Going North

* Solo Artist--UC Santa Barbara’s Multicultural Center on Friday will host an evening of spoken word and jazz music with African American poet-novelist Devorah Major. She will be accompanied by saxophone and bass players. The show will include Major’s “War Correspondent’s Notes,” a look at violence in America, and “Love Bites,” a suite on love and its many permutations. Show time: 8 p.m. Free. 893-8411.

* Concert--The Sings Like Hell singer-songwriter showcase series will continue Friday at Lobero Theatre with Lynn Miles performing folk-tinged tunes from her latest release, “Night In a Strange Town.” Also on the bill, Barbara K, formerly half of the defunct Timbuk 3, which made a big splash in the mid ‘80s with the hit “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.” Show time: 8 p.m. Admission: advance, $28.50; at the door, $32.50. The theater is at 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. 963-0761.

* Art Auction--Open Alternative School in Santa Barbara will hold a benefit art auction Saturday, offering original works by such masters as Durer, Picasso and Matisse. More than 150 pieces of art created by about 25 artists will be auctioned by Michael Judge. Included are oils, watercolors, lithographs, serigraphs, sculpture and gouache. The event, with 15% of the proceeds benefiting the school, will be held at Santa Barbara Woman’s Club, 670 Mission Canyon Road. Admission: advance, $10; at the door, $20. Hours: art preview-gourmet buffet, 4-5 p.m.; auction, 5-9 p.m. 884-9767.

* Stargazing--Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s astronomy club will host a public telescope viewing Saturday. Observing targets will include Orion nebula and the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation Taurus. A variety of telescopes will be set up, including a 29-inch Shipman. Hours: 8:30-10 p.m. The museum is at 2559 Puesta Del Sol Road. $2 general; $1 children. 682-4711.

* Solo Artist--Tim Miller will stage his new one-man show “Glory Box” at 8 p.m. Monday at UC Santa Barbara’s Campbell Hall. The comedic performance details Miller’s struggle to keep his Australian lover in the U.S. and explores the challenges of love, marriage and immigration rights for gay people. $8 general; $5 students. 893-3535.

* Chamber Music--Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra will present the second installment of its Chamber Players Series on Tuesday at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s Fleischmann Auditorium. Program highlights: Rossini’s Sonata for Quartet No. 2 in A and Devienne’s Quartet for Bassoon and Strings No. 1 in C, Opus 73. Show time: 8 p.m. Concert only, $30; dinner-concert package, $55. The museum is at 2559 Puesta Del Sol Road. 687-7820.

* Classical--Janet Packer, violin, and Genevieve Feiwen Lee, piano, will present a concert of 20th century works at 8 p.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church, Anapamu and Garden streets, Santa Barbara. $15 general; $7.50 students and seniors. 968-7845.