What's up in Lansing: 'Askew Askance A Squirrel!' and more

Good dad and happy weekend.

Ixion Theatre serves up a pair of absurd plays with it’s latest offering, “Askew Askance A Squirrel!” The two world premiere comedies, “SAL-9000” and “Nebraska Rapture,” are penned by Wisconsin playwright Lisa Konoplisky. ”I can’t wait to see what the directors and cast do with these fun scripts,” said Jeff Croff, Ixion’s artistic director. “I first worked with Lisa when we did another one act play she wrote called ‘White Elephant.’ Her off-kilter and unique thoughts, which range from a 6-foot-tall gun-toting lesbian parrot to a sentient washing machine, always make me laugh.” Konopolisky will be in attendance for the March 25 show and will take questions after the performance. 8 p.m. Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday. $15/$10 adv. The Robin Theatre, 1105 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. (517) 775-4246, ixiontheatre.com.

Local artists, musicians and businesses team up for a good cause Sunday at the third annual LoveLansing Party. Proceeds from the event benefit elementary art programs in the Lansing School District, and event organizers hope to raise over $6,000. The event’s live music lineup includes local favorites like Global Village, the Hot Mess and the Scratch Pilots. Vendors like the 517 Coffee Co. and JiveOne5even have locally-made goods for sale, and local artists like Jennifer Medler, Kimberly Lavon and Julian Van Dyke are selling original works. Visitors can also win raffle prizes or bid on a variety of items from local business in a silent auction. 1-8 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Green Door Bar & Grill, 2005 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. (517) 482-6376, facebook.com/thegreendoorlive.

For more local events, see below.

Saturday, March 18

Classes and Seminars

Soil Care Workshop. Workshop on creating healthy soil for gardens. Register online. 12:30-2 p.m. $12. Hunter Park Community GardenHouse, 1400 E. Kalamazoo St., Lansing. ow.ly/1xDc3094cvh.

Literature and Poetry

Books and Bagels. "Sunny Side Up" by Jennifer Holm. 2-3 p.m. FREE. East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road East Lansing. elpl.org.

Evergreen Haiku Study Group. All writers are welcome. 10 a.m.-noon. Room C301, Snyder Hall, 362 Bogue St., East Lansing. (517) 884-1932.

Theater

Askew Askance a Squirrel! An evening of absurd comedies penned by Lisa Konoplisky. 8-10 p.m. $15. The Robin Theatre, 1105 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. (517) 775-4246, ixiontheatre.com.

RED. Play about abstract painter Mark Rothko. 8 p.m. $12/$10 seniors and students. Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive, Lansing. (517) 482-5700, riverwalktheatre.com.

American Hero. Dark comedy about sandwich shop workers. 8 p.m. $10/$5 students. Black Box Theatre, Gannon Building, 422 N. Washington Square, Lansing. lcc.edu/showinfo.

Events

Lansing Home & Garden Show. Exhibits featuring home remodeling and more. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. $9/$4 kids. MSU Pavilion, 4301 Farm Lane, East Lansing. (517) 328-6550, lansinghomeshow.com.

43rd Annual Maple Syrup Festival. Handson demos and tours. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. FREE. Fenner Nature Center, 2020 E. Mount Hope Ave., Lansing. (517) 483-4224, mynaturecenter.org.

CADL Screening of Beauty & the Beast. With activities and treats. 9:30-11 a.m. FREE. NCG Cinemas, 2500 Showtime Drive, Lansing.

Coloring for Adults. Coloring pages, pencils and markers provided. 2-3 p.m. FREE. CADL Holt-Delhi, 2078 Aurelius Road, Holt. (517) 694-9351, cadl.org.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner. With potatoes and dessert. 5:30-6:30 p.m. $12/$6 kids. Mayflower Congregational Church, 2901 W. Mount Hope Ave., Lansing. (517) 484-3139, mayflowerchurch.com.

Shuto Con. Anime and cosplay convention. 9 a.m. See web for prices. All day. Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. shutocon.com.

Dinner Dance. Roast pork dinner. 5:30-11:30 p.m. $10/$4 kids; $6/kids FREE for dinner only. Lansing Liederkranz Club, 5828 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing. (517) 882-6330.

St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef Dinner. 4-7 p.m. Grovenburg United Methodist Church, 1368 Grovenburg Road, Holt. grovenburgumc.com.

Stories of Home with the Nokomis Learning

Center. Interactive storytelling and cultural exchange. 3 p.m. FREE. Broad Art Museum, 547 E. Circle Drive, East Lansing. (517) 884-4800, broadmuseum.msu.edu.

Sunday, March 19

Classes and Seminars

C Division Advanced Speakers Toastmasters. Evaluations of prepared speeches. 9:30-11:45 a.m. FREE. Dart Bank, 1020 Charlevoix Drive, Grand Ledge. (517) 896-4091, 5799.toastmastersclubs.org.

Charlotte Yoga Club. Beginner to intermediate. 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. $5 annually. AL!VE, 800 W. Lawrence, Charlotte. (517) 285-0138, charlotteyoga.net.

Juggling. Learn how to juggle. 2-4 p.m. FREE. Orchard Street Pumphouse, 368 Orchard St., East Lansing. (517) 371-5119.

Kendo Martial Art Class. Martial arts practice group. 10-11:30 a.m. $5. Westside Community YMCA, 3700 Old Lansing Road, Lansing. (269) 425-6677, koyokai.wordpress.com/about.

Music

Folkgrass Jam at Woldumar. Performances, open jam and potluck dinner. 2-6 p.m. $4 suggested donation/$2 seniors/kids FREE. Woldumar Nature Center, 5739 Old Lansing Road, Lansing. (517) 482- 2382, re-news.net/mmb.

MSU Faculty Recital: Yuri Gandelsman, viola. 3 p.m. $10/$8 seniors/FREE for students and kids. Cook Recital Hall, 333 W. Circle Drive East Lansing. (517) 353-5340, music.msu.edu/event-listing.

New Horizons Band Concert. Beginning band performs. 3-5 p.m. FREE. Donations welcome. MSU Community Music School, 4930 Hagadorn Road, East Lansing. (517) 355-7661, cms.msu.edu.

Theater

RED. Play about abstract painter Mark Rothko. 2 p.m. $12/$10 seniors and students. Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive, Lansing. (517) 482-5700, riverwalktheatre.com.

Askew Askance a Squirrel! An evening of absurd comedies penned by Lisa Konoplisky. 7-10 p.m. $15. The Robin Theatre, 1105 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. (517) 775-4246, ixiontheatre.com.

Events

Shuto Con. Anime and cosplay convention. See web for prices. Midnight-6 p.m. Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. shutocon.com.

Lansing Home & Garden Show. Exhibits featuring home remodeling and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $9/$4 kids. MSU Pavilion, 4301 Farm Lane, East Lansing. (517) 328-6550, lansinghomeshow.com.

#LoveLansing. Live music and auctions benefiting art education. 1-8 p.m. The Green Door, 2005 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. ow.ly/wxJS309RCt8.

Lansing Area Sunday Swing Dance. 6 p.m. $8 dance/$10 dance & lesson. The Lansing Eagles, 4700 N. Grand River Ave., Lansing. (517) 490-7838.

Literacy Celebration Stage Show. Interactive show with story characters. 1-3:30 p.m. FREE. Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, East Lansing.

Spring Equinox Guided Walk. Nature walk to observe early-spring nature. 2-3 p.m. $3/$7 per family. Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road, Meridian Township. (517) 349-3866, bit.ly/HNCprg.