Modern Skirts return to Loft

Apparently, everybody in Steve Earle's family except Steve Earle rolls through Auburn for a concert these days. It makes a strong case that genes played a strong part in the storytelling style that made Earle, of "Copperhead Road" notoriety, famous. Earle's son played a set of songs at Auburn's Strutting Duck a couple months back. On Friday, Earle's sister Stacey plays the Sundilla Acoustic Concert Series along with Mark Stuart. The show costs $10, and it starts at 8:30 p.m. EDT. Details: www.sundilla.org.

Meanwhile, back in Columbus, those crazy Modern Skirts, of Athens, return to The Loft. At their last visit, the full house jumped to their feet the minute the music started, and they bounced so hard that the second-story floor undulated. Good times. Poanna opens the show at 9:30 p.m. Details: 706-596-8141, www.theloft.com.

Sunday, give your legs a break and duck into a theater to escape the heat. My rule is to only go see movies with titles that start with a T and end with an H this weekend. Luckily, I haven't seen either "The Incredible Hulk" or "The Happening," and they're both at the cheap theater, Peachtree 8. Show times: 706-571-3456.

— Brad Barnes

Higher education

If this week's emphasis on university life left you craving your college days, don't worry. This weekend offers plenty of ways to vicariously live the college lifestyle. With the added bonus of no RAs breathing down your neck.

Start Friday night by going to Big City Club, 1132 Broadway, to see a performance by Calu's Lil' Go Go Peep Show. This Atlanta-based burlesque dancer might remind you of those girls who would dance on the bar at fraternity parties.

Except if you're really lucky, you'll go the whole night without hearing "Pour Some Sugar on Me." First show starts at 11 p.m.

Saturday, buy a shower caddy at Bed Bath & Beyond, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd. The device alone will channel memories of being sexiled from your own bedroom and waiting 20 minutes to ruin your favorite pair of flip-flops in a freezing shower.

Finally, end your weekend by indulging in the poster child for college cuisine: pizza. Pick one up from The Upper Krust Restaurant, 1639 Bradley Park Drive, and devour the entire thing yourself.

It sure beats eating with that one girl in college who used to hog the whole thing and never pitch in.

— Sonya Sorich

This weekend, weekend, weekend

I'm back from vacation and ready to dive back into the steaming cauldron that is Columbus nightlife. Wondering where to start? Good. Sit back, put on the 3-D glasses and get ready for the penultimate in Georgia entertainment.

It starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday when the doors open at the Columbus Event Center, located at 5000 Burnham Blvd! Prime Time Pro Wrestling will only cost $10 ($5 for active military and children under 12)! Come see all your favorite wrestling stars battle in the steel cage! Or something vaguely similar!

Moving on, hit the midnight double feature picture show at the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, conveniently found at 701 Front Ave. "When Worlds Collide" and "It Came from Outer Space" will dance across the silver screen starting at 9 p.m. Saturday. Discover why you recite all those dumb lines from "Rocky Horror" by watching where it all came from.

And, if you leave in time, you'll just make it to the Country's Midnight Express run. This time honored tradition of running a 5k at midnight continues this year for the low, low cost of $25 at the door. The run starts at Country's Barbecue, 3137 Mercury Drive.

— Alan Riquelmy