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Hear the word flamenco and you likely imagine a woman with a dark chignon clapping and stomping in a café. But according to dancer Savannah Fuentes, "Flamenco is first and foremost a singing art form." The sexy, expressive sights and sounds of the genre, she says, actually have their roots in persecution, springing from the mining communities and ethnic groups — Muslims, Jews and Romani — who fled to Andalusia in southern Spain under Queen Isabella. The mark of quality flamenco, for Fuentes, is a good cry.

While the songs, the guitar and the accompanying dance can be baleful, Fuentes will be doing allegria — happy dance — from the coast of Spain in her performance on Friday, May 1, at 8 p.m. at the D Street Neighborhood Center ($20, $10, $7). The Seattle-based dancer, who has trained in the U.S. and Spain over the last 18 years, makes her fifth visit to Humboldt, this time with singer Jesus Montoya from Seville and Bulgarian guitarist Bobby de Sofia. Prepare for the strength of Montoya's voice as he sings out phrases, his melisma playing off de Sofia's soulful guitar in a style reminiscent of Arabic singing. There's an element of group improvisation at work, and Fuentes uses every digit, every vertebrae to follow and expand the musical conversation.

— Jennifer Fumiko Cahill

Cheesecake meets beefcake when Portland's Cocked and Loaded boylesque troupe bumps and grinds it out at 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at the Eureka Inn's Palm Lounge ($12 door, $10 advance). Caravan of Glam emcee Ecstacy Inferno hosts this male revue with strip that's heavy on the tease.

The brains behind all this brawn is Justin Buckles, who says the show is "very sensual and not crass or in your face" — an old-fashioned approach he credits for the less-than-a-year-old act's sold-out shows. Expect performers Todd Allen, Romeo Bedwell, Jaxin Yoff and Gabriel to bring all of burlesque's winking humor, costumes (from lumberjack to S&M), and group and solo numbers — swapping out the sequins and feathers for six packs. This is the troupe's first trip away from its hometown fan base and Buckle says, "The boys are all really nervous." So be gentle with them. Photos and video are fine, and you're welcome to run up to the stage with cash tips, but no lap dances, ladies and gents. Be nice and you can stay for the after party, dancing with the boys "until they kick us out."

The next morning, Sunday, April 26, skip the walk of shame and have breakfast with the fellas at Pancakes for Pride at 9 a.m. at the Bayside Grange, where they'll do a few numbers with the Caravan of Glam drag stars ($8 brunch, $12 brunch and show). That show is daylight rated, but likely still hot enough to melt the ice in your Bloody Mary.

— Jennifer Fumiko Cahill

Sure, you could sit back and watch the slow march of global warming turn our home into a wasteland, or you could step up and help keep it viable for a few more years. On Saturday, April 25, there are ample opportunities to do your part, as local environmental organizations host several Earth Day cleanups across the North Coast: Oyster Beach, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Indian Island, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Humboldt Coastal Nature Center, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Mad River/Blue Lake, 9 a.m. to noon; and Crab Park, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

After you've spent the morning scouring beaches and river banks, do yourself a solid and head over to the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center for the Earth Day Hoedown from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. There'll be food and beverages for sale (including the Taco Faktory and beer donated by Mad River Brewing Company), kid's activities, face-painting, a dutch raffle, live painting by Matt Beard, music by Lyndsey Battle and Striped Pig String Band, with a barn dance called by Nigella Mahal. If you volunteer for one of the above Earth Day cleanups, the event is free — otherwise it's a $5-$10 sliding scale.

Your Mama raised you right. Show her some love.

— Kali Cozyris

Drinking and watching Casablanca over and over at home alone in your pajamas is a little sad. Especially when you could be drinking and watching Casablanca out with people in fancy clothes. That's not sad. It's cultured and social.

On Friday, April 24, the Eureka Theater becomes Rick's Café Americain for a big-screen showing of the 1942 classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman ($10, $7.50 advance). Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, walk into this one. Throw on some vintage swag if you've got it and belly up to the Art Deco bar at 6:30 p.m. for themed cocktails, perfect for drowning your sorrows over the one that got away. You'll always have Paris, and now you'll have the newly restored upstairs lobby to stroll in wistful style.

At 7:30 p.m., the old-timey newsreels, trailers and cartoons get rolling to warm you up for some timeless Hollywood magic. Bergman's Ilsa is caught between the deadpan and heartbroken Rick (Bogart) and her noble resistance-leader husband, Victor (Paul Henreid). But it's not just the most heart-wrenching love triangle ever, because you also get the smugly shady Claude Rains, the greasily desperate Peter Lorre and beady-eyed Sydney Greenstreet in a fez, plus Nazis and the seedy backdrop of wartime Morocco.

Here's looking at you, kid.

