If We Were You

wed 3.19

FILM at the EAM presents Cutie and the Boxer

Is there a better way to spend your Wednesday night than watching a great film, beer and popcorn in hand, at the Erie Art Museum? We don't think so. This week's film is a 2013 documentary of Japanese boxing painter Ushio Shinohara and his 40-year marriage to his wife, Noriko, featuring original artwork by the couple. Tickets are just $5.

7 p.m. // 20 E. Fifth St. // erieartmuseum.org

thurs 3.20

Open Studio

Looking for a no-pressure opportunity to find and explore the artist within you? There's no experience necessary at BLOOM Collaborative's Open Studio, a multi-medium workshop every Thursday. The $10 participation cost — which supports BLOOM's array of public arts programs — gets you all the materials you'll need to delve into everything from drawing and painting to sculpture to fused glass, not to mention valuable time learning from some of the city's master arts teachers. The popular programs are for everyone, beginners to advanced artists, and there's no need to pre-register. No pressure, indeed!

6 to 8 p.m. // BLOOM Collaborative, 138 E. 26th St. // 878.3688

Future Legends III

There's a burgeoning hip-hop scene here in Erie, and you have the opportunity to catch some of its stellar performers at PACA during Future Legends III. The third part of the series presented by Roswell Enterprises will feature the talents of local MC Ghost the Ill Figure, Johnny Evans, and a special set featuring Heresy performing with The LEC, three acts on a night for potential legends.

6 to 9 p.m. // 1505 State St. // paca1505.com

fri 3.21

Barry Hall's A Trois at Schuster Theatre

Directed by Sarah Sgro, "A Trois" sheds light on the unique circumstances that sometimes surround relationships, be it friends or lovers. Watch as each scene seamlessly merges into the next as the actors tell their stories, remaining on their stools the entire time. This performance is part of Gannon's Fringe Festival. Tickets are just $5. 

8 p.m. // 620 Sassafras St. // 871.7494

The Downtown Y's Celebrity Bartending Event

It's that time of year again – The Downtown Y's Celebrity Bartending Event will take place at Benjamin's Pub and Eatery inside The Avalon Hotel. Join for 50/50′s, Raffles, Small Games of Chance, Mystery Bag Game and a Beer Pyramid Raffle courtesy of Erie Beer. Jack Stevenson from Jackson Station will be performing and all proceeds will benefit The Downtown "Y"'s "We Build People Campaign."

5 to 8 p.m. // 16 W. 10th St. // 452.1432

The Blind Owl Band

It's not often that a band can be described as "Adirondack freight train string music" or a "dust ball of frantic dancin', whip-crackin' energy," but the phrases on The Blind Owl Band's ReverbNation page certainly act as an accurate description for the New York bluegrass group. The lively quartet will be struttin' their proverbial stuff at the crooked i, so head down to State Street for a musical ride.

10 p.m. to 2 a.m. // 1013 State St. // facebook.com/thecrookedierie

sat 3.22

Let's Murder Marsha! by Monk Ferris

What happens when an addicted-to-murder-mystery-novels-housewife overhears her husband plotting her murder? Why, she plots to murder him first, of course. The only problem: he was actually planning her birthday surprise. The drama unfolds at All An Act Theatre Productions as part of Gannon's Fringe Festival. Buy your ticket at allanact.net.

7:30 p.m. // 652 West 17th St. // 450.8553 

Erie Philharmonic Pops Concert – Pixar in Concert

From the Toy Story trilogy to The Incredibles and UP, Pixar has forever impacted filmmaking and given audiences of all ages some of the most beloved characters in cinematic history. Your Erie Phil presents Pixar in Concert, with visually stunning clips and memorable scores from each of Pixar's movies accompanied by a wide range of music: sweeping orchestral works, pop tunes, original compositions, and cover songs.

8 p.m. // 811 State St. // 455.1375

'80s Rewind Dance

Join the Junior League of Erie as they party like it's 1989 at the '80s Rewind Dance & Casino Night. Entertainment by Millennium Sound and New Wave Nation. Dress in your best 80s attire and be amongst the 1200 people wearing their favorite '80s fashion - neon, big hair, pegged pants and splatter paint! Must be 21 years of age. Proceeds benefits women's leadership through the Junior League of Erie and community projects. Table reservations are a must.

8 p.m. to 1 a.m. // 220 Peninsula Drive // juniorleagueoferie.com

Julio Quezada and Mambo

If you're looking to liven up your night, it might be time for a heavy serving of Latin. It may be a dead language, but the dance-inducing rhythms of Latin music will certainly make you feel alive, especially when Julio Quezada and his band Mambo take the stage at Anchor In this Saturday. Don't stay inside, head out and feel alive at Anchor In.

6 to 9 p.m. // 3122 West Lake Road //833.1212

sun 3.23

Langer Film Series presents Inside Llewyn Davis

Starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, and Justin Timberlake, this 2013 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix winner tells the story of a week in the life of Llewyn Davis, a young folk singer in 1961 New York who is struggling through a harsh winter in Greenwich Village, trying to make it as a musician. Tickets are $6.

2 p.m. // 501 East 38th St. // miac.mercyhurst.edu 

mon 3.24

Women's History Month

Women's History Month events continue at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with "Does the U.S. Have a Rape Culture?," a presentation by Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan of EUP's philosophy department. Sullivan's talk, according to event organizers, will evaluate the common feminist claim that the answer to that question is 'Yes', discussing, by extension, the Steubenville rape case, national data on rape and sexual assault, and providing international comparisons.

