For the Weekend of January 22-24, 2010.

Friday /// Saturday /// Sunday

Friday

Lil Pea and the 3rd Degree at Seabright Brewery. Lil Pea and the 3rd Degree makes sweet music at Seabright Brewery. 6 p.m. Heartbreaker brings Led Zeppelin back from disbandment. “Stairway to Heaven” may never be the same. 8 p.m. Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $15. Ages 21+. (831) 603-2294.

8 Tens @ Eight at Actors’ Theatre. Returning to Actors’ Theatre for its 15th annual season, the hugely popular 8 Tens @ Eight festival of 10 minute plays highlights the work of eight different playwrights. The works represent a range of styles and subjects from stark realism to existential; from edgy comedy to deep drama. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 3 p.m. Sundays through February 14. Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz. $15 – $18. (831) 425-7529.

Funky times at Moe’s Alley. It’s an all-star showdown when San Francisco’s Stymie & The Pimp Jones Luv Orchestra joins Bay Area’s The Pleasuremaker Band and Afrolicious for a dose of Afro-centric funkiness. 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $10. (831) 479-1854.

China Cats tribute the Grateful Dead at The Crepe Place. Channel the groove of the Dead. Santa Cruz’s China Cats come to The Crepe Place’s armed with a new batch of tunes from the Dead’s repertoire. 9 p.m. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $TBA. (831) 429-6994.

Black Dynamite at Midnight at the Del Mar. All Movie Guide describes Black Dynamite as “a seamless recreation of the blaxploitation classics of the 1970s.” Midnight January 22 & 23. The Del Mar, 1124 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz. $6.50. (831) 469-3220.

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Saturday

Signing of Dogs: Messengers of Inner Peace at Many Hands. It’s raining cats and dogs at Many Hands Gallery. Elizabeth “Tootie” Hagan, author of Dogs: Messengers of Inner Peace, will sign her book as a fundraiser for the Santa Cruz SPCA. A portion of all book sales will be donated. 3 – 5 p.m. Many Hands Gallery, 510 Bay Avenue, Capitola. Free. (831) 475-2500.

Bryn Loosley and the Back Pages, Johanna Lefever & Asher at Kuumbwa. Buffalo Creek frontman Bryn Loosley brings his other band, the Back Pages, to Kuumbwa for a night of folk and roots rock. Local folkie Johanna Lefever and Asher share the bill. 8 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz. $10. 1-866-55-TICKETS or (831) 427-2227 for information.

Extra Large at Don Quixote’s. They dare you to not to dance to their funky grooves. Santa Cruz’s Extra Large returns to Don Quixote’s. 8 p.m. Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Ages 21+. (831) 603-2294.

The Residents at The Rio. Experimental band-like group The Residents appears at The Rio. 8 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $26.25 in advance. Advance tickets at www.ticketweb.com. (831) 423-8209.

Salsa Dance Party at Veterans Memorial. The monthly Salsa Dance Party at Veterans Memorial features live music by Flor de Cana. A dance lesson is included with admission. 8 – 9 p.m. class, 9 p.m. dance. Veterans Memorial Building, 846 Front St, Santa Cruz. $10. (831) 454-0478.

Loose Cannon Theater at Broadway Playhouse. Provocative improvisation troupe Loose Cannon Theater presents its Jumpin’ January show. New troupe member Carol Skolnick will have her debut. Broadway Playhouse, 526 Broadway Street, Santa Cruz. $10 at the door. (831) 427-4008.

An Evening of Snow. Ariose Singers perform their winter concert, An Evening of Snow this weekend. The concert will include pieces by Samuel Barber, J.S. Bach, Francis Poulenc, Juan del Encina and Juan Vásquez. 8 p.m. January 23 & 3 p.m. January 24. Resurrection Church, 7600 Soquel Drive in Aptos. $15. Advance tickets at from Brown Paper Tickets.

8 Tens @ Eight at Actors’ Theatre. Returning to Actors’ Theatre for its 15th annual season, the hugely popular 8 Tens @ Eight festival of 10 minute plays highlights the work of eight different playwrights. The works represent a range of styles and subjects from stark realism to existential; from edgy comedy to deep drama. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 3 p.m. Sundays through February 14. Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz. $15 – $18. (831) 425-7529.

Coastal Sage at Moe’s Alley. The reggae stylings of Santa Cruz’s own Coastal Sage take center stage at Moe’s Alley. 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $8 in advance, $10 at the door. (831) 479-1854.

Black Dynamite at Midnight at the Del Mar. All Movie Guide describes Black Dynamite as “a seamless recreation of the blaxploitation classics of the 1970s.” Midnight January 22 & 23. The Del Mar, 1124 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz. $6.50. (831) 469-3220.

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Sunday

Third annual Chocolate Festival at Cocoanut Grove. Taste chocolate creations while helping raise money for re-entry student scholarships at UC Santa Cruz. 1 – 3 p.m. Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Admission is free, but tastings cost $5 for 3, $10 for 8 or $20 for 20. Tickets available at the door. www.santacruzchocolatefestival.org.

8 Tens @ Eight at Actors’ Theatre. Returning to Actors’ Theatre for its 15th annual season, the hugely popular 8 Tens @ Eight festival of 10 minute plays highlights the work of eight different playwrights. The works represent a range of styles and subjects from stark realism to existential; from edgy comedy to deep drama. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 3 p.m. Sundays through February 14. Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz. $15 – $18. (831) 425-7529.

Houston Jones plus Calaveras at Don Quixote’s. Prepare for some high octane roots music when Bay Area’s Houston Jones joins local group Calaveras for a fun night. 7 p.m. Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $10. Under 21 allowed with parent. (831) 603-2294.

That 1 Guy at Moe’s Alley. He’s a one-man rhythm section, an orchestra in miniature and a jazz bassist. Berkeley musical genius Mike Silverman is That 1 Guy and he “packs a wallop.” 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. (831) 479-1854.

Maus Haus, Battlehooch & Grand Lake at The Crepe Place. San Francisco’s experimental pop sextet Maus Haus shares a bill with Battlehooch and Grand Lake in the front room. 9 p.m. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $8. (831) 429-6994.

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