1/22 ARTY FUN OF NOTE

Hi from the Cambridgeport School Arts Committee. It's that random time of the week where I attempt to inspire you to add some arty fun in your life.

NOT-LAME, FAMILY-FRIENDLY ROCK!

There is a rock show at the Sinclair this Saturday your whole family can all go to! And it's two good local bands, not potentially excruciating "children's" music. And in case you fear your kid's attention will flag and You are still into it, Knucklebones will have stuff for them to play with, and there will be face paint and the like. The two bands are Parks, who recently had a single called <a href="http://parksband.bandcamp.com/track/sweater-weather">Sweater Weather"</a> which was in the Phoenix's "Class of 2013" cover story.

The other band is <a href="http://bentshapes.tumblr.com/audio">Ben Shapes</a>.

You can get tickets online from Ticketmaster or stop by the Sinclair box office (52 Church St.) in Harvard Square and skip the fees.

All kids need adult supervision, and one adult can bring up to three children. A child is 12 or under.

ICA: FILMS AND FILMMAKING PLAY DATE

The last Saturday of the month means it's free play date time at the ICA from 10-4pm. Kids are always free at the ICA, but each kid gets two adults in free during play dates, too. This one is a day of films (some made by kids!). The full listing of films is online. There are also hands-on activities that foster an awareness of the filmmaking process. Kids can work with film artists on a project about pixilation and step into the Art Lab to design a movie set and take action. Be a film critic and vote for your favorite film of the festival.

While you've been drawn to the waterfront…see the Fort Point Arts group show DRAWN TO WATER at the Atlantic Wharf Gallery at 290 Congress Street. It will be there through March 28, with the opening reception Thursday the 23^rd from 5-7:30pm. The exhibition includes paintings, drawings, photography, prints, video and sculpture in which water plays a central role. Check out some of the preview images online.

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CIRCUS: CIRCUS OZ

The family deal to note on BOSTIX this week is Circus Oz. It's the National Circus of Australia, and are "plucky" acrobatic daredevils performing "From the Ground Up" at the Shubert with Bostix discounts available on February 19. They claim it is great for ages 5 and up.

BULGARIAN SENDENKA

On Sunday the 26^th in Woburn there is a Sendenka – a traditional Bulgarian folkloric music and dance gathering with performances by Divi Zheni and others, including a children's dance ensemble, and dance and song instruction and traditional food. It starts at 4pm at the ACAS Activity Center at 29 Montvale Ave in Woburn, free parking. Children 8 and under free, $15 general admission, $10 seniors/students.

VISUAL ART ABOUT SOUND AND MUSIC?

This exhibit at the Washington Street Art Center (that's between the Biscuit/Dali and Union Square) strives to convey the emotion and genre of music through various visual mediums. Can you draw a song? Sculpt a sound? Is this like when Frank Zappa said, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture?" Find out through the 25^th.

ADULTS LIKE STORY HOURS, TOO!

If you want to ditch the kids with a spouse or friend and head out for some quality literary time at your level, Note that Gish Jena and Leah Hager Cohen are at the main library from 6-8 in the Broadway Lecture Hall discussing writing and culture (free), Gary Shteyngart is at the Brattle reading from his memoir that same night at 6pm ($28, include admission and a copy of Little Failure) see the Harvard.com site, and Isabel Allende is reading from Ripper: A Novel at the First Parish Church at 7pm on Tuesday the 28^th ($5 tickets at Harvard.com).

 PS: DO YOU NEED A SHAVE, OR IS THAT FACIAL ART?

The Somerville Arts Council sponsors BeardFest 2014 in a week and a half. If you're on your way to competitive whiskery, register now. More on attending the beard and moustache contest in next week's edition.

PPS: DO YOU DO BIG, PUBLIC ARTWORK?

Submit a design for one of the new stations on the Green Line extention through Somerville.