Photos courtesy flickr

Jim Florentine Thu., Feb. 18 – Inspired by loud mouth comics like Andrew Dice Clay and Sam Kinison, comedian Jim Florentine, who starts a four-night stand at the Improv tonight, began doing standup comedy in the early ’90s. Florentine’s career took off after just after he released an album of crank phone calls. That led to an appearance on The Howard Stern Show and he became a regular. Florentine has kept plenty busy. He was the co-host of That Metal Show on VH1 Classic. It ran for 14 seasons before VH-1 pulled the plug. And Florentine has had appearances on Girls, Californication and Inside Amy Schumer. He performs tonight at 7:30 at the Improv, where he has shows scheduled through Sunday. Tickets are $17 to $20. (Niesel)
Darren “DS” Sanders Fri., Feb. 19 – Known as the “the man with many faces” because his facial expressions are just as descriptive as his words, comedian Darren “DS” Sanders is one fun act to watch. Sanders has a routine that mainly centers around his daily life and observations of the world — like about how he thinks state troopers are in fact ninjas. He likes to keep things upbeat and fast paced while he is on stage, never letting up with jokes and always keeping the crowd laughing. Sanders performs tonight at 7:30 and 10 and tomorrow night at 7 and 9:30 at Hard Rock Rocksino’s Club Velvet. Tickets are $13 to $18. (Martin Harp)
Gospel Brunch Sun., Feb. 21 – The monthly Gospel Brunch has been a spiritual Sunday staple for years at the House of Blues. Curated by famed gospel singer Kirk Franklin, the recently reinvigorated show puts a bit more emphasis on the music. This week, the local artist Lafayette Carthon and Faith performs. The all-you-can-eat musical extravaganza features Southern classics like chicken jambalaya, biscuits and gravy, and chicken and waffles. It takes place at 11 a.m. Tickets are $40. (Niesel)
Ron White Sat., Feb. 20 – You won’t get any nonsense from straight-talking, hard-drinking comic Ron White, who appears tonight at 7 at the State Theatre. White, who rose to fame on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, embraces a redneck sensibility. A classic storyteller, he regularly talks about growing up in a small town in Texas. The guy’s sold over 14 million albums (solo and with the Blue Collar Comedy Tour); he’s also been nominated for two Grammys. Tickets are $48.75 to $213.64 for the Ron White “200 Proof” VIP Experience. (Niesel)
It’s a Wild World Animal Show Sun., Feb. 21 – Home to a wide range of animals, Akron Zoo will showcase some of its remarkable collection tonight at Akron Civic at It’s a World Wide Animal Show. The program will feature an 8-foot long boas and the Savannah monitor, a relative to our Komodo dragons. Some of Akron Zoo’s mammals that will be featured will be one of our rescued and rehabilitated opossum, North American porcupine and also the rainforest animal “Chloe” the Kinkajou. The event begins at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children aged 3 to 12. (Niesel)
Kent Beatlefest Fri., Feb. 19 – One of the most talented group of singers and songwriters to ever walk the planet, the Beatles left behind an incredible musical legacy. To this day, tribute acts try to recapture the band’s glory. Slated to take place in downtown Kent from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. today, the third annual Kent Beatlefest aims to honor the Fab Four as 23 bands showcase “their unique take on Beatles songs” at 18 different venues. Full-on Beatles cover bands like Abby Road perform at Dominick’s. Local hero Colin Dussault’s “Beatles Project” offers a blues take on the British band’s music, and Helen Welch emphasizes a jazzy lounge style at Bricco. Rick Locoboni will present Behind the Music of the Beatles, a look into the band’s business model and the group’s songs themselves, at the Kent Cheesemonger. This year’s Kent Beatlefest will also feature Opus 216, a string ensemble showcasing a “fun twist” on the Fab Four’s songs. Admission is free. You can find a schedule online. (Niesel) kentbeatlefest.com.
Mad Max: Fury Road 3D Sat., Feb. 20 – Directed and produced by George Miller, last year’s Mad Max: Fury Road successfully relaunched the cult film series with a bang. The movie, which stars Tom Hardy as Max and Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa, follows Max as he tries to escape from the War Boys, a group of bloodthirsty villains who use him as a “blood bag.” Stunning visuals that look truly spectacular in 3D must be seen on the big screen to be properly appreciated. The movie screens tonight at midnight at the Capitol Theatre as part of Cleveland Cinemas’ Late Shift Cult Film Series. Tickets are $6. (Niesel)
Super Seventies Soul! Fri., Feb. 19 and Fri., Feb. 26 – Each February, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates national Black History month with a series of events and programming. Today at 1 p.m., Rock Hall experts will talk about some of the biggest ‘70s soul stars including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, the O’Jays and more during a session dubbed Super 70s Soul! that takes place in the Rock Hall’s Foster Theater. Admission is free with museum admission and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. (Niesel)
The Woman Next Door Sun., Feb. 21 – French New Wave master François Truffaut made some incredible movies before his death in 1984. Today at 1:30 p.m., the Cleveland Museum of Art screens The Woman Next Door, a 1981 film that stars Gerard Depardieu and Fanny Ardant. It centers on a happily married man whose life falls apart after an ex-lover moves next door. Tickets are $10. (Niesel)
Tunnel Book Workshop Sat., Feb. 20 – At 10 a.m., The Morgan Conservatory hosts a Tunnel Book Workshop by Cris Clair Takacs, owner of Books Bound & Repaired. Tunnel books are freestanding and ideal for exhibition display. Participants will learn how to make their own tunnel book, capable of standing by itself through its paper-engineered slide. The workshop will begin with construction of a model from pre-cut pieces, followed by time to fill your book’s pages with your own creativity. The cost of the workshop is $90 per person. To register, and for a complete list of required supplies, see the Morgan Conservatory’s website. (Usmani)

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