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January 28, 2012|By June Wulff

PICK OF THE DAY - Big night - More than 20 years ago, Midnight Radio was released… (Taylor Crothers )

TODAY

New material As an assistant to Wim Wenders, Jim Jarmusch, and Costa-Gavras, director Claire Denis learned her craft from some heavy hitters. In 1988, Denis made her directorial and screenwriting debut with “Chocolat.’’ The filmmaker is in town with her latest film, “White Material,’’ preceded by her digital short, “To the Devil.’’ 7 p.m. $12 (in-person appearance). Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge. 617-495-4700. www.hcl.harvard.edu/hfa

Going underground Approximately 10 bands will set up at the same time and take turns playing and playing and playing until the show ends. It’s the Boston Underground Summit showcase of diverse bands from the Northeast including Guerilla Toss, Night Fruit, and Skinny Vinny. 7:30 p.m. $5-$10 suggested donation. All ages. Cambridge YWCA, 7 Temple St., Cambridge. 857-234-6620. www.bowshows.com

Ho ho ho According to percussionist Brian O’Neill, a.k.a. Mr. Ho, his new arrangement of Gershwin’s Prelude No. 1 will “get some sort of Orchestrotica treatment’’ (insert keyboard smiley face here). Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica vibraphone quartet reinterprets classical melodies by improvising over them and adding exotic international sounds. 8:30 p.m. $10. Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Sqare, Cambridge. 617-395-1393. www.lily-pad.net

TOMORROW

Lions and lettuce Lions will dance through the streets to ward off evil; lettuce and oranges will be thrown, the former symbolizing wealth and luck, the latter longevity and health. Dragons of every color will parade through Chinatown. It’s all at the Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Dragon. Jan. 29 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Phillips Square, Chinatown, Boston. 617-350-6303. www.chinatownmainstreet.org

Three for four If you’re not familiar with G.F. Handel’s Sonata in E Minor, Georges Enesco’s Cantabile et Presto, and East Wind for Flute Solo by Shulamit Ran, you will be. Each of the four finalists will perform these pieces at the James Pappoutsakis Flute Competition Final Round. The flutists are Michel Dew (Boston Conservatory), Hanol Lee (Boston University), Jisun Oh (New England Conservatory), and Bethanne Walker (Boston Conservatory). Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. Free. Boston University College of Fine Arts Concert Hall, 855 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. 617-461-3994. www.pappoutsakis.org

Planes, power tools, and poetry It’s easy to picture carpenters tossing back a few beers after work. Not so easy to picture is a group of carpenters sharing poetry at a pub. The Carpenter Poets of Jamaica Plain formed about 10 years ago at a local pub to explore the connection between carpentry and writing. Inspired by Boston Poet Laureate Sam Cornish, the Poetic Convergence Series showcases Boston poetry groups. Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. (the series continues the last Sunday of Feb., March, and May). $5. Forsyth Chapel at Forest Hills Cemetery, 95 Forest Hills Ave., Jamaica Plain. 617-524-3150. www.foresthillstrust.org

Check websites or call to confirm events before going. Send information two weeks in advance to jwulff@globe.com.