If you’re not going to the Long Beach Grand Prix (fun!) or the Grilled Cheese Invitational (yum!) this weekend, maybe a pole dancing demo, mixology class or a comedy show where your iPod is the joke will tickle your fancy.

Friday, April 18

SusieCakes Celebrates National Animal Crackers Day
Remember animal crackers? I used to love carrying those animal crackers boxes around like a little purse when I was a kid…OK, I was 27. SusieCakes will be selling its own frosted version of the animal cookies and will donate 50% of all proceeds made on cookie sales to the Humane Society of the United States.

• SusieCakes Brentwood, 11708 San Vicente Boulevard, Brentwood (map) (310) 442-CAKE and SusieCakes Calabasas, 23653 Calabasas Road, Calabasas (818) 591-2223 (map).

For Girls Only: Buy a Book, Get a Free Pole Dancing S Factor Lesson
Megan Crane’s booksigning for her book Names My Sisters Call Me ain’t your typical book event. This one has pole dance demos. Sorry, guys, women only. And, girls, when you buy a copy of Megan’s book, you get a free intro S Factor session (normally $40)! There will also be food and refreshments. Also, first 10 people get a free autographed book and the S Factor T-shirt. RSVP at labookclub [at] sfactor.com.

• 6:30pm. Free. S Factor LA Studio, 5225 Wilshire Boulevard #22, Mid-Wilshire (map). (323) 965-9685.

Mixology 101 at the Wine House
Sick of not getting a heavy enough pour on the cocktails you order? Do it your own damn self at Wine House’s mixology class. Get schooled in pre-Prohibition cocktails and vintage libations. But word to the wise: bring a designated driver. Trust me.

• 7:30pm. $55. The Wine House, 2311 Cotner Avenue, West L.A. (map) For reservations, call (310) 479-3731 ext. 0.

Soundtrack: Is Your iPod Hilarious?
This Upright Citizen Brigade show takes the popular “Bring Your Own iPod” nights to a whole other level. Why share your extensive Celine Dion collection with just a bar full of people? Go for it with a whole theater. Bring your CDs, iPods and MP3 players and watch/listen for the hilarity to ensue. Comedy folks from The Office, Superbad and Mad TV, to name a few, will be on hand to make fun of your musical tastes.

• 10pm. $8. UCB Theatre, 5919 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles (map). (323) 908-8702.

Saturday, April 19

Tamales and Wine Tasting at Mama’s Hot Tamales Cafe
At this speecy spicy event, Latin-American wines are paired with Mama’s famous hand-made tamales. Mmmm, tamales. Enjoy the different flavors from several Latin American countries.

• 6-9pm. $20/person or $30/couple. Mama’s Hot Tamales, 2122 W. 7th St., Los Angeles (map). (213) 487-7474.

Whole Life Times’ LA Green Drinks Earth Night
The perfect way to celebrate Earth Day early: green drinks on a roof top on a hopefully warm evening. Whole Life Times presents an Earth Night rendition of the popular weekly LA Green Drinks. Enjoy organic wine, beer and food. Green LA Girl, Siel, will hold an environmentally focused Q&A followed by Green LA director Jonathon Parfrey and other speakers. Acoustic music and then DJ’d tunes round up the evening. Earth Night proceeds go to Green L.A. and your choice of environmental groups that you select at the door. RSVP at lagreendrinks [at] gmail.com.

• 7pm-12am. $10 suggested donation. Whole Life Times, 1200 South Hope Street, Suite 300, Downtown (map).