Local Night Out
Monday 9.24
Open Art Studios
Overture Center Galleries, through Oct. 12. Reception: Sept. 28, 6-9 pm
The annual event allows you to peek into the studios of over 150 area artists on Oct. 6-7. To help map out your itinerary, you can check out work by each participating artist in this new exhibition.
Tuesday 9.25
Benjamin Johnson
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 7 pm
The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters continues its series on immigration with a talk by the executive director of the American Immigration Law Foundation in Washington, D.C. His subject is "Feeling Their Clout: The New Immigration and Political Power."
Larry Watson
Borders Book West, 7 pm
The Milwaukee novelist reads from Sundown, Yellow Moon, in which a man tries to make sense of his dad's murder/suicide.
The Brunettes
High Noon Saloon, 7 pm
By turns quirky, sweet and just plain effervescent, this husband/wife duo from New Zealand confirms that when it comes to hooky pop, Kiwis just do it better. Hopefully they'll be re-creating the charming wall-of-sound production and snatches of paisley-patterned psychedelia that fill out their recordings. Ferraby Lionheart opens.
Jeffrey Siegel
Mills Hall in the UW Humanities Bldg., 7:30 pm
The classical pianist returns for another "Keyboard Conversation" -- performance combined with patter. A program called "America: Fascinatin' Rhythms" features idiomatic sounds ranging from George Gershwin to Leonard Bernstein to Scott Joplin.
Yellowman & the Sagittarius Band
Annex, 8 pm
Dancehall pioneer Yellowman got his start with salacious, self-aggrandizing rub-a-dub reggae raps that seemed revolutionary a lifetime ago. He's still a party icon, but he's also turned to more socially aware subject matter in recent years.
Wednesday 9.26
Qui
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
Irrepressible Scratch Acid and Jesus Lizard front man David Yow injects plenty of feral intensity into L.A.-based Qui's experimental/stoner offerings. Brainerd and United Sons of Toil open.
Jucifer
Annex, 9:30 pm
Metal, punk and pure noise clash and burn in Jucifer's fearsome output. Who'd have thought the cochlea-shattering duo would remain this fearsome for this long? Droids Attack and Whore du Jour open.
Thursday 9.27
Local Night Out
Local restaurants have coordinated with REAP, the sustainable-food group, to expand their purchases from area farmers. Local Night Out gives them a chance to show off their fresh, homegrown cuisine. Participants include Lombardino's, the Greenbush Bar, the Old Fashioned, Sardine, Fork and Spoon Café, the Dardanelles, Captain Bill's, Ian's Pizza, L'Etoile, the Weary Traveler, Café Montmartre, CocoLiquot, Osteria Papavero, Manna Café, Bluephies, the Edgewater, Bunky's Cafe and Harvest.
Judith Helfand
Sundance Cinemas, 7 pm
In a free event, the artist-in-residence at the UW Arts Institute screens Blue Vinyl, a documentary that digs up the dirt on polyvinyl chloride (PVC). She also shows portions of A Healthy Baby Girl, a video diary about her own DES-related cervical cancer.
Wai Chee Dimock
Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium, 7:30 pm
The Yale professor speaks on "Hemispheric Islam," an intriguing attempt to place American and British literature in a new context. She focuses on Ralph Waldo Emerson, Washington Irving and Thomas Carlyle.
Amy Goodman
Wisconsin Union Theater, 7:30 pm
Goodman is the battlin' host and producer of the progressive radio show "Democracy Now!" As part of the UW's Distinguished Lecture Series, she offers a passionate lefty take on currents events.
Mike Birbiglia
Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm The quietly hilarious young comedian is known for his appearances on Letterman and The Bob & Tom Show, as well as a popular blog called Secret Public Journal.
Mason Jennings
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
The Minneapolis roots auteur performs with Pieta Brown in the support slot, making this the Americana show of the week.
