We have a bunch of stuff to tell you about all over West Virginia this week as we skid into the last full weekend of August. Your humble blogger and his lovely wife will be absconding to an undisclosed location to celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary, but there’s all kinds of cool things going on for you folks to enjoy while we’re gone.

Live Music is back at Taylor Books. There is no cover charge, and shows start at 7:30 PM.  Friday it’s Ty McClanahan. Gary Hays entertains the crowd at Charleston’s beloved Bookstore/Coffee Shop/Art Gallery.

Magically Ordinary will bring their family-friendly magic show to Mountain Roots Community Theater in Quincy on Sunday. The show runs from 2 PM to 5 PM and tickets are $12, or $10 for kids and seniors. The show will be interpreted in ASL. Magician, Matt Neely find way to make the ordinary magical and delights audiences of all ages.

The World Famous Empty Glass Cafe has some great stuff this weekend to tell you about.  Thursday at 5:30 PM, Swingstein and Robin return with Swing for a good cause.  Friday Tim Courts plays during happy hour.  Later on Friday Guns For Hire bring their Southern Blues-based Rock to the Glass from Paintsville, KY.  Saturday at 10 PM, The East End Ghouls put on their back-to-school show, which you and see more about below, and of note, your PopCulteer’s imaginary daughter, Kitty Killton will be on hand.  Sunday at 10 PM it’s time for Empty Glass Got Talent. Next Monday it’s Open Mic Night with Unmanned at 7 PM.

Please remember that the pandemic is not over yet. It’s still a going concern with the ‘rona surging again. And now there are seasonal allergies, the flu, heatstroke,typhoons, tycoons, Tyke Hunt, Ty Beanie Babies and other damned good reasons to be careful. Many people who have very good reasons are still wearing masks, and many of us, understandably, are still nervous about being in crowds, masked or not. Be kind and understanding  while you’re out.

If you’re up for going out, here are a few suggestions for the weekend, roughly in order, with a couple of Festivals and Kin Ship Goods two-day ninth anniversary celebration listed first…