The New Orleans Public Library's African-American Resource Center is again honoring local literary legend Tom Dent with the three-day TOM DENT LITERARY FESTIVAL. The event underscores one of the late writer's greatest legacies: recognizing and inspiring African-American writers. Born to parents Albert and Jessie -- who were the president of Dillard University and a classically trained concert pianist, respectively -- Thomas Covington Dent (1932-1998) began his literary career as editor of the Maroon Tiger while a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta. During his storied and prolific career, Dent edited and published numerous literary journals, directed theater companies, wrote novels and encouraged rising writers through workshops he organized, with much of his efforts focusing on combating racism and fostering black identity in art, philosophy and society. Held THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY at the New Orleans Public Library's downtown location (219 Loyola Ave.), the fifth annual literary festival features African-American writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. A celebration of poems by select writers kicks off the festival at 6:30 p.m. Thursday with readings and a discussion led by Dillard professor Mona Lisa Saloy titled "Relationship of Oral Lore to Contemporary African-American Literature." Also, winners of the Langston Hughes Poetry Contest will be announced. At 10:30 a.m. Friday, Angela the Yarnspinner entertains children with stories from her "I Can Make a Difference" collection. (School groups wishing to attend can call 596-2597 for reservations.) Later Friday, at 6:30 p.m., rising-star authors Colin Channer, Olympia Vernon (pictured) and Omar Tyree will discuss their works. On Saturday beginning at 2 p.m., the annual Tom Dent Forum brings together scholars, established authors and the public to critique and praise the efforts of an aspiring writer. This year's featured writer is Kysha N. Brown, whose work has appeared in several anthologies and who co-founded Runagate Multimedia, a local press specializing in books on New Orleans culture. Brown will read her poetry and have it critiqued by University of New Orleans professor and author Dr. Niyi Osundare and Tulane University professor and author Dr. Felipe Smith. All events are free and open to the public. For more info, call 596-2619, or visit nutrias.org. -- Frank Etheridge

Crave Party 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5 The Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, Waterbury Ballroom, 500 Canal St., 482-5073 Organizers behind Crave Party ask two questions. First off: "What do you crave?" With answers of spa, shopping, champagne and cheese, the next question becomes, "What more could a girl want?" Clearly geared toward fun-loving females, Crave Party is an evening focused on indulgence and rejuvenation. Founder Melody Biringer began such celebrations of sisterhood in Seattle, and they've since spread along the West Coast; now Biringer, with partner Barbara Travers, rolls the event into New Orleans. Attendees are encouraged to wear pajamas, robes and slippers, and treatments include massage, waxing, manicures, pedicures, acupuncture and more. A fashion show will be held, with shopping for boutique items, shoes, bags, jewelry, accessories and more offered. Admission $35, includes champagne, noshes, chocolates and gift bags. Visit www.craveparty.com for more info. -- Etheridge

Eric Lindell 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5 Shiloh, 4529 Tchoupitoulas St., 895-1456 It's hard to make it as a blues musician in this town. After all, this place isn't known as the birthplace of the blues, is it? It's a tough road to success, even if you have the talent of Eric Lindell. Lindell sings well, hits all the right notes on his guitar, writes great original material, and gigs all over town. When one goes to see Lindell, one sees blues without most of the cliches that infect the blues like a pox for most people. Shiloh, the club where he's playing, is a little bright and clean for his music, but it has a great back room, and the crowd really gets into it when he plays. It's a bit early to say, but Eric Lindell and Shiloh could be a great match, like Kermit Ruffins and Vaughn's or All That and Club Istanbul. No cover -- David Kunian

proof 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 7-8; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9; through Nov. 23 Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 325 Minor St., Kenner, 468-7221 The Rivertown Repertory Theatre presents proof, a drama with an instant-classic reputation underscored by several recent honors. David Auburn's script took home the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. The plot follows the swirling emotions of Catherine, a young woman recently relieved of the duties of taking care of her father, a brilliant but volatile famed mathematician. Following her dad's death, Catherine wonders how much of her father's insanity (or genius) she will inherit. Directed and designed by Keith Briggs, this local production stars Yvette Hargis as Catherine, plus John Hammons, Chad Carvell and Janet Daley. Tickets are $20 adults, $18 seniors/students and $10 children; a pre-performance buffet catered by Messina's is $16. -- Etheridge

