Friday Happenings

Film

-- A Gathering of Coens (y'know, like the brothers) at the Brattle begins with screenings of No Country For Old Men. 40 Brattle Street, various showings, $7.50 matinee, $9.50 evening.

Dancing With Ourselves

-- We've never much liked electronic music, so imagine our delight at discovering the silent rave. People will gather to dance to their own individual drummer, or flautist, or pianist, or whatever imaginary music propels them. No word on whether pacifiers and big pants are required. Northwest corner of Boston Common (Beacon St & Charles St), 7:20pm, free--and freeing. You know, for your soul.

Comedy

-- Wanda Sykes tells jokes tonight. No word on whether Krazee-Eyez Killa will make a guest appearance. The Orpheum, 7:30 pm, $37.50-$45.

-- Larry Miller creeps us out a little, but sometimes makes us laugh. (He's the dad from 10 Things I Hate About You. And yes, it is sad that you know who we mean.) Comedy Connection, Faneuil Hall, 8pm, $22.

Music

-- Dylan actually is there. The legend plays the Palladium tonight. 261 Main St, Worcester, 8pm, $55 (sold out).

Books

-- Martha Nussbaum at the Harvard Book Store. Bostonist doesn't know much about Martha Nussbaum; we gather that her new book, Liberty of Conscience: In Defense of America's Tradition of Religious Equality, is about liberty, and conscience, and America, and religious equality. Mostly we remember that time she trashed Judith Butler (pdf here), and that's enough for us. 1256 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 3 pm. Free.

-- Carl Zimmer's Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life might not sound like the most fascinating book evar, but it eloquently explicates the extent to which the gross-out bacteria is involved in our life--and our evolution. Zimmer reads at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 7pm. Free.

-- Amy and David Goodman of Democracy Now are Standing Up To the Madness with their new book, which they'll rep at the Jamaica Plain Forum tonight. Show up to learn how you can stick it to the man. First UU Church, 6 Eliot Street, JP, 7pm, $5.

Free Beer & Discounted Hipster Goods

-- Union Square's Grand is having a sale, and Harpoon is providing the beer that will weaken your resistance to purchasing cardboard taxidermy. 374 Somerville Ave., Somerville, 6-9 pm. Free, but you've got to RSVP.

C. Fernsebner contributed to this post.