Friday, Aug. 28:

• It's the final weekend of The Tamarie Cooper Show, and it's still pay-what-you-can, so go there and do so. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Stages Repertory Theatre.

• Tonight is Spin5: Flashdance, an annual fundraiser for the Houston Center for Photography. The theme, obviously, is the classic '80s movie and if you come wearing '80s clothes, you will get in for $10. (If you don't, it's $15.) Your admission fee gets you a pint glass and all the RealAle you can put away. There will be a performance by members of the Houston Ballet, which should be amazing. 8-11 p.m.

• This month's Steel Lounge Underground at CAMH features DJ Drew, Eddie Spetro and Tax the Wolf. 8-11 p.m. Free.

Saturday, Aug. 29:

• If you want to see the outcome of this year's A/V Swap (read more here), go to Rice Media Center at 8 p.m. Free.

Sunday, Aug. 30:

• Ever seen a Javanese puppet performance? (My boyfriend says he has, on Reading Rainbow RIP.) Here's your chance: Asia Society Texas Center, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia, and Rice University present master puppeteer Ki Purbo Asmoro, performing Sesaji Raja Suya (The Grand Offering of the Kings). There is a lecture at 7 p.m., then the performance at 7:30 p.m. It's free, but seating is limited. Call 713-439-0265 for a reservation. Beware, it's really noisy, if this video is any indication:

• I did undergrad time in the UH Creative Writing program and there's one professor that really stood out: poet Robert Phillips. He had an extremely dry wit and was always kind enough to pick out phrases from everyone's poems -- no matter how dreadful, and some were very dreadful -- to compliment. Phillips will read from his new collection of poetry, Now and Then, at Brazos Bookstore. 4:30 p.m. Free.