This Weekend, Make Like a Tree and Get Outta Here

By CHRIS PACKHAM

FRIDAY

Happy hour at La Bodega (703 Southwest Boulevard) features 50 percent off tapas, sangria, wines by the glass, well drinks, draft beer and domestic bottles. But the best part is that happy hour starts at 2 p.m., which is three or four hours earlier than most bars in Kansas City kick off their nights. It’s like a time machine that magically transports you from early afternoon at the office to Friday Night Drinkytown.

It would be easy to segue from that time-machine simile via a “flux capacitor” reference to Tom Wilson’s performance tonight at the comedy club at the Majestic Theaters (7430 Northwest 87th Street). But you know what? We’re not going to do it. Wilson has lived his entire adult life carrying Back to the Future baggage thanks to his brilliant comic performance as Biff Tannen, the trilogy’s heavy. Yes, he was an appropriately scary villain, what with the attempted date rape and the dark, charmless plot twists of the second film. But it’s hard to think of another actor who would have been quite that funny at the same time. He’s also an awesome stand-up comic. Wilson performs tonight, Saturday and Sunday. Call 816-587-4500 for details.

SATURDAY

Calamity Cubes, Tiny Tuxedo and Big Cat perform at the Jackpot Music Hall (943 Massachusetts, Lawrence). Destination Go, Voices, and Okay Thrill play at the Brick (1727 McGee). There is absolutely nothing else going on Saturday. Except the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball at the Sprint Center. And the Wide Open Bike Show at the 3 Trails Expo Center (8844 Hillcrest Road). And Tom Wilson at the Majestic. We really can’t overemphasize how funny he is onstage.

SUNDAY

Local author and UMKC writing teacher Michael Pritchett reads from his first novel, The Melancholy Fate of Capt. Lewis, at 6 p.m. at the Writers Place (3607 Pennsylvania). The author of a book of short stories, The Venus Tree, he spent six years researching and writing his book.

Tom Wilson performs at the Majestic. Funny, funny man.

Finally, If you’ve got the itch to retire and tour around the country in an RV, the Kansas City Sportshow comes to Bartle Hall (301 West 13th Street). The show features personal watercraft, RVs, ATVs and fishing accessories.