so, what do you want to do this weekend?

Yesterday was Wednesday, which means, among other things, that the latest issue of The Independent appeared in black metal bins throughout the Triangle some time around five o'clock. The Independent is great for a variety of reasons, not least of which is that it's free, and while I enjoy the articles and features, the first thing I do when I crack it open is to peruse the listing of upcoming events to find out what I'm going to be doing over the upcoming weekend. I usually find five to ten really interesting things going on and then winnow out those that conflict with my schedule or modest means (read: poverty) until I am left with one or two things that I can actually make it to. And now, in what will perhaps become a regular feature here at PR, I bring that process to you in all its mundane glory. So without further adieu, here are a couple of interesting things in the Triangle that I'd like to make it to in the next week:

Friday:
- Mo Rocca reads from his new book at the Bull's Head (5 pm). Free, easily accessible, and likely pretty damn funny - this one seems doable.

Saturday:
- World Fair Trade Day at Ten Thousand Villages (all day). "Presentations by local fair trade activists, artisan demonstrations, coffee samplings from Larry's Beans, a galimoto obstacle course for kids, and world music performers Teresa Fernandez and Silvano Cesares." Free music, free coffee, and an obstacle course that I will be crashing - it seems likely that we'll make it to this one as well.

- Sarah Shaber reads from Tar Heel Dead: Tales of Mystery and Mayhem from North Carolina (11 am at McIntyre's in Fearrington). It's always fun to go out to Fearrington, and Allen and Sons BBQ is just down the road. I think I can talk Ashley into this one...

- Caffe Driade - Italian wine tasting with live music (5-9 pm). Sounds great, but at $10, I can hear my wallet groaning. Still...

- Chicago Tenant at De La Luz (8 pm). "If you're into the leading edge of jazz, heads up. You're not going to see a touring ensemble this amazing in a while. Led by German saxophonist Peter Brotzman, the Chicago Tenant boasts some of the best reed and horn players around...". Cutting-edge jazz, yes; potentially high ticket price, no. This one's a longshot.

Sunday:
- ReelPolitik at Ringside (8 pm). "Screening of energy/natural resources documentary Kilowatt Ours plus discussion with Dennis Markatos-Soriano (Projects Director, SURGE) and Sam Hummel (Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, Duke)." Interesting doc, $5 suggested donation; I think I can swing that.

Ongoing:
- Dine Out and Help the Homeless. "During May, wine purchased through Restaurant Starlu's Bottles of Change program will benefit Genesis Home, a transitional home for homeless families in Durham. For every glass or bottle of selected wines sold, Starlu will donate a portion of sales to Genesis Home." A chance to get some wine and to send some money the way of a very worthy recipient and the place where my good friend Ryan used to work.

That's it for now. We'll be lucky to make it to a couple of these, but usually hitting one or two is well worth it. Should be a good weekend.