A highly caffeinated comedy: Can an emotionally stunted lounge pianist, a profoundly goofy shadow puppeteer, a folk balladeer and a taciturn magician find real happiness in a coffee bar owned by an elusive expatriate Zairian national? Find out when Horton Grand Theatre presents Triple Espresso at 7:30 p.m. The play tells the story of three guys whose bid for showbiz fame and fortune ended in four minutes of magnificent failure on national television. Audience participation is a defining part of the production, but it is done so gracefully and gleefully that even theater sophisticates play along. Tickets are $33.50 to $36.50, and students, seniors and military receive a $4 discount. Horton Grand Theatre is located at 444 Fourth Ave. (619) 234-9583, www.tripleespresso.com/sandiego.

Pirates of the Pacific: Seafaring fans can take part in outlawed fun and games aboard the floating Maritime Museum of San Diego from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. “Pirates of the Pacific” is set to overtake the notorious William Dampier, with a full exhibit on the ship. Morph into a pirate and walk the plank on an actual pirate ship. Buccaneers with a taste for science, as well as pirates who made the lives of sea merchants more than difficult, are encouraged to dress up in pirate attire to enjoy the exhibit. The Maritime Museum of San Diego is located at 1492 N Harbor Dr. (619) 234-9153, www.sdmaritime.org.

Old school jams: Local cover band Makai will be performing at Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge at 7:00 p.m. Makai has become one of the premiere cover bands in San Diego, and with good reason. The band’s music is consistently great, incorporating high-energy dance, old school and funk styles. The group’s vocal work is also superb, and the members have great stage presence, complete with infectious smiles that automatically motivate the crowd to get moving. You’re guaranteed a great time at a Makai show. Tickets are $12. Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge is located at 2241 Shelter Island Dr. (619) 224-3577, www.makaiband.com.

Experience the power of art: As part of a performing arts season of world music, modern dance, spoken word and chamber, ArtPower! at U.C. San Diego will present the Emerson String Quartet in the Mandeville Auditorium at 8:00 p.m. The program will include selections by Ludwig van Beethoven, Carl Nielsen, Anton Webern and Franz Schubert. Acclaimed for its insightful performances, brilliant artistry and technical mastery, the Emerson is winner of six Grammy Awards. The quartet’s insightful classical and contemporary music performances in major concert halls around the world consistently impress audiences with its commitment, unity and insight. Ticket prices range from $32 to $36 and are available online or at the UCSD box office in Price Center Plaza. Mandeville Auditorium is located at 9500 Gillman Dr., La Jolla. (858) 534-TIXS, www.artpower.ucsd.edu.

Chocolates and Wine: The San Diego Wine Lady and Jazz RadioASB.com will host a wine tasting event at The Wine Encounter starting from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The wine bar offers a warm and cozy environment to enjoy six high quality Sharffen Berger Chocolates paired with six premium wines. The tasting will also include a light palate refresher of Manchego cheese and baguette slices. Reservations for the event are required, and tickets are $25, which does not include gratuity. The Wine Encounter is located at 690 University Ave. (619) 459-6967, www.thewineencounter.com.

Ballroom and Latin dance class: As an alternative to the already existing club and country and western scene, this sports and social club meets at Shooterz bar in North Park. For those less experienced, a practicing party is held at 7:00 p.m. and regular classes begin at 8:15p.m. The group focuses primarily on international ballroom and Latin dancing, and participants are welcome to come alone or with a dance partner. The cost for the class is $5 for club members and $8 for nonmembers. Half of all proceeds benefit the Hillcrest Youth Center. Shooterz is located at 3815 30th St. (619) 574-0744 www.kpdancehouse.com.

Tart, tangy and sweet: House of Blues will feature G. Love and Special Sauce with Matt Costa at 9:00 p.m. The Philly boys will pour out their blues-infused hip-hop, which people have been trying to label for years. The show will feature a series of soul-drenched tracks from their latest release for Brushfire Records. Tickets are $25 in advance and $28 at the door. House of Blues is located at 1055 Fifth Ave. (619) 525-1900, www.hob.com/sandiego.

Queer theatre taking center stage: The Diversionary Theatre will present a reading of Tennessee Williams’ Something Cloudy, Something Clear at 7:30 p.m. The last play written by Williams is a candid account of life as it unfolded for a gay artist in the 1940s, where poetry and longing are juxtaposed with sex-for-hire, bashers, the closet and the endless negotiation for a safe space to be. Written in 1980, suppressed for 10 years after Williams’ death by his literary executor, it’s an astonishing work. Tickets are $12 for general public and $9 for Diversionary donors and subscribers. Diversionary Theatre is located at 4545 Park Blvd. (619) 220-0097, www.diversionary.org.

Air Supply in concert: Nostalgic fans can remember the magic like it was yesterday when Air Supply takes the stage at Sycuan Casino starting at 8:00 p.m. The band that practically invented soft rock will feature timeless classics like “Lost in Love,” “Every Woman in the World” and “Sweet Dreams.” The concert will also include some new material. Concert tickets are $35. Sycuan Casino is located at 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon. www.sycuanresort.com.