Pencil This In

MUSIC: Nicole Atkins & The Sea, Salt & Samovar and The Nouvellas make up one of the better shows going on around town tonight. The Jonny Greenwood-approved Ms. Atkins (pictured) hasn't played around here for a while, so catch her while you can.

Friday // 8 p.m. // Bowery Ballroom [6 Delancey St] // $18

ART: The new East Village art gallery Audio Visual Arts opens tonight with an open bar party. In the months to come, the venue promises a bonanza of "experimental theatre, music, dinners, film screenings, lectures, happenings, recordings, and whittlings." Yay, this town needs more whittlers! At the moment, the gallery's recurring "Exterior Sounds" installation features aural art by Alexis Georgopoulos (MySpace), transmitted through speakers inside and outside the space. Tonight's also the opening for Brooklyn-based artist John Andrew's solo show "A Room (Dilated)," which emphasizes kinetic sculpture and "vinyl lettering." – John Del Signore

Friday // 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. // Audio Visual Arts [34 E 1st St] // FREE

EVENT: The New York Tyrant, a print journal of short fiction and the occasional poem, is celebrating their latest issue tonight, which includes works from a ton of names (including Alex Balk). The $10 cover gets you a copy fresh off the presses, and sets by The Cummies, The Choke and Cheeseburger (those are bands, literati).

Friday // 9 p.m. // Fontana’s [105 Eldridge St] // $10

CHARITY: Starting this Saturday (and running through Earth Day next April) the Buffalo Exchange is hosting Coats For Cubs, which urges you to give your furs back to the animals! "Bring your real fur apparel, including trims, accessories and shearling to any Buffalo Exchange and let us know it's a donation for Coats for Cubs. Since you're donating to The Humane Society of the United States, condition is unimportant. Used furs provide bedding and comfort to orphaned and injured wildlife." Find more info here.

Saturday // Various times and locations // Free

PARTY: FreeNYC is kicking off their new party, which is of course free, called Play Date. They promise "great vibe, great drinks, great sound. Expect that same mixed up party sound of electro, disco, NY house, good hip hop, club bangers, baltimore club and assorted breakbeats that you usually get from DJ Morsy and DJ Kestar with an added bonus: its FREE all night!"

Saturday // 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. // Downsouth at Southpaw [125 5th Ave, Park Slope] // Free

THEATER: Axis Theatre Company's cozy plush little underground warren is one of the most inviting places to see a show in New York. Tonight there's even more reason take a seat in the Greenwich Village den: Performance icon Edgar Oliver's solo show East 10th Street: Self Portrait with Empty House. Celebrated for his creepy stories at The Moth and La MaMa, Oliver's latest work is described as "a fantastic voyage through the strange rooms of the apartment house where he has lived since his first years in New York. Inhabiting the dark, mysterious halls of an East Village tenement building are a dwarf Cabalist, a possible Nazi, the landlord's former wet nurse who apparently lives in a nest of rags, and many other memorable persons." Martin Denton calls it a "taut, utterly involving hour...and very funny." – John Del Signore

Saturday // 8 p.m. // Axis Theatre Company [1 Sheridan Square] // $15

SHOP: This Sunday the Brooklyn Indie Market will team up with The {NewNew} Etsy Street Team to present a one-day shopping event. So start thinkig of whose stockings you want to stuff this holiday season! "The emerging designer outlet in Carroll Gardens is hoping to expand on its mission to connect local designers with local consumers by teaming up with The {NewNew}; a group of New York based independent artists and designers of handmade goods."

Sunday // 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. // Smith and Union St, Carroll Gardens // Free

MUSIC: Settle into Sunday night with some music. Eagles of Death Metal and The Duke Spirit are at Music Hall of Williamsburg, so if you have 20 bucks left once the weekend is over--spend it on this lineup. Too tired? They're at Bowery Ballroom on Monday night.

Sunday // Music Hall of Williamsburg [66 N 6th St, Williamsburg] // $20

Photo by Jennifer Tzar.