Pencil This In

MUSIC: There are a lot of good shows tonight, so don't even think about rushing home to bundle up. Strap on the snow shoes and head over to Mercury Lounge for Pattern is Movement, Maps and Atlases and (the return of) the Cloud Room. Try to squeeze in another show in the area while you're at it. Brooklyn band Limbs (pictured) are celebrating the release of their cd, Seeds On Stone (which is getting high praises) over at Cake Shop.

8 p.m. // Mercury Lounge and Cake Shop // $10, $7

THEATER: The powerful East Village theater triad comprised of The Kraine, The Red Room, and Under St. Marks is currently playing host to the annual Frigid Festival of new work. Consider it winter's answer to the August Fringe Fest, but much more manageable, with just 30 productions to choose from. (And unlike the Fringe, the Frigid artists get to keep 100% of their box office.) Among tonight's choices is Dalton Trumbo's Johnny Got His Gun, which has been touring successfully around the world. Based on Dalton Trumbo’s 1939 novel, the one-man show tells the famous story of a quadruple amputee who has also lost his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth during combat in World War I. Ivanna Cullinan at nytheatre.com insists it's not depressing, calling it "a remarkable journey combining the stories that make up a person's life with an exploration of how the mind exists within time." — John Del Signore

6 p.m. // Under St. Marks [94 St. Marks Place] // $15

EVENT: A new monthly showcase is coming to town, the Open Variety Night at Galapagos. Held the first Monday of each month, the event is sort of like the Gong Show. "The monthly showcase is open to all variety entertainers: jugglers, hoofers, magicians, aerialists, physical comedians, opera singers, violin playing pogo stickers, steppers, acrobats. The stage is here for artists to work out material in front of a live audience." This is either going to be very fun or very painful. If you want to take part, email variety(AT)galapagosartspace(DOT)com.

8 p.m. // Galapagos [16 Main St, DUMBO] // $5

PARTY: Ready or not, Jimmy Fallon takes over the Late Night airwaves tonight. In celebration, (le) Poisson Rouge is hosting an unofficial afterparty. Pourquoi? Because ?uestlove of The Roots (Jimmy's new house band) is prepping for his residency there (which officially kicks off later this month). More details here.

10 p.m. // (le) Poisson Rouge [158 Bleecker St] // $18