The Week Ahead: Highlights for Jan. 21-27

Festivals

Home Design and Remodel Fair

NEXT SUN Exhibits and information on remodeling and home improvement from 75 contractors, architects and designers. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. next Sunday, Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle; $5-$8 (206-783-2244 or www.phinneycenter.org).

Ursulmas XXV — Medieval Tournaments

SAT-NEXT SUN The Barony of Aquaterra hosts a demonstration of medieval skills with competitions in archery, arts and sciences, costuming, heavy fighting, rapier fighting, thrown weapons, living history, games, darts and more. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-next Sunday, Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th Ave. S.E., Monroe; $8-$13 (425-771-5776 or www.baronyofaquaterra.org).

Concerts

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

TODAY-MON Irresistibly rolling South African cross-rhythms percolate beneath African-American church chords. 7:30 p.m. today at Kentwood High School Performing Arts Center, 25800 164th Ave. S.E., Covington, $20-$25 (253-856-5050), and 8 p.m. Monday at Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle, $35-$40 (206-292-ARTS or www.ticketmaster.com).

Sisters in the Spirit

TUE Gospel queen Shirley Caesar, who has earned 11 Grammys in her vibrant career, leads this sizzling soul celebration, which includes secular soul singers Angie Stone and Kelly Price; former Clark Sisters gospel star Dorinda Clark; dancer/choreographer Nicole Coleman-Mullen; and revivalist minister Dr. Yvonne Capehart. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle; $37.50-$55 (206-628-0888 or www.ticketmaster.com).

George Strait

SAT With 53 No.1 songs in his 25-year career, Strait's biggest problem is singing everyone's favorite. He'll certainly try. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Tacoma Dome, 2727 East D St., Tacoma; $49.50-$59.50 (206-628-0888 or www.ticketmaster.com).

Classical Music

Seattle Symphony: Philippe Entremont performs Beethoven

TODAY Four Seattle Symphony musicians — Maria Larionoff, Michael Miropolsky, Mara Gearman and Amos Yang — join the excellent French pianist Philippe Entremont in works of Brahms ("Regen" Sonata), Beethoven ("Ghost" Trio) and Franck (Piano Quintet). 2 p.m. today, Benaroya Hall, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, 200 University St., Seattle; $40 (206-215-4747 or www.seattlesymphony.org).

Seattle Opera: "Don Giovanni"

TODAY, WED, FRI-SAT The Mozart classic opera about an unrepentant sinner who wrecks the lives of those around him, yet continues to draw people in with his great personal magnetism. A new production combines the talents of Seattle Opera regulars Chris Alexander (staging) and Robert Dahlstrom (sets), with Mariusz Kwiecien and Morgan Smith sharing the title role. 2 p.m. today, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle; $43-$141 (206-389-7676 or www.seattleopera.org).

Seattle Symphony: Moscow soloists

MON Violist/conductor Yuri Bashmet leads this award-winning chamber orchestra in a performance of works from several eras and regions, including music by Britten, Schnittke, Beethoven and Schubert (the Mahler arrangement of the famous "Death and the Maiden" Quartet). 7:30 p.m. Monday, Benaroya Hall, S. Mark Taper Forum, 200 University St., Seattle; $31-$81 (206-215-4747 or www.seattlesymphony.org).

Seattle Chamber Music Society Winter Festival: Main Series Chamber Music Concert

THU-FRI, NEXT SUN The opening program in this year's Winter Festival will bring back Seattle Chamber Music Society artists in the coming weekend, which is full of concert activity. This first concert has Adam Neiman playing the piano version of "Pictures at an Exhibition," followed by works of Schubert, Louis Spohr and Brahms (with such artists as Craig Sheppard, Scott Yoo, Ida Levin, Bion Tsang and Amit Peled, among several others). 6:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 p.m. next Sunday, Benaroya Hall, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, 200 University St., Seattle; $10-$38 (206-283-8808 or www.seattlechambermusic.org).

Nightclubs

Crocodile Cafe 2200 Second Ave., Seattle (206-441-5611).

THU Earl Greyhound, the Blakes. New York's Earl Greyhound are very-Led Zep. The Blakes are a talented young Seattle band, Dandy Warhols covering the Rolling Stones.

Dimitriou's Jazz Alley 2033 Sixth Ave., Seattle (206-441-9729).

