.

HARPERS FERRY, Allston. Moon Boot Lover, Rana.

HENNESSY’S, Boston. Swerve.

IRISH VILLAGE, Brighton. "Funky Friday" with Elyte, Cnyce, Mas.

JASMINE & KENDALL LOUNGE, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., Marianne Solivan Jazz Quartet. At 10 p.m., Carol O’Shaughnessy.

JOHNNY D’S, Somerville. Knot.

KENNEDY’S, Boston. At 5 p.m., Matt Fulton. At 9 p.m., Springhill Rounders.

KINGS, Boston. At 10:30 p.m., Ray Greene.

LES ZYGOMATES, Boston. Ronnie Ron Trio.

LIZARD LOUNGE, Cambridge. At 8 p.m., Jon Nolan. At 9:30 p.m., Kahoots, Milo Jones, Ponies in the Surf.

LUPO’S AT THE STRAND, Providence, RI. Bowling for Soup, American Hi-Fi, Riddlin’ Kids, MC Lars.

MAN RAY, Cambridge. "Xmortis: A Bloddy Mess" with Malice in Leatherland, Black Cat Burlesque, PV-Scene, DJs Chris Ewen & Mothra.

MATT MURPHY’S, Brookline. Icaros.

MIDDLE EAST, Cambridge. Upstairs: Lamont, Superpower, Brought Low, Radar Eyes. Downstairs: Damone, Damn Personals, Baby Boy H, Favorite Atomic Hero.

MIDWAY CAFE, Jamaica Plain. Pako, Doctor Frog, Goods.

MR. DOOLEY’S TAVERN, Boston. At 5 p.m., Eamonn Sheehan. At 9 p.m., Colin O’Brien.

O’BRIEN’S, Allston. Distinguished Members, Shortfilm, Leave the Body, Ugly F-lings.

OCEANA RESTAURANT, Boston. Mike DiBari Trio.

OVERDRAUGHT PUB, Cambridge. Rock Bottom.

PADDY O’S, Boston. Dick & Jane.

THE PALACE, Saugus. "Rio" Brazil’s Carnaval; "Male Encounter" all-male dance review. "Rockpile."

THE PALLADIUM, Worcester. moe.

PARADISE LOUNGE, Boston. At 9 p.m., Eight Deep, Gold Boy, Platinumb.

PARADISE ROCK CLUB, Boston. At 9 p.m., Kings of Convenience.

P.A.’S LOUNGE, Somerville. Jens Lekman, Impossible Shapes, Pants Yell!

PLOUGH & STARS, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., "Irish Seisiun." At 9 p.m., RPM’s.

REGATTABAR, Cambridge. Suzanne Vega.

ROGGIE’S, Brighton. Upstairs: Ali.

RYLES, Cambridge. Patricia Vlieg.

SCULLERS, Boston. Jane Monheit.

SISSY K’S, Boston. At 5 p.m., Matt Browne. At 9 p.m., Stu Sinclair & Kevin Kirrane.

SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATIONS, Jamaica Plain. "Next Level" with DJ Nomadik, Kwesi Johnson, Kiki Breevlife, Ladies of Boston Reggae.

TOAD, Cambridge. Todd Thibaud.

TOP OF THE HUB, Boston. Chris Taylor Quartet.

T.T. THE BEAR’S PLACE, Cambridge. Spurs, Two Timin Threes, Johnny Carlevale & the Broken Rhythm Boys, Lauren Marie.

WALLY’S CAFE, Boston. At 9:30 p.m., Jason Palmer/Warren Wolf Jazz Collective.

WESTERN FRONT, Cambridge. "New England Rockers Showcase."

WONDER BAR, Allston. Johnny Horner/Joe McMahon Quartet.

ZEITGEIST GALLERY, Cambridge. At 7 p.m., Cat Show Snapshots. At 9:30 p.m., Eric Zinman Experience, Dave Bryant Quartet.

ZUZU, Cambridge. "Latin Night" with Gian Carlo Buscaglia.

DJ SHOWS:

AN TAIN, Boston. At 5 p.m., DJ Sean O. At 10 p.m., DJ David Natola.

