• HOT TICKETS

Music and Nightlife: ‘Dream pop’ duo Beach House visits

BEACH HOUSE is a critically acclaimed “dream pop” duo from Baltimore. It would be worth checking them out when they play the State Theatre on Wednesday just to find out what “dream pop” is, don’t you think?

WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland

HOW MUCH: $25 in advance; $30 day of show

INFO: statetheatreportland.com

Art and Theater: From PORTopera, ‘La Boheme’

THE LIFE AND TIMES of the struggling bohemian class come to life in the PORTopera production of “La Boheme.” The opera features a cast of young professional singers under the direction of PORTopera artistic director Dona D. Vaughn.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland

HOW MUCH: $41 to $105

INFO: 842-0800; porttix.com; portopera.org

Dining and Drink: Lobster, lobster, lobster and lobster

SAVOR LOBSTER while sailing on Casco Bay. Chef Tim Labonte of Eve’s at the Garden will prepare four lobster dishes for you on board the 74-foot topsail sloop Frances while you learn about wine from a sommelier.

WHEN: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Leaves from the Maine State Pier on Commercial Street, next to Casco Bay Lines

HOW MUCH: $85 in advance; $95 day of sail

INFO: winewiseevents.com

Et Cetera: In Freeport, he’s Vlad to make you laugh

THE MOSCOW MAGIC and Comedy Show features a character named Vladimir Zinczenko who says he has transferred skills learned as a card player and pickpocket to create magic and illusions for the masses. So if you go, sit in the back and keep your hands on your valuables — just in case.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Freeport Theater of Awesome, 5 Depot St.

HOW MUCH: $22

INFO: awesometheater.com

• CHEAP THRILLS

Music and Nightlife: Free to see The Delta Knights in SoPo

GET OUTSIDE and dance, but don’t fall in the pond. That’s the advice we have for folks heading over to see the R&B and classic rock outfit The Delta Knights at Mill Creek Park in South Portland. The free show is part of the city’ssummer outdoor concert series.

WHEN: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Mill Creek Park, Broadway and Ocean Street, South Portland

HOW MUCH: Free

INFO: southportland.org

Art and Theater: In Phippsburg, art in an artful setting

THE FIFTH ANNUAL West Point Art Show in Phippsburg opens Friday and runs through Sunday, then repeats Aug. 2-4 and Aug. 9-11. The exhibition will be in the former West Point General Store, perched on a rocky ledge.

WHEN: Opening reception, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday

WHERE: The Store, 47 Wallace Circle, Phippsburg

HOW MUCH: Free

INFO: 443-9524; 389-8090

Dining and Drink: Go ahead, feed  that cookbook habit

COOKBOOK FANATIC? You can’t miss the annual Rabelais sale, where hundreds of books on food and wine are on sale for $1, $3 and $5. Everything else in the store under $200 will be 25 percent off.

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Rabelais, 2 Main St., No. 18-214 in the North Dam Mill, Biddeford

HOW MUCH: Books for $1, $3 and $5.

INFO: 602-6320

Et Cetera: Parade, midway, the ‘works at Casco Days

YOU DON’T need a national holiday to enjoy a good parade. There will be two parades in two days this weekend as part of the Casco Days celebration. There’s a children’s parade at 7 p.m. Friday and a grand parade at 1 p.m. Saturday. Casco Days actually kicks off on Thursday, and will also include a midway, entertainment, food and fireworks.

WHEN: Thursday to Saturday

WHERE: Casco Days Park, 948 Meadow Road, Casco

HOW MUCH: Free; fees for rides and food

INFO: cascodays.com