Pizza parties for puppies and more things to do this week

Coolidge Corner Theatre broadcasts Shakespeare’s searing political tragedy (starring Tom Hiddleston from “The Avengers”) live from London’s National Theatre. It’s like seeing a real play, except way cheaper, plus there’s no chance you’ll run into the actors at the post-show reception and hope they didn’t catch you falling asleep during the second act because you had three beers. (7 p.m., $20, 18+)

The young professional arts group gets together at District Hall’s Gather Restaurant for its February Punch Bowl event, a monthly meeting where artists take out their frustration by punching bowls. Nah, just kidding, they drink punch and put money in a bowl then donate it to a local arts organization. This month’s recipient: avant garde performance artists The Boston Bowl Punchers. Just kidding again, it’s like choirs and stuff. (6 p.m., FREE, 21+)

Ever thought about stuffing a whole cheeseburger into ravioli? Who hasn’t, right? But only Dan Whalen turned that thought into a sweet book deal. Join the author for a cooking demo where he’ll prepare a recipe from “Stuffed: The Ultimate Comfort Food Cookbook: Taking Your Favorite Foods and Stuffing Them to Make New, Different and Delicious Meals.” (The title has two colons because that is how many colons you need to digest cheeseburger ravioli.) Free samples! (7 p.m., FREE, all ages)

Chow down on Flatbread Company pizza and enjoy all-you-can-drink Rapscallion Honey Ale at this fundraiser for local nonprofit som|dog. Since 2004, the organization has helped bring three dog parks to Somerville, resulting in countless happy dogs and a corresponding increase in the number of times I’ve interrupted someone mid-sentence because hey look, puppies! (7 p.m., $30, 21+)

The Chicago theater company takes over Oberon this week with two Shakespeare adaptations: 12 Nights (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) and Romeo Juliet (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). I know you’re thinking, “More Shakespeare? What is this, school?” Sorry, but part of being a “grown-up” is taking the stuff you used to hate in high school and voluntarily paying money to do it, not because you enjoy it but because it seems like women might be into a guy who goes to the theater, who follows current events and eats at tapas restaurants and wears a wristwatch. That guy could be you. (Various times, $20, 18+)

Harvard’s JFK Jr. Forum welcomes a panel discussion on the Romney 2012 presidential campaign documentary, featuring the film’s director, the campaign chairman, and Romney’s chief strategist. Because the doc was produced by Netflix and involves politics, I feel like it’s my civic duty to issue a “House of Cards” spoiler alert for this event. (6 p.m., FREE, all ages)

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri, a graduate of BU’s creative writing program in fiction, stops by her alma mater for a reading and discussion of her novel “The Lowland,” shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Award. (7 p.m., FREE, all ages)

Filmmaker Francisco J. Ricardo screens and discusses his documentary about actor James Franco. The film takes a look at Franco’s inspiration and creative process for his art projects that may be unknown to — or dismissed by — critics and the general public. Like maybe his art is really good but no one takes it seriously because people are always discriminating against famous actors who are really, really good looking. (7 p.m., FREE, all ages)

[Photo credit: Jerry Frausto/Creative Commons]

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