Working for the 3-day weekend

Monday's as good a night as any to check out a happy hour and there's plenty around town to try. Flask Lounge offers up $2 Bud and Bud Light so you can have a couple, watch some Wii and still be under budget. At Ri Ra tonight you can celebrate Yank Night (not the New York kind) with half-priced wings from 7-9 pm and Sam Light bottles for $3.25. At The Slice Bar you can get a free slice of pizza when you buy two drinks and I hear the PBRs are just $2 on special. And with 52 taps, there's always something on special at The Great Lost Bear, where it's short beer night.

Got a pet? Maybe you'd like to know what he's really thinking when he gives you that "whuddup fool" look. Check out the free event, "What Your Dog is Telling You," from 6:30-8 pm at SoPo Community Center. It's led by pro dog trainer Elsa Larsen and she'd like you to RSVP at southportlanddog@yahoo.com. Open the doors of communication - your pup will appreciate it.

Tuesday means an opportunity to network with the folks from the DownEast Pride Alliance. This month's event has been moved up to accommodate the Memorial Day holiday week and it's being hosted by Utopia Designs on Fore Street. Take part in the cocktails and conversation from 5:30-7:30 pm. It's all free.

If you'd rather listen to music than converse, remember that its Jazz Series night at One Longfellow Square. The tunes from the Portland Jazz Orchesra start at 8 pm and the admission fee is just $5.

And over at Maine Historical Society, PACA's hosting one of its Creative Conversations. Tonight's free program is The Creative Economy: Then and Now and it's moderated by Jessica Tomlinson of MECA. Take part in the conversation or just listen and learn starting at 5:30 pm.

I'm only giving you one option for Wednesday because if you're going out in Portland you really should be attending the IndieBiz Awards Night Gala at Empire. The event runs from 6-9 pm and the best of the best in categories like "Flavor of Portland," "Soul of Portland" and "Environmental Hero" will be grabbing their honors in front of a cheering crowd. Be there to support local business without needing to spend any money. There will be music and food and plenty of social time during the free evening. Really, why would you want to be anywhere else?

The writers have it on Thursday with two interesting Portland events to choose from. At Longfellow Books at Monument Square, Joel Berg will be discussing and signing his book, "All You Can Eat: How Hungry is America?" at 7 pm. Colin Sargent's a local author who is molding young minds as an instructor at Salt. He's giving a free talk about his latest book "The Museum of Human Beings" at Maine Historical Society on Congress Street from 7-9 pm.

If you rather listen to music than talk, Brooke Brown Saracino, a musician who cites Ani DiFranco as an influence, is making her Blue debut at 8 pm. Tix are a mere $5.

And if you just have to have a laugh to get through the rest of the week, head over to Slainte for open mic comedy with Brian Brinegar at 8 pm. The show's free, which will leave you some dough for those beers you need.

Good news and bad news for the upcoming weekend: I'm on vacation (good news for me) so you're on your own for your three-day holiday plans (how ever will you survive without me?). But I will leave you with this must-do for Saturday the 23rd - Tower of Song. If you haven't heard about it yet, it's music from the rooftop - literally. From noon 'til 8 pm nine of Portland's favorite bands - Anna's Ghost Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Samuel James, Dilly Dilly & Santiago - will be belting out the tunes from the top floor of the Schwartz Building overlooking Congress Square. Hang out in the park or on the street, wherever you can best sway to the music. And check out the arts fair going on in the square.