Local author Janne E. Irvine wears many hats. She is a pianist, piano teacher, composer/arranger, Austen scholar, singer and actress.

Irvine also wears a scholar's cap. She has a Bachelors from Sarah Lawrence College, a Masters from Yale University School of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the UA.

But what's even more impressive is that Irvine accomplished all of these things with severely impaired vision. At the age of 13, her eyesight failed so that she could no longer see well enough to read printed words.

Irvine tells her story in her first book, Making Friends With Other Trees and Flowers: A Story of Low Vision and High Expectations. (October 2011, Wheatmark, $22.95).

Here's a summary from local publisher Wheatmark:

Janne E. Irvine's vision was damaged after birth, and grew worse over time. Even so, her parents provided her with an environment that enabled her to thrive. In Making Friends with Other Trees and Flowers, Janne relates with humor and honesty how a vivid imagination made it possible for her to understand the blurred images of her world. She shows how disability, when coupled with creativity, can provide chances for boundless fulfillment.

Meet Irvine tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 5130 E. Broadway Blvd., when she signs copies of her book. The Greenwood Groubadours will also perform.

If you missed last night's opening performance of Scarlet Pimpernel at Leo Rich Theatre (260 S. Church Ave.), you are in luck. The show, performed by Desert Christian High School students, continues tonight and tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. There are matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Deemed "Broadway's Most Intriguing Musical," the show "tells an intriguing tale of blood lust, heroism, and feats of derring-do, but above all, The Scarlet Pimpernel is a love story—passionate and moving, yet also humorous and inspiring," says Desert Christian musical director Cathy Simon.

Tickets are $20 to $25 online at www.desertchristian.org. Here's more info from a press release:

With more than 100 cast and crew members required to mount a full production of the ‘Scarlet Pimpernel,’ Desert Christian High School, whose student body numbers less than 200, has its work cut out for it. However, like the show’s hero at the battlefront, fearless musical director Cathy Simon, forges ahead undaunted, “To commemorate Desert Christian’s twenty-fifth anniversary, I wanted to present something sensational, something original and, as always, something challenging to the students. We are thrilled to be to be the first organization in Tucson to produce this wonderful Tony Award-nominated musical.”

'The Scarlet Pimpernel' is a riveting action adventure set during the French Revolution’s infamous ‘Reign of Terror.’ Frank Wildhorn and Nan Knighton's musical adaptation of Duchess Orszy's classic story features a cast of unforgettable characters, particularly the title’s hero, which introduced modern-day audiences to the concept of “the masked crusader." A captivating musical score, elaborate costumes, and multiple sets transport audiences back to the 18th century, from the fashionable courts of England to the grisly guillotine of war torn France.

Anything even adjacent to the Powhaus universe is a pretty good time, so the party at Plush tomorrow night launching The Destroyer, "an international online magazine of text, art, and public opinion", should be something worth checking out. Where else can you get a tarot card reading and dance to music from Tucson Weekly-approved DJs Jaime J and Andrew Shuta on a weekend night?

More info below the cut.

Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails continues with its series of Celebrity Happy Hours tonight, and this time the local Yelp.com coordinator and the executive director of Casa de los Niños will be serving the drinks.

So go have a few drinks between 4:30 and 6 p.m. tonight and lay down some big tips for Corey Dane and Susie Huhn, because it all benefits the great work Casa de los Niños does.

As a side note, I've been asked to get behind the bar for one of these events, which was flattering and a little shocking. I figure it must be slim pickings out there in celebrity land or that I am about to be punked, Ashton Kutcher-style.

In any event, I'm totally taking them up on the offer and I pour frighteningly strong drinks, so hope to see you down there once we get a date set.

Warren Miller's 62nd film, "...Like There's No Tomorrow" screens at the Fox Tucson Theatre on Saturday, December 3rd at 8:00 pm and to celebrate this annual kick-off to the ski season, we have a GoPro Helmet HERO camera (worth $239!) to give away to one lucky entrant. Ten second prize winners will receive a DVD of last year's film, "Wintervention". We'll draw winners on December 2nd and notify them via email.

Enter by signing up here!

Heard of the Tucson egg business Zen Hens? Its eggs and composted chicken manure fertilizer can be found at a couple of farmers' markets around town. Every time I hear of the company's name it brings to mind a chicken in deep meditation, which makes me happy.

In other chicken news, Food Conspiracy Co-op is getting ready to hold its extremely popular annual backyard chicken coop tour. The self-guided tour takes place Saturday, Dec. 3, and tickets are $5. Call the co-op for more information.

The Loft Film Fest continues this weekend, with some of the year's best—and most overlooked—films getting a chance on the big screen here in Tucson. We're intrigued by We Need To Talk About Kevin, which look particularly harrowing. And we don't see any reason to miss director Kirby Dick showing a few of his short films this afternoon. Check out the whole line-up here.

"Up With People: A Song for the World" concert takes place on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. Tickets are $10.

At 5:30 p.m., an international costume and flag procession takes place on Congress Street.
At 6 p.m., doors open at the Fox.
At 7 p.m., the concert begins.

Here's a description of the event from the Fox Tucson Theatre website:

Up with People’s all-new production is entitled “A Song for the World” which features the energy and talent of a cast and staff of 100 representing 20 countries. The live two-hour performance includes both original and popular music and is a dynamic blend of feature soloists, full cast production numbers, fast-moving choreography and colorful costumes.Audience members will be taken on a musical tour around the world and back in time with special moments including “The Love Medley,” a collection of popular music and dancing moments from the last three decades on the theme of “boy meets girl.” Throughout the show, international cast members will provide the audience with a glimpse of their own national traditions and cultures through music and dance with musical stops in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa.

The Loft Film Fest kicks off tonight with a party on the Loft Patio at 6 p.m. followed by a screening of Lars von Trier's Melancholia at 7:30. I'm thinking Tyrannosaur, showing tomorrow night, looks pretty tasty, although it would mean missing Donny Darko on that awesome big screen downstairs, with an appearance by director Richard Kelly. I'm pretty sure that Gibson has his heart set on seeing Being Elmo on Tuesday night.

And that's just a tiny bit of the offerings you get to choose from over the next week as Peggy and the gang bring in some of the year's best movies that you won't see anywhere else. If you don't go see something this weekend, there's probably something wrong with you.

Read more in this week's TW. A full line-up here.

The Loft Film Fest launches tomorrow with Lars von Trier's Meloncholia. The week's line-up of outstanding cinema is wide-ranging and fab—check it out here—and the party starts at 6 p.m. tomorrow. Be there!