AN TUA NUA, Boston. "Superlovers," early hits to the latest sounds with DJ Vinny.

ARIA, Boston. "Foundation Friday" with DJ Klutch.

ATLAS DANCE, Boston. "Top 40 Dancing."

AVALON, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Avaland" with special guest DJs.

THE AVENUE, Allston. At 9 p.m., DJ Steve Auston.

AXIS, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Flavor Friday" with DJ Master Millions.

BLARNEY STONE PUB, Dorchester. Commercial dance and R&B.

BLUE CAT CAFE, Boston. DJ Pete Winfrey.

BOSTON ROCKS, Boston. Top 40 Dance & hip-hop with DJ Bruno.

BUCK MULLIGAN’S, West Roxbury. R&B, rock, and dance with DJ Keith.

BUZZ BOSTON/EUROPA, Boston. "Club Twist for Women."

CLUB CAFE, Boston. "Non Stop Video Show" with VJ Tom Yazbek.

DEVLIN’S LOUNGE AND BAR, Brighton. "Uptempo House" with DJ Paul Dailey.

EMBASSY, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Hip-hop, Reggae, and Dance."

ENORMOUS ROOM, Cambridge. "all st*rs have eyes" with Amy Lee Grill and DJ David Day.

THE E ROOM AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE, Brookline. Vocal house, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s with DJ Bob Gallagher.

THE EXCHANGE, Boston. House and hip-hop with DJs Tiziano & Luca.

G-SPOT, Boston. "Deep, sexy house" with DJs Mike Traylor & Paul Incus.

GUIDO OSHEA’S, Brockton. "Mirage Night Club," Haitian, Caribbean and Cape Verdean music.

HONG KONG, Cambridge. Top 40 Hip-Hop, Rock & Club Classics with M.C. Renn.

ID, Boston. "Bashment" Reggae beats with DJ King Ilabash.

THE INTERNATIONAL, Boston. "The Basement" house music with DJ Bradford James.

JUKEBOX, Boston. Top 40 and retro dance night.

THE KELLS, Allston. "Ladies Night" with DJs Doc and Kieran.

LA BOOM, Boston. "Fashion Fridays" with DJ Roland Lopez.

MAN RAY, Cambridge. "Xmortis: A Bloddy Mess" with Malice in Leatherland, Black Cat Burlesque, PV-Scene, DJs Chris Ewen & Mothra.

McGANN’S, Boston. At 10 p.m., Hip-hop, R&B, Reggae, & House with DJ Sparky.

THE MODERN, Boston. At 10 p.m., Latin house with DJ JC.

ORLEANS, Somerville. DJ Tom.

THE PALACE, Saugus. "Rio" Brazil’s Carnaval; "Uptown" DJs spin faves from the ’70s and ’80s; "Oxygen" rap, hip-hop, top 40, and progressive dance; "Male Encounter" all-male dance review. "Rockpile."

PHOENIX LANDING, Cambridge. "Grooveyard" with DJ Greg.

THE PLACE, Boston. At 10 p.m., VJ Laptop.

THE POINT, Boston. "Fluid," house and techno, with DJ troupe Recordheadz.

Q, Boston. "Hip-hop & Top 40" with DJ Massai.

THE RACK, Boston. At 9 p.m., DJ Brian Roche.

REDLINE, Cambridge. At 9 p.m., DJs Rodney Marable & Craig Kapilow.

RIVER GODS, Cambridge. "Diversion" Mello tekno, scsi disko, neusoul with DJ Erik Pearson.

ROGGIE’S, Brighton. Lounge: "Dance Your Ass Off" with DJ Hoff.

THE ROXY, Boston. At 10:30 p.m., "The Cat Club" with DJ Adilson plus special guest DJs.

SCRUFFY MURPHY’S, Dorchester. "Party Time" with DJ Jen.

SISSY K’S, Boston. Upstairs: Hi-NRG and pop house, with DJ Tom McKenna.

SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATIONS, Jamaica Plain. "Next Level" with DJ Nomadik, Kwesi Johnson, Kiki Breevlife, Ladies of Boston Reggae.

