Courtesy of Jhoves flickr.com/photos/jvoves/

Chicago’s getting a long overdue taste of spring today and tomorrow, which is fine because that way we won’t be tempted to spend all day downloading our top five Nicolas Cage movies from the Pirate Bay. Four men behind the controversial BitTorrent tracking site were given one-year prison sentences and stiff penalties in Swedish courts today for helping users commit copyright violations. The Pirate Bay isn’t going away and vows to “have an epic victory in the end.”  For now, however, the case represents a significant blow against peer-to-peer file-swapping sites of all kinds—remember, the Pirate Bay does not actually host any copyright material, just torrents that connect users hosting files. But wait, if downloading Fassbinder or the Fast and the Furious is your passion, don’t worry; Sunday’s supposed to be lousy.

FRIDAY 17
MUSIC - Kool Keith
Weird as it could be, hip-hop didn’t always cotton to outright eccentrics, but the undeniable Ultramagnetic MCs’ Critical Beatdown helped make the rap world safe for kooks like Kool Keith. The MC has since gone on to explore various guises and disguises, from Dr. Octagon to Dr. Dooom (which he reprises tonight with help from KutMasta Kurt), but always at the heart of each incarnation has been Keith’s surreal rhymes and compulsive obsession with all things sexual and scatological. He’s crazy, but dude’s one of a kind. Reggie’s Rock Club,  2109 S State St at 21st St (312-949-0120). El: Red to Cermak/Chinatown. Bus: 4 (24hrs), 21, 24, 29, 62 (24hrs). 10pm. $20. 17 and older.

FILM - Contempt
We’re suckers for films about filmmaking, but it’s a bit deceptive to suggest that Jean-Luc Godard’s Contempt is “about filmmaking” even though the characters are making a film. The subject of this masterfully shot Cinemascope film (one of the best uses of ’scope, in our opinion) is nothing less than Art. Block Cinema Northwestern University, Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, 40 Arts Circle Dr, Evanston (847-491-4000). El: Purple to Foster. Metra: Union Pacific N to Davis. Fri 17 at 8pm. $6, students $4.

ART & DESIGN- Artist Talk: Dawoud Bey
One of our favorite Chicago photographers talks subject and technique. Marwen, 833 N Orleans St at Institute Pl (312-944-2418, marwen.org). El: Brown, Purple (rush hrs) to Chicago. Bus: 11, 22 (24hrs), 66 (24hrs). 6pm. FREE!

SPORTS - Battle of the Badges
Who’s tougher, cops or firefighters? Find out tonight as athletes from both camps put on gloves and get in the ring to raise money for charity. Last year’s event netted more than $32,000 for various charities. De La Salle Institute, Parmer Activity Center, 3455 S Wabash Ave (312-747-5824). El: Green to 35th-Bronzville-IIT. Bus: 1, 4 (24hrs), 35. 7pm; $15, advance $10.

SATURDAY 18
ART & DESIGN - “Anders Nilsen: Pictures of Dirt and Grass”
See new work from the artist and author behind Drawn & Quarterly’s comics Big Questions and Dogs and Water.
larch gallery, 1407 E 54th Pl at Dorchester Ave (773-363-5935). Metra: Electric to 55th-56th-57th St. Bus: 6, 28, 55, 171. 6–9pm. FREE!

MUSIC/CULTURE/SHOPPING - Record Store Day
Hop into your local mom-and-pop record joint and pick up exclusive releases from Beck, the Breeders, Bruce Springsteen, New Order and nearly 70 others. Most places have in-store performances, too. Local reverb-lovers Disappears drone away at Reckless in Wicker Park, while Lair of the Minotaur blows the roof off the downtown branch. Soft-rockers the Republic Tigers hit Record Breakers before opening for Travis later in the evening. Laurie’s Planet of Sound hosts Azita, while Permanent Records drags out numerous boom boxes for a Flaming Lips Zaireeka listening party. FREE!

CLUBS - Laidback Luke
Electro-house sensation Laidback Luke owes much of his success to the DJ-download-mall Beatport.net. Tonight, he proves himself in the flesh on Weed Street. crobar. 10pm. $20.

FILM - Monsieur Verdoux
If you go into Charlie Chaplin’s 1947 Monsieur Verdoux expecting a heartwarmer like his silent films, you’re in for a pleasant shock; this is a dark satire about a man who marries and murders for money. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N State St at Randolph St (312-846-2600). El: Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple (rush hrs) to State/Lake; Red to Lake; Blue to Clark/Lake. 5pm. $9, students $7, members $5.

GAY & LESBIAN - Gender Fusions 5: Freak Parade Extraordinaire
Head to the South Loop for a night of gender-blending live performance. Film Row Cinema at Columbia College, 1104 S Wabash Ave at 11th St (312-369-6815). El: Orange, Red, Green to Roosevelt. Bus: 4 Cottage Grove (24hrs) 62 Archer (24hrs). 6pm; $10, students and seniors $5.

SUNDAY 19
CULTURE/BOOKS - This American Life Live
Ira Glass brings his show back home, showcasing instapundit Dan Savage, author David Rakoff and comedian Mike Birbiglia, among others. Chicago Theatre, 7pm. $18–$50.50

CULTURE/MUSIC/SHOPPING - CHIRP Record Fair
This popular annual record fair benefits CHIRP, the Chicago Independent Radio Project. Expect the record swap to deliver a quality assortment of rare and vintage vinyl, plus DVDs, posters, art and plenty more. DJs and local rockers such as Dreamend, Jake Austen, Ceiling Stars and more provide the soundtrack to your music dig. Journeyman Plumbers Union Hall, 1340 W Washington Blvd between Ada and Loomis Sts (chicagoindependentradioproject.org). El: Green, Pink to Ashland. Bus: 9 Ashland (24hrs), 20 Madison (24hrs). 10am–6pm; $7, with any ad or flyer $5, pre-admission Sat 8–10am $25.

COMEDY - POB Show
The fantastic Pat O’Brien picks up where SNL’s Tim Meadows left off. iO Del Close Theater, 3541 N Clark St between Clark and Eddy Sts (773-880-0199). El: Red to Addison. Bus: 22 Clark (24hrs), 152 Addison. 10pm, $10.

DANCE- Compagnie
Choreographer Marie Chouinard’s eponymous modern dance outfit from Montreal puts the oomph in avant-garde at the MCA. MCA. 3pm. $40.

CULTURE/BARS - Snuggie Pub Crawl
If you haven’t embraced the goofball Snuggie trend yet, now is the time. Don your sleeved blanket as you hop from bar to bar for drink specials, live music and prizes, and proceeds will benefit AC-Orphanage in Arusha, Tanzania. Participating bars include Apartment, John Barleycorn, O’Malley’s and many more. You must be 21 or older to attend. Lion Head Pub, 2261 N Lincoln Ave between Belden and Webster Aves (773-348-5100, snuggiepubcrawl.com). El: Red, Brown, Purple (rush hrs) to Fullerton. Bus: 8, 11, 74. Noon–8pm; $25, advance $22.

Photo: Jhoves from Time Out Chicago Flickr pool