A big entertainment weekend ahead

I hear it all the time from friends and family: "There's nothing to do this weekend."

Well, I can certainly relate to that sentiment on occasion, but not this weekend. There will be music and wine festivals, cabaret and burlesque shows, even Broadway theater (check Friday's SE Live, our new facebook page and www.semoevents.com for more info on all the weekend happenings). But one of my favorite events of the year is Saturday: the 5th Annual Independent Record Store Day.

PMac Music, located at 2500 William St. here in Cape, will have all the great deals and awesome special releases by today's hottest artists. Paul MacDougall, owner and audiophile, is just as excited as anyone for the Saturday event.

"This is so much bigger than buying music. It's also about supporting all the independent record stores out there, and getting back to that quality sound vinyl brings out in music," Paul explained. "The special, immediately out-of-print releases are great, too. It's always a surprise because we never know just what we're getting in ... no store does."

Another event I want to mention is the Community Benefit Wine Festival, Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Bavarian Halle in Jackson (find more info here). Not only can a wine aficionado get their fill from 13 Missouri wine makers, but proceeds help the Community Counseling Centers (who do all they can for the mentally ill). A good time, and a great cause.

So get out this weekend and experience the good times our area has to offer. I'll see you around town!