Bipolaroid CD-release party 10:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7 Circle Bar, 1032 St. Charles Ave., 588-2616 Bandleader Ben Sumner and the rest of local band Bipolaroid are all tripped out on weird, whirring space rock from the depths of the '60s and beyond. Since the band's inception last year, it's been delivering original songs on what band members fondly call "a bipolar sonic palette of lo-fi and hi-tech wizardry" at frequent gigs in small, dark clubs. Bipolaroid's debut album, Transparent Makebelieve, is an authentic recreation of acid days gone by, complete with tweaky Space Age sound effects and cascading string arrangements played by members of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Twilight Zone anthems including "Farewell and Godspeed" and "Dimension 5" set the tone for all-out indulgence fueled by a penchant for early acid freak-out Brit rock. The album's vocals are not exactly perfect, but clever songwriting makes up for that shortfall. Call club for cover. -- Cristina Diettinger

Always ... Patsy Cline 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9; through Nov. 16 Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 400 Phlox Ave., 885-2000 Nancy O'Bryan portrays the country-music legend in the JPAS presentation of Always ... Patsy Cline starting Saturday. Was there ever a more exquisite voice in country music than the clean alto phrasings of Patsy Cline? Forget for a moment that her untimely death at age 30 in a 1963 plane crash -- 10 years after Hank Williams died at age 29 -- made her an instant country icon. Only when you hear k.d. lang's soaring vibrato do you get a contemporary idea of how close to perfection Cline's singing could be. This musical comedy, written and directed by Ted Swindley, is based on the true story of Cline's relationship to a Houston housewife. Nancy O'Bryan gets the honor of paying tribute to Cline, while Lauren Mazzarese portrays Louise Seger. Claude A. Giroux directs the show, while music director J. Scott Shade conducts the JPAS Grand Ole Opry Band. (Visit www.jpas.org for the following weekend's schedule changes.) Tickets $24 orchestra, $22 balcony, $12 students/children. -- David Lee Simmons

Lionel Ferbos and the Palm Court Jazz Band 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 Palm Court Jazz Cafe, 1204 Decatur 525-0200 Trumpet player and vocalist Lionel Ferbos has played with everyone in New Orleans. Right now, he might be the true elder statesman of traditional New Orleans jazz, but that comes with the territory when the man is 92 years old and still playing. Ferbos has reached the point in both his singing and playing where less is more. He can communicate more emotion and depth in four notes than most young turks can in 44. The Palm Court is a great place to hear him. It is intimate, which suits his style, and the patrons there know what they are listening to and pay attention accordingly. It's the trifecta: a great man playing great music in a great setting. Tickets $5. -- Kunian

Gridiron Show 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., 523-1010 While the bizarre nature of politics becomes even more difficult to lampoon -- it's becoming a walking self-parody -- the 42nd annual Gridiron Show will nevertheless rise to the occasion in spoofing the newsmakers of the day. Sen. Mary Landrieu knows all about spoofing; the moderate Democrat was assailed as a liberal in her tougher-than-expected reelection campaign, so she already knows what it's like to be a caricature. Which is why she'll be happy to change gears in becoming the honoree at this year's show. Longtime Gridiron supporter Warren Bell will also be honored as he accepts the Star Supporter award. Proceeds benefit the Press Club of New Orleans' scholarship fund. A patron party will precede the show, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets $25 general admission; Gold and Silver table tickets are $110 and $80, respectively, and include admission to a patron party at 6:30 p.m. -- Simmons

