Object Runway 2014
From beer-can gowns to fatigues made of bubble gum, Object Runway is an unorthodox fashion show and always one of the biggest and most surprising spectacles of the year. Organized by the International Gallery of Contemporary Art in collaboration with the Alaska Design Forum's "Bling Series," artists are invited to create works that can move down a runway. These works can take the form of barely wearable to high fashion and ready-to-wear. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Bear Tooth Theatrepub, 1230 W. 27th Ave. $30.
The Great Beer and Barley Wine Festival and Social Hour
Alaskans know good beer, and this festival has more good beer in one place than any other event of the year. More than 75 of the Northwest's best breweries will have over 400 samples of pale ales, stouts, pilsners, porters, specialty brews, barley wines, Belgian ales and more. There's live music, too. Tickets $40-$50, must be 21 or over to attend. 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Egan Center, 555 W. Fifth Ave. (auroraproductions.net/beer-barley.html)
Not into the brewskies? Sheraton will host a social hour that will include eight wines that have been highly rated by the magazine Wine Spectator. Each tasting is $5 for two 2-ounce pours. Choose your favorites or try something new from the menu. 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sheraton Anchorage Hotel & Spa, 401 E. Sixth Ave. (276-8700)
Speed Date Anchorage
If you need a little nudge to bounce back into the dating scene or want to polish how you present yourself in dating situations, these speed-dating events can be worth a shot. It's a good way to widen your horizons and meet people you wouldn't ordinarily. Two sessions: ages 25-40, 4 p.m. Sunday; ages 40-55, 4 p.m. Jan. 26, Don Jose's Restaurant, 2052 E. Northern Lights Blvd. $25. Must pre-register. (222-1234, meetmeforlunch.net)
Christina Pazsitzky
Pazsitzky's been a "Round Table" regular and writer on the E! show "Chelsea Lately." She'll bring her stand-up to downtown Anchorage 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Platinum Jaxx, $15. 901 W. Sixth Ave. 21 and over. (platinumjaxx.com)
Indigenous World Film Festival
This free event presents 19 films from Alaska, Canada, New Zealand, South America and more. A couple of the films featured will be "The Lesser Blessed," with Kiowa Gordon of The Twilight Saga (Friday at 10 p.m.) and "History of the Inupiat: Project Chariot," directed by Barrow's Rachel Naninaaq Edwardson (Friday at 7:35 p.m.). Friday and Saturday; see alaskanative.net for full schedule and details. Free.
Woodrow
Woodrow has been rocking Anchorage for years with hooky melodies and the rock sensibility of artists like The Rolling Stones and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. With songwriter Jared Woods on vocals and guitar, his brother Christian Woods on bass and vocals and Rob Rood on drums. 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Humpy's. Ages 21 and over.