What to Do This Weekend: Greg Giovanni Makes Theater for Kids

G Philly’s guide to what’s happening this weekend.

FRIDAY:

• Tonight’s session of William Way’s Guys Night Out takes place at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art’s (PAFA) Open Studio Night. The gallery will be decorated with works from students enrolled in the Academy’s BFA, MFA and Post-Baccalaureate programs. This is a great opportunity to meet new artists and to stay on top of Philly’s next wave of up-and-coming artists. 5:30 p.m. (leave for PAFA), free, William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.
• Manayunk on Ice couldn’t have fallen on a better weekend. The ice-carving expo begins tonight with a bonfire and continues through the weekend with carving battles, sculpture tours and performance carvings. Let’s add snowball fight to the list, too. I’m gonna get you so hard! 6 p.m. (bonfire) continues through Sun., Feb. 10, free, Main Street in Manayunk.
• Poor Richard’s Opera is hosting Romeos and Their Juliets, a concert featuring arias and scenes from Charles Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette, Vincenzo Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story. The troupe of singers includes gay vocalist Geoffrey Bruen and straight ally Jessica Gruver. I saw her bring the house down a couple years ago in Pirates of Penzance, so you opera and musical lovers may wanna clear your schedule for this one. 7:30 p.m., $20, Trinity Center for Urban Life, 2212 Spruce St.
• Gay playwright Greg Giovanni began his career in the ’80s pushing the proverbial envelope with mind-bending theater that never quite earned the kid-friendly stamp of approval. For his latest, though, the artist has whipped up a dreamy piece of theater that’s A-OK for the kiddos. “A Minor Cycle: Five Little Plays in One Starry Night” combines Japanese Noh theater and Western children’s stories about ghosts, dragons and toy soldiers. Tonight and Sat., Feb. 9, 8 p.m., $25-$30, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St.
• Local drag queen Brittany Lynn and her Drag Mafia aren’t the kinds of gals to get mushy over Valentine’s Day. Case in point: You’re Dead to Me: A Broken Heart’s Ball. For this anti-Valentine’s shock fest, the ladies will perform their favorite angst-y love songs. Guests are encouraged to show up dressed as their favorite “undead creature,” so you better start digging through your closet. Tonight’s not the night to be pissing these ladies off. 9 p.m., call for price, Icandy, 254 S. 12th St.

Icon Ebony-Fierce hosts FREak BOUTiqUE at Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar.

SATURDAY:

• Rebecca Katherine Hirsch wants to talk about sex, baby (that line would work so much better if you’d sing it.) She’s part of Permanent Wave’s Creative Chaos! residency, and today the group has put together Talkin’ About Sex ‘n’ Stuff, a grown-up sex-ed class with videos, games and lively discussions about everything from sex in Sweden to the queer masculinities of straight men. Should be spicy! … and informative. 4 p.m., free, Eris Temple Arts, 602 S. 52nd St.
• East Passyunk Avenue businesses are gearing up for today’s Second Saturday. Among the long list of shops participating is Belle Bakery, who’s got Valentine’s-inspired sweets and mulled wine; Chhaya Cafe is hosting an opening reception for artist Bronwen Gale with live music by singer-songwriter Keith Yette; and the gay-owned Metro Men’s Clothing is keeping things toasty with a tequila tasting and an inspiring peek at their new spring arrivals. Various times, free, all up and down East Passyunk Avenue.
• Tonight’s the opening reception of Vincent Cianni’s exhibit, “Gays in the Military: How America Thanked Me.” 6 p.m., free, iMPeRFeCT Gallery, 5601 Greene St.
  
• Sisters is celebrating Mardi Gras with beads, sexy dancers, beads, a dance party and … did I mention beads? 9 p.m., call for price, Sisters Nightclub, 1320 Chancellor St.
• Tonight, after Tabu’s bartenders thaw out after Cupid’s Undie Run, Tabu will kick it back into high gear with FREak BOUTiqUE. Icon Ebony-Fierce hosts the Attic Youth Center-benefitting event, which’ll feature performances by Sugur Shane and Just Jess, and Blu Dahlia will set up a station selling freak-tastic clothing accessories and home goods. 10 p.m., free (drink proceeds benefit AYC), Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar, 200 S. 12th St.