Friday Happenings

Music
--Haven't you always wanted to go to an event called HARVAPALOOZA? Well, now you can. Local band The Franklin Kite bring a special combination of musical prowess and astrophysics knowledge to Tommy Doyle's, where they'll play alongside Maya and The Trolleys to commemorate the palooza that is Harvard. Or something like that? Anyway, the show starts at 9 and it's totally free. A dance party will follow, so put your best foot forward. Hopefully it's not the left.

--If you don't know anything about opera, put yourself in the trustworthy hands of Opera Boston. They will be teaming up with conductor Martin Pearlman and Boston Baroque for Handel's Semele. A "secular oratorio" that debuted in 1744 as part of a Lenten concert series, Semele's story of divine adultery totally let down a pious audience expecting less skank and revenge. And it's in English. The performances are tonight, February 3, and February 5 at the Cutler Majestic Theatre. All shows at 7:30 except on February 3, which is at 3:00 pm.

--Rock-folkie Richard Thompson will whisk an audience through 1,000 Years of Popular Music. And you haven't lived until you see Richard Thompson cover Britney Spears' "Oops, I Did It Again." Berklee Performance Center, 7:30 pm.

Mardi Gras
Ryles Jazz Club will host Mardi Gras festivities in Cambridge. But "festivities" doesn't begin to describe it. Here's the proper title for the party: "Mickey Bliss' 15th Annual Club Bohemia Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball and Zulu Parade of the Golden Blade." Chicken Slacks Soul Revue, The Confederacy of Dumpsters (best band name in the world, there!), and Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Band will perform. 8:00 pm, $15.

Movies
Filmmaker Arthur Penn will be on hand for a screening of his 1966 film The Chase as Harvard Film Archive kicks off its series Arthur Penn, American Auteur (through Monday). "Get him before he dies!" the 85 year-old director recently quipped in the Boston Globe. 'Nuff said. Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, 7:00 pm. $10.

Contemporary Art
ICA exhibit The World as a Stage opens tonight. Visiting from London's Tate Modern, the exhibit showcases new works by 16 international artists. Modes include kinetic and performance art, installation and visual art, and interactive works. Through April 27. Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Avenue, South Boston. $10-$12 (free on Thursday nights).

C. Fernsebner, Rick Sawyer, and Kerry Skemp contributed to this post.