photo by: Contributed Photos

Left to right: Nerd Nite; Canadian Brass; photographer Gary Mark Smith.

Local photographer Gary Mark Smith is hanging up his photographs in public one last time.

Smith, who has made a career of international street photography, will soon release what he said will be his last book, “Travelogueing the Dark Side.” He said the book is a memoir of his experiences “photographing the poetry of everyday life on the streets of the civilized world’s most frightening discomfort zones,” according to his website.

photo by: Contributed photo

“Urban Combat: Cops vs. Narco Gangsters in occupied favelas” is a photo Gary Mark Smith took in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2012. He said the photo is the cover art for his new book.

A launch event for the book is planned for 6 p.m. Friday at the Cider Gallery, 810 Pennsylvania St. Smith will speak, and the event will also include food, drinks and a violin performance. The event is free and open to the public.

Smith has published six other books, including a book that chronicled life in the slums of Brazil. But he is tired of writing books, he said.

“Books are hard,” he said with a laugh.

photo by: Contributed photo

“Murmuration of Fear, London, England” is a photo Gary Mark Smith took in 2015. He said it shows “everyone’s fear of terror on our streets.”

Without books to promote, Smith said Friday’s launch is likely the last time he will ever present his photos or speak publicly.

“I don’t do exhibits anymore, so there really will be no reason for me to do public speaking,” he said.

But Smith, 62, will continue his passion for street photography.

“I’ll keep photographing the streets of the world until the day I die,” he said. “But I’m going to quietly publish my photographs on my website.”

photo by: Contributed photo

“Forbidden Havana, Cuba” (1997) is a photo local photographer Gary Mark Smith took in Cuba during the U.S. embargo against the Caribbean country.

Here’s what else you can go, see and do in the upcoming week:

Breakfast with Santa

Santa Claus has again returned to Lawrence, this time to have breakfast with the community.

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department is hosting Breakfast With Santa at 8:30 a.m on Saturday at the Lawrence Community Building, 115 W. 11th St., according to a news release.

Children ages 3 to 12 are invited to enjoy pancakes, sausage and orange juice with jolly old Saint Nick. Along with a meal, children can also participate in arts and crafts.

The city requests parents register their children prior to the event at lprd.org. Tickets are $3 for children and $5 for adults.

Canadian Brass Christmas

photo by: Contributed photo

Canadian Brass

The holiday fun will continue Sunday when Canadian Brass takes the Lied Center stage.

The band — which consists of Chuck Daellenbach on tuba, Caleb Hudson and Christopher Coletti on trumpets, Achilles Liarmakopoulos on trombone and Jeff Nelsen on horn — will perform a slate of classic holiday tunes.

“Beyond their unparalleled musicality, each player possesses the creativity, good humor and love of performing that is the ensemble’s hallmark,” according to the event’s description.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive. Tickets are $30-45 for adults and $16-24 for students and children.

Nerd Nite 77: 120 Minutes

photo by: Contributed photo

The poster for Nerd Nite 77: 120 Minutes, which will feature presentations on the art of music videos.

This month, Nerd Nite will be examining a relatively young art form: music videos.

At this month’s installment of the informal lecture series, four local presenters will explain how adding visual narratives to a song can change its lyrical meaning, focusing on songs and their accompanying videos by heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, German-Austrian band Cro and, of course, Beyonce.

The event is calling itself “120 Minutes” as an ode to the former MTV music video program of the same name. It’s also roughly how long each Nerd Nite installment lasts.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Maceli’s, 1031 New Hampshire St. Admission is $1.

Do you have an event you’d like to share with us? Please email Dylan with information of your event at dlysen@ljworld. Submitting information does not guarantee it will be included in future articles.