Friday-Saturday • 11-12
Rennie Harris Puremovement: Facing Mekka
DANCE
This week, hip-hop street dancing takes the spotlight at Ann Arbor’s Power Center. Rennie Harris Puremovement — the progressive and ultra-cool dance company — will perform Facing Mekka, a spiritual dance explosion that traces the lineage of American dance around the globe. From Turkish whirling dervishes to traditional African dancing to Brazilian Capoeira and the new butoh-style hip-hop dance, this is performing art with heart. Power Center, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor; 734-764-2538.
Friday-Monday • 11-14
The Dirty Show
ART
Night & Day has attended The Dirty Show since its inception in 2000 and can say with certainty that the fetish-exalting, back-door-sex-loving, pubic-hair-regaling art exhibit has made leaps and bounds in its presentation. Head-pervs-in-charge Jerry Vile and Jeremy Harvey have helped to make the Dirty Show one of the most well-attended and talked-about art installations to come out of Detroit in many moons. They are even taking its salaciously brilliant wares on the road — The Dirty Show has been invited to show in Miami in October. Who knows what you’ll see at Tangent Gallery, 715 E. Milwaukee St., Detroit; 313-873-2955. Please note: This is a sexually explicit art installation, photo ID’s will be checked at the door. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 11-12, 21 and over. Sunday-Monday, Feb. 13-14, 18 and over welcome.
Sunday • 13
Temporary Insanity
ART/MUSIC
Chronicle Books’ new release Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion has gotten a lot of buzz these days — not surprising considering the rock ’n’ roll traditions the Motor City is steeped in. Several of the book’s featured artists are D-towners. Come celebrate the hometown release of the beautiful coffee-table book with many of the artists whose works grace its pages, including Gary Grimshaw, Mark Arminski, Michael Segal, Glenn Barr, Mark Dancey, Leni Sinclair and many others. The Fondas, Carolyn Striho, The Subliminal Kid, James Semark, Bill Harris and Pun Plamondon will honor the artists with their very own musical offerings. The Bankle Building, 2944 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-897-7242.
Sunday • 13
The Grand Tournee of International Film
ART
An impressive array of artistic sensibilities means that almost anyone who attends the Grand Tournee of International Film event in Pontiac will see at least a few things that they like and probably a few things they have never seen before. Selected films hail from across the globe — Uruguay to Italy to Russia and Japan — and the repertoire runs the filmmaking gamut: animation, performance, experimental, digital, narrative and computer-generated shorts. All films will be screened repeatedly throughout the day. Museum of New Art, 7 N. Saginaw, 2nd Floor, Pontiac; 248-338-4627
Sunday • 13
Pajama Brunch
HOLIDAY
For those of you who have a significant other, what better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than languidly sipping Champagne while lounging about in your silkiest, sassiest negligee? Good news for exhibitionists — now you have a place to do just this in public. The celebrated, slightly chi-chi La Dolce Vita is holding a special Valentine’s Day edition of the restaurant’s monthly Sunday pajama brunch. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., couples can dine on a special brunch menu, revel in the glory that is the bottomless mimosa, and compete in a contest for most creative PJs. Prizes will range from free dinners and cash to vacations. So dust off the fuzzy bunny slippers — and don’t forget a warm overcoat, because there ain’t much to those Victoria’s Secrets. 17546 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-865-0331.
MONday • 14
Anti-Valentine’s Day Event: The Bird’s Nest
MUSIC
So the girlfriend is a nag and the man-child is on your last nerve — why not just skip the repellent unctuousness of Valentine’s Day and belly up to the bar for the Painted Lady’s weekly punk rock night. DJ Tim Lampinen (front man for art rock outfit Human Eye) will spin everything from oddball rock to hardcore punk, while the barkeep pulls 75-cent drafts. 2930 Jacob, Hamtramck; 313-874-2991. Sounds a lot better than a heart-shaped box full of chocolates and $150 dinner tab, doesn’t it?
Tuesday • 15
Earth on the Edge
ISSUES & LEARNING/FILM
Earth Day isn’t until April 22, but the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights is ahead of schedule when it comes to environmental sensitivity. To kick off its annual film festival, the coalition will screen Earth on the Edge, a film by Bill Moyers. This documentary highlights how quickly the human race is destroying nature, but also leaves viewers with a sense of hope by spotlighting the pioneering efforts of many successful ecologists and activists. Movie begins at 7 p.m. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 26998 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-546-1255.
Thursday-Saturday • 10-12
Psychiatric Surgery
THEATER
Written, produced and performed by the staff and volunteers of the Matrix Theatre Company, the play Psychiatric Surgery has all the earmarks of a local underground hit. In the play, the lead character, Amanda Jackson, has been on medications for mental illness for 30 years. When she finds out that she has to stop taking the mind-numbing prescription so she can undergo lifesaving surgery, the brave protagonist is faced with challenges of the world she has avoided for three decades. Matrix Theatre, 2370 Bagley, Detroit; 313-967-0999.
Ongoing
Betrayal
THEATER
Emma betrays Robert in 1968. Jerry betrays Robert in 1974. Robert betrays Jerry and Emma in 1977. In classic Harold Pinter form, the play Betrayal punctuates the storyline with awkward silences and cryptic subtexts. Taking place at Detroit’s super-boho playhouse, the Abreact, this piece of Pinter genius will be performed by veteran actors Bryan Spangler and James Nanis, among others, and should excite daring theatergoers everywhere. Try something a little different at 442 E. Lafayette, Detroit; 313-965-4481. Showtime is 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 11-March 5, with a special Sunday matinee performance on Feb. 27 at 4 p.m.
Ongoing
Chemical Traces —
A Unabomber Love Story
THEATER
Nothing says I love you quite like a fresh bag of fertilizer, a battery and some gunpowder. Well, at least that’s true if you’re one of the characters in Dreamland Theater’s latest marionette show, Chemical Traces — A Unabomber Love Story. The bizarre tale of romance centers on Bob, a Unabomber who is trying to finish his manifesto, and Emily, a disgruntled postal worker. Showtime is 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 11-19 at 44 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti; 734-657-2337.
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