Pencil This In

EVENT: It's a return of the Beats this weekend, as the annual Howl! Festival returns. The celebration runs for five days, so check out the details, man. (Pictured at left: Allen Ginsberg, photographed by William S. Burroughs, on the rooftop of his Lower East Side apartment in the Fall of 1953.)

All Weekend // Various Locations // Free

FAIR: Before the weather ruins everything this weekend, head over to Governors Island for sound installations, outdoor sculptures, and portraits created on site as part of the 4heads Collective's First Annual Governors Island Art Fair. The fair will be running every weekend, starting today and lasting through October 12th. "The fair unites more than 40 of New York City’s best independent artists under one roof, showcasing hundreds of new works."

All Weekend // Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. // Governors Island // Free

THEATER: The L train is going to be crowded with more clowns than usual this afternoon when the Clown Subway Parade leaves from Union Square. The hundred-plus clown extravaganza is the official kick-off for the third annual New York Clown Theatre Festival, a month-long series featuring 20 productions from clowns from all over the world, one-night-only cabaret performances, and a series of lectures and workshops led by the world's most erudite clowns. Today volunteers will be handing out free clown noses along the L line; the commute culminates with a 10 block march from the Lorimer stop to the Brick Theater, where a massive pie fight and evening-long cabaret will commence. (Seating is very limited for the cabaret, so get there early.) – John Del Signore

Friday // 4:30 p.m. // L Train from Union Square to the Brick Theater [575 Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg] // Free

MUSIC: Wild Sweet Orange and What Made Milwaukee Famous hit Southpaw tonight. The former was named one of Paste's "26 Emerging Artists You Must Know," so take the night to get to know them already! And stick around for those headliners, too.

Friday // 8 p.m. // Southpaw [125 5th Ave,Park Slope] // $12

ART: Prominent and emerging Israeli artists have donated artwork in a collective effort to raise funds for ELEM, a non-for profit organization benefiting youth in distress in Israel. The exhibit, titled From Punk to Pink, is "inspired by the personal story of Ana, a rescued teenager." Opening this Saturday, the night will include a silent auction.

Saturday // 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. // Moti Hasson Gallery [535 West 25th St] // $40

PARTY: Screw this Hanna chick, The Secret Project Robot collective are taking it to the streets tomorrow for a block party. If Williamsburg isn't wiped out, you can plan on seeing art, bands (including Oneida) and delicious BBQ. And yes, there's a rain plan in the form of a warehouse. More details here.

Saturday // 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. // Kent and Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg // Free

THEATER: L.A.'s Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre has brought three Edgar Allan Poe stories – Masque of the Red Death, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Bells – to the right coast. The Times's Andy Webster wonders, "What is it about Los Angeles that makes it a petri dish for the macabre? The celebration of ephemeral beauty in the face of inevitable mortality? The decadence amid obscene affluence? Both? Toss Weimar cabaret, David Lynch, Bob Fosse and the Cure into a cauldron, and you have the flavor. Zombie Joe, a part-time undertaker (!) who resembles a Charles Addams cartoon, has adapted Poe before, and his ease shows." – John Del Signore

Sunday // 7 p.m. // St. Luke's Theatre [308 West 46th St] // $31.50 - $56.50

REMINDER: Today's interviewee, Steve Cohen from East Village Radio, will be celebrating along with the rest of the EVR gang tomorrow. Hopefully they'll be able to keep the party going once the rain comes...