Night and Day

Wednesday • 8
A Salute to Women Winemakers
COMMUNITY

When you put two of Night & Day's favorite things together — wine and women — you can bet your ass that we're going to sing some praises. Enter the Fifth Annual Birmingham Rotary Wine Tasting event where the ladies of the rotary will salute women winemakers by not only partaking of their delicious spirits, but by recognizing the significant contributions women have made to the wine industry over the years. The admission price of $75 ($35 tax-deductible) will go toward the funding of 10 water wells in devastated areas of the Philippines. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 380 S. Bates St., Birmingham. Call Joe Bauman at 248-901-2563 for more information.

Thursday-Friday • 9-10
Rodney Whitaker and Wess Anderson
MUSIC

Not for nothing is alto saxophonist Wessel Anderson nicknamed "Warmdaddy." He's got a thermal vent for a tone. But he's also got the swing stuff to make his music much more than atmospheric; his stints with the Wynton Marsalis Septet and in the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra are testament to that. An associate professor of jazz studies at Michigan State University School of Music, he joins bassist Rodney Whitaker (a fellow Marsalis band and LCJO alum) for two nights at the new jazz club inside of Music Hall. Jazz Café at Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit; 313-887-8501.

Friday • 10
Chapstik CD Release
MUSIC

If driving toward a brick wall at breakneck speed sounds like a perfectly appropriate way to spend a Friday night, an evening with Chapstik might suit you beautifully. Hell, why not skip the suicide run altogether and make your way to Small's in Hamtramck for a night of blue-collar metal, crunchy guitar tones and a slew of brand-new songs. Yep the boys have put the punishment down in digital form — the result being Barnburner — their latest CD on Unfortunate Miracles Records. At Small's, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; 313-873-1117. With Heads Will Roll and the Amino Acids.

Friday • 10
Demetri Martin
COMEDY

Demetri Martin quit law school to become a comedian, thereby forgoing beaucoup bucks for an unstable pipedream. What was he thinking? Good thing, the guy has beaucoup talent. Martin delivers dry, witty and subtle jests through song, drawing and classic stand-up routines. A sample of Martin's comedy goes something like this: "I bought a cactus and a month later it died. I thought, 'I'm less nurturing than a desert.'" Martin has lent his comedic talents to Late Night with Conan O'Brien as a writer and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as a trend-spotter. But his stand-up is tough to beat; not to mention full of self-deprecation and genuine tomfoolery. At 8 p.m. at the Michigan Theater; 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. Tickets are $26.50. Visit michigantheater.org for more info.

Friday-Sunday • 10-12
Essence of Motown Literary Conference
LITERATURE

November is NaNoWriMo! No, that's not a greeting used by Mork from Ork, it's short for National Novel Writing Month. And while you might not have it in you to churn out a whole freakin' novel by the end of the month, take advantage of this literary time of year by attending the Essence of Motown Literary Conference. The event features workshops from local and nationally renowned authors, readings, panels and lots o' networking opportunities. Of special note: Metro Times contributor Eddie B. Allen will speak about his biography of Donald Goines, the Detroit-born author who revolutionized the genre of gritty, urban lit. At Cobo Hall, One Washington, Detroit. Call 313-289-8614 or visit geocities.com/essenceofmotown for information.

Saturday • 11
Steeped in Tradition
ART

Contemporary artists have consistently pushed the boundaries of art, creating beautiful sculptures out of dime-store finds, animal bones, found objects, used needles, pubic hair and now ... teapots? Yes, Ariana Gallery is presenting an exhibition and sale of high-art teapots that are both artistically stimulating and fully functioning (but this is a high-class affair, so no tea-bagging jokes at the opening, OK, kids?) Tea has actually become quite hip in the past few years, with various "tea bars" opening in trendy cities across the country. See the evidence for yourself at this teapot show, which is actually the 19th annual edition. Steeped in Tradition (Get it? Steeped? Yuk-yuk!) will include a sampling of select teas and pastries. From 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Nov. 11, at Ariana Gallery, 119 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-546-8810.

Saturday • 11
The Barber of Seville
OPERA

If your only familiarity with The Barber of Seville is Bugs Bunny's or Our Gang's Alfalfa's rendition, it's time to class up your act and get your pedestrian patooty downtown. Barber premiered in Rome, February 20, 1816, and has since become the fifth-most-performed opera in North America. And don't worry, far as opera goes, it's palatable: A comedic and sentimental tale of love, duplicity, mischief and, of course, Figaro the Barber, you owe it to yourself to see this magnificent production in the gorgeous Detroit Opera House. Tickets range from $28 to $120, and are available at the Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit), by phone at 313-237-SING (7464) and online at michiganoperatheatre.com.

Wednesday • 15
Peter Brötzmann & Michael Zerang
MUSIC

German saxophonist Peter Brotzmann is arguably the most important of the European jazz musicians who came of age in the '60s. Influenced by American righteous screamer Albert Ayler, Brotzmann's 1968 Machine Gun was one of those discs that doubled as a manifesto, a sonic shot heard across the continent, even if it was slow to make itself known around the world. Still caterwauling after all these years, Brozmann is a frequent collaborator with American musicians, particularly with such Chicagoans as Ken Vandermark and drummer Michael Zerang, the latter of whom is dueting with Brotzmann for this date. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-769-2999.

Ongoing
Potluck II
ART

Opening night saw oodles of art lovers spilling into the streets of Hamtramck. It seems the enclave's Primary Space Gallery was on to something special with their second food and art offering, Potluck II. Bad on us! We didn't tell you about the opening — you missed the delicious potluck dinner provided by the exhibiting artists. But even though you missed your opportunity to pig out with the underground, we still think any exhibit at Primary Space is worth a gander (and possibly a purchase). At 2750 Yemans, Hamtramck; 313-657-3579. Ends Saturday, Nov. 25.