Politics and civics grab the headlines this week with caucus after caucus after caucus after caucus after caucus taking place throughout Minnesota on Tuesday. In the realm of literature, Lucie Amundsen talks about all things poultry at her Locally Laid book launch on Wednesday. At the same time, the Walker Art Center’s Internet Cat Video Festival screens at Zinema 2. Chickens or cats, take your pick. If that’s not enough variety, more than 100 robotics teams from across the region compete at the DECC Arena on Saturday.

Two new theater productions open on Thursday. UMD’s Dudley Experimental Theater stages a drama about rhinoceroses taking over a French town, while the Underground presents a comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan that follows a band of immortal fairies.

In the realm of music, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra pays homage to the mythical god Wotan on Saturday, then its three youth orchestras roll out the lollipops on Sunday. The Red Herring Lounge counters those shows with Minneapolis’ Bad Bad Hats on Saturday and 1990’s teen sensation Aaron Carter on Sunday.

This week is a big one for sports enthusiasts. Hermantown faces off against Hibbing-Chisholm on Wednesday for the Section 7A boys hockey title, and Duluth East battles Grand Rapids on Thursday for the Section 7AA championship. The Duluth Climbers Coalition celebrates West Duluth’s newest parcel of parkland — Quarry Park — with three events: the kickoff is at Bent Paddle on Friday, the actual ice climbing is on Saturday at Quarry Park, and evening programs at Clyde Iron Works wrap it all up. Also on Saturday are the Tour du Luth cross-country ski event and the Harbor City Roller Dames Winter Wonder Jam Double Header.

In the realm of music, the Dotys perform a Matinee Musicale concert at the Depot on Tuesday, Bill Staines plays his annual Amazing Grace show on Friday, Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls play the Grand Minnesota Taste-Together in Hinckley on Saturday, and that show’s opener, 16-year-old singer Madi Davis, performs at Mitchell Auditorium on Sunday.

There are also numerous literary events this week, and a slew of seminars about everything from the textile community in Telemark, Norway, to the Northern Lights Express.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Duluth MakerSpace is holding a class on glass-etching, the Duluth Public Library is screening the kids’ film Inside Out, members of the public can get their antiques appraised at the Depot, the director of the cult film Microwave Massacre comes to town to talk about stuttering and the Duluth Playhouse opens the Neil Simon play Broadway Bound.

The Clean Water Gala 2016 is raising funds at Clyde Iron Works, the St. Scholastica theater department is putting on the bass-fishing-concerned Zara Spook and Other Lures, there’s free pleasure-skating at the Heritage Center, Beaner’s Central celebrates the release of its latest compilation album with three concerts and a long-running musical about Buddy Holly lands at the DECC.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Sample some chocolate from local chefs at Arc Northland’s Chocolate After Dark fundraiser, the Zinema is showing The Magic Flute live from Austria, folks can make bowls for the Empty Bowl fundraiser at the Duluth Art Institute, the Head of the Lakes Spring Job and Internship Fair is at UWS, there’s an adult Valentine-making party at Studio 15, Burrito Union is doing Rock and Roll Bingo and Renegade Theater Company opens The Rocket Man at Teatro Zuccone.

Music legend Buckwheat Zydeco performs at the Red Herring, the Minnesota Ballet holds its 10th annual Celebrity Dance Challenge, UMD is the place to learn about the female orgasm, Superior Public Library loves local artists, Dubh Linn is pairing Valentine’s Day with dinner and comedy and the latest Zenith City Cabaret show is at the Zeitgeist.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

There’s a community forum on racism at the Superior Public Library, newbies to clay can make bowls for Empty Bowl 2016, Harbor City International School becomes a German village, the DAI is teaching the fundamentals of watercolor, folks can make their own wine goblets at Lake Superior Art Glass and Twin Cities-spawned jazz masters The Bad Plus land at the Red Herring.

The Duluth Transportation Center has its grand opening, Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well opens at Marshall Performing Arts Center, Minnesota buzz band Hippo Campus plays Clyde Iron, Cloud Cult travels to Papa Charlie’s for a gig, it’s Hockey Day in Minnesota and local band Space Carpet hooks up with the DSSO for some Amore! at the DECC

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders comes to town, Fairlawn Mansion is holding a garden talk, UMD is having a night for nerds, the Holocaust is remembered, the musical The Last Five Years is up at The Underground and the Red Herring is the place for post-rock from Portrait of a Drowned Man and guests.