TODAY Clark Terry Quintet. The puckish, quick-witted trumpeter's last performance at Jazz Alley was absolutely stellar. A veteran whose career involves the bands of Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Quincy Jones — as well as many years in "The Tonight Show" band — Terry qualifies like no other for the accolade "living legend."

TUE-WED Janiva Magness. A powerful, soulful blues singer who takes a lot from the jazz-influenced lope of Bobby Blue Bland, Magness lately has moved into the kind of country territory occupied by such singers as Marcia Ball and Emmy Lou Harris. Magness spent her early years raising kids but has come back in fine, full form — and fury. Check her out.

High Dive 513 N. 36th St., Seattle (206-632-0212).

THU The Turn-ons, Prosser, AltSpeak. Led by talented guitarist Eric Woodruff (of The Crying Shame), Prosser is an indie-rock band that's a cut above most.

Le Pichet 1933 First Ave., Seattle (206-256-1499).

TODAY Carrie Clark and the Lonesome Lovers. 2:30 p.m. Talented local singer of the Neko Case school.

St. Clouds 1131 34th Ave., Seattle (206-726-1522).

MON Tom Bennett and the Rolling Blackouts. Hearty honky-tonk.

The Sunset 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle (206-784-4880).

THU No-Fi Soul Rebellion, the Whoremoans, Partman Parthorse. The Whoremoans, one of the young bands following in the Murder City Devils' footsteps, play from their debut CD.

The Tractor 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle (206-789-3599).

THU Tim Seely, Jen Wood, Red Heart the Ticker, Night Canopy. Wood is a dynamic singer who — though she has worked with the Postal Service — has had a hard time getting her career off the ground. Even so, she's a star-in-the-making, with exhilarating songs.

The War Room 722 E. Pike St., Seattle (206-328-7666).

SAT "Yo Son!" with DJs DV-One, Soul One and B-Mello. Wildly popular hip-hop party.

Theater

"Bye Bye Birdie"

TODAY "So put on a happy face ... " The 1960 Broadway musical about what happens to little Sweet Apple, Ohio, when an Elvis-like pop idol and his entourage visit for a publicity stunt. Final performances 2 and 7 p.m. today. Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett; $25-$49 (425-257-8600 or www.villagetheatre.org).

"Darfur Stories"

THU A staged reading of first-person accounts that dramatize both crisis and commitment in war-wracked Darfur. The program was created from written accounts and original interviews with Darfurians, activists, journalists and aide workers and adapted by Book-It Repertory Theatre. 7 p.m. Thursday. Roosevelt High School, 1410 N.E. 66th St., Seattle; $5 (206-216-0833 or www.book-it.org).

"Teatro ZinZanni: Dinner & Dreams"

ONGOING One Reel's unique dinner-theater extravaganza, a zany variety-circus event served up with a multicourse meal designed by top Seattle chef Tom Douglas, uncorks a bawdy, mirthful evening of romance and munching performed in an elegant antique cabaret tent. 5:30 p.m. today, 6:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m. next Sunday. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave., Seattle; $104-$155 (206-802-0015 or dreams.zinzanni.org).

Books

Colson Whitehead

MON This sharp-witted author reads from his novel of racial identity "Apex Hides the Hurt," about a small American town which hires a "nomenclature consultant" to help it choose a new name. 7:30 p.m. Monday, Kane Hall, Room 220, University of Washington, Seattle; free (206-634-3400 or www.ubookstore.com).

Taylor Branch

MON-TUE The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian discusses the latest book in his three-volume biographical trilogy of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, "At Canaan's Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-68." 7 p.m. Monday, Urban Grace: The Downtown Church, 902 Market St., Tacoma; free (253-591-5666 or www.urbangrace.net). Branch also presents the Scott Bullitt Lecture in American History at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle (206-386-4636 or www.spl.org).

Jayne Ann Krentz

WED The prolific Seattle author autographs her new paranormal thriller, "White Lies." Noon Wednesday, Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., Seattle; free (206-587-5737 or www.seattlemystery.com).

