Weekend Best Bets

TEDxProvidence
Brought to us by the Providence Speaking Society, TEDxProvidence is happening this Saturday at Providence’s historic Columbus Theatre. TEDx is an independently organized event inspired by TED, a nonprofit organization devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading.” Like last year’s TEDxProvidence, this year’s event has a theme: create, innovate and play. TEDxProvidence features lectures and performances from incredibly intelligent and creative people such as Yeltisa Jean, founder and creative director of Healthy Roots, as well as Dr. Eshun Mirza, an artist and activist, and Meg Sullivan, the executive artistic director for the Manton Avenue Project. Saturday. $25-$50. 270 Broadway, Providence. More info… 

Rosanne Cash at The Vets
Legendary performer Rosanne Cash comes to Providence with a full band in tow. Quintessentially Americana, Cash's songs weave through tales of the American South, drawing from its rich history of life and music. Featuring songs off fo her newest album, The River & the Thread this is one you won't want to miss. Sunday. $28-$75. 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence. More info... 

Ragtime at Providence Performing Arts Center
This weekend, the musical Ragtime is coming to the Providence Performing Arts Center. Directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, this performance of a musical set in turn-of-the-century New York is one you won’t want to miss. Ragtime is a 13 time Tony Award nominated musical about the celebration of life and the desire for a brighter tomorrow. All weekend. $52-$79. 220 Weybosset Street, Providence. More info… 

Toy Story 3 at Fête Music Hall
No, Fête Music Hall is not screening Toy Story 3. Instead, they’re having a Toy Story themed live music event. The line-up for this event includes three performers: Lady Faith, Le Castle Vania and DJ Dara. Lady Faith has been in the North American EDM scene for seven years and has performed at events all over the country and if you liked John Wick’s soundtrack as much as I did, you’d know that Le Castle Vania creates some pretty incredible music. DJ Dara is a drum and base performer and even co-founded the nation’s first and largest drum and bass record store. Given the line-up, you’d be remiss to miss out on these performers. Saturday. $14.99-$29.99. 103 Dike Street, Providence. More info… 

Providence Bruins vs. Portland Pirates
This Friday at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, the Providence Bruins will try to take down the Portland Pirates. There are two special deals that come with this game as well. First of all, this is a “Big Save Game,” meaning that you get $10 off by purchasing from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center website. Second, the first 1,000 fans to attend the event will be receiving a free (yes, free) team photo courtesy of University Orthopedics. Friday. $22.25-$33.25. 1 La Salle Square, Providence. More info… 

Craig Gass at the Comedy Connection
Impressionist, comedian and radio personality Craig Gass will be performing this Friday at the Comedy Connection in East Providence. Gass has an impressive résumé as he has been performing stand-up comedy since 1993 and performing impressions of characters and actors. Gass has appeared on Comedy Central as well as on the show King of Queens, and has voiced characters in Family Guy and The Cleveland Show. Friday and Saturday. $20. 39 Warren Avenue, East Providence. More info… 

Roger McGuinn at the Greenwich Odeum
Whatever your thoughts on the genre of folk-rock, you can’t deny its origins. Roger McGuinn, aka Mr. Tambourine Man made history as the leader of the 60s group The Byrds. The Byrds practically defined the genre of folk-rock, after which McGuinn went on to create 10 solo albums, be nominated for a grammy, and tour extensively. This weekend, McGuinn is coming to the Greenwich Odeum in a performance that even Rolling Stone and Bruce Springsteen agree you won’t want to miss. Saturday. $30-$40. 59 Main Street, East Greenwich. More info… 

Woodcocks and Wine
Ever been to a woodcock show? Ever wanted to roam a wildlife refuge after sampling fine wine? Sure, these are very specific questions, but if your response to these questions is “hm, that sounds interesting!” then you might want to attend to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Woodcocks and Wine event. Woodcocks are peculiar birds, and after having the chance to sip some wine, you’ll be taking a hike through the Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge to observe the woodcock display. Saturday. $18-$22. 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter. More info… 

Lens Free Art Exhibit
This weekend marks the start of the Wickford Art Association’s latest open-juried exhibit “Lens Free.” Open-juried shows allow artists who are not members of Wickford Art Association to display their incredible works, and this exhibit seems as though it will be truly worth seeing. The exhibit features media other than photography, and much of the work on display looks to have taken an incredible amount of time and effort to put together. If you can appreciate that, you can also attend the show’s opening reception on Sunday. Saturday and Sunday. Free. 36 Beach Street, Wickford. More info… 

A Cappella Explosion 2
Looking for more a cappella music outside of NBC’s The Sing-Off? Satisfy those desires with the incredible tunes of three university a cappella groups. The three performers this year are Tufts University’s Beelzebubs, Brown University’s Jabberwocks, and Roger Williams University’s Hawkward. The three groups will be performing at Saint Michael’s Church in Bristol this Saturday. I’m hoping that someone else noticed the irony of having the Beelzebubs perform in a church, but given their incredible line of accomplishments, it’s hard to see how anyone could resist seeing them perform. Saturday. $10-$20. 399 Hope Street, Bristol. More info… 

Screening of Two Days, One Night
As part of Salve Regina University’s French Film Festival, the university will be screening the film Two Days, One Night. The film stars Oscar winner Marion Cotillard in this chronicle of a working-class woman’s life being torn asunder by the “demands of late capitalism over the course of a single weekend.” This the fourth film in SRU’s French Film Festival, with two more to follow. Prior to the screening, SRU will be hosting a coffee and pastry reception as well. Sunday. $15. 100 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport. More info…