7:30 to 9 p.m. // R. Benjamin Wiley Arts and Sciences Center, Room 107 // 732.2000; edinboro.edu

tues 3.25

Freedom Riders

All are encouraged to take in a free showing of 'Freedom Riders' tonight at Edinboro University, part of the Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle film series. The ongoing film series, which continues through April, introduces four powerful documentaries with new footage illustrating the history of the struggle for civil rights in America, and includes related lectures, discussion forums, and scholarly presentations.

7 p.m. // Butterfield Hall, Room 134 // 732-1231

wed 3.26

Jim Gaffigan

The pale-skinned comedian has returned to performing live to promote his most recent comedy album Mr. Universe (2012) with an all new set of hilarious and outrageous material. No worries though folks, I'm sure plenty of hot pockets, bacon, and other food goodness will be talked about as well.

7 p.m. // Warner Theatre, 811 State St. // 450.8553

thurs 3.27

English Awards Night

Each year, Gannon University honors local poets, writers, researchers, and reporters during its Award Night. The English department adds to the celebration by bringing a renowned poet to campus for a reading, and this year's no exception, as award-winning Palestinian-American Poet, Writer, Anthologist, and Educator Naomi Shihab Nye will share her work with Erie — all free of charge. 

7:30 p.m. // Yehl Ballroom in the Waldron Campus Center, 109 University Square // 871.7240

Edinboro Film Series presents What Richard Did

Richard Karlsen is the epitome of a privileged, well-to-do teenager in Dublin's south side. The world is seemingly full of possibilities for Richard until the summer after high school when he makes a single, fatal mistake that shadows him and those closest to him, destroying the only life he ever knew. Tickets are just $5.

8:30 p.m. // 217 Meadville St., Edinboro // 

events.edinboro.edu 

fri 3.28

Cinderella

Otherwise known as "Cenerentola" in Italian, Cinderella is a beloved opera written in 1817. With enduring themes of good versus evil, the D'Angelo Department of Music's production is true to the original version featuring an ignorant stepfather and a wise mystic instead of popular culture's evil step mother and fairy godmother. The production will feature a grand finale to rival any in grand opera repertoire, celebrating the triumph good over evil.

8 p.m. // MIAC, 501 E. 38th St. // 824.2000

Smackdab w/ The LEC

One band is a little bit funk-rock and the other is more hip-hop, but Western New York's Smackdab and Erie's The LEC make for a mighty pair. The two local favorites will come together for a show at the crooked i for anyone who likes a bit of soul in their music, whether it's nice and funk, or a dose of hippie-hop.

10 p.m. to 2 a.m. // 1013 State St. // facebook.com/thecrookedierie

sat 3.29

The Bad Haircut

After he saw it, Managing Editor Ben Speggen called the production: "An intellect's delight… a thinking man's play, grappling with the notion of humanity's disconnectedness through religion, philosophy, psychology, medicine, materialism, and spiritualism while using comedy as the vehicle to drive through the myriad challenges and issues we face in contemporary culture, keeping the production grounded in a disturbingly poignant humor." We say "Enough said" and "You should go see this play," as today's the last show of the extended run at PACA.

7:30 p.m. // 1505 State St. // paca1505.com

SafeNet presents TORCH – an evening of hot jazz music

Picture this: you, on a lovely Saturday evening, absorbing the blended rhythms of sax, piano, bass, and drums through your every pore whilst the melodic voices of talented vocalists, singing tunes like "I Put a Spell on You" and "Stormy Weather," surround you. If this sounds like your cup of tea, don't miss TORCH, an evening of classic torch songs, presented by SafeNet. Tickets are just $10.

8 p.m. // 254 E. 10th St. // 455.1774 

Strangers and Liars w/ guests

Great music and good causes meet at the King's Rook Club this Saturday, when five different bands come together to put on a special benefit show for the AJO movement. Local act Strangers and Liars headlines a group of rockers ready to provide a night of music in memory of Alyssa Josephine O'Neill.

9 p.m. // 1921 Peach St. // 456.6439

sun 3.30

Edinboro University Players present "Carnage"

It all starts when 11-year-old Bruno gets a couple of his teeth knocked out by Ferdinand, another 11-year-old. Inevitably, parents get involved and each boy's parents meet in an attempt to resolve the issue respectively. This goes awry, however, when the childishness of each parent emerges, turning the meeting into one of chaos. Originally written in French, this play has been praised in English-translated versions in both London and New York. Tickets are just $5.

2:30 p.m. // 217 Meadville St. // 732.2518 

The Goddamn Gallows

If you miss The Goddamn Gallows when they return to the crooked i this Sunday, you may have to take the Lord's name in shame. The gutterbilly champions are providing one last bit of celebration before the work week starts, so fans of the five-man crew can rely on a big ol' night of ol' timey punk goodness to sate you until the next weekend.

10 p.m. to 2 a.m. // 1013 State St. // facebook.com/thecrookedierie

tues 4.01

Gasland 2

Filmmaker Josh Fox is back with the follow-up to his Oscar-nominated film, Gasland, as he continues examining the dangers of fracking. Give Ryan Smith's fracking feature in this issue a read, and then head to the Whole Foods Co-op to see if you agree with Fox's claim that oil and gas industries are "contaminating our democracy."

6 p.m. // 1341 W. 26th St. // 456.0282