Saturday Happenings

Burlesque, for Women

-- The Boston Babydolls are hosting another night of burlesque by women for women, which was part of a tradition from the golden days of burlesque, and they're throwing in a mini-burlesque class, too. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline, midnight. $12 (CR)

Books, Strolling

-- Harvard Square's bookstores may be dwindling, but there are still more books per capita in Cambridge than almost any other city you could live in. The Bookish Ball: A Community Celebration of the Bookstores of Harvard Square offers a book discount stroll and live retro soul music to help the philistines mingle with the bibliophiles. Harvard Square, 3:00pm-9:00pm. More information.

-- Boston Derby Dames present the Season 2 playoffs as Cosmonaughties face off against Nutcrackers. Baltimore's Charm City Rollergirls are also in town. Learn about jamming. Shriners' Auditorium, 99 Fordham Road, Wilmington, 5:00pm. $14/$16

Middle East, Upstairs and Down

-- Scuzzy rock fans have a difficult choice facing them at the Middle East. Downstairs, venerable Detroit garage band Dirtbombs serve their unique rock victual: two parts Stooges, one part Sly Stone. Upstairs, Pennsylvania punks Pissed Jeans make the Scratch Acid/Big Boys revival seem inevitable. Middle East, 472 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 8:00pm. $12 (downstairs); $9 (upstairs).

Causes

-- Comedian Eugene Mirman and writer Jim Shepard will be among the experts at the North American Symposium on Sasquatch Research, a fundraiser. 826 Boston, 3035 Washington St., Roxbury, 6:00pm. $20

Devotionals

-- The religious music of Sufi Islam, known as Qawwali, has a 700 year history. Westerners love it, thanks to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Pakistanis Mehr and Sher Ali bring their own entrancing flavor. Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, 8:00pm. $28.

Caroline Roberts contributed to this post.

Image from the Pissed Jeans website.

The listed events were chosen by the editors of Bostonist and brought to you by the 2009 Toyota Corolla.