Make the most of the holiday weekend

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On what is a long weekend for some because Monday is a federal holiday marking the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Greater Lansing has much to offer, including multiple events honoring the late civil rights leader. Don’t let these concerts, art exhibits, sporting events, community service opportunities and more pass you by.

Starting off, as always, with live music, Friday evening brings psychedelic rock to Mac’s Bar at 8 with Buddahand, Soccer and Mushroom Jam; The Dangling Participles will perform at The Peanut Barrel, also at 8; Soulstice will hit the stage at The Green Door at 8:30; Marsha, Cult Therapy and Werewolves will play a spooky Friday the 13th show at The Avenue at 9 and Darin Larner Jr. will start his set at The Exchange at 9:30. Don’t forget about the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, which will perform Brahms’ Second with award-winning pianist Jon Nakamatsu at the Wharton Center at 7:30. For an inside scoop from Nakamatsu, check out Lawrence Cosentino’s interview. On Saturday evening, we have The Swift Brothers at Horrocks Beer Garden at 5, Travis Faber at Eaton Rapids Craft Co. at 7, Time2Play at UrbanBeat at 8, The Corzo Effect at The Green Door at 8:30 and Secret Grief, The Fever Haze and The Falcon King at The Avenue at 9, presented by Space Dogg Collective. For a chill Sunday, head to Red Cedar Spirits at 6 p.m. for jazz music with the Wayne Meinke Trio, Lucas LaFave and Will Crandell. For a rowdier night, Mac’s Bar will host some of Power 96.5’s Spotlight Artists at 8.

William Hays’ color linocuts are still on display at Saper Galleries and Custom Framing Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and “Zaha Hadid Design: Untold” continues at the MSU Broad Art Museum from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. A new exhibit, “Working Hands,” by Jessica Considine, Angela Larson and Kelly O’Neill, is open at the Lansing Art Gallery from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, featuring steel and aluminum sculptures that highlight the unique work of these women welders.

For sports fans, Michigan State will take on Penn State in hockey games Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Munn Ice Arena, and the MSU polo team is hosting its annual exhibition match and fundraiser Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education.

Aspiring chefs ages 8 and up can visit Sweet Encounter Bakery & Café at 10 a.m. Saturday for a kid’s cooking class. Attendees will learn how to make broccoli and cheddar soup, honey-glazed cornbread and raspberry and pear crisps. Parents can use the time to get the week’s shopping done or take a short, likely-needed nap.

For some, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, celebrated on the third Monday of January, is a time to give back to the community. Why not start off a day or two early so you can spend the 16th at some of the area’s fantastic celebrations? On Saturday, you can help the City of East Lansing clean up its park biotic communities by “removing problematic invasive plant species and replacing them with native species” from 9 to 11 a.m. On Sunday, you can donate Michigan-returnable bottles and cans to Eastern Ingham Farmers Market at Williamston’s McCormick Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to support the market during its off-season. All you have to do is pop your trunk, and volunteers will do the rest for you. Or you can attend one of the benefit concerts happening this weekend. UrbanBeat’s, Sunday at 3 p.m., will benefit Ukrainian Children’s Aid and Relief Effort. Sistrum women’s chorus, which is holding its concert Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church in South Lansing, asks attendees to bring needed personal and household items for the Lansing Refugee Donation Center.

While you’re out and about, maybe you can stop at some of the area’s Black-owned businesses. It’s always great to patronize these companies, but this weekend is an especially good time to discover new favorites. I wish you the best of weekends.

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