East Lawrence fixture KT Walsh will be honored at tonight's Peace and Justice award ceremony in North Lawrence.

Spring forward

Given the totally bizarre weather of the past few months, it seems only fitting that the final day of Kansas University’s spring semester carries an 80 percent chance of thunderstorms, high winds and temperatures cooling off by double digits. But have no fear: Heading into the weekend, Stop Day will be dry with a high of 72 before more beautiful days in the 80s Saturday and Sunday — giving you absolutely no incentive to stay indoors and cram for finals week. No worries, it’s just your future at stake.

Speaking of KU …

Stay on campus and duck out of the rain tonight at 6:30 at the Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi St. There you can catch Kemi Ilesanmi, executive director of The Laundromat Project (The LP) in New York and juror for the 2014 Rocket Grants Program, to explore how an arts organization may deliberately help to create a community of neighbors, artists included.

Peace and justice

Or head to the Lawrence Visitors Center, 402 N. Second St., at 7 p.m. for the Lawrence Coalition for Peace & Justice Award Presentation. This year’s award is going to East Lawrence’s KT Walsh, who “uses her considerable talent in art to further peace and justice issues in all of Lawrence,” according to the group’s website. The program also will feature Lawrence folk-reggae band Streetlevel Uprising. So get out there and promote some peace in your community.

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Other May 8 events

Red Dog’s Dog Days workout, 6 a.m., Allen Fieldhouse, 1651 Naismith Dr.

Story Time for Preschoolers, 10-10:30 a.m., Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper St.

Skillbuilders: Mirror, Mirror — A New Look? 10-11:30 a.m., Drury Place at Alvamar, 1510 St. Andrews Drive.

Discussion: Pussy Riot protests in Russia, 3-5 p.m., Kansas Room, Kansas Union, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd.

Cottin’s Hardware Farmers’ Market, musical guests Wells the Traveler, 4-6:30 p.m., outside store at 1832 Massachusetts St.

City Budget Public Input Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Fire Station No. 5, 1901 Stewart Ave.

The Open Tap, discussion of a selected religion topic, 5:30-7 p.m., 5 Bar and Tables, 947 Massachusetts St., free.

Independence, Inc., Fundraiser: Beer Pairing Dinner, 6 p.m., La Parilla Restaurant, 724 Massachusetts St., 2nd floor private dining area.

Junkyard Jazz Band, 7 p.m., American Legion, 3408 W. Sixth St.

Free English as a Second Language class, 7-8 p.m., Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont St.

Affordable community Spanish class, 7-8 p.m., Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont St.

Lawrence Arts & Crafts group, 7-9 p.m., Merc cafe, 901 Iowa St., free.

Signs of Life Bluegrass Gospel Jam, 7-10 p.m., Signs of Life, 722 Massachusetts St.

Trivia Night, 8 p.m. The Burger Stand, 803 Massachusetts St.

Team trivia, 9 p.m., Johnny’s West, 721 Wakarusa Drive.

Thursday Night Karaoke, 9 p.m., Wayne & Larry’s Sports Bar & Grill, 933 Iowa St.