PICK OF THE DAY

Going for gold

Imagine getting out of bed in the morning and preparing your body for acrobatic moves before noon? It’s par for the course for the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats who bend, stretch, and put on fabulous costumes for morning shows on Wednesday and Thursday. Aug. 22 at 11 a.m. $15.50. Cape Cod Melody Tent, 21 West Main St., Hyannis (Aug. 23 at 10:30 a.m. at South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset). 800-745-3000. www.ticketmaster.com

TUESDAY

Uncommon common Marsden Hartley explored Gloucester’s Dogtown Common several times between 1920-36. The former Colonial-era settlement is the subject of “Marsden Hartley: Soliloquy in Dogtown,” a collection of paintings and drawings. Tue-Sat 10 a.m.-
5 p.m., Sun 1-4 p.m. through Oct. 14. $10, $8 students and seniors, free under 12. Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant St., Gloucester. 978-283-0455, ext. 11. www.capeannmuseum.org

Cheese wiz Fromager Louis Risoli will brag about the cream of the crop from the 2012 American Cheese Society’s annual conference at L’Espalier Cheese Tuesday. Your three-course dinner with paired wines features a grand cheese tasting and music by the “Cheese Band.” 7 p.m. $85 (reservations required). L’Espalier, 774 Boylston St., Boston. 617-262-3023. www.lespalier.com

Reflection vs. reality Boston University educator, ecologist, and photographer Douglas Zook captured reflected images at different times of the day and under various light conditions for “The Earth Gazes Back — Window Reflections Within Kraków, Boston, and Prague.” Mon-Fri from 1-5 p.m. through Aug. 31. Free. George
Sherman Union Art Gallery at Boston University, 775 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. 617-358-0295. www.bu.edu/research/
magazine/2011/07-6-window.html

WEDNESDAY

Storm fountains Fountains of Wayne lead singer Chris Collingwood opens for rock duo Paul & Storm, and here’s what we learned on the latter’s website. A show by Paul Sabourin and Greg “Storm” DiCostanzo is “part music concert and part stand-up-improv comedy — just enough of both to fit neatly in neither category. They like to engage the audience, and are known to award snack cakes and/or other prizes for good (and sometimes bad) behavior.” Aug. 22 at
8 p.m. $15. Johnny D’s, 17 Holland St., Davis Square, Somerville. 617-776-2004. www.johnnyds.com

Stepping out It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and Jacob’s Pillow’s 80th season finishes with The Joffrey Ballet. The program includes “Bells” set to music by Sergei Rachmaninoff, and “Age of Innocence” with music by Philip Glass and Thomas Newman. Aug. 22 at 8 p.m. (through Aug. 26). $70. Jacob’s Pillow Ted Shawn Theatre, 358 George Carter Road, Becket. 413-243-0745. www.jacobs
pillow.org

The long and short of it Take advantage of a history lesson and water voyage at Sunset Cruise to Long Island sponsored by the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands. Guided tours are available to talk about the military and social history of the island, or you can wander around on your own. Aug. 22 from 6-9 p.m. $25, $23 students and seniors, $21 under 12. Depart from Rowes Wharf Water Transport (picnics recommended). 781-740-4290. www.fbhi.org