Go! 4/4-4/6

Not totally satisfied with your weekend itinerary? Never fear, Go! is here! This regular feature highlights everything from rock shows to art openings, from delicious dishes to hidden-gem hangouts.

Friday, 4/4

No Photoshop Necessary: When you gaze at a Chuck Close piece, you are instantly reminded of a computer program that manipulates images. Fortunately this contemporary artist provides the real thing, with larger-than-life portraits all constructed by hand. From 6 to 8 p.m., head to the William Shearburn Gallery (4735 McPherson Avenue; 314-367-8020), and view this Wisconsin native's work at the free opening reception. Chuck Close: 10 Years in Print continues through May 10.

Laughing Matters: Satire makes the world a better place, as does The Howard-Brinkley Report. This local variety act pokes fun at the world around us, which, in turn, makes it not seem like such a bad place after all. Special guests the Militant Propaganda Bingo Machine join the gang during two performances -- tonight at 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow at that same time. Get your giggle on at the Space (320 North Vandeventer Avenue; 314-494-9095) for $10. Before you jet, read Paul Friswold's take on the matter.

That'sa Spicy Movie!: Stop refusing to watch movies that force you to read (subtitles). Give it five minutes, and you'll be totally immersed at the Italian Film Festival, which kicks off at 8 p.m. Extra details about this free event can be found here.

Saturday, 4/5

Nanorama: Before you knew a nano to be the thing that played all of your favorite iTunes, it initially was (and still is) a branch of technology that deals with all the small things. How small? Dimensions less than 100 nanometers to be precise. And for the first time, the Saint Louis Science Center (5050 Oakland Avenue; 314-289-4400) has scaled things back to celebrate this teensy-weensy topic. NanoDays shows us how these small wonders have an effect on everyday items such as sunscreen and bicycles. Hear what the experts from Wash. U., Mizzou, UM-St. Louis and U. of I. have to say about it all starting at 9 a.m. Then, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., watch the Nano Film Festival, which runs every hour on the hour.

Art from Scratch: Show the kiddos that art is more than macaroni and Aqua Dots (especially after you had to toss out crafts made of the latter late last year). Two days of music and fine art should certainly help the wee ones, so get them to the Greater St. Louis Art Association's Cool Art & Hot Jazz event at the Greensfelder Recreation Complex in Queeny Park (550 Weidman Road; 636-391-0900). The artwork ranges from painting to photography to jewelry to sculpture, and you can check it all out to the sweet sounds of jazz. Pay $5 to reach out to your inner-artist from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Veg Out: Get growing at the Urban Bird Corridor Planting Party. Put those underused gardening skills to work by planting native vegetation everyone, including Alison Sieloff, can enjoy. Let her show you how your green thumb can help.

Sunday, 4/6

Let There Be Music!: Sometimes it takes a little bribery to get thee to church. For heavens sake, what more do you want than a free concert from members of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra?! In this third and final performance of the Stained Glass Concert Series, enjoy classics set for a violin and cello duo and a wind trio as well as performances of favorite hymns. The beautiful sounds begin at 2:30 p.m. inside True Light M.B. Church (2838 James Cool Papa Bell Avenue; 314-531-1801).

High School Anti-Musical: Observe someone much younger and leaner than Judd Nelson in his present state play his bad-to-the-bone character John Bender in a stage adaptation of The Breakfast Club. And if you don't remember that '80s Saturday-detention, weepy cliché-fest of a film, then you aren't old enough to be reading the Internet! However, if you do remember, Mark Dischinger points you to a place to go and reminisce.

-Jeanette Kozlowski