Final Friday goodness

The March installment of Final Friday runs from 5 to 9 p.m. The good news: Thursday’s bizarre weather patterns are behind us, and there’s not much rain in the forecast. The bad news: Evening temperatures on Massachusetts Street will be chilly, dipping into the 40s and then the mid-30s overnight. So grab your coat, scarf and maybe umbrella, and head for some of the cool events below:

The Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St., will host its 34th Annual Art Auction Preview. Get a sneak peek of the goodies, start the bidding, and catch some live music.

At Wonder Fair, 803 1/2 Massachusetts St. (above the Burger Stand), you can see new work by Jonathan Metzger, including monolithic, inanimate tools set within highly-detailed midwestern landscapes. 6-9:30 p.m. Check out more on Metzger in our recent preview.

And why would you not stop byLove Garden Sounds, 822 Massachusetts St., to “Taco ‘Bout It” – a show inspired by, yes, the taco. Many artists featured.

Saturday music

The Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa brings its message of peace to the Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Ave., at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The group last performed at the Lied Center in 2008, and has collaborated with Bono, Josh Groban, Cat Stevens, Annie Lennox, Black-Eyed Peas, Diana Ross, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder. Tickets: $20 and up for adults, $10 and up students and seniors.

Sunday fun

Finally, you can check out a lovely trio at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Lawrence Arts Center. Recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpeices: Chamber Music Grant, Allégresse combines the virtuosic talents of three nationally recognized musicians with careers that have taken them throughout North America, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia both as soloists and chamber musicians. If the weather holds up, there’s a pre-concert picnic at 2 p.m. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 students, $12 seniors.

Yesterday’s most-read

• Self: Positively no decision has been made regarding Joel Embiid’s future
• KU assistant Howard has ‘unbelievable’ first year with Jayhawks
• Lawrence man convicted of first-degree murder in wife’s death

More Final Friday events

The Summit, 9th and New Hampshire St.: Monthly exhibits on the Climbing Wall Gallery.

Signs of Life, 722 Massachusetts: Local, national, and international artists in gallery space.

Pachamamas, 800 New Hampshire St.: Recent Works by Marie McKenzie and Kate Larson can be viewed throughout the restaurant and Star Bar.

Henry’s Coffee Shop, 11 E. 8th St.: 6-9 p.m., some rad artists based out of the Oklahoma City area. ||.Double Date.||.Couple’s*Skate.|| — Tanner Frady/Ashley Smith; The Holey Kids.

Phoenix Gallery, 825 Massachusetts St.: Robbin Loomas, Wendy Droge-Malm, and Steve and Shelby Wendland; music by Dorian’s Wheel; food and beverages.

Phoenix Gallery Underground, 825 Massachusetts St.: Paintings by Rick Wright. Rawness and energy with a believability of form.

Essential Goods, 825 Massachusetts St.: Opening reception for The Craftivists::Commotion.

Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Massachusetts St.: Watercolors by Roura Young. Roura pushes the limits of color as she explores her world through watercolors.

The Bourgeois Pig, 6 E. 9th St.: Works by Jeremy Scott Eaton. Jeremy uses the semaphore language and text to create a dialogue about the communication and transparency between religion and government.

Lawrence Percolator, in the alley behind Lawrence Arts Center on 9th St. — look for the green awnings: Hard Rain: Living with Bombs in Laos — photos, prints, textiles, artifacts, posters exploring the continued unexploded ordnance contamination of Laos. Includes items on loan from the Legacies of War foundation. Show opens 6 p.m. with blessing and prayer for peace by the monks of the Lao Buddhist Association of Olathe, Kansas.

Do’s Deluxe, 416 E. 9th Street: Featuring oil paintings by Kim Kern, 6-8 p.m.

CORE:FORM, 512 E. 9th St.: “Random Expressions,” Photography by Marciana Derrico Vequist.

The Roost, 920 Massachusetts St.: “Brick and Mortar” by Matt Kuhlman, 6-9 p.m. Matt’s work offers perspectives highlighting different qualities of the man-made world and addresses some large questions about organic creatures living in a geometric environment.

Extra Virgin, 937 Massachusetts St.: “Spring Forward” – Watercolors and oils by Kathleen Anderson, works ranging from realistic to abstract by Laurie Culling, mixed media works by Dian Hauser, photographic works by Leta Strom.

Replay Lounge, 945 Massachusetts St.: 6 pm: Clay Hughes & Friends; 10 pm: Spirits and Melchizedek Children / Karma Vision.

Five Bar / Ingredient, 947 Massachusetts St.: Live music all night!

Greenhouse Culture, 1001 Massachusetts St.: 6-9 p.m., Artwork by Spencer Chapin, live jazz music, refreshments.

Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St.: Courage, Confidence, and Character: Girl Scouting in Lawrence.

Ecoboutiquo, 1101 1/2 Massachusetts St.: Earth-friendly fashion gallery.

Cider Gallery, 810 Pennsylvania St.: Works by artists Jeromy Morris and Jeremy Rockwell.

SeedCo Studios, 826 Pennsylvania St.: Atomic Photography presents: The Ballad of Freyja. A collaborative photo series with Atomic and Foxy By Proxy Revue; open studios by resident artists.

