Friday 3.16
A Room of One's Own, 6:30 pm
The local poet reads from her new collection, Yaya's Cloth, which explores her Greek ancestry. The reception features thematically appropriate Greek pastries.
Barnes & Noble West, 7 pm
The bestselling author of My Sister's Keeper reads from Nineteen Minutes, a ripped-from-the-headlines novel about a teen who opens fire at his high school.
The Loft in the Lussier Teen Center, 7 pm
Now more of a polished pop-rock act, the New Jersey-based emo grads still yearn and keen with a vengeance.
Blue Chalk Club, 7:30 pm
Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo shows off his considerable facility on acoustic and electric axes as he salutes the golden age of shredding.
UW Memorial Union Tripp Commons
Dedicated to Latina power, the conference includes spoken-word performances (7:30 pm) followed by Grupo Candela on Friday. Saturday's events (8:30 am-4 pm) include a keynote speech by Milwaukee County Supervisor Peggy West.
Overture Center's Overture Hall, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (8 pm) & Sunday (2:30 pm), March 17 & 18
The MSO performs two iconic nature pieces, Stravinksy's brutal "Rite of Spring" and Vivaldi's lovely tone painting "The Four Seasons."
Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm
The comedian's a fixture on Leno, Letterman and Conan. Expect keen observational humor, gentle absurdity and no raunchy stuff.
Gateless Gate: Women of the Scarred Earth
Wisconsin Union Theater, 8 pm
In this free dance concert by the UW's Peggy Choy, warrior women meet on an urban battlefield extending through time and space. Combining poetry, martial arts, jazz and Asian music, it features performers from around the country.
Orpheum Theatre, 8 pm
Return to Cookie Mountain made TV on the Radio's sophisticated cross-breeding of indie-rock, soul and pop required listening in 2006. Subtle opens.
The Annex, 9:30 pm
During her long solo career, Golightly has separated herself from the pack of rock and folk types with canny, at times off-kilter takes on folk, blues, garage rock and lonesome country. She debuts material with her new band the Broke-Offs.
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
The rambunctious blues-cum-hillbilly specialists feature Madison-bred guitar man Joel Paterson. Country-blues picker Charlie Parr is also on the bill.
Saturday 3.17
Through June 3, Chazen Museum of Art
Here's a chance to see ancient Roman art and artifacts that have never before toured the U.S. They were recovered from Stabiae, which had been buried by Mount Vesuvius' eruption in A.D. 79.
Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, 9 am-4 pm. Also Sunday, March 18, 11 am-4 pm
The expo features hundreds of exhibitors representing services for children. To sweeten the deal for kids themselves, there'll be a climbing wall and pony rides.
St. Patrick's Day
Brace yourself for a day's worth of fun, including the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on the Capitol Square (1:30 pm); bagpipers all day at Brocach; Eider, Braves Finest and Border Lands at the Claddagh Irish Pub (2 pm onward); bagpipers, the Pints and StoneRing at the Club Tavern (5 pm); Americay at Edgewood College's Anderson Auditorium (7 pm); the Currach and the reunited Drones at the Harmony Bar (7 pm); the Pints and O'Darby at the High Noon Saloon (2:30 pm); and the Kissers and the Scarring Party, also at the High Noon (9:30 pm). The Great Dane pulls out the stops with DJ Nick O'Nice (downtown, 10 pm), Rising Gael (7 pm, Fitchburg) and pipes and drums (7 pm, Hilldale).
Hemsley Theatre in UW Vilas Hall, 2 pm. Also Sunday, March 18, 2 pm
Aimed at audiences 6 and up, the University Theatre production finds a critter escaping hibernation with a walking-stick friend.
Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm
Reggae singers don't get any more soulful than the ageless Toots Hibbert. Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards and a raft of other stellar admirers helped him out on 2004's True Love, but he radiates a surfeit of star power on his own. Tony Brown & the 608 Riddim Section open.
Cafe Montmartre, 9 pm
Fermin has one of the best voices in alt-country, but for whatever reason, Trigger Gospel still flies under the national radar.
Sunday 3.18
Borders West, 2 pm
The British historian has made the best-seller lists with her nonfiction, but here she reads from her first novel, Innocent Traitor. It's historical fiction, natch, exploring the tragic fate of Lady Jane Grey, ever so briefly the queen of England.
Mills Hall in the UW Humanities Bldg., 7:30 pm. Also Tuesday, March 20, 7:30 pm
The pianist is a faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music and a favorite accompanist of Denyce Graves, Kiri Te Kanawa and Kathleen Battle. His two concerts with UW faculty members feature all Brahms, all the time.
