By: Joe Kleinschmidt

STUFF TO DO

THURSDAY:

Beyoncé

She put on one of the most memorable Super Bowl halftime shows in recent years and hasn’t slowed down. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is set to release her fifth studio album this year and recently lent her vocals to a track on Jay-Z’s “Magna Carta Holy Grail.” She’s a pop cultural force with over 75 million albums sold worldwide. Expect extravagance and her best singles from the former Destiny’s Child star at a packed Xcel Center show. For this leg of “The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour,” get down to “Single Ladies” and “Crazy in Love” while she’s here — this is the first time Bey has stopped in the Cities since 2009’s “I Am… World Tour.”

Where: Xcel Energy Center

When: 8 p.m.

Cost: $47–$252

FRIDAY:

Sixth Annual Middle Eastern Festival

For a weekend of tabbouleh, falafel, hummus and baklava, stop by the Sixth Annual Middle Eastern Festival to gorge to your stomach’s content on these fine homemade staples. The festivities will have plenty of beer to wash down the gyros, not to mention camel rides and giant inflatables. The family affair also features live entertainment from the John Khoury band and a performance of the traditional Dabke dance.

Where: St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1250 Oakdale Ave., West St. Paul

When: Noon–10 p.m.

Cost: Free

SATURDAY:

Summer Beer Dabbler

With over 200 brews to sample, the beer festival makes the trip to St. Paul worth the hassle —        65 different breweries will offer plenty of microbrews and craft beers. If that means little to your Pabst Blue Ribbon-influenced palate, the Summer Beer Dabbler will also feature live music from local bands The Cactus Blossoms, Crimes and Strange Names. If you want to become hip with the home-brew crowd, the day’s event also gives you a chance to get educated in all things related to the fermented beverage.

Where: Upper Landing Park, St. Paul

When: 1–5 p.m.

Cost: $35, $45 at the door

Age: 21+

CULTURE TO CONSUME

LISTEN TO THIS:

“Stills” by Gauntlet Hair

This avant-garde noise pop group’s first album was recorded at lead singer Andy Rauworth’s grandmother’s house. The critically lauded, self-titled debut packed a blistering punch in the same vein as contemporaries No Age, even if production suffered from being tied to the basement. Now they’ve left Rauworth’s grandmother’s place for a studio for “Stills,” the Denver group’s sophomore release. If the single “Human Nature” offers a preview of the entire album, Guantlet Hair still offers a bleeding wave of electronica and reverb, a more pop-focused My Bloody Valentine.

WATCH THIS:

“The Chris Gethard Show”

Wednesday, 10 p.m. at thechrisgethardshow.com

Public access television might not usually make for the most compelling entertainment, but “The Chris Gethard Show” proves that the format allows for unbridled creativity. In the era of stale late-night hosts, the nervous and bespectacled Gethard reigns as a king of spontaneous TV. One hour of the New York-based show featured the cast giving haircuts to willing members of the audience. Amy Poehler and Zach Galifianakis have even stopped by the show. Stream the 100th episode of the Manhattan Neighborhood Network cult favorite tonight via the show’s website.

READ THIS:

“Love and Rockets” by Los Bros Hernandez

Since the 1980s, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez have redefined the movement of modern literary comics. Within “Palomar,” a fictional Central American town, Los Bros explore the lives of inhabitants with the intricacy of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The comics use a magical realism similar to the novelist as well, using stark black and white illustrations to follow its many characters. Start reading the entire “Love and Rockets” canon with “Palomar” or “Locas.” The latter series follows teens active in the early California punk scene, if that sounds more up your alley, but both of these collections are accessible and visually engaging for an entertaining beach read.