The Lawrence Art Party, Lawrence Creates Makerspace 9th and New Jersey. Music by Darrell Lea; grilled Italian sausage sandwiches and liquid refreshments; Brain Hacking team providing you an opportunity to learn more about your brain, see a live image of brainwaves, and take home a print! Also beautiful paintings by Donna Dennis, fabulous jewelry by Cindy Kerr, amazing sculptures by Nick Schmiedeler, wonderful sculptures and creative ideas by Garret Tufte, and unique and colorful geometric creations by Lesa Weller. Plus, a home automation demonstration and sneak preview of LED lighting installation!

901 Penn Gallery, 901 Pennsylvania St.: “Birthing Each Other,” One Night Solo Exhibition by Autumn Estrella Brighid.

Art Emergency, 721 E. Ninth St.: Brand new Art Gallery in the heart of the East Lawrence Art District. Fine art, street art, sculptures from local artists! See us in the giant green warehouse on the corner of Ninth and Delaware, next to Star Signs. Live music, adult beverages, no dress code!

Iwig Dairy Local Foods Grocery, 622 N. 2nd St.: “Earth’s Ever-Changing Surface” by Marie McKenzie. A new series of paintings highlighting the Earth’s changes through exploration of erosion, sediment, and landmass.

More March 28 events

Spring Compost & Woodchip Sale Event, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Wood Recovery and Composting Facility, 1420 E. 11th St.

Mike Shurtz Trio, 10:15-11:15 a.m., Signs of Life, 722 Massachusetts St.

Naked Lunch, Featuring Art in the Raw (bring your own lunch) – Filmmaker Jason Badgett, noon, Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.

Ecumenical Lenten Taize Services, 6-7 p.m., Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont St.

VFW Dinner, 7 p.m., VFW Post 852, 1801 Massachusetts St.

Film: “God Loves Uganda,” 7 p.m., Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.

Encore 2014, 7:30 p.m., Free State High School, 4700 Overland Dr.

More March 29 events

Red Dog’s Dog Days workout, 7:30 a.m., parking lot in 800 block of Vermont Street.

Eudora Lions Club Wild over Wellness 5K Race, registration 7:30 a.m., race begins 8 a.m., New Public Safety Building, 930 Main, Eudora.

Flapjacks for Philanthropy, 8 a.m-noon, Eaton Hall, KU School of Engineering, 1520 West 15th Street

Spring Compost & Woodchip Sale Event, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Wood Recovery and Composting Facility, 1420 E. 11th St.

St. John Catholic Church Rummage Sale, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1246 Kentucky St.

German School of Northeast Kansas, 9:30-11 a.m., Bishop Seabury Academy, 4120 Clinton Parkway. (Ages 3 and up.) LawrenceGermanSchool.org

Rain Barrel Workshop, 10 a.m.-noon, Douglas County Fairgrounds, Building 1-2, 2110 Harper St.

Free Hands Only CPR/AED class, 10-11:30 a.m., Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Dr.

Yard Waste Drop-Off and Compost/Woodchip Sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wood Recovery and Compost Facility, 1420 E. 11th St.

Girl Scout Thinking Day Exhibition, 1-3 p.m., Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St.

“Grossology” class for kids 7-12 years old, 1-3 p.m., Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper St. (Register in advance at www.lprd.org or any city recreational facility.)

Edible Books Festival, 1-4 p.m., Lawrence Public Library, 700 New Hampshire St.

Kansas Appleknocker Classic Ragtime Duo, 2-4 p.m., Watkins Community Museum, 1047 Massachusetts St.

Americana Music Academy Saturday Jam, 3 p.m., Americana Music Academy, 1419 Massachusetts St.

Whole Hog Sausage and Pancake Supper benefiting the Vinland Fair, 5-7 p.m., Exhibition Building, Vinland Fairgrounds, 1736 N. 700 Rd.

Headpin Challenge, 6-9 p.m., Royal Crest Lanes, 933 Iowa St.

KU School of Music Visiting Artist: Katherine Wolfe, violin, 7:30 p.m., Swarthout Recital Hall, Murphy Hall, 1530 Naismith Dr.

Topeka Symphony Orchestra: “The Old West,” 7:30 p.m., White Concert Hall, Washburn University, Topeka.

Encore 2014, 7:30 p.m., Free State High School, 4700 Overland Dr.

More March 30 events

Lawrence Arts & Crafts group, 1-3 p.m., Five Bar and Tables, 947 Massachusetts St.

Film: “The Flat,” 2 p.m., Lawrence Jewish Community Center, 917 Highland Dr.

KU Invitational High School String Recital, 5 p.m., Swarthout Recital Hall, Murphy Hall, 1530 Naismith Dr.

Irish Traditional Music Session, 5:30-8 p.m., upstairs Henry’s on Eighth, 11 E. Eighth St.

O.U.R.S. (Oldsters United for Responsible Service) dance, 6-9 p.m., Eagles Lodge, 1803 W. Sixth St.

KU School of Music Visiting Artists: Corpus Trombone Quartet, 7:30 p.m., Swarthout Recital Hall, Murphy Hall, 1530 Naismith Dr.

Smackdown! trivia, 8 p.m., The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.