See & Do March 09 2005 (2)

Better than digital cable

Dance?
?On tippy-toe?
Forty years ago, the Atlanta Ballet earned the distinction of being one of the first companies in the United States to perform SWAN LAKE in its entirety. But it’s been a good 10 years since anyone’s gotten to see them perform Tchaikovsky’s classic. Beginning MARCH 10, the Atlanta Ballet presents the romantic tale in celebration of its 75th anniversary season. $23.54-$70.62. Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 and 7 p.m. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. 404-817-8700. www.atlantaballet.com. — Daniela Chen

Festival?
?Attention Urban Cowboys?
There is a real reason why all things Western (remember those ponchos, cowboy boots and feather earrings you wore last fall?) make a comeback on a semi-annual basis: At the end of the day, we all know cowboys are pretty damn cool. Get an eyeful, earful and mouthful of the reasons why cowboy culture rules at the NINTH ANNUAL GEORGIA COWBOY POETRY gathering. Taking place at Cartersville’s Booth Western Art Museum March 10-13, the festival features everything from a fiddling contest to yodeling and traditional trail songs by the Rockin’ M Wranglers and a cowboy poetry open mic. For those who don’t know, cowboy poetry spins tales in rhyme and meter. Kinda like hip-hop, only cleaner. $4-$6 per day. Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m. 501 Museum Drive, Cartersville. 770-387-1300. www.boothmuseum.org. — Layla Bellows

Sports?
?Fancy footwork?
If you’ve been watching the Atlanta Hawks this season, then you are probably tired of rooting for a losing team. Thank goodness the HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS are coming to town MARCH 12, just in time to inject a little basketball fun into a town that is getting understandably tired of watching its home team bumble around the court. The Globetrotters will be showing off, dribbling the ball through their legs, shooting from half-court and making behind-the-back passes. After the game, there will be a 30-minute meet-and-greet session, where fans can get autographs and interact with the players. It’s just what the doctor ordered. $15-$127. 1 p.m. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive. 404-878-3000. www.harlemglobetrotters.com. — Coley Ward

Road Trip?
May the road rise to meet you?
Last week, I wrote about Fado’s Irish Sessions and unfortunately referred to Ireland as a “British nation.” Ireland is, in fact, no longer a member of the United Kingdom, having gained its independence in 1922. My great-grandfather, Coleman O’Toole, is turning over in his grave.

To atone for my sin, I plan on getting back in touch with my Irish roots MARCH 17 with a trip to Savannah, where River Street hosts the totally kick-ass ST. PATRICK’S DAY ON THE RIVER. Though the river may no longer be dyed green, all the other essential elements are there - live music ranging from upbeat Irish to world beat and mountain folk-rock, a parade and plenty of drinking. If you plan on sipping suds outdoors, all you’ll need to buy is a bracelet. Oh, and a hotel room - and word is, those are booking faster than fast. Bracelets are $5. For other info, call 912-234-0295. www.savriverstreet.com. — CW

March 10 Thursday?
How could one choose between the Eagles Farewell I tour and the Masters of Persian Music, both performing tonight at Gwinnett Center? The Eagles, playing at the Gwinnett Arena, may only feature two original members of the folksy favorites (Don Henley and Glenn Frey), but with the other two members having served the band well since the mid-’70s, the tunes should be as sunny-side-up California-esque as ever.

Step into something more exotic at the Performing Arts Center, where Iranian supergroup Masters of Persian Music play on foreign instruments including the tar (which is like a lute) and the kamancheh (a Persian spike fiddle). Seriously, these guys are so popular that they’re nearly sold out. Eagles: $25-$112. 7 p.m. 404-249-6400. Masters of Persian Music: $35. 8 p.m. 678-357-3572. 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. www.gwinnettcenter.com.(LB)

March 11 Friday?
Artist and mother Gail Vogels captures the bewitching quality of teenage boys who emerge from leafy glades like Lord of the Flies creatures wavering between wild and tame in Green, a series of paintings that finds the exotic living here among us. Free. Noon-5 p.m. Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery, 290 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 8. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. (Felicia Feaster)

March 12 Saturday?
Tonight, THE FORTY-FIVES, THE BLACK LIPS and THE SPINNS present a rock and roll show like the rawest collection of Nuggets you’d ever hope to hear. The Forty-Fives, Atlanta’s garage-rock saviors, are riding high on international acclaim for their screaming, mid-’60s-infected rave-ups. The Black Lips, those blues-tinged down-and-dirty punks, slide into second base on the bill, and the whole damn night will shake with the opening set from the Spinns. $7. 9:30 p.m. The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. (Lee Valentine Smith)

March 13 Sunday?
Lately, every song I hear in just about anyone’s CD player reminds me of HOT HOT HEAT. It was one thing when I was mistaking Scotland’s Franz Ferdinand for the Canadian foursome, but quite another when I was asking about the Killers. Obviously I’m in need of a sampling of the band’s punky indie rock and will likely get one at the Loft, where the Heat will be playing in support of its upcoming Elevator. $12-$14. 8 p.m. The Loft, 1374 W. Peachtree St. 404-885-9198. www.vinylatlanta.com. (LB)

March 14 Monday?
The death penalty remains a political hot button with many sides, both personal and public. Opening tonight, The Exonerated - a play presented by Jack in the Black Box Theatre Company - shares the stories of six innocent survivors of death row. $15-$25. 8 p.m. Through March 29. Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Ave. 404-432-9847. www.jackintheblackbox.org. (LB)

March 15 Tuesday?
Mondays suck, but then again, so do most Tuesdays. THE PATIO offers one cure: all the pizza and salad you can eat for $10. As if that wasn’t enough, Sweetwater drafts are only $2. The pizzas can get crazy depending on how the chef is feeling - we’ve sampled toppings as creative as figs and as pleasantly ordinary as mushroom. Served 6-10 p.m. 1029 Edgewood Ave. 404-659-5757. www.inmanparkpatio.com. (LB)

March 16 Wednesday?
Here’s a little math: Take your average Wednesday, add a “T,” and what do you get? THUMP is Eleven50’s newest offering to Atlanta nightlife, featuring the house music of Jason Jones (DJ Squatch) in its main room and a variety of performance artists in weekly rotation. Whether it will beat Eleven50’s previous Wednesday night offering - the downtempo, loungey, but often deserted Hump - remains to be determined. $5-$7. 10 p.m. 1150-B Peachtree St. 404-874-0428. www.thumpATL.com. (LB)??