SKEESON II KICK-OFF PARTY: Flex those arcade muscles at The Greatest Bar, where the Boston Skeeball League will celebrate the start of their skeeball season. The tunes will be blasting as teams of two compete against each other for a pair of Celtics tickets in this single elimination bracket-style tournament. Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. Free. 21+ The Greatest Bar. www.thegreatestbar.com.
FRIDAY
H2 SUMMER IN WINTER: After catching violinist Aisslinn Nosky make her solo debut in the Handel and Haydn Society’s performance of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” at Symphony Hall, head to Lucca Back Bay to meet other classical music enthusiasts. It’s part of H&H’s ongoing H2 Young Professionals nights, held a few times a year as a way to engage a younger audience in classical music. Jan. 20, show at 8 p.m., after party at 10 p.m. Free admission to party with $25 concert ticket. Lucca Back Bay. www.handelandhaydn.org.
DANCE YOUR CARES AWAY: The American film musical was a great escape during the Great Depression. So, if you need help surviving our economic mess, take in “Gotta Dance’’ presented by ArtsEmerson: The World on Stage. “The Broadway Melody’’ from 1929 is followed at 8:30 p.m. by “Singin’ in the Rain.’’ Jan. 20 at 6 and 8:30 p.m. (through May). $10, $7.50 seniors, $5 students and under 18. Special pricing Jan. 20 of $15 for both films. Emerson College’s Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Boston. 617-824-8400. www.artsemerson.org
BARNES AND NOBLE: Call her an optimist with titles like “Suddenly Summer Somewhere,” “Mostly Fanfare,” and “Everything Is Getting Better All the Time.” New York City-based choreographer and performer, Monica Bill Barnes, combines imagination, intellect, and humor when Monica Bill Barnes & Company invades the ICA. 7:30 p.m. (Jan. 21 at 8 p.m.; free Q&A with the company Jan. 20; free talks 30 minutes before each performance). $40. Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave., Boston. 617-876-4275. www.worldmusic.org
SATURDAY
