What's going on this week

This weekend

What's new in old

Antique buffs will be burning the midnight oil this weekend as two major shows bring hundreds of dealers to town. Opening first is The Original 23rd Street Armory Antiques Show, celebrating its 12th anniversary in Philadelphia. American and Continental antiques specialist display their wares in room-like settings. On Saturday the Philadelphia Antiques Show opens at a new location - the Navy Yard. To celebrate the new location, the show will feature "Fore & Aft," a loan exhibit of martitime arts and antiques.

Original 23rd Street Armory Antiques Show, 23rd St. Armory, 22 S. 23rd St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. tomorrow, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $12-$15, 914-474-8552.

Philadelphia Antiques Show, Philadelphia Cruise Terminal at Pier One, 5100 S. Broad St., 11 a.m.-8 p.m. tomorrow, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, $15, $12 seniors, $7 students and Penn employees, 610-902-2109, www.philaantiques.com.

Book 'em, Dano

Two fun book events are on tap this weekend, including one at a tavern. Stop by the Irish Pub tomorrow for a book signing and party to celebrate Bob Ingle's "The Soprano State" cracking the New York Times best-seller list. Then on Sunday best-selling author Jennifer Weiner ("Good in Bed," "In Her Shoes") will talk about her latest novel, "Certain Girls" at the Free Library.

Irish Pub, 2007 Walnut St., 6-8 p.m. tomorrow.

Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine St., 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday, free, 215-567-4341.

Profanely yours

The Gershman Y's annual fundraiser has scored a major comic talent - Susie Essman - for its "Borscht on Broad" event. Essman, who plays the foul-mouthed wife of Larry David's manager on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," performs stand-up at the Y.

Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $75, $100, $150, 800-595-4TIX, www.gershmanY.org.

Garage sale

Jeanne Ruddy Dance brings two new works to The Performance Garage, including one by German choreographer Susanne Linke. Also on the program is "Breathless," set to new music by Ellen Fishman-Johnson. The ballet is based on several horrifying stories from the distant and recent past, including two with local angles: Delaware lawyer Tom Capano's murder of his young lover and the Main Line murder of Stephanie Rabinowitz.

The Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine St., 8 tonight and tomorrow, 2 p.m. Sunday, 8 p.m. April 17-19, 2 p.m. April 19, $15-$25, 215-569-4060.

Maya mia

For a quarter century, the Penn Museum has celebrated Mayan culture with its annual Maya Weekend, spotlighting issues of preservation of this ancient culture of southern Mexico. Friday's speaker is Marie-Claire Paiz, director of the Nature Conservancy's Southern Mexico Program. There are workshops, illustrated talks, and tours of the collections and galleries on Saturday and Sunday.

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, 3260 South St., 10 a.m. Friday-Sunday, $175 ($140 for museum members) for all three days; lunches and the Maya banquet on Saturday night are extra, 215-898-4890.

Shock and awe

The Golden Dragon Acrobats bring traditional Chinese juggling, dance and martial arts to Upper Darby. Performing to both traditional and contemporary music, the spellbinding routines of these spectacularly-costumed performers will delight all ages.

Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 N. Lansdowne Ave., 7:30 tonight, $13-$18, 610-622-1189.

Reality test

The documentary "Code Name: Bayonet" tells the real story behind the Israeli Mossad's Bayonet Unit which retaliated against the Palestinian terrorists who massacred Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics. This is the same story told by Steven Spielberg in his 2005 film "Munich."

Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St., 7 p.m. Monday, $10, 215-446-3021.

Next week

Lesser Tennessee

EgoPo's tribute to playwright Tennessee Williams continues with staged readings from his works by different Philly theater companies each month. On Monday, members of Flashpoint Theater will read from two of his short stories "Pink Bedroom" and "27 Wagons." A discussion and reception follows the readings.

Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Sq., 7:30 p.m. Monday, $8 but free to subscribers, 215-552-8773.

Barnyard Bolsheviks

George Orwell's satirical allegory "Animal Farm," about the rise of Soviet totalitarianism, has been adapted by Andrew Periale for the Mum Puppettheatre. The theme of corruption of principles by the unprincipalled remains true to Orwell's original.

Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch St., 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, through May 10, $5-$35, 215-925-7MUM.

Dog days of spring

P.D. Eastman's popular read-it-again book "Go, Dog. Go!" comes to the stage with music, acrobats, and physical comedy that will delight young audiences - it's short length makes it ideal for kids over 4 and it's designed for children up to age 11. But parents will be seduced by the charm of this canine cabaret too.

Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 10 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, through June 1, $14-$30, 215-922-1122.

Last chance

The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts' retrospective of Cecilia Beaux, American Figure Painter, an Academy alumna, professor and native of Philadelphia, closes on Sunday. This exhibit of oil paintings, works on paper and decorative objects examines the society portraitist's position in the American art world. PAFA, at Broad and Cherry streets, is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Info: 215-972-2031.

Dining deals

* Kaizan Restaurant (1420 Locust St.) celebrates the Philadelphia Cherry Blossom Festival tomorrow through April 18 by offering 20 percent off your bill. (See www.philadelphiacherry

blossomfestival.org for the coupon.) Kaizan features modern Japanese cuisine plus a sushi bar.

* London Grill (2301 Fairmount Ave.), will offer its Seder Chef's Tasting Dinner - a four-course, $40 prix-fixe meal - as Passover starts April 20-21, with some items available a la carte through April 26. On the menu, Smoked Whitefish, Gefilte Fish, Braised Brisket with latkes and more.

* Asparagus - particularly the white variety - gets a tasty spring welcome from City Tavern Restaurant (138 S. 2nd St.) as Chef/owner Walter Staib offers Smoked Trout & Asparagus with Belgian Endive and other seasonal dishes.