Andrei Codrescu

THU-FRI The Scala Publishing Group's "States of Memoir" programming presents an evening with the poet and NPR commentator discussing "States of Memoir, or How to Reconnect Old Brains to New Ones in Several Languages." 7 p.m., Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle; $12.50-$15 (800-838-3006 or www.tspg.org). Codrescu also appears with photographer Andrew Miksys to introduce their new book, "Baxt Photographs" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Center on Contemporary Art, 410 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle; free (206-706-3339 or www.tspg.org).

Martin Amis

FRI The British author discusses his critically praised new novel, "House of Meetings." 7:30 p.m. Friday, Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle; $5 (206-624-6600 or www.townhallseattle.com).

Visual Arts

Artifact ID Day with Wes Cowan

TODAY Visitors can bring in their unidentified cultural artifacts to have Wes Cowan, of the PBS TV series "History Detectives" and "Antiques Roadshow," to help identify them and discuss where they come from. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. today. Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle; $5-$8 (206-543-5590 or www.washington.edu/burkemuseum).

Olympic Sculpture Park Grand Opening

TODAY A two-day celebration marking the opening to SAM's Olympic Sculpture Park with live music and dance, hands-on art activities, artist demonstrations and self-guided tours. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. today. Olympic Sculpture Park, Broad Street and Elliott Avenue, Seattle; free (206-654-3100 or www.seattleartmuseum.org).

Artist's Cinema: Walid Raad

WED An evening of contemporary film and video selected by media artist Walid Raad. Selected works include short film and video works by Anri Sala, Peter Greenaway, Gene Gort and others. 8 p.m. Wednesday. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., Seattle; $7 (206-267-5380 or www.nwfilmforum.org).

Lecture: "The Loss of the Berlin Salon Culture"

THU Richard Block, UW Department of Germanics, will discuss the period near 1800-1820 when Jewish salons began attracting Germany's most celebrated writers and artists. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave., Seattle; free (206-622-9250 or www.fryeart.org).

Museums

Bellevue Arts Museum

ENDS 2/18 Calligraphy by Mohamed Zakariya. "Dim Sum at the On-On Tea Room," a retrospective of jewelry by Northwest craftsman Ron Ho. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday, 510 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue (425-519-0770 or www.bellevueart.org).

Frye Art Museum

"I Love My Time, I Don't Like My Time," recent works by Erwin Wurm (ends Jan. 28). "Klompen," a clever, coin-operated sound sculpture by Trimpin (ends today). "Little Women, Little Men," Folk Art Portraits of Children from the Fenimore Art Museum (ends Feb. 4). "Spectatorship and Desire: Loss," paintings from the museum's collection (ends March 4). 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 704 Terry Ave., Seattle (206-622-9250 or www.fryeart.org).

Galleries

Crawl Space Gallery

ENDS 2/11 "Centennial Exhibition," a group show of works selected by Henry Art Gallery curator Elizabeth Brown. Noon-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 504 E. Denny Way, Seattle (206-817-5328 or www.crawlspacegallery.com).

Davidson Galleries

ENDS SAT German Expressionist Prints. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 313 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle (206-624-6700 or www.davidsongalleries.com).

Foster/White Gallery

ENDS SAT "No Wooly Mammoths Here," check out James Martin's latest crop of paintings for an off-kilter look at the ways of the world. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 220 Third Ave. S., Suite 100, Seattle (206-622-2833 or www.fosterwhite.com).

Garde Rail Gallery

ENDS SAT "New Work, New Ships," John Taylor builds boats and sea creatures that spark the imagination. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 110 Third Ave. S., Seattle (206-621-1055 or www.garde-rail.com).

McLeod Residence

ENDS 2/26 "Light Box Installation," a group show of photography and digital art mounted on lightboxes, an installation by artist and musician Paul Rucker and antique paintings curated by Jay Franklin. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2209 Second Ave., Seattle (206-441-3314 or www.mcleodresidence.com).

Punch Gallery

ENDS 1/28 "Round Three," recent work by Nathan DiPietro, Patricia Hagen and Natalie Schmidt Dotzauer. Noon-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 119 Prefontaine Place S., Seattle (206-621-1945 or www.punchgallery.org).

Western Bridge

ENDS 5/5 "Video Quartet," a four-channel video installation by Christian Marclay. Also, sculpture by Steven Brekelmans, photography by Carsten Holler and sculpture by Ryan Gander. Noon-6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, or by appointment, 3412 Fourth Ave. S., Seattle (206-838-7444 or www.westernbridge.org).