Best Bets: Comedy, cars, kids

Published 11:21 am Friday, July 13, 2012

The local barkeep, played by Ben Rooney, discusses art with Albert Einstein, played by Joshua Whalen, at a dress rehearsal for "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" inside the Frank W. Bridges Theatre at Riverland Community College Monday. The Summerset Theatre production opened Tuesday. — Herald file photo

The laziest days of summer are encroaching, but there are still a few fun events to discover in Austin and the surrounding area. See a play, a car show or the ground from hundreds of feet above, all this weekend.

1. ‘Picasso at the Lapin’

Two final showings of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” have yet to hit the stage at Riverland’s Frank W. Bridges Theatre, 1900 Eighth Ave. NW, Austin. The Summerset Theatre production, written by Steve Martin and portraying Picasso and Einstein in the midst of an argument, opens at 7:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students 16 and younger.

2. Car wash

Five bucks for a car wash, seriously. Mower County Relay for Life’s Team Believe is offering $5 car washes this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Advance Auto in Austin, 309 Oakland Ave. W. Proceeds go toward this year’s Relay for Life, and ultimately, cancer research. I’ll buy that for a dollar, five times.

3. Car show

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A $5 car wash could be just in store for participants of Rose Creek’s event this Sunday. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will hold a car show benefit from noon to 3 p.m. on Main Street in Rose Creek, southeast of Austin on Highway 56.

4. Young Eagles Flight

Let the youngsters spread their wings this weekend, at the Young Eagles Flight Program. The Experimental Aircraft Association is holding its annual program for youth ages 8 to 17 at the Austin Municipal Airport, 710 21st St. NE. Registrations for free flights are from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sunday. Participants will get their names entered in the “World’s Largest Logbook” and receive a Young Eagles certificate.

5. Looking ahead

It’s time to start thinking sports as school approaches. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is doing just that on Tuesday and Wednesday this week at Ellis Middle School, 1700 Fourth Ave. SE. Plenty of sports clinics will be available for youth grades 4 to 7. Registration is available at minnesotafca.org/austin-jsc. Events begin at 12:30 p.m. each day and continue to 6 p.m.

Other events

Get out of town, and into Brownsdale that is, for Brownsdale Fest next weekend. Or check out the Root River Antique and Power Show near Spring Valley and the annual Racine Chicken Feed Dance.

—Look to Reporter Matt Peterson’s column every Friday for more about upcoming events in Austin. For even more, check out the calendar on Page 4 every day in the print edition and the AustinDailyHerald.com.