Looking for fun events? Top 5 things to do around Tallahassee

Do things suddenly seem quieter this weekend?

The legislators are wrapping up session and heading out of town. And it's spring break! Lucky students are fleeing to the beaches or sleeping in. Leon County Schools and universities are all shut down March 11-15.

Not to worry, there's plenty to do.

Mandy Patinkin celebrates "Being Alive" with Opening Nights on Saturday. The Grove Museum opens the doors for its 7th year with Grove Day history activities. The Mickee Faust Club steers the dramatic ship for laughs with a new cabaret this weekend.

Find inspiration all around you and raise a toast of appreciation on Friday, International Women's Day! Then get ready to spring forward when Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday, and the Oscars roll.

Here's a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.

1. 'Womanly Genius' celebrates International Women's Day

Palaver Tree Theater, 59 Shadeville Road in Crawfordville, is giving credit where credit is due from 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, March 8, with "Womanly Genius: Art and Music in Honor of International Women's Day."

The Palaver Tree honors the occasion with a wine & cheese reception and multi-media show featuring works on the theme by Doris Closson (watercolor and acrylics), Mary Donahue (pottery & sculpture), Mary Sterner Lawson (ink & watercolor), Sarah McGilvary (acrylics), Cindy Miller (photography), and Jan Wiley (drawing and other media).

The exhibit will happen in tandem with musical performances by guitarist/vocalist Robynn O’Leary and local rockers Due Artisti, opening for Jen Clark & the Old Schoolers, bringing a fun and danceable fusion of blues, funk, jazz, and R&B with some of Tallahassee’s finest voices, keys, strings, and skins. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 online, $15 at door. Visit palavertreetheater.com.

Music venue: The Sound Bar: A family-owned music venue pursues a dream in Tallahassee

2. Catch Mandy Patinkin in Concert with 'Being Alive'

Florida State's Opening Nights brings Mandy Patinkin with Adam Ben-David on piano for Being Alive concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Tickets are $55-$70. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu.

Patinkin has carved out a varied career including theater, the concert stage, film, television, and as a recording artist. In his 1980 Broadway debut, Mandy won a Tony Award for his role as Che in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Evita", directed by Hal Prince, and was nominated in 1984 for his starring role as George in the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, "Sunday in the Park with George."

3. Go for Sirens and Punks, funk and blues

Brittni Leigh is coming home and is bringing her friends for a show at 8 p.m. Friday at House of Music, 2011 S. Monroe St. The cellist joins a talented lineup of musicians with the velvet voice of Melissa Wood, the soulful, introspective guitar of Rachel Hillman, and the irreverent music of the comedy punk band Gas Station Boner Pills. International artist Jim Russell will be joining Leigh. Tickets are $12. Visit houseofmusictally.com.

Charles "CROS" Mack brings funk and blues to the House of Music stage at 8 p.m. Saturday. Mack leads his audiences through a range of emotions in soul, funk, blues, rock, R&B and folk that at will leave them wanting more. Charles "CROS" Mack has shared the stage with well known artists in a variety of genres including Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, James Brown and B.B. King. Tickets are $20.

4. Albert Castiglia brings electric blues

Expect electric blues when Miami-raised Albert Castiglia lights up the stage at BBC at the Legion at 8 p.m. Friday, March 8. Miami’s New Times lauded him as South Florida’s “Best Blues Guitarist” and USA Today was inspired to remark, “It's a revelation to discover the thrilling retro-electric blues from this astonishing young guitarist.” Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Visit bbclegion.com.

5. Dig up history at Grove Day 2024

Grove Day 2024 celebrates the seven year anniversary of the opening of The Grove Museum in March 2017. There will be fun for all ages from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 9, with the grounds in bloom and live music, food trucks, educational programs, and outdoor activities onsite.

Special programs will be offered throughout the day including Florida Archaeology Month Nature & History Walk at 2 p.m. and guided tours of an exhibit on Early Florida Maps and Tallahassee’s Bicentennial, at 11 a.m. Parking is located at 902 N. Monroe St.

Bonus event: Mickee Faust Club floats 'Steamboat Mickee!'

“It’s full steam ahead for Mickee Faust!”

Mickey Mouse made his film debut in "Steamboat Willie" 95 years ago. This year that copyright ran out and everything early Mickey is up for grabs! Mickee Faust — the giant, ill-tempered rat who claims to be the Orlando Mousie’s illegitimate twin — is happy to do some grabbing. Which bring us to the Mickee Faust’s Cub’s Spring Cabaret Steamboat Mickee!

The Mickee Faust Club kicks off "Steamboat Mickee!" this weekend at the Club house, 609 Railroad Square. Gates open at 7 p.m. Showtime is 8 p.m. Shows run March 8-9 and March 14-16. For more information visit mickeefaust.com. Tickets: $20 admission/$15 Students, Retirees and Persons with Disabilities. $5 off Thursday’s performance. Caution: Railroad Avenue is open but under construction!

“Not to disappoint you,” warns the Rat, “But, except for the title and the poster graphics, there’s nothing about Steamboats in the show."

