Weekend To-Do: Jan. 22-24

If there’s one thing you can count on in Fayetteville, it’s that the weather here is completely normal. It always follow the seasons. For example, you’d never see temperatures in the 60s right in the middle of January.

The same goes for entertainment. In a month like January, you can fully expect a dull weekend around town. You might as well just stay home. Nobody’s gonna plan anything interesting in January. Right?

Wrong and wrong.

As the weather warms up to 60 degrees today, and as you try to decide between a Snuggie Pub Crawl, dinner-and-a-movie, a Help Haiti fundraiser, or a dozen excellent live music events, keep this in mind: There’s nothing normal about Fayetteville. And that’s what makes it so great.

This weekend is big at George’s as Memphis’ Lucero and Austin’s Cory Branan are scheduled for two nights, starting Friday. Big Smith joins the lineup Saturday night making things even crazier. Wow.

Also on Friday, it’s a swing-infused, dance-driven, big band charts night at Scarpino’s with the Fayetteville Jazz Collective and over at Smoke & Barrel, the Tavern’s own Lucio leads his Grown Folks Night with five different live performances.

On Saturday, the NWA Roller Derby‘s Arkansas Killbillies team faces the The Hustlin’ Rollers of the Memphis Roller Derby. It’s the first bout of 2010 and the first in the derby’s new home at Starlight Skatium on College Ave.

Earlier that day, Fayetteville Underground hosts Art Collecting 101: The Thrill of Original Art. This event will be geared towards new art collectors, younger collectors, and those that may be unfamiliar with the gallery system or how one goes about buying art.

After you spend Sunday winding down, George’s is offering a cover-free evening of music with Pope County Bootleggers. Phew.

Below is the full list for the weekend. Good luck!

Friday, January 22
Opal Fly’s Feel Good Lounge: Beans & Cornbread, Tyrannosaurus Chicken, DJs Vaxination, Foxfire Magik
Rogue: DJ Derrick
Grub’s: Andy Frasco
Greenhouse Grille: Alex Lewis Trio
Arsaga’s on Crossover: Adele and the Matts
George’s: Lucero, Cory Branan, Bel Airs
GoodFolk: April Verch
JJ’s Grill n Chill: Jamie Wolfe
Smoke & Barrel Tavern: Lucio presents Grown Folks Night
Teatro Scarpino: Fayetteville Jazz Collective
UARK Bowl & Ballroom: Dinner and a Movie – A Fistful of Dollars
Walton Arts Center: Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing Quintet
Jose’s: Red Ambition
Dickson Street: 1st Annual Dickson Street Snuggie Crawl
Clubhaus Fitness: Open House and Tour
Speakeasy: Help Haiti fundraiser
Saturday, January 23
Rogue: The People in the Paper, Dreamfast
Greenhouse Grille: Jed Clampit
The Wine Cellar: Jovan Arellano & Big Jake
Cheers: Cletus Got Shot – Roller Derby afterparty
Opal Fly’s Feel Good Lounge: Effron White, Opal Fly, 3 Penny Acre
Arsaga’s on Crossover: Leaky Diamond
Boom Boom Room: Maud Crawford
George’s: Lucero, Cory Branan, Big Smith
JJ’s Grill n Chill: Wes & Karl
Smoke & Barrel Tavern: The Crumbs
Teatro Scarpino: LFDC Funk, Dan’s Party
Trailside Cafe & Tea Room: Tea Talk & Tasting
St. Paul’s Episcopal: Robert Burns Night Dinner
Jose’s: John D. Levan
Fayetteville Underground: Art Collecting 101: The Thrill of Original Art
Starlight Skatium: NWA Roller Derby: Arkansas Killbillies vs. The Hustlin’ Rollers (Memphis, TN)
Sang House: FLIGHT!, Dead Gaze, Party Barge, Pink Drapes, Hellcake
Sunday, January 24
George’s: Pope County Bootleggers
Pesto Cafe: Shannon Wurst
Common Grounds: DJ SoulFree, Kacie Williams
Greenhouse Grille: Clarke Buehling
Opal Fly’s Feel Good Lounge: The Strut