Avenue Q

Friday to Sunday, March 26 to 28

Don’t stroll into the US Cellular Center this weekend expecting to see Big Bird or Elmo playing nice. What you can expect is a smart, risque show about big dreams in the Big Apple. Avenue Q is a Broadway smash that present puppets and people in every way you wouldn’t expect. Think “Sesame Street” for 20-somethings. It’s certainly not a show for children, but it is a show to keep you laughing till the very end. Want to channel your inner 7 year old? Hop on the school bus in Iowa City and hit the road for Cedar Rapids. Just don’t forget your Trapper Keeper.

Avenue Q
7:30 p.m. Friday (3/26), 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday (3/27) and Sunday (3/28), $35-$57, US Cellular Center, 370 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, www.uscellularcenter.com

Bob & Tom Comedy All Stars

Friday, March 26

The Bob & Tom Comedy All Stars Tour is rolling into town with some of the best comedians in North America. You’ve probably heard the likes of them on the Bob & Tom Radio show, and many of them have been featured on Comedy Central or late night shows. Check out the featured guests at www.bobandtom.com, and make sure you don’t miss out on the comedy!

Bob & Tom Comedy All Stars
7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday (03/26), Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City, $32.50, www.englert.org

Black Eyed Peas

Thursday, March 25

Get the party started early this weekend at the Black Eyed Peas’ show in Des Moines tonight. The three-time Grammy Award-winning group is making a stop in the Hawkeye state for their “The E.N.D. World Tour 2010.” They’re bringing some good company, too. Special guests Ludacris and LMFAO will join them at the Wells Fargo Arena. We’ve got a feeling it’s gonna be a good, good show.

Black Eyed Peas
7:30 p.m. Thursday (03/25), Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St., Des Moines, $39.50 to $80.50, www.iowaeventscenter.com

Three other things

Gabe’s Grand Opening w/ The Flavor Savors & The Post Mortems
8 p.m. Saturday (03/27)
Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington St., Iowa City, $6, www.iowacitygabes.com

Adrian Legg
7 p.m. Tuesday (03/30)
CSPS, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids, $11 in advance, $15 at the door, www.legionarts.org

Fruit Bats w/ Blue Giant
9 p.m. Friday (03/26)
The Mill, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City, $10, www.icmill.com

Jennifer Coolidge
Thursday, Feb. 18

Maybe you know her as Stifler’s Mom. Or maybe you remember her as the snap and bend friend from “Legally Blonde.” Our favorite was her performance in “Best in Show.” No matter if you’ve seen her movies (including many of David Guest’s mockumentaries) or TV sitcom work before, you’re sure not to forget Jennifer Coolidge after her performance at Penguins Comedy Club. The famed blonde bombshell brings her stand-up act to town and that’s a night of laughs you don’t want to miss.

Jennifer Coolidge
7:30 p.m., Thursday (02/18), Penguins Comedy Club, 525 33rd Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, $19.50, (319) 362-8133, www.penguinscomedyclub.com

Carrie Newcomer
Friday, Feb. 19

If you didn’t get enough chocolate for Valentine’s Day, plan
to see Carrie Newcomer perform at CSPS on Friday night.
Her vocals and guitar work have been described as “rich as Godiva chocolate” and she’s been dubbed a “soaring songstress” — thanks to her poetic and spiritual lyrics. We
say, hear it for yourself.

Carrie Newcomer
8 p.m., Friday (02/19), CSPS, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids, $17 in advance, $21 at the door, (319) 364-1580, www.legionarts.org

Wonderful Town
Thursday to Sunday, Feb. 18 to 21

This musical — about two sisters heading to New York City to make it big — may be set in the Great Depression, but it’s one show that promises to lift audiences out of a slump. And the Iowa City Community Theatre — who is presenting the show
on the Englert stage — is especially proud that the show will
go on thanks to the extra fundraising efforts they pulled off.

Wonderful Town
8 p.m. Thursday (02/18) to Saturday (2/20) and Sunday (02/21), Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City, $10 to 18, (319) 338-0443, www.iowacitycommunitytheatre.com

Three other things

Grape Expectations VII—A Wine Tasting Fundraiser for the Marion Public Library
6 to 8 p.m. Friday (2/19)
Campbell Steele Gallery, 1064 Seventh Ave., Marion, $25,
(319) 377-3412, www.marion
publiclibrary.org

New Odyssey
7 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday (2/19, 20)
Riverside Casino Show Lounge, 3184 Hwy. 22, Riverside, Free, (319) 648-1234, www.riverside
casinoandresort.com

Jason Marcus
9:30 p.m. Wednesday (2/24)
The Summit, 10 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, (319) 354-7482,
www.thesummitnightclub.com

Keri Noble
Monday, November 16

Minneapolis singer/songwriter Keri Noble swings by CSPS on Monday night to showcase music from her latest, self-titled release. Noble, who got her start playing in small coffeehouses in Detroit, has certainly made a name for herself of late. Her music has been featured on “Grey’s Anatomy” and she’s performed live on CBS Saturday morning “The Early Show.” So spend your Monday night enjoying her intense and personal vocals and see yet another up-and-coming star in CSPS’ intimate setting.

Keri Noble
8 p.m. Monday (11/16), CSPS/Legion Arts, 1103 Third Street SE, Cedar Rapids, $9 to $11,
(319) 364-1580, www.legionarts.org

“Flood Them With Love” with Aeroroot
Saturday, November 14

his weekend’s “Flood Them With Love” fundraising event puts together a great band, free concert and a great cause. Fortune Magazine’s Corporate Battle of the Bands finalist Aeroroot will take the stage to help “Flood Them With Love” assist area flood victims. All you need to get in to the concert is a free will donation or a gift card to a local store (say Target, Kmart, Walmart, Hy-Vee, Fareway, Home Depot or Menards.)

“Flood Them With Love”
7 to 10 p.m. Saturday (11/14), Chrome Horse Saloon,
Free will donation, must be at least 21

Iowa’s Premier Wine & Food Expo
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14

If you make the trek to Des Moines for Iowa’s Premier Wine & Food Expo your stomach won’t be sorry. Sample dishes from area chefs and rub elbows with celebrity chefs Duff Goldman
of Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes” and Andrew Zimmern of Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods.” Organizers promise 38 food booths and more than 270 different beers, wines and spirits.
Iowa’s  Premier Wine & Food Expo
Noon to 10 p.m. Friday (11/13) and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday (11/14), Hy-Vee Hall, Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, $20 for one day or $35 for a two-day pass, www.wineandfoodexpoiowa.com

Three other things

Paula Poundstone
8 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Englert Theatre, 221 East
Washington Street, Iowa City, $30 to $40, 319.688.2653, www.englert.org

Sight and Sound Gala
6:30 p.m. Saturday
Cedar Rapids Country Club,
550 27th Street Drive SE,
Cedar Rapids, $100, 319.366.7503, www.crma.org

“Reefer Madness,
The Musical”
2 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday
University of Iowa E. C. Mabie Theatre, Iowa City, $15 to $20, 319.335.3213, www.uiowa.edu/~dpa/about.htm