SUGAR SHACK, Boston. "Boston’s A-List" Hip hop, old school, and top 40 with DJ B-Spin.

SWEETWATER CAFE, Boston. Old and new dance hits with DJs KC and Gallo.

TOAST, Somerville. "Mash Ave" with Lenlow & DJ BC.

TRATTORIA IL PANINO, Boston. ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s with DJ Zino; progressive, top-40, club, and international with DJ Peter D.

21st AMENDMENT, Boston. DJ Sean Daly.

VENU, Boston. "Roomba," Latin sounds with DJ Roger M, and house with DJ Arsit.

VERTIGO, Boston. "Dream Lounge," international, Latin and house with DJ Marcocci, and vocal and high energy house with DJ Soulheris.

WEST STREET GRILLE, Boston. Top 40 funk and dance with DJs Gabe and Lazee Boy.

COMEDY

Wendy Liebman is the queen of the one-liners — that quick jabbing style of humor perfected by the late Rodney Dangerfield and tempered with her own gently absurdist sensibility. After many stints on Letterman and her own HBO special, she’s returning to New England, where she honed her chops in the early 1980s, to play the Comedy Connection circuit. Tonight and tomorrow, she’s in the Boston room at Faneuil Hall (617-248-9700); Sunday, it’s Chicopee (in the Hu Ke Lau, 705 Memorial Drive; 413-593-5222): and Monday, she’s back at Faneuil Hall.

BEANTOWN COMEDY VAULT, Boston. "Boston Attitude" with Ben Boime.

COMEDY STUDIO, Cambridge. Tom Liszanckie, Orlando Baxter, Nat Towsen, Shane Mauss, Shane Webb, Morgan Gold, Greg Thibideau, Walsh Bros.

IMPROV ASYLUM, Boston. At 9 and 11 p.m., "Lies, Half Truths and the American Way."

IMPROVBOSTON THEATRE, Cambridge. At 8 p.m., "Fort Awesome" At 10 p.m., "Theatre Sports."

JIMMY TINGLE’S OFF BROADWAY, Somerville. At 7:30 p.m., Jimmy Tingle, Mike McDonald.

KOWLOON, Saugus. At 8 and 10 p.m., Rich Ceisler, Carolyn Plummer, John Joyce.

NICK’S COMEDY STOP, Boston. At 8:45 p.m., John Pizzi, Greg Boggis, Dan Miller.

CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERTS

For its second week under guest conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, the BSO does that Cervantes thing, performing Manuel de Falla’s El retablo de Maese Pedro ("Master Peter’s Puppet Show"), which is based on an episode from the second volume about the Knight of the Woeful Countenance, and Richard Strauss’s Don Quixote, with cellist Steven Isserlis and violist Steven Ansell. Performances are today at 1:30 p.m., and tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, and tickets are $27 to $105; call (617) 266-1220.

We think this is the Handel and Haydn Society’s Valentine’s program, but we’re not sure where the romance comes into Haydn’s London Symphony (No. 104), Mozart’s Paris Symphony (No. 31), and Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C. No matter: formidable cellist Pieter Wispelwey will be on hand for the concerto and H&H director Grant Llewellyn will be on the podium tonight at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. in Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston. Tickets are $25 to $49; call (617) 266-4048.

OTHER CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERTS:

BOSTON CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY performs Mozart’s Flute Quartet K.298, with Fenwick Smith, Respighi’s Il tramonto, with mezzo-soprano Mary Nessinger, Shostakovich’s Seven Romances on Poems by A. Blok, with Nessinger and pianist Mihae Lee, and Schubert’s Die Forelle ("The Trout") Piano Quintet, with Lee, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston, and Sun. at 7:30 p.m. at Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., Cambridge. Tickets $25; (617) 349-0086.

BOSTON CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA AND MADE IN THE SHADE JAZZ SEXTET present "Classical Valentines Meets Mardi Gras" at 8 p.m. at Faneuil Hall, Boston. Tickets $25-$49; (617) 423-3883.

