From Lenny Bruce through Lewis Black, politically minded comics tend to be firebrands. Costaki Economopoulos -- the self-dubbed "biggest name in comedy" -- is an even-keeled exception. The 41-year-old standup has been at it since the mid-'90s, taking to comedy shortly after earning a master's degree. Since then, he's playfully prodded the follies of American politics via his casual brand of satire. Best known for his weekly "Economonologue" segment on the nationally syndicated "Tom & Bob" radio show, Economopoulos has also built a solid writing résumé that includes BET, MTV and Fox Sports. More event details.

For it's long-running Queer Boys Night, Patrick's Cabaret is upping the shock factor with a provocative mix of performers, dancers, filmmakers and photographers. Taking on curatorial duties is multi-disciplinary artist Jaime Carrera, known for his signature mix of shock and provocation. Among the luminaries he's gathered are photographer Benjamin Fredrickson, who will show a never-before-seen video from his sex Polaroid series. The poster for the show (designed by Carrera) also features the Hindu swastika, a symbol of prosperity. The provocative nature of the image is telling of the confrontational new show, which will also showcase the work of performance artists Tim Carroll (frontman of shock-rock band Faggot) and Ben Egerman, dancers Kats D. Fukasawa and Dustin Maxwell, and filmmaker Tyler Jensen. John Waters would be proud. More event details.