what's up the pike: art 'n' soul 'n' ice cream

- The Art 'N' Soul Open Mic returns to Moorenko's Ice Cream Cafe tonight. Middle- and high-school students who write, play music, or produce other kinds of performable art, are invited to show their stuff at the event, which takes place on the first Friday of each month. Sign-up starts at 7pm at Moorenko's, 8030 Georgia Avenue near East-West Highway. They aren't organizing the event, but you can check out Art 'N' Soul's website or shoot an e-mail to info at artnsoulopenmic dot org.

- This is the last weekend for Kensington Arts Theatre's production of Rent, closing this Sunday at the Kensington Town Hall, 3710 Mitchell Street. Check out JUTP's review of the rock opera, and then hit up KAT's website for tickets and details.

- Meanwhile, Forum Theatre's Amazons and Their Men, "loosely based" on the life of German propagandist Leni Riefenstahl, is at the Round House Theatre in Downtown Silver Spring through March 20.

- Also on Saturday: if you (like me) occasionally go swing dancing at Glen Echo Park, save your gas: Einstein High holds its annual Community Swing Dance, featuring the school's jazz band and "on-the-spot" lessons by local dance competitors. "Everyone is . . . invited to lindy, boogie woogie, jitterbug, fox trot and shuffle off to Buffalo," reads an invitation. (The Charleston is presumably forbidden.)

The dance starts at 7pm at Einstein, 11135 Newport Mill Road, Kensington. Tickets can be bought at the door for $15 and benefit the school's arts program. For more info, call 301/929-4495.

And, just coming in from the wires:

- Silver Spring International Middle School's holding an Arts Night and Silent Auction to fund their spring artist residencies, which include the Shakespeare Theatre Company, an Art Club sponsored by Pyramid Atlantic, and murals to be placed throughout the school. You'll get to meet the artists, enjoy arts and crafts, and of course bid on items in the auction. The event starts at 6:30pm at the school, located at 313 Wayne Avenue at Dale Drive.

- The Bach Sinfonia, a group that performs early classical music, will perform several Bach works, including "Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn" ("Lord, do not depart until I am blessed"), which until recently was attributed to the composer's great-uncle. The show starts at 8pm tomorrow night at the new Montgomery College Performing Arts Center, 7995 Georgia Avenue at Burlington. For more info, check out Bach Sinfonia's website.