Peter Schimke and Dean Granros at Café Maude
Humble suggestion: In our precarious economy, let’s support local restaurants we want to survive. My list includes Café Maude, which sweetens its menu with live music on Fridays and Saturdays. This Friday brings two of our finest area musicians: Peter Schimke on piano, Dean Granros on guitar. Go for a late dinner so the crowd has thinned a bit or you may not hear them over the din. Café Maude, Friday, Dec. 19, 9 p.m.-midnight (no cover)

Happy Apple
The best apples come from Minnesota. The locally grown Happy Apple trio of Michael Lewis on saxophones, Eric Fratzke on electric bass, and Dave King on drums and toys (including a Fisher-Price “Happy Apple” with bell inside) settles in for a three-night stay at the AQ that will draw crowds eager for their unique brand of free jazz: playful, humorous, sometimes frenetic, sometimes mellow, seriously musical. King will punctuate the proceedings with tall tales and announce the songs, which may or may not include “Calgon for Hetfield,” and “Lefse Los Cubanos” (both from their latest CD, “Back on Top”) or, if we’re lucky, “The World Begins and Ends in Your Combover.” Watch a video. Hear some tunes. And if you’re thinking “locally grown” means “provincial,” read this New York Times review. Artists’ Quarter, Friday-Saturday, Dec. 19-20, 9 p.m. ($12); Sunday, Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ($12)

A JazzMN holiday featuring Connie Evingson
Now in its 10th year, no small feat for a big band (and a nonprofit organization), the JazzMN Big Band is a Who’s Who of area musicians that always delivers a fine show. The band will begin with holiday tunes from Duke Ellington and Wayne Bergeron, Diana Krall’s version of “Jingle Bells,” and old favorites in new arrangements by Twin Cities musicians. Then vocalist Connie Evingson will join them for selections from her CD, “The Secret of Christmas.” If you’re looking for high-quality, feel-good holiday entertainment, pick this. Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center, 2400 Lindbergh Drive, Minnetonka (free parking), Saturday, Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. ($25-$29; $17 students); Ticketworks or at the door.

Tip: Buy tickets now to the Bad Plus at the Dakota. They’re here for four nights (Dec. 26-29) but these are always popular shows.