— Jennifer Fumiko Cahill

Humboldt State University film students have been bringing carefully-crafted independent films to local aficionados for 48 years via the Humboldt International Film Festival. It's the oldest student-run film festival in the world — HSU students have been prescreening and judging festival submissions since 1967. This year, the festival returns to its original home, the Minor Theatre, after spending nearly a decade at the Van Duzer Theater.

The festival kicks off Wednesday, April 22 and runs through Saturday, April 25 with 26 films over the first three nights. The screen lights up each night at 7 p.m. ($5 per night). Wednesday gets things started with the weird and wonderful Animation/Experimental night, including I Was a Teenage Girl Apparently, Uncandy, Swallowed Whole and Cybergenisis. On Thursday, see the documentaries Road to Desegregation, Old Dudes, Code Oakland, Life Under the Bridge and DAMS. Narrative night is on Friday, with Tenuous, Electric Indigo, The Matador, Son Shine, Consolation Prize and The Collection, among others. Wrap it up with Best of the Fest and Judges Awards on closing night, Saturday.

These films embody the art, time and execution of student filmmakers from around the world. Come to the Minor Theatre and see the storytelling unfold. The next Scorsese, Bergman, Capra or Bigelow may be seated next to you.

— Kali Cozyris

This time each year, birding revelers flock to fields and wildlife habitats throughout Humboldt for Godwit Days, the annual celebration of the Marbled Godwit. The week-long festival from Wednesday, April 15 to Wednesday, April 22 celebrates its 20th year this year and features field trips, lectures, workshops, art exhibits, boat excursions and more during the peak of migration season.

With events at the Arcata Community Center and the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as throughout Humboldt County, the festival is a chance to learn about, photograph and otherwise obsess over the tens of thousands of shorebirds. And let's not forget the snowy plover and spotted owl — two other area stars. As for the human element, you can listen to speakers and acclaimed authors, do some crafting and view Godwit-inspired artwork by children. Hop aboard kayak trips, take a marsh night hike, or go birding from Trinidad to Ferndale and beyond.

On Friday, April 17 at 5 p.m., stop by the free opening reception at the Arcata Community Center. Stay for the Humboldt County Bird of the Year award and lectures by Friends of the Arcata Marsh and Green Diamond Resource Company. Catch this year's keynote speaker Andy Mack on Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arcata Community Center ($10 or free with registration). On Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Sunday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, a kid favorite — live hawks and owls, courtesy of the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center.

— Kali Cozyris

Unless you live in a black hole (not recommended/possible), you know who he is, or you at least recognize him. Neil deGrasse Tyson (StarTalk, Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandariesis) is the man you see when astrophysics hits the headlines and it's time to drop some science on national news. On Tuesday, April 14 at 8 p.m., the scientist, author and head of the Hayden Planetarium takes the stage at the Van Duzer Theatre for an evening of astronomical conversation, cosmic wonder and scientific awe ($65, $25 HSU students).

Tyson's enthusiasm and excitement for the marvels of the universe make him a strong advocate for science literacy. With a PhD in astrophysics from Columbia University, a winning smile and a penchant for space-themed neckties, he's the perfect spokesperson for all things out of this world. He takes complex concepts of cosmology and puts them into terms that nearly anyone can understand, lending humor and perspective to intensely scientific material. He adds quirk to the quarks and pleasure to the pulsars.

In space, no one can hear you scream, but down here on Earth we can all hear you kicking yourself for not buying a ticket to this sold-out show. If you're ticketless, you'll have to catch Tyson on his next orbit around CenterArts. In the meantime, you'll have to get your astronomy fix elsewhere, like the Cosmos mini-series on Netflix, the StarTalk podcast on the Nerdist network or by building a scale model of the galaxy out of modeling clay.

— Dev Richards

On Saturday, April 11, the Manila Community Center is the place to be for one heck of a shindig. The Rosebud Jubilee is an all-day, family friendly fundraiser for Bella Vita Fire, a Dreammaker Project of the Ink People Center for the Arts, featuring a market from noon to 8 p.m. (free) Peruse vendor booths, eat and drink local foods and watch fire performers and belly dancers twirl and sizzle. Need to get your hoop on unencumbered in the spinning area? Let the kids romp in their own space in the kid zone. If you threw something out of whack hula-hooping, there's even a Zen zone with a mobile hot sauna bringing the heat.

Stay put because the party continues into the night at the Shake Down Lounge party from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. ($10). Trip out on the light fantastic with Marmalade Sky's bootleg recordings and multimedia show. Dance to the Dead, bid on band memorabilia and locally made "Deadhead art." The folks putting on the event ask that you carpool (no parking) and abide by the no open container rule. You can tote your conga for the drum circle, but leave Toto at home (no pooches, please).

— Kali Cozyris