Friday Event Picks

READING
If you could reduce the essence of NPR, MFA workshops and those dudes who sit at Starbucks with their laptops all day into a solid form, then mold that blob into a wry humorist with a penchant for slice of life commentary about how crazy other people are -- particularly our wacky families and American tourists in Europe! -- then you’d have author David Sedaris. You’d also be some sort of weird, mad scientist. The best selling Sedaris, beloved wise-ass laureate of liberal arts grads everywhere, appears tonight. 8p.m. Tickets $27-$48. Symphony Hall, 301 Mass. Ave. 888-266-1200. bso.org

BAR
You probably know by now that vodka is the diminutive for “water” in Slavic languages. You also probably know that it’s been made in various forms for almost a thousand years in places like Poland. But check this but of trivia out: there are, apparently, numerous higher end vodka brands on the market now that won’t make you feel like you’ve been smacked in the face with a bag of hammers when you wake up the next morning. Sample nine of them tonight at the Ultimate Vodka Experience tasting. Sample ultra-premium and niche vodkas like Hammer and Sickle, Christiania and Ciroc along with hors d’oeuvres. 6p.m.-9p.m. Tickets $5. 21+. (RSVP required). Felt, 533 Washington St. 617-350-5555. going.com/UVE2


FILM
It’d be hard for them to top that one with the guy throwing the football through the tire swing we see every five minutes here in America, but the Brits have always had a knack for boundary-pushing, award-winning advertisements. Now in it’s 20th year, the World’s best TV Ads: British Advertising Films of 2007 shows today. Expect laughs, tears, and plenty of creative capitalism at its best. 8:15p.m. Tickets $8-9. Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave. 617-267-9300. mfa.org

MUSIC
When bands go this descriptive with their names, it pretty much makes our job obsolete. Chicago’s Casiotone for the Painfully Alone comes pretty much as advertised: quirky, electro beats programmed on old keyboards, and reserved, malencholly melodies from one man band Owen Ashworth. 9p.m. Tickets $9-$10. 18+. Middle East Upstairs, 472 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. 617-864- 3278. mideastclub.com

HOLIDAYS
It comes but once a year, and fills the hearts of revelers everywhere with magic and wonder. No, not Christmas. No one really looks forward to that anymore do they? Too much pressure and, you know, family time. We’re talking about the 21st Annual Christmas Craft Festival. Looking forward to looking forward to Christmas is where it’s at now. 300 craft artists set up shop this weekend putting their custom made holiday decorations and foods on display, as well as a ginger bread house competition. Friday, 12p.m.-7p.m. Saturday 10a.m.-7p.m. Sunday 10a.m.-5p.m. Tickets $4-$12. Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd. 617-385-4212. christmascraftfestival.com

FOLK
You’d have to be some sort of weirdo to not like Feist these days right? Who can resist those breathy, sultry, heartbroken vocals? Well, Cambridge folky Mieka Pauley’s voice has a similar damaged, beautiful quality. Added bonus: you can see her now in a small venue before all the other jerks find out. She celebrates the release of her new record Elijah Drop Your Gun tonight. 8:30p.m. Tickets $10. 21+. Johnny D’s, 17 Holland St., Somerville. 617-776-2004. johnnyds.com

Originally published in the Boston Globe.