DALE HENDERSON AND STEPHEN YENGER perform works for cello and piano by Beethoven at 7 p.m. at the Community Music Center of Boston, 34 Warren Ave., Boston. Donations accepted; (617) 482-7494.

BAYLA KEYES AND SHIELA KIBBE perform works for violin and piano by Fauré and Poulenc at 8 p.m. at the CFA Concert Hall, 855 Comm. Ave., Boston. Free; (617) 353-3349.

MARSH CHAPEL COLLEGIUM performs works by Bach, Schoenberg, and Britten at 8 p.m. in Marsh Chapel, 735 Comm. Ave., Boston. Suggested donation $10; (617) 353-3560.

ANDREW SHERANIAN gives an organ recital at 12:15 p.m. at Old South Church, 645 Boylston St., Boston. Donations accepted; (617) 536-0944 ext. 376.

JEFFREY STEELE performs guitar works by Segovia at 7:30 p.m. at the Depot Square Gallery, 1837 Mass. Ave., Lexington. Donations accepted; (978) 282-3106.

POPULAR MUSIC CONCERTS

The immensely popular Britpop trio Keane have been accused of riding Chris Martin’s coattails, but frontman Tom Chaplin’s piano ballads are better categorized as a revival of ’70s AOR: his band sound less like Coldplay-for-dummies than like Freddy Mercury covering Wings. They’re at the Orpheum, 1 Hamilton Place in Boston, in a performance that was rescheduled from last week in order to allow the group to perform on Saturday Night Live. Tickets are $20 and $25; call (617) 931-2000.

OTHER POP MUSIC CONCERTS:

CHUCK GABRIEL SEPTET performs at 8 p.m. at the Artists-at-Large Gallery, First Congregational Church, 6 Webster St., Hyde Park. Suggested donation $8-$10; (617) 276-3223.

DANÙ performs at 8 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq., Somerville. Tickets $25; (617) 876-4275.

ERIC FRENCH performs at 6 p.m. at the Mary Baker Eddy Library, 200 Mass. Ave., Boston. Free; (617) 450-7000.

KEANE, THE ZUTONS, AND REDWALLS perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum, 1 Hamilton Pl., Boston. Tickets $20-$25; (617) 931-2000.

MADE IN THE SHADE WITH THE BOSTON CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA performs Stephen Halloran’s Concerto for New Orleans at 8 p.m. at Faneuil Hall, Congress St., Boston. Tickets $25-$49; (617) 423-3883.

STRIKE ANYWHERE, WITH HONOR, STAND ACCUSED, AND LOVED ONES perform at 6 p.m. at the ICC Church, 557 Cambridge St., Allston. (617) 782-8120.

DANCE/PARTICIPATORY

BALKAN DANCE is at 7:30 p.m. at Scalzi School of Dance, 101 Bigelow Ave., Watertown. Tickets $8; (617) 840-2362.

EL BEMBÉ LATIN DANCE PARTY is at 9 p.m. at the Center for Latino Arts, 85 West Newton St., Boston. Tickets $15; (617) 927-1730.

INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE is at 8 p.m. at Park Avenue Congregational Church, 50 Paul Revere Rd., Arlington. Tickets $7, $4 for students; (781) 662-7475.

RENAISSANCE DANCE features music by Renaissonics at 7:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 11 Garden St., Cambridge. Tickets $8; (617) 661-3353.

DANCE/PERFORMANCE

We’ll skip the monkey-business and monkey-shine jokes and just tell you that Monkeyhouse are up to their usual intriguing dancemaking tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second Street in Cambridge. Tickets are $20, $15 for students and seniors; call (617) 577-1400.

"DANCE STRAIGHT UP!" with Digby Dance, Hoi Polloi, Mavi Dance & Brookline Academy Performance Companies, and Nicola Hawkins Dance Company is tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m., and Sun. at 3 p.m. at Zero Arrow Theatre, Arrow St. and Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Tickets $30; (617) 876-4275.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEATRE ARTS presents "Aurora Borealis: A Festival of Light and Dance" tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. and Sun. at 2 p.m. at the Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave., Boston. Tickets $10; (617) 933-8600.

