This weekend in Kansas City: Kansas City Film Noir Festival, Cedric the Entertainer and Craig Ferguson

Holiday Chick Event

Designed to appeal to “Etsy-loving, Pinterest-obsessed, DIY wanna-bees,” the Holiday Chick Event is a pop-up marketplace specializing in “handmade and vintage” goods. More than 65 locally based vendors will showcase their wares for four days in Leawood. Among the participating businesses are Julie Reed, a graphic and surface designer who was recently recognized by Martha Stewart’s site; Sandlot Goods, a clothing and accessory business known for its unique leather products; and letterpress studio Ruff House Art. ReBel, an organization dedicated to improving the body images of young women, is a partner of the Holiday Chick Event.

10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16. Town Center Plaza. 913-961-1200. chickevents.com. $5. V.I.P. packages are $20.

Cedric the Entertainer

In an eclectic career with credits ranging from hosting a television game show to an appearance at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner, Cedric the Entertainer has made all kinds of people laugh in all sorts of settings. Even so, his most memorable role might be the cantankerous Eddie in the 2002 comedy “Barbershop.” The character allowed the man born as Cedric Antonio Kyles in 1964 in Jefferson City to demonstrate his superlative comic timing. (He’s also in Chris Rock’s upcoming movie “Top Five,” opening Dec. 12.) The star’s wit will be showcased in four shows at Kansas City Improv this weekend.

8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. Kansas City Improv. 816-759-5233. improvkc.com. $45-$50.

Rennie Harris Puremovement

Anyone who prefers break-dancing and hip-hop to pirouettes and Tchaikovsky will feel right at home at Friday’s dance recital at the Lied Center. The Rennie Harris Puremovement company provides a lively alternative to traditional ballet. After years of providing dance accompaniment for hip-hop and pop musicians, Harris founded Puremovement in Philadelphia in 1992. Harris’ company has added fresh energy to formal dance circles and has traveled overseas as official cultural ambassadors of the U.S. government.

7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14. Lied Center, Lawrence. 785-864-2787. lied.ku.edu. $16-$30.

Kansas City Film Noir Festival

Gun molls, evocative shadows, ominous cigarette smoke and tense shootouts will dance across the screens of Alamo Drafthouse for the Kansas City Film Noir Festival. Ten examples of the form — from the popular 1950 cult classic “The Asphalt Jungle” to the unheralded 1949 gem “Thieves’ Highway” — will be shown at the three-day event. Peggy Cummins, the octogenarian who appeared in the 1950 cult film “Gun Crazy,” will make an appearance. Friday’s Nightclub party will include a performance by the noir-themed band the Latenight Callers.

Friday, Nov. 14, Saturday, Nov. 15, and Sunday, Nov. 16,. Alamo Drafthouse. 816-474-4545. noircitykc.com. $15 per double feature or $75 for a festival pass. Tickets to Friday’s Nightclub party are $10.

Found Footage Fest

In spite of a seemingly limitless supply of cloud-based content, not everything that has been filmed is readily accessible. The people behind the Found Footage Fest scour flea markets and thrift shops for discarded home movies, forgotten public access television programming and decidedly unpopular music videos. They continue to unearth obscure, oddly entertaining material. A sampling of the most amusing finds will be screened at the RecordBar on Saturday. Drop a Grand, a Kansas City based art-punk band with a correspondingly off-center perspective, will provide music.

10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. RecordBar. 816-753-5207. therecordbar.com. $10 in advance.

Craig Ferguson

“Three nipples, one testicle and a bag-full of attitude.” Craig Ferguson’s self-characterization on a recent episode of “The Late Late Show” reflects his irreverent approach to comedy. The offbeat demeanor has served Ferguson well during his 10-year run as the host of the CBS television program. The Scottish-born comedian’s tenure on “The Late Late Show” ends Dec. 19. Rather than waiting for his nightly appearances on the program to conclude, Ferguson is bringing his act to audiences this month on his ongoing Hot and Grumpy Tour.

8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. Midland theater. 816-283-9921. axs.com. $39.50-$65.

British Faire

Not content to allow similar organizations like Daughters of the American Revolution to have all the fun, the charitable and social group Daughters of the British Empire unites “British and Commonwealth women living in the USA.” Local chapters of the group are hosting Saturday’s British Faire. The event is an ideal opportunity to bask in British culture and shop for the Anglophiles on holiday gift lists. An afternoon tea will be the main attraction for many visitors. Entertainers include representatives of the Driscoll School of Irish Dance. The Better Cheddar and Wild Bird House are among the participating vendors.

10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. Lenexa Community Center. dbekansas.org. $4 for adults and $1 for children. $14 for afternoon tea (includes admission).

Nikita’s Birthday

What does a polar bear have in common with Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Mayor Sly James and Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles? Like Moose, Sly and Jamaal, the Kansas City’s Zoo’s popular polar bear Nikita is known by a familiar one-word moniker. On Nikita’s eighth birthday, the bear will be treated to a giant, bear-appropriate cupcake. Admirers are invited to help craft a greeting card for the ursine attraction. As one of the Kansas City Zoo’s most famous residents, the powerful but graceful Nikita merits the extra attention.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. Kansas City Zoo. 816.595.1234. kansascityzoo.org. Zoo admission is $12.50 for adults, $11.50 for seniors and $9.50 for children 3-11.

Natalie Merchant with the Kansas City Symphony

A unique artist with an uncompromisingly independent spirit, Natalie Merchant has never hesitated to heed her muse. Millions of pop and rock fans first became enamored with Merchant’s dusky voice when she was the vocalist and one of the primary songwriters for 10,000 Maniacs in the 1980s and ’90s. She left the folk-rock band at the height of its popularity to pursue an erratic but ambitious solo career. A fearless artist who has long favored lush instrumentation, Merchant is capable of thriving in symphonic settings. Her program with the Kansas City Symphony is likely to thrill listeners willing to accommodate Merchant’s idiosyncratic vision.

8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. Helzberg Hall. 816-471-0400. kcsymphony.org. $35-$80.

Chiefs vs. Seattle

A brilliant head coach can make even the most formidable challenges seem manageable. The Seattle Seahawks, the reigning Super Bowl champions, visit Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, but Reid’s crafty plans should give the home team more than a mere fighting chance. Reid has proven that he’s capable of drawing up defensive schemes to contain quarterback Russell Wilson and inventing ways to prevent cornerback Richard Sherman from dominating Chiefs receivers. Combined with the loud and distracting efforts of Chiefs fans, Reid’s imaginative work may allow his charges to topple the league’s elite team.

Noon Sunday, Nov. 16. Arrowhead Stadium. 816-920-9400. kcchiefs.com. $50-$285.

Anne Lamott for “Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace”

The title of Anne Lamott’s new book “Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace” serves as an apt summation of the writer’s career. A woman who candidly shares the details of her most intimate struggles and quiet triumphs, Lamott has become an accidental guru to thousands of readers. Her personal observations about addiction and motherhood provide meaningful context to her opinions about social injustice. It’s no accident that Wednesday’s event is taking place in a church. Lamott’s eloquent reflections about her Christian faith represent much of her best work.

Wednesday, Nov. 19. Community Christian Church. 913-384-3126. rainydaybooks.com. $22.95 plus tax, includes one hardcover copy of “Small Victories” and an autographed admission ticket.

This story was originally published November 13, 2014 at 4:16 PM with the headline "This weekend in Kansas City: Kansas City Film Noir Festival, Cedric the Entertainer and Craig Ferguson."