A weekend for comedians

Did Jeff Cesario forget about us? It's been 10 years since the comedian played the Twin Cities. But now he's back with a geyser of new material. He'd dubbed his stand-up show "Brave New Dad," based on key autobiographical details. Sounds funny to me. Since his early-'80s rise as a member of the Minnesota Comedy All-Stars, Cesario has kept busy. He won a couple of Emmys, starred in comedy specials and co-wrote the comedy "Jack Frost" (maybe that's why he stayed away). He'll be at the rejuvenated Parkway Theater for two shows, gabbing about his daddy duties.

8 p.m. today-Sat. 4814 Chicago Av. S., Mpls.

$20 (two-person love seats are $60).

612-822-3030. www.theparkwaytheater.com

Very few of Norm Macdonald's projects ever took off after his departure from "Saturday Night Live." But if you get his dry, dark humor, you'd probably pay to watch him mutter his way through the phone book. Finally on the stand-up circuit after all these years, Macdonald will be one of the first big names to grace the new stage at Rick Bronson's House of Comedy at the Mall of America.

8 p.m. Thu., 8 and 10:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Mall of America, fourth level. $34.95. 952-854-6228. www.houseofcomedy.net

Halloween parties

Why haven't more bars thought of this? Halloween + vampires = blood drive. The View in Uptown is hosting a pre-Halloween party on Saturday that will benefit Memorial Blood Centers. Participants can give blood during the day at the Calhoun Beach Club and receive a $20 gift card to nearby Sash Salon and a $10 gift card to the View (11 a.m.-3 p.m., call to register: 651-332-7164). Then come back at 9 p.m. for the vampire party, which they're calling ViewBlood (a la "True Blood"). The themed party will feature vampire models styled by Sash. Bring your own fangs.

9 p.m. Sat. 2730 W. Lake St., Mpls. Suggested donation. 612-920-5000. www.viewcalhoun.com

Halloween season also means it's time for the return of BareBones, the giant puppet show that takes place at Hidden Falls park. This year's show, called "Devoured," will provide an extravagant yarn on how different people accept death. It'll feature a 35-piece orchestra and puppets galore. Check out the opening line of the BareBones press release: "Enter a world where Julia Child gives handy tips for embalming and the afterlife." Fun!

7 p.m. Sat.-Sun and 7 p.m. Oct. 30-31.

1305 S. Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul.

$5-$20 suggested. 651-592-7867

www.barebonespuppets.org.

Art parties

Here's an attention-grabber: Non Consensual Post Dada Constructivist Cerebral Warts. That's the name for Ox-Op's four-day art and music festival happening this weekend at the Soo Visual Arts Center. SooVAC's main gallery will feature a retrospective of work by two of the Twin Cities' heavyweight poster-art groups, Aesthetic Apparatus and Burlesque of North America. The side gallery is dedicated to a one-of-a-kind show by HAZE XXL (Tom Hazelmyer of Grumpy's and Amphetamine Reptile Records). The music lineup: Gay Witch Abortion (today), Halo of Flies (Sat.) and the Melvins (Sun.). The catch: The bands will play behind backlit screens, their performances broadcast into the main room through "security-cam vision." Hmm.

6-10 p.m. today-Sun. 2640 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. 612-871-2263. www.soovac.org

It's art to the rescue, on a dark corner of Hennepin Avenue. Thirty-six artists, led by Matthew Bakkom, have taken over the old Shinders magazine shop at 8th Street, transforming it into a makeshift gallery. The show is simply called "Shinders." Bakkom, who currently has an exhibit at the nearby Chambers gallery, teamed up with the hotel's owner, Ralph Burnet, to get this exhibition off the ground.

2-8 p.m. Thu., 2-10 p.m. Fri. and noon-5 p.m. Sat. Ends Oct. 30. Corner of 8th St. and Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. Appointments: 612-767-6824.