Can't Miss It: The Weekend

DIY Holiday Fair at Vera

THE PIANO HAS BEEN DRINKING: Tonight, The Conor Byrne Pub celebrates the iconic songs of Tom Waits, Mr. Nighthawk himself. A swarthy stew of folks, including Mrs. Mamie Lavona and Armitage Shanks will perform their takes on Waits' work; his thick growl traded in for lilting mellifluousness or pressganged for ports unknown. Watch your drink and guard your eyes.
Friday 9:00 p.m. // The Conor Byrne Pub // $5

BEST IN BALKAN: Also tonight (choices, choices), some of the best local Balkan bands join forces to raise money for the annual Folklife Festival. Yep! It's a fundraiser and a dance party, featuring Bucharest Drinking Team, Orkestar Zirkonium, Nu Klezmer Army, and Alchymeia. All four will swoon you and move you with brassy melodies and tight syncopation. Lace your dancing shoes tight and then get loose.
Friday 8:00 p.m. // Columbia City Theatre // $15

DO IT YOURSELF: Join Hollow Earth Radio and The Vera Project for their annual DIY Holiday Fair, a full floor of craft, music, art and silk-screening. In addition to a Surrealist Songmaking corner (like a bedroom exquisite corpse) and Bring it Screen it, dozens of local, independent vendors will be selling their wares, including Debacle Records, Talking Helps Records, the seahorse society, Lost Sound Tapes, People In A Position To Know, Wax Photography, Manticore Stencil Art, Black Iconic T-Shirts, Joykos, Old School Vinyl Art, Gang Funk Tangents, and many more. This year get your gifts by doing it yourself.
Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. // Vera Project // FREE