Add some culture to your weekend

If you'd rather attend a raucous party, get yourself over to Ri Ra from 5:30-8:30 pm for the 250th anniversary of Guinness. Your Official Guinness Ambassadors for the evening will be Jill Dube and Jenn Menendez and though you'll have to pay for your pints, there's likely to be specials. Share your love of the favorite Irish brew and keep a lookout for the 250 Anniversary Stout Guinness is launching to mark the event.

Or you can forgo the fun and beverages and get involved in a serious cause on your Friday evening. Take Back the Night starts at 6 pm at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church (425 Congress St.). There will be a rally, a march around downtown Portland and a speakout back at the church, followed by some entertainment. It's all in support of standing up against sexual violence and it's all free.

Saturday's a good day to get some culture, and that's always easy to do at the June Fitzpatrick Galley at Maine College of Art. Currently up is the 10x10 show, featuring works by 10 Maine artists. Each is showing 10 works, hence the title of the show. The gallery's open from 10 am-2 pm today and it's free to admire the works.

Culture also includes getting some green in your life. If you're looking for some greenery to to add to your house or yard, hit up the Plant Sale at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland. Take your pick of the reasonably priced selections from 9 am-noon.

And who doesn't like a little wine with their culture? You can get some for free at the Scarborough Kitchen and Cork's tasting today from 3-7 pm.

You've got to get up and around early on Sunday too because the annual Great Maine Bike Swap is happening at USM's Sullivan Gym in Portland from 10 am-2 pm. It costs $5 to get in, and you'll probably have to wait in line for a while, but you can take part in mini workshops, check out the booths set up by local bike shops and do some test riding. Best of all, you'll be supporting the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's education and safety programs.

Might as well continue the outdoorsy theme after your bike experience and head up to Freeport to watch the ospreys return to Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park. A special osprey watch event is planned for 2 pm on Sunday. Meet at the benches by the second parking lot (weather permitting) for your chance to see these beautiful birds in their nest on Googins Island.

And finally this weekend, I didn't send you out Saturday night because you need to be fresh and wide-eyed tonight for the 8 pm series finale between the Red Sox and Yankees on EPSN. Put on your Boston cap and get yourself to The Stadium or Rivalries or Port City Sports Bar - anywhere you can have a couple brews and watch the game. And boo extra loud when Jeter's up.