Death Cab for Cutie 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 The Howlin' Wolf, 828 S. Peters St., 522-WOLF By its moniker, you might assume that Death Cab for Cutie is some kind of shock-rock horror movie soundtrack band, but that's not the case at all. The Washington state-based quartet slides perfectly into the college-radio category with indie-pop that errs on the low end of the decibel range. Taking equal snatches of influence from lo-fi rock and straight pop balladry, singer-guitarist Ben Gibbard writes unpretentious songs that are so catchy yet so perfectly not fit for the mainstream that the band found itself shooting up the college-radio charts in 2000 and 2001, when they released We Have the Facts and We¹re Voting Yes and The Photo Album, respectively. Their "we are what we are" attitude takes the edge out of their music, leaving an honest slice of life that critics have referred to as "indie-rebel lite." Their latest album, Transatlanticism, hit shelves last month. Nada Surf opens. Tickets $10. -- Diettinger

Comedy Central Live, Starring Dave Attell and Lewis Black 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9 Orpheum Theater, 129 University Place, 524-3285 Just call this comedy ticket Sour and Sourer; it's all a matter of devilish degree. Like any good comic, these two get much mileage out of ridiculing their fellow man (and that includes themselves, of course). Dave Attell, of Comedy Central's Insomniac With Dave Attell, is the slightly pervy guy sitting at the corner bar, the smart lech with the smart mouth. He's funny -- and filthy -- as hell. With a debut stand-up CD titled Skanks for the Memories, how could he be anything else? Black, on the other hand, is the Yale-educated culture consumer who's one caffeinated beverage away from a full-on aneurysm. He's a misanthropic teddy bear of a guy whose frequent Daily Show rants earn raves. The equally skewed Mitch Hedberg opens. Tickets $32-$37.50. -- Shala Carlson

The Misfits and Agent Orange 10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10 The Howlin Wolf, 828 S. Peters, 522-WOLF Horror-rockers the Misfits were way ahead of their time. Marilyn Manson and all sorts of nu-metal bands have taken their look and gone platinum. However, the band is back with original member Jerry Only on bass, Dez Cadenza from Black Flag on guitar, and Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Marky Ramone on drums. Their latest record is a Misfit-ized take on 1950s songs, producing crazy versions of "This Magic Moment" and "Great Balls of Fire." Veteran hardcore hero Agent Orange opens, so get ready for the full-on sonic assault. $17 -- Kunian

Tony Hawk's Boom Boom HuckJam 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10 New Orleans Arena, 1501 Girod St., 522-5555 Parents of children of the '80s have Tony Hawk to thank for a large percentage of their trips to the emergency room. As a teenage member of the infamous Bones Brigade skateboarding team, Hawk encouraged thousands of kids to build ramps and do tricks that had their moms biting nails to the quick. Now a mainstream cultural icon, Hawk reemerged when skateboarding got cool again -- thanks largely to ESPN's mid-90s promotion of extreme sports -- as the face and name behind an empire of skate-related products including skateboards, sneakers, snacks and video games. The Boom Boom HuckJam is a take-off on the Vans Warped Tour, a touring punk-rock festival that combines a host of activities and entertainment options associated with the skate/punk lifestyle. The Huck Jam focuses more on sports than music, offering teams of professional skaters, BMXers, and Motocross riders performing choreographed tricks on ramp features such as the "Loop of Death" and the "30-foot Fall" to music from the Anarchy Orchestra. Sounds like fodder for weeks of skinned knees and sprained wrists. Tickets $25-75. -- Diettinger

Carrie Mae Weems: The Louisiana Project Through Dec. 14 Newcomb Gallery, Tulane University, 865-5328 Over the course of the past year, most Louisiana Purchase bicentennial programs have focused on how Thomas Jefferson's big score affected America in general and this area in particular. Obviously, not all African Americans were willing participants, so the Newcomb Art Gallery commissioned noted installation artist and photographer Carrie Mae Weems to create a new work dealing with the complex cultural history of post-Louisiana Purchase New Orleans from an African-American perspective. The resulting Louisiana Project features a video and dozens of large-scale photographs, mostly focusing on the contrast between this city's courtly, Old European self-image at the time and the fissures of race, sex and class that made up the ironic reality. Elegant, slow paced and monotonous, it's a classic Carrie Mae Weems indictment of the prevailing culture, then and now. -- D. Eric Bookhardt