Friday February 15, 2008

Friday and Saturday night, two performances of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina monologues will be playing at the Barrymore Theatre, 2090 Atwood Avenue. The production is part of the 2008 V-Day campaign to raise awareness of violence against women and raise funds for Domestic Abuse Intervention Services. The event is sponsored by the Campus Women Center of the UW Madison. For details call 241-8864 or 262-8093.

Friday from 4 to 5:30 pm, there will be an Iraq Moratorium/ Impeachment Emporium protest at the corner of University Avenue and Park Street, in front of the Humanities Building. Participants are encouraged to bring signs. For details Steve at 437-5478.

Friday at noon in Saint Marks Church (605 Spruce Street) is Free Meals and Movies Series! A screening of Besieged will be offered. Director Bernardo Bertolucci presents a biblical parable of love for Valentine’s Day. After her husband is arrested in Africa, Shandurai (played by Thandi Newton) flees to Rome to work for an eccentric recluse who falls in love with her.

Friday evening from 6:30 to 11:00 PM is Dance Alive! at Lakeview Lutheran (4001 Mandrake Rd). The program features Last Gaspe (Contra and Square Dance with instructor, Steve Pike); Vera Court Girl Neighborhood Power Drill Team; and Cajun Strangers (Traditional Cajun with instructor, Deb Bachmann). Refreshments provided. For details call 241-7635 or dancealivemadison.org

Friday night there is a Poetry Benefit for Juan Ruiz' Legal Defense Fund is scheduled at 9 PM, at Emma Goldman Co-op (625 North Frances Street). Music will include hip-hop, Mexican folk, beatbox kings, acoustic, and poetry/drums/spirit along with the spoken word.

Saturday at the Wilmar Center (953 Jenifer St.) another installment of “Free Meals and Movie Series! “ will be held at noon. The film will be Swept Away – a 1974 film that takes on sex, love and politics in a classic role reversal that maroons both a capitalist and a communist on a desert island. More info at 257-4576.

Saturday evening at the Wil-Mar center on Saturday: the 6th Annual Veggie Soup for the Soul Dinner – hosted by Alliance for Animals. The dinner will be held from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. The chef specialty Vegan Chicken and Dumpling Soup will be offered again, along with other soups, bread and light desserts. Volunteers to help cook and staff the dinner are needed! For details call 257-6333.

On Sunday morning at the Salvation Army (3030 Darbo Avenue) at 9:00 AM, Free Meals and Movies Series! presents a screening of Luther – Part One. In this 2003 film Martin Luther challenges the authority of ruling elites in 16th century Germany.

My Family Playgroup Potluck Lunch will be held Saturday from 11 to 1 at the Goodman-Atwood Community Center (2425 Atwood Ave). This is social group for LGBT parents & their children to meet other families and make new friends. There will be a potluck lunch with games, crafts and more. Info at 669-1657 or 255-8582 and at myfamilyplaygroup.com

The new Community Music School at 214 Baldwin Street is having a grand opening celebration on Saturday, from 5-6 p.m. The school’s mission is to bring lessons to children who can't afford the cost. Ken Lonnquist will be performing fun, imaginative and meaningful songs. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. The space is small, so attendees must RSVP at 204-0522.

Friday night at 8 PM, Mother Fool’s Coffee Shop, 1101 Williamson St, presents the local Jazz ensemble, The Joanne Powers’s Trio. The trio plays spontaneous compositions and collective improvisations characterized by densely intricate communication and the cathartic energy of early sixties fire music. For details call 259-1301.