Gndwire Records is throwing a party at Lutsen, Fitger’s raises money for Animal Allies, the 1959 Winter Dance Party gets an update, people can make and race art sleds for Northwood Children’s Services, there’s a skating party at the DECC, the Nordic Spirit Ski Race is on at Spirit Mountain and the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon has its 32nd running.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find in this week’s PDD Calendar:

Martin Luther King Day is celebrated with a community breakfast and a march to the DECC, local photogs talk shop, the WorkForce Center Job Fair gets underway, the DSSO is having an After Hours event at Black Water Lounge and there’s a public meeting to talk Lake Superior Zoo and Fairmont Park.

The public is invited to find out how much their antiques are worth, TED Talk-ers are talkin’ at the Teatro, the Duluth Art Institute is holding their 2016 Membership Exhibition, there’s a mini-Homegrown going down on Friday, Mike Mictlan is rapping at the Red Herring and it’s pond hockey all weekend in Superior.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

The 38th Atmore Memorial Ski Race is happening at Spirit Mountain, Dance Attic is at Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen, the Northern Lights Foundation raises money by asking for More Cowbell, the All Black Zine is having a release show at Prove Gallery and a bunch of noisy rock bands are playing to benefit a future festival.

The Duluth Playhouse Children’s Theatre brings James and his giant peach to the stage, Loose Cannons are still loose after all these years, Bayfront Park is the place for fire, hot chocolate and skating, it’s art for and by musicians at Studio 15, rapper Dem Atlas slings the verses at the Red Herring and Guerilla Girls bring their gorilla-masked selves to town.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Mayor-elect Emily Larson becomes Mayor Emily Larson, DJ Walt Dizzo defends his taste in film, Charlie Parr begins his Red Herring residency, Duluth Yoga officially opens its doors and the art of Andrew John Swanson is exhibited.

The Lake Effect Music and Ski Festival goes down at Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen, the multimedia event Cellar Door happens at the Red Herring, Bayfront Park is the place for hot chocolate and a bonfire, the 28th annual Duluth Wedding Show is at the DECC, Floyd J. Phillips brings the funny to Dubh Linn and Crankshaft joins Mary Bue and Vivielle for a gig.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find in this week’s PDD Calendar:

Learn why resolutions don’t work at Tycoons, bring the kids to see the Monkey Mind Pirates, Marc Gartman plays his Ween, the DSSO tackles Sinatra, Beaner’s Central throws a daylong New Year’s bash and the Red Herring has bands and DJs.

Zeitgeist Arts is throwing a laid-back New Year’s party, the Barrel Room has DJs, masked revelers converge on Barker’s Island, pianos are set to duel at Dubh Linn, Superior Ballroom Dance Studio holds a dance-floor party and the first day of 2016 is marked with a nine-location hike.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Spend Monday with Mayor Don Ness while you still can, Classic Christmas specials make it to the big screen, get a look at Fairlawn Mansion’s holiday decorations, the Red Herring throws a holiday bash and Yoga North is offering candlelight yoga.

Park downtown for free on Christmas Day proper, Ellipsis marks two years in operation with a three-band bill co-hosted by Don Ness, there’s stand-up comedy at Dubh Linn, Glensheen Mansion offers its Christmas tour even after Christmas, folkies ring out the holiday and the DECC holds a skating party.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

It’s the week before Christmas, so there’s plenty of holiday-themed stuff mixed in with the usual madness. Nerds somehow find time to talk about something other than Star Wars, singing along with the orchestra is encouraged, Don Ness drops the mic with a big ole bash, kids can skate with Santa and Rudolph, TED at Teatro brings the braininess, Poor old George Bailey fights the forces of heartlessness and greed and the Rose Ensemble plays Sacred Heart Music Center.

Sara Thomsen and pals play a winter concert, Duluth’s holiday-themed escape room still needs escaping, Monster Mob releases an album, Rachael Kilgour throws a holiday shindig, Glensheen lets visitors run wild(-ish) and Jim Hall shows ’em how it’s done.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Amber Burns has an art show at the Zeitgeist building, there’s help available for people wanting more info on MNsure, UWS holds its 18th annual Choral Concert, Fairlawn Mansion is a-twinklin’, Zenith City Cabaret puts on its December show and Santa is making a stop at Mr. D’s.

Krayzie Bone from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (not that other Krayzie Bone you’re thinking of) is playing the Red Herring, there’s a Men as Peacemakers fundraiser featuring several performers, Warm Up to the Brews 2015 is going down (also with bands attached), fans of ice fishing, snowmobiles and holidays should make some time to hit the DECC, the Minnesota Ballet is crackin’ nuts, Rubber Chicken Theater makes with the local holiday yuk-yuks, guitarist Lonnie Knight is in town and the Fractals play a holiday fundraiser for kids.