Wednesday, Aug. 15

MISS HICK CHICK USA FINALS
Lowdown: A swimsuit competition? That's so 1997. To win a pageant title these days, chicks must excel at watermelon seed spitting, pie eating and line dancing. Hey, it's progress. Sort of. Cowboy Troy — the hick-hop musician — judges the finals of this pageant tonight.
When: Doors at 6 p.m.
Where: Graham Central Station, 4902 Fredericksburg Road
How much: $5 men 21 and up; $12 men 18-20; free for chicks (hick or otherwise)
Info: (210) 979-9313 or grahamcentralstation sanantonio.com

‘SNAPSHOT' SIGNING
Lowdown: Twenty-something quits job, leaves skanky fiancée and hits the road, searching for the meaning of life. Sound like you? It's not. It's a book plot. Want to read it? Pick up a signed copy when author Ryan O'Reilly signs copies of “Snapshot” in San Antonio.
When: 5 p.m.
Where: The Twig Bookstore, 5005 Broadway
How much: Free
Info: (210) 826-6411 or thetwig.com

Thursday, Aug. 16

THE TRAVIS MITCHELL BAND
Lowdown: Rockin' Texas country boys the Travis Mitchell Band perform selections from their upcoming album Forget What's Wrong and give you a reason to get out and dance.
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Rolling Oaks Sports Bar, 5550 Mountain Vista Dr.
How much: Free with canned-food donation; $3 without
Info: rollingoaksgolf.com/ sportsbarngrill/
index.php

WINE-TASTING
Lowdown: Sip some chardonnay and quaff some cabernet while listening to live music. Italian wines by Enotria are on the menu this month, while Three Guys Walking provides the soundtrack.
When: 7 p.m.
Where: The Cove, 606 W. Cypress
How much: No cover; $10 to taste. Reservations are requested, but not necessary.
Info: (210) 227-COVE (2683) or thecove.us

CONCERT UNDER THE STARS
Lowdown: The Second Nature Band, with its mix of Motown, funk and jazz, concludes this year's Concerts Under the Stars series. Bring a lawn chair — and some bug spray — and enjoy the fact that it's not raining.
When: 7 p.m.
Where: The Botanical Garden, 555 Funston
How much: $5
Info: sabot.org. To reserve a boxed dinner, call (210) 739-5280.

Friday, Aug. 17

FREESTYLE BOMB TOUR
Lowdown: Awwww, yeeeeaaaah, you remember these guys: Debbie Deb. Cover Girl. Trinere. The pioneers of freestyle music are still going strong (Debbie Deb, for instance, is a hairstylist in Pennsylvania: “Get your hair done by a legend!” her Web site says)! Drag out those '80s leggings and big shirts and stock up on the Aquanet, 'cause you know you're gonna want to bust a move.
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Municipal Auditorium, 100 Auditorium Circle
How much: $35-$85
Info: (210) 224-9600 or ticketmaster.com

PARTY ON THE PLAZA
Lowdown: Celebrate in the shadow of the San Antonio skyline. Live music by Stefani Montiel & LUSH sets the tone this week, as locals reclaim downtown for a night.
When: 7 p.m.-midnight
Where: Tower of the Americas Plaza, 600 HemisFair Plaza Way
How much: Free
Info: (210) 223-3101 or toweroftheamericas.com

SAY SÍ SUMMER MOVIE
Lowdown: Relive those high school glory days (if you can call them that) at the screening of this truly independent film. The 30-minute digital video “Doldrums,” made by the media arts students at Say Sí, recounts one young man's coming of age.
When: 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Where: SAY Sí Central, 1518 S. Alamo St.
How much: Free, but donations accepted
Info: (210) 212-8666 saysi.org

Saturday, Aug. 18

FLAMENCO
Lowdown: Local musicians Jackie and Alex turn up the heat with some fiery flamenco sounds.
When: 8:30 p.m.
Where: Carmens de la Calle, 720 E. Mistletoe
How much: $10
Info: (210) 737-8272 or carmensdelacalle.com

BEAD MARKET
Lowdown: Channel your inner hippie and bead up. Admire intricately crafted beads and jewelry at the San Antonio Bead Market. It's the perfect spot to find your next tongue-piercing bauble.
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 18; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 19
Where: Live Oak Civic Center, 8101 Pat Booker Road
How much: Free admission
Info: thebeadmarket.net

Sunday, Aug. 19

‘GIRLS NEXT DOOR'
Lowdown: The girls are back! Holly, Bridget and Kendra keep us — and Hugh Hefner — entertained (in very different ways, of course) in this reality soap opera about the Playboy Mansion.
When: 9 p.m.
Where: E!
Info: eonline.com/on/shows/girlsnextdoor/index.jsp

ALAMO CITY ROLLERGIRLS
Lowdown: The Prim Reapers and Missyfits take to the rink in this, the final match before the Rollergirls' championship bout on Sept. 23. And to lure in the fair-weather fan, beer is for sale.
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Rollercade, 223 Recoleta
How much: $10-$12; kids 10 and under free
Info: alamocityrollergirls.com

Monday, Aug. 20

SAC STUDENT SHOW
Lowdown: Get back to school! Not really. But ease your way back to the fall semester by checking out the San Antonio College Visual Arts & Technology Department Annual Juried Student Show, which showcases the best student work.
When: Hours vary, so call for information. The exhibit continues through Sept. 7.
Where: Visual Arts & Technology Center Gallery, 950 Lewis at Dewey Street
How much: Free
Info: (210) 733-2902 or accd.edu/sac/vat

Tuesday, Aug. 21

‘CHINATOWN'
Lowdown: They don't make movies like this anymore — corruption, evil millionaires, incest and Jack Nicholson before he was “Jack Nicholson”. Check out this classic film noir tribute, running in the theater as part of Texas Public Radio's Cinema Tuesday series.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Bijou at Crossroads Theatre, 4522 Fredericksburg Road
How much: $12 general admission; $10 for TPR members.
Info: (210) 614-8977 or tpr.org/articles/cinema.html. Reservations encouraged.

‘PERFECT STRANGER'
Lowdown: Bruce Willis and Halle Berry star in this thriller that the critics panned as not so thrilling. But now that it's out on DVD, we vote you rent it and play a drinking game: one tequila shot each time you catch Bruce or Halle completely mailing it in for the paycheck.
When: Buy it when your local retailer opens.
How much: $10-$30
Info: sonypictures.com/movies/perfectstranger/index.html