EVENTS

"BRASSIERES AT BRASSERIE JO" is a Neiman Marcus fashion presentation at noon at Brasserie Jo, 120 Huntington Ave., Boston. Free; (617) 425-3240.

LOWELL WINTERFEST with human dogsled competitions, fireworks, and performances by Jim Plunkett, Hot Like Fire, Evan Goodrow Band, Upturn, Angkor, and others is tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. and tomorrow from noon to 8 p.m. along Arcand Dr., Lowell. Free; (978) 264-0707 ext. 201.

MOVIES

OPENING THIS WEEKEND: February may be the clearance sale of film releases, but it can sometimes offer items worth considering. How about a look Inside Deep Throat? Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato’s documentary on the legacy of the most famous and lucrative porn movie of all time offers insights from Norman Mailer, Erica Jong, and John Waters. If that doesn’t seem suitable for the kids, take them to Pooh’s Heffalump Movie; this first film from Frank Nissen offers the voices of Brenda Blethyn and Jim Cummings and serves as a 68-minute distraction for the rugrat set. For the more exotic palate, there’s Bride and Prejudice, wherein Gurinder Chadha (Bend It like Beckham) updates the Jane Austen classic into a Bollywood/Hollywood musical. Or Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003), Prachya Pinkaew’s tale of a martial-arts expert tracking down the stolen Buddha statue of the title. Or Travelers and Magicians (2003), from Khyentse Norbu (The Cup), the first film made in Bhutan, a road movie about two men trying to escape their boring lives in that country. Or Tree of Palme (2002), a Japanese anime version of Pinocchio from Takashi Nakamura that’s at the Brattle Theatre this weekend. Or the ongoing "African Film Festival" at the Museum of Fine Arts, whose selection today (at 6 p.m.) is Madame Brouette/Mrs. Wheelbarrow (2002), from Senegal’s Mousse Sene Absa, in which the feisty woman of the title is suspected of killing a local macho brute. Looking for something closer to home? What could be more All-American than Will Smith in Hitch? He’s a matchmaker whose trade is threatened by undercover journalist Eva Mendes. Andy Tennant (Sweet Home Alabama) directs. Or Uncle Nino, in which the oddball relative of the title moves from Italy to Chicago and helps put back together a dysfunctional family? Pierrino Mascarino, Joe Mantegna, and Ann Archer star; Robert Shallcross (Bored Silly) directs.

For more movies and showtimes, see our Movie Theater directory.

READINGS & LECTURES

REESE INMAN & JOHN MERCURI read from their work and discuss algorithmic painting and procedural poetry at 7:30 p.m. at 77 Mass. Ave., Room 2-105, Cambridge. Free; www.analgous.net

RICHARD LAYARD reads from his Happiness: Lessons from a New Science at 3 p.m. at the Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge. Free; (617) 661-1515.

JOHN HANSON MITCHELL reads from his Looking for Mr. Gilbert: The Reconstructed Life of an African American Fri. at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 25 White St., Cambridge; (free; (617) 491-2220); and Tues. at 7 p.m. at the Harvard Coop, 1400 Mass. Ave., Cambridge; (free; (617) 499-2012).

ROSAMUND VAULE signs her As We Were: American Photographic Postcards 1905-1930 at noon at Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., Boston. Free; (617) 482-6439.

"GLOBALIZE THIS: A WALTHAM ALTERNATIVE TO SWEATSHOPS" is a lecture by Adam Neiman at 12:15 p.m. at Brandeis University, Heller Lounge, 415 South St., Waltham. Free; (781) 736-8577.

THEATER

Boston returns to its glory days as a Broadway tryout town — except that it’s unlikely Edward Albee will be furiously rewriting Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in smoke-filled rooms at the Ritz. A revival of the 1962 play, which has proven itself a caustic classic, starts a pre-Broadway engagement at the Wilbur Theatre, with throaty Body Heat and Prizzi’s Honor star Kathleen Turner and "clown prince" Bill Irwin knocking back the booze and knocking over the guests as Martha and George. The run continues through March 6 at the Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont Street in the Theater District, and tickets are $35 to $85; call (617) 931-ARTS or drop in to the Wilbur box office.