Bonus event: FSU celebrates 'A Night at The Oscars'

FSUFilm’s annual Fundraiser and Academy Awards celebration is counting down to the 96th Academy Awards and the FSUFILM “A Night at The Oscars” Fundraiser, set for 6 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at FSU Film School Soundstages, 282 Champions Way. Tickets start at $50. Take advantage of the delicious food, grab a drink at the full bar and root for your favorite films. Try your powers of premonition in the Oscar pool for a chance to win free movies and concessions for a year. Visit eventbrite.com.

Coming up: Put the Quincy Porchfest Music Festival on your March calendar

OTHER EVENTS

American Legion: Dance to the music of the Tallahassee Swing Band at the American Legion, 229 Lake Ella Drive, 7:30-10 p.m. Tuesday. $10 adults/$7 students. Free dance lessons from 6:30-7:30 with the purchase of admission.

Blue Tavern: Two Clever kicks off happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., followed at 8 p.m. by Songwriters in the Round with Isabel Ruano Azurdia, Ben Banks and Jean-Marc Wise. Guest host Hepzibah Jones will be the tour guide for March. $5. The 2nd Saturday Old-Time Jam will be hosted by Jane and Gordon Scott from 4-6 p.m. Jane and Gordon Scott will be hosting the jam from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Blue Tavern. They are going to introduce the Georgiana Moon Waltz. At 7 p.m. the Saturday double-header features The Black Feathers at 7 p.m. and Reverend Robert at 9 p.m. The Black Feathers are Ray Hughes and Sian Chandler, playing Americana, folk, and acoustic indie rock. A regular visitor to Blue Tavern, Rev. Robert will keep your toes tapping with early blues. $10 cover. Tallahassee band Fried Turkeys frontman Frank Douglas leads happy hour form 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, followed at 8 p.m. by Blues Meets Girl. $5 cover. Grant Peeples gets happy from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night. Celebrate Pi Day and birthdays from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, followed at 8 p.m. by Free Jazz Five Buck Thursday. $5.

Camp Gordon Johnston Veterans Parade: Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum and the community of Carrabelle celebrate military veterans on Saturday, March 9, with the Camp Gordon Johnston Veteran's Parade. The parade kicks off Saturday at 10:45 a.m. in downtown Carrabelle with veterans, vintage military vehicles, motorcycle riders, decorated golf carts, vintage cars, community floats and more. For more information go to campgordonjohnston.com.

Great Oaks Pub in Southwood: J.C. and the Backscratchers take the stage from 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 8, at the Great Oaks Pub, 3750 Grove Park Drive. No cover. The Backscratchers are Chris Balding, Chris Seepersaud, Jack Straub and Deb Berlinger, who together create the harmonica driven Chicago roots blues musical sound. Full bar and grill, call 850-942-4653 for reservations.

2nd Saturday — Tallahassee’s Bicentennial: 11-noon Saturday, March 9, presented by Museum of Florida History at Union Bank Museum, 219 Apalachee Park way. Museum of Florida History Educators programs featuring hands-on activities for young historians. Celebrate Learning about the founding and development of Florida’s Capital City. Guests will examine historic maps to understand how the community has grown and changed over the past 200 years.

Lake Tribe Brewery: Catch a Tallahassee favorite, Deja Blu, from 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 8, on the deck at Lake Tribe Brewery, 3357 Garber Drive. Deja Blu covers a range of musical genres including classic rock, rockin’ blues, countrified hits, jazz, oldies, soul, and some funk. The band features Mark Blair on drums, Barry Kaye on keys, Kent Rodriguez on guitars, and Michael Brawer on bass. No cover.

Organ Concert: Brian Mathias, one of three organists for the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, will perform an organ concert at Trinity United Methodist Church, 120 W. Park Ave., at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 9. He appears frequently on the Tabernacle Choir’s Music and the Spoken Word radio and television broadcast. This concert is part of Trinity's Bicentennial celebration. Admission is free.

Pebble Hill Polo Classic: Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, Georgia, is bringing the “Sport of Kings” to the region, with the 2nd Annual Pebble Hill Polo Classic, honoring the memory of Elisabeth “Pansy” Ireland Poe and her contributions as a trailblazer for women in the sport. The event is Saturday, March 9. Gates open at 10 a.m. and activities begin at 11 a.m. The event will end at 4 p.m. Tickets are available at pebblehill.com.

The Sound Bar: Southern Latitude Band plays at 7 p.m. Friday at The Sound Bar, 1105 W. Tharpe St. Flintlock Annie is up at 8 p.m. Saturday and at 5 p.m. Sunday, catch blues happy hour with JC and the Backscratchers.

Tallahassee Museum: A new alligator exhibit opens to public after ribbon cutting at noon Saturday March 9, at Tallahassee Museum, 3945 Museum Road. The exhibit will feature five, large adult American alligators and will include a state-of-the-art life support system. Visit tallahasseemuseum.org.

The Wine House: Rodney Jordan & Friends present the music of Charles Mingus at the Wine House, 1355 Market St., on Friday, March 8. Sets at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. $10 cover. Bassist and educator Jordan will perform classic American songs and seasonal favorites. Visit rodneyjordanmusic.com.

Have an event coming up? Email details to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Top 5 fun things to do around Tallahassee this weekend