The No. 3 club night of the year

For avid clubgoers, there are three big, let's-go-nuts nights each year: New Year's Eve, Halloween and the night before Thanksgiving. It's T-minus six days till Turkeyday, so you still have time to prepare. Most bars and nightclubs are planning some sort of pre-Thanksgiving party. Here are three worth your attention.

The Society is a nightlife crew known for throwing top-secret parties, but it's inviting everyone to the View on Wednesday for a night with Miami's DJ Bulletproof (10 p.m. Wed. 2730 W. Lake St., Mpls. $15. 21 and older. www.thesocietyevents.net). Scenester Zach Sussman is throwing his 8th annual T-giving Eve party at Crave in St. Louis Park, with the New Congress (10 p.m. Wed. 1603 West End Blvd., St. Louis Park. 952-933-6500.). Aqua treats this day like another Halloween with its annual Miami Vice-themed party -- '80s fashion and beach attire encouraged (10 p.m. Wed. 400 1st Av. N., Mpls. www.aquampls.com.).

Poetry for the people

Spoken-word fans won't want to miss this month's installment of Equilibrium at the Loft Literary Center. On Saturday, the always-exciting poetry showcase will feature indie-hip-hop star Geologic of the Seattle group Blue Scholars. As his group's name suggests, the rapper's poetry highlights working-class struggles with the acumen of a philosopher (more info on Geologic: www.bluescholars.com). Also performing is Sandra Garcia Rivera, a Nuyorican poet who has taken her jazz-inspired spoken word around the world.

8 p.m. Sat. 1011 Washington Av. S., Mpls.

$5/$3 students and Loft members.

612-215-2575. www.loft.org.

Comedy in the 'burbs

There's a lot to laugh at in the suburbs these days. Comedian Joe Tanner ("The Lowry Mailman") continues to bring funny people to his "Laughter in the Loft" series at Paddy Wagon's in Coon Rapids. This weekend he has the Stagebenders, a comedic duo made up of Kim Thomassen and Gust Alexander, who bill themselves as "600 pounds of Las Vegas showgirls wrapped up into two chubby bald guys." Sounds funny to me. More on the Stagebenders: www.stagebenders.com.

7:30 p.m. today and Sat. 133 Coon Rapids Blvd., Coon Rapids. $15. Reservations: 763-438-9168 or www.heyjoetanner.com.