Night & Day Events

Thursday, September 15
We know that our colleague David Martin’s cover story a few weeks ago (“The Big Coverup,” August 25, featuring interviews and topless photos of strippers) made many appearances on tavern tables around town. Whether bargoers were discussing the women’s career aspirations or checking out their racks, we’ll never know. But we were pleasantly surprised to see how many breasts were, to quote wise woman Shakira, small and humble, so you don’t confuse them with mountains. Women — and men — with something to get off their chests should head to Teadrops tonight to meet filmmaker Stacey Tolbert, who’s in search of subjects for her documentary-in-progress, Got Breast? Tolbert’s moviemaking is motivated partly by her desire to reach younger women. “When I listen to girls talk, they hate their bodies,” she says. “I want to inspire a 16-year-old girl who’s a 38DD or a 32A.” The evening begins with performers Natasha El-Scari, Maria Williams and Tolbert herself (reading poetry) while Marcus Brown films interested participants. Call Tolbert at 913-406-1447 for more information.

Friday, September 16
Maybe you’ve observed him bewildering Plaza patrons with his deep lunges and abbreviated shorts. Or perhaps one of his street minions forced you to accept a sweatband during September’s First Friday festivities. If ever Richard Simmons had an urban doppelgänger, it’s Bobby Gibbons — and now we can cradle his peculiar union of dance, exercise, bad hair and philosophy close to our hearts, thanks to his latest workout video, Takin’ It to the Streets: G’ed Up From the Feet Up. Preview clips, buy the DVD and snag an autographed head shot tonight at 8 at the Bank (11th Street and Baltimore). Sadly, Gibbons won’t be there, but we’ll make do with the life-sized poster set up inside a photo booth. See www.bobbygibbons.com for more information.

Saturday, September 17
We’re looking to do some good today, so we’re starting our morning with the Walk for PKD at Loose Park (51st Street and Wornall Road). In case you’re not up on such matters, PKD is polycystic kidney disease, the most common genetic disease, which affects more than 600,000 Americans and 12.5 million people worldwide. Hollywood fashion commentator Steven Cojocaru (or “Cojo,” as fans affectionately call him) is among the afflicted, so dress to impress. Registration starts at 8 a.m.; see www.pkdcure.org for details and to register online.

Tonight, a group of local comedians has put together a show to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina. There’s nothing funny about Hurricane Katrina, but we’re hoping to laugh a little while helping others. All proceeds from the $5 cover go to the Red Cross’ relief fund. The show starts at 8 at Eagles Lodge 87 (6421 State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, 913-334-4995).

Sunday, September 18
Before instant messaging, cell phones that weren’t the size of a brick and, most sadly, My Super Sweet Sixteen, we were once bored teenagers, too. And though we sat in the classroom without any electronic devices to distract us, on weekends we got out. Group movie nights and slumber parties were not, however, what we wanted. Dreaming of Madonna’s early days at Danceteria, we could often be found tearing it up at a now-shuttered all-ages dance club with a bunch of goths and other misfits. Call us sappy, but hearing about tonight’s all-ages Industrial Night at The Granada (1020 Massachusetts in Lawrence, 785-842-1390) takes us back. We’re thinking about digging out some black clothing, ripped fishnets and our treasured ankh necklace to catch More Machine Than Man and the God Project at 7. Except this time, we won’t be using our fake ID to drink — and we’ll be paying more ($7) than the 21-and-younger set ($5). At least we’ve outgrown our bad poetry habit.

Monday, September 19
We always thought it would be highly advantageous to have a rhyming name. Seriously — who’s going to forget Marcy Carsey, whose producer credit made us giggle at the end of every Cosby Show episode, or baseball player Don Hahn? We wonder whether Lee McBee knows what great company he’s in. We’ll ask the longtime Lawrence bluesman tonight, when he teams up with guitarist Pat Nichols for Beyond Blue Mondays. Each week from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Jackpot Saloon (943 Massachusetts in Lawrence, 785-832-1085), the duo offers a wide range of the genre’s music, including prewar ragtime tunes and selections that highlight McBee’s penchant for the blues harp. And when we’re introduced, we’ll proudly give him the childhood nickname that used to make us cry: Annie Fannie.

Tuesday, September 20
Political turmoil breeds inspiration among our creative friends — that much we know. But at the Lied Center’s new lecture series, Conflict and Creativity, we look forward to finding out how the present economic and social climates of countries like China, Ireland and Cuba affect their artists. A week or two prior to each of the University of Kansas’ World Series musical and dance performances, a panel discusses the geopolitical, cultural and artistic environments of each country represented. The first installment, “Life and Identity in Israel,“ is at 7:30 tonight, in advance of the October 1 appearance by the Avishai Cohen Trio. The lectures take place in the Hall Center Conference Hall (900 Sunnyside Avenue in Lawrence); call 785-864-4798 for more information.

Wednesday, September 21
Loudmouthed royal and tabloid fave Princess Michael of Kent is in trouble again. She’s been dissing the late Princess Diana, reportedly calling her “bitter,” “nasty” and “strange.” We think Jody Williams, who received the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for her crusades against land mines — a cause that won a huge boost in exposure when taken up by Lady Di herself — might have a problem with that. But we imagine she’ll have more important things to discuss tonight when she addresses how an individual can bring about social and political change. The free lecture starts at 7:30 p.m. in the John Gano Memorial Chapel at William Jewell College (500 College Hill in Liberty, 816-781-7700).