Lots to do (and that's no joke)

The April Fools' Day jokes never get old - to some people.

This isn't a joke, but you might have to say this to someone today: "You're definitely a fool if you think there's nothing going on in Columbia."

For example, here's what's going on today:

ANN BRODIE'S CAROLINA BALLET

Ann Brodie's Carolina Ballet will present a Shakespearean trilogy at the Koger Center, 1051 Greene St. On the program: "Hamlet: Lamentations," "Othello: Passion Revenged" and the one-act ballet "Romeo & Juliet."

The truncated versions of "Hamlet" and "Othello," called divertissements, will focus on specifics of the well-known Shakespeare heroes.

There are two performances, 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $6 for the morning show and $10 to $25 for the evening show. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.capitoltickets.com or by calling (803) 251-2222. For more information, call the Columbia Music Festival Association, which is presenting the performance, cat (803) 771-6303.

ART FOR TOBY

"Art for Toby" is a fundraiser for the family of Toby Morriss, the USC photography professor who died Feb. 28 from a Feb. 21 hit-and-run motorcycle accident. The event will have artwork donated by local artists, as well as USC students and faculty. The fundraiser starts at 5 today City Art is at 1224 Lincoln St. (803) 252-3613

WORLD FAIR

Aaron & Grant 2010, the city government campaign of Aaron Johnson and Grant Robertson, is hosting "Columbia World's Fair, Capital of Tomorrow" at 701 Whaley at 8 p.m. Guests are asked to come to the arts event in a futuristic costume. Artists featured include: Thomas Crouch, Michele Hardman, Mike Bagwell, Thomas Hammond, Liz Skelly, Matthew John, Neil Scott, Rachel Thomason, Chris Truett, Peter Tarpley, Woodie Wentworth, Hunter Desportes, Xmo and others. DJs will spin music, and best-costume prizes will be awarded. And there will be a photo booth. 701 Whaley is at 701 Whaley St.

Anastasia & Friends

Anastasia Chernoff, who runs anastasia & FRIENDS, the new gallery in the foyer of the Free Times' Main Street office space, will open "the funny show" featuring her work and the work of her friends, including Michael Krajewski, Billy Guess, Woodie Wentworth and Mallane Stanbury.

For this event, Chernoff is partnering with Frame of Mind and the White Mule (see below), as well as ThinkColumbiaSC, which will provide outdoor entertainment. The foolishness begins at 6 p.m.

FRAME OF MIND

FOM Series #4 will feature the work of Cedric Umoja, a painter with a street mentality. Umoja, who has painted live at events, including "What's Love Fest 2010," uses various paints - house, water, acrylic - and canvases. Among other interests, this show will reflect his modern take on graffiti, a discipline Umoja will also display at the Columbia Museum of Art later this month. Frame of Mind is at 1520 Main St. (803) 988-1065

The White Mule

Justice Littlejohn and Michael Krajewski will show their collaborations and some of their solo work. The White Mule is at 1530 D Main St. (803) 661-8199

AFTER 5

Vista or Five Points?

Hawaiian shirts and khakis or T-shirts and jeans?

Both the Vista After 5 and Five After concert Series, in the Vista and Five Points, respectively, kick off tonight and the last question of this piece is which one are you heading to?

Here are your options:

Vista After 5, which will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays through June 17 at Jillian's, 800 Gervais St., is more for the shagging crowd, the kind of folks who want to dance as much as drink. The free series will benefit Harvest Hope Food Bank. For more information, call 957-7744, ext. 2, or visit http://www.vistaafter5.com.

The lineup: Tonight, The Embers; April 8, Fantastic Shakers; April 15, Finesse Band; April 22, Band of Oz; April 29, Too Much Sylvia; May 6, Men of Distinction; May 13, Fantasy Band; May 20, Fabulous Kays; May 27, The Entertainers; June 3, Fresh Air; June 10, Root Doctors; June 17, The Legends Of Beach

The Five after Five series is like a weekly mini-St. Pat's in Five Points festival. Held from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays through May 27 at the Five Points fountain, the shows always have people dancing in the street.

The lineup: Today, Lefty at the Washout and Casual Kings; April 8, Coolie G, Joal Rush & the Wares and Remedy; April 15, Capital City Playboys and Shallow Palace; April 22, American Gun and The Daylight Hours; April 29, Abbey Road Live; May 6, Hot Lava Monster and Sunshone Still; May 13, John Wesley Satterfield and Dave Britt Band; May 20, Zach Fowler & The Essentials and Tropic of Cancer Band; and May 27, Villanova and The Plain Field Project.