Speak Your Mind
It’s laudable to stand up for what you believe in, but the folks at Planned Parenthood of Burlington recognize that lots of activities potentially hold more fun than legislative letters and pro-choice rallies. The nonprofit offers options to engage thinkers of both genders in a citywide series of April events. This week, supporters of women’s health care, education and advocacy convene at a spoken performance poetry contest run by “slam master” Geof Hewitt. On deck: Parents hear how to nurture sexually healthy kids at a supportive workshop, a free pizza dinner at the Echo Center underscores education efforts, and a cocktail party kicks off “Our Right to Shoes,” a footwear-and-accessory auction at the Hilton on the 19th.

Slam Poetry Contest, Wednesday, April 9, Waterfront Theatre, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, workshop 6-6:45 p.m., poetry slam 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 800-287-8188.
www.ppne.org
www.ourrighttoshoes.blogspot.com

Piano Mojo
Fans of the Buena Vista Social Club and Caribbean jazz in general know that Cuba turns out gifted pianists. Jazz composer Omar Sosa is one of them, but unlike many of his island-bound compatriots, he’s had a career trajectory including stints in Angola, the Congo, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and San Francisco. With his Afreecanos Quartet, Sosa combines Havana-style clave with the music of the African diaspora, in a liberating fusion that broadens the borders of both world music and Afro-Cuban jazz. European symphonic repertoire, hip-hop and gospel elements meld with traditional sounds from Senegal in a concert that also features drums, bass, vocals, m’bira and other African percussion instruments.

Omar Sosa Afreecanos Quartet, Friday, April 4, Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 8 p.m. $28. Info, 603-646-2422.
www.omarsosa.com
www.hop.dartmouth.edu

Lamental Anguish
When it comes to legendary lovers involved in full-blown, messy affairs, Dido and Aeneas give Antony and Cleopatra a run for their money. The romantic portion of Virgil’s epic Aeneid features a hunky Trojan refugee who falls for the queen of Carthage, only to leave her to die lovesick so he can found Rome. The heartbreaking story has inspired plays and numerous paintings (seen here: Pierre-Narcisse Guérin’s depiction of the duo). It also prompted Henry Purcell to write the first English opera, circa 1689. Soprano Shyla Nelson and three other soloists vocalize the hour-long work in a Baroque concert featuring the Oriana Singers, period strings, and five dancers. Also on the program? Two symphony anthems by Purcell, one of which was performed at the coronation of King James II.

‘The Sad Tale of Dido & Aeneas’, Saturday, April 5, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Burlington, pre-concert talk 7 p.m., concert 8 p.m. $15-17. Info, 864-0471. www.cathedralarts.org

Square Roots
Single-minded devotees of brainy pursuits may still be called “geeks,” but in the Information Age, they’ve reclaimed the insult as a term of endearment. Celebrants at Langdon Street Café’s “Geek Week” pay tribute to oddball hobbies once confined to basement rumpus rooms. Joystick jostlers power up at a Ms. Pac-Man tournament, learn to design their own video games, or ditch controls for trenchcoats in a live-action, city-wide bout of Spy vs. Spy. Cereal-and-cartoon consumption precede a robot round-up and FreeRide’s “velocipediac” bike wash. Yearning for learning? Geeks-in-training can test their ’80s trivia skills, sample workshops ranging from quantum theory to “ethical hacking,” and take in nightly live music. Download the full schedule, or just stop by. You won’t be the only one.

Geek Week, Tuesday through Tuesday, April 8-15, Langdon Street Café, Montpelier, see calendar listings for various times. Donations. Info, 223-8667.
www.langdonstreetcafe.com