Pencil This In

DRINK: Beer 101: The Domestic Crafts -- You might keel over if you tried to taste all of the varieties of beer in the world in one night, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. Beer expert Gregg Glaser will guide you through ten of the classic styles, all brewed by U.S. craft breweries, as well as through the history of beer from the dawn of civilization to the present. Now that covers a lot of territory. - Laren Spirer

Friday // 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. // Astor Culinary Center [399 Lafayette St at East 4th St] // $65, register online

MOVIE: Tonight Brainwave is screening the 1949 screamer Whirlpool. The classic noir tells the story of the wife of a psycho-analyst who falls prey to "a devious quack hypnotist when he discovers she is an habitual shoplifter." As for the Brainwave series, it's "an extravaganza of art, music, and ideas running from January to June 2008 and asks how art, music, and meditation affect the brain and offers countless answers in more than a hundred public events, ranging from contemporary art shows to a cinema series to cutting-edge concerts, performances, talks, and panels."

Friday // 9:30 p.m. // Rubin Museum of Art [150 West 17th St] // Free

THEATER: In the intriguing multimedia play RUS(H), black-clad performers become Bunraku-style video puppeteers wielding high-def screens, while live actors tangle with the pre-recorded characters. The confusion between reality, theater and filmed life points to the “fragmented psychology” explored in the piece, created by HERE co-founder Kristin Marting and video provocateur James Scruggs. The story concerns Rus and his chronic déjà vu affliction: “Lost in a labyrinth of repeating memories and trapped in a failing marriage, Rus yearns to feel something new, full and real. After a car accident, he connects with Sonny, a hustler, and quickly descends into a down-low world of sex, drugs and violence.” Fred Brackus calls it “engrossing.” – John Del Signore

Friday // 8 p.m. // 3LD Arts and Technology Center [80 Greenwich St @ Rector St] // Tickets cost $18

EVENT: It's the 27th Annual Making Brooklyn Bloom Expo! City folk will learn to grow from expert green thumbs at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The day includes workshops, exhibits, activities shopping and more. Pick up some tips and some greens while you're there. More info here.

Saturday // 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. // Brooklyn Botanical Garden [1000 Washington Ave] // Free

THEATER: On the one hand, tickets to the Classic Stage Company production of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull cost $75. On the other hand, Alan Cumming is playing the self-absorbed Trigorin and Dianne Wiest is the aging stage diva Arkadina. It’s also being directed by a real live Russian, Viacheslav Dolgachev, who is the artistic director of Moscow New Drama Theatre. So, basically, you can’t not see this. Reviews come out March 14th and if it’s a hit, this ticket will be as impossible as it is expensive, so just bite the bullet now. – John Del Signore

Saturday // 2 p.m. // Classic Stage Company [136 East 13th St] // Tickets cost $75

ART: Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon opens her art show, Come Across, this weekend. Her abstract watercolors are painted on translucent rice paper and "recall faces of audience members from the perspective of the performer." The exhibit also includes a sound piece she created with Thurston Moore. Open through April 9th.

Saturday // 6 to 8 p.m. // KS Art [73 Leonard St] // Free

MUSIC: Calling all indie kids (and their parents), this Sunday Ra Ra Riot and Levy take the intimate stage at the Living Room for the Kidrockers show. "These all ages shows are designed to bring families together to enjoy new music. Artists perform original (not specifically made for children) songs in a manner that is both authentic and kid-friendly." Fizzy Lizzy will even be handing out free fruity spritzers at the event.

Sunday // 1:00 to 2:30pm // The Living Room [154 Ludlow St] // $12

The listed events were chosen by Gothamist and brought to you by the 2009 Toyota Corolla.