6 things you should be doing in Milwaukee this weekend (some of them bunny- and egg-related)
1. Pay heed to your Mother (as in Mother Earth)
Get a head start on Earth Day (which is Monday) by checking out a weekend bash featuring Earth Poets and Musicians. The Urban Ecology Center hosts the 32nd annual Earth Poets and Musicians Extravaganza Friday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Riverside Park, 1500 E. Park Place. It's a benefit for the center; a $5 to $10 donation is suggested. On Saturday, the Coffeehouse, 2717 E. Hampshire St., has its own "Earthstravaganza" with Earth Poets and Musicians from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Donations of $5 to $15 suggested, with the proceeds going to Plastics-Free MKE, a group pushing to reduce single-use plastic in Milwaukee.
Info: urbanecologycenter.org and the-coffee-house.com
AT THE MOVIES:Aretha Franklin in concert, Robert Pattinson in space, a demon in L.A.
CALENDAR:What's going on in Milwaukee this week: April 19-25
2. Celebrate women film pioneers
In conjunction with Friday's Women Film Pioneers Symposium at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Film is hosting "Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers," two days of movies by some the silent-film era's most creative storytellers — accompanied by live performances by local musicians who composed new scores for the screenings at the Oriental Theatre, 2230 N. Farwell Ave. At 7 p.m. Friday, a collection of short films (including two by silent-era legends Alice Guy-Blaché and Mabel Normand) will have music by Amanda Huff; at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, social-commentary shorts, including two by Zora Neale Hurston, will be accompanied by music by Nickel and Rose and SistaStrings; and at 7 p.m. Saturday, the controversial 1923 feature "Salome" is powered by the music of Anthony Deutsch. Also showing: the new documentary "Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché," screening this weekend at 4 p.m. Saturday and 4 and 6:50 p.m. Sunday. Individual tickets are $11, $9 for Milwaukee Film members, $8 for seniors 60 and older, $6 for kids 12 and younger.
Info: mkefilm.org/oriental-theatre
3. Egg yourself on at the zoo
The Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Blue Mound Road, has its annual Egg Day Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities include a "Hop-to-It Bunny Egg Hunt" from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and an Easter parade at 2 p.m. Admission is $16.25, $15.25 for seniors 60 and older, $13.25 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for kids $2 and younger. children 2 and under, and $15.25 for senior citizens (60 and older). (Also: $1.75 off for Milwaukee County residents with I.D.) Parking, per usual, is $12.
Info: milwaukeezoo.org
4. Party with a whole new rabbit
For its annual Easter weekend event, Marcus Theatres has a whole new bunny. Saturday morning, the chain's annual "Hop to the Movies" is centered on a new movie bunny. After years of showing "Hop," Marcus is featuring the 2018 live-action/animated movie "Peter Rabbit," with kids activities starting at 9 a.m., an Easter egg hunt at 9:30 a.m. and the movie starting at 10 a.m. It's $9 at Marcus' Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Ridge, Saukville and Southgate cinemas, and $15, including a buffet at Bistroplex Southridge.
Info: marcustheatres.com
5. Catch 'Two Trains Running'
Milwaukee Repertory Theater wraps up the 2018-'19 season with "Two Trains Running," August Wilson's powerful drama starring Milwaukee husband and wife acting duo Chiké Johnson and Malkia Stampley. The production opens Friday after previews through Thursday at Quadracci Powerhouse, 108 E. Wells St. The show runs through May 12.
Info: milwaukeerep.com
RELATED:Milwaukee Rep's 'Two Trains Running' brings married actors together
6. Engage in some string theory.
In Black Violin, violinist Kev Marcus and violist Wil B. fuse classical music and hip-hop in an energy-filled performance. The group is back at the Marcus Center's Uihlein Hall, 929 N. Water St., at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $34.
Info: marcuscenter.org
Contact Chris Foran at (414) 224-2182 or chris.foran@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cforan12, Instagram at @chrisforansofcourse or Facebook at www.facebook.com/cforan12.