Despite appearances, ancient Egyptians did not have a fascination with death; they just "enjoyed life and wanted to continue to enjoy it in the hereafter," says Dr. John Lindstroth, anthropologist for the South Florida Science Museum (4801 Dreher Trl. N., West Palm Beach). For its exhibit, "Ancient Egypt: A Celebration of Life," which opened last week, the museum displays a mummy of a 5-year-old child who lived circa 30 B.C., part of a sarcophagus mask, and a mummified falcon. Egyptians believed that, after death, they would continue the occupations of this life. So they were buried with items they might need -- like writing materials, wigs, and clothing. When we head up to the Great Weekly Newspaper in the Sky, will you please be sure to pack our laptops and a few pints of Bass from Maguire's? Thanks! This exhibit is on display for a year. Call 561-832-1988.
FRI 1/30
Ska's not dead; it's just been exiled to Uncool City until the new generation of scenesters learns that it's OK to like happy, uptempo music. Come on, kids. We dare you to venture out of Emoville for the MU330 show at Ray's Downtown (519 Clematis St., West Palm Beach). We warn you, though: You may get an uncontrollable urge to uncross your arms, start nodding your head, and maybe even dance. Named after the section number of the high school jazz class where many of the group's members first met, MU330 was formed in St. Louis in 1988 -- waaaay back before the Third Wave of ska was even cool in the first place. The band is one of the most fun groups to ever skank across a stage, and it plays with Audible, Five Cent Wish, and Neptune 66. Tickets cost $8. Call 561-835-1577.
SAT 1/31
If you're over 25, you may long for the days when you could cruise over to the local skate park, catch your friend's band for $3, and drink can after can of cheap beer. Well, in the bowels of Pompano sits the Pompano Indoor Skatepark (2171 Blount Rd., Pompano Beach). And tonight, you can relive your glory days and check out Encidious, the Mary Tyler Whores, and sci-fi dance punks the Mission Veo, who are playing three consecutive shows this weekend in three separate counties. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. and costs $7. Call 954-979-7966.
SUN 2/1
What? You've still never seen the Freakin' Hott? Peaches and gravy! OK, imagine if Donnie and Marie Osmond played the parts of Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway in Barfly, or if the Moldy Peaches challenged Hilary Duff to a dance-off, then stole her wallet when she wasn't looking, or if Huey Lewis and Charles Nelson Reilly took a bubble bath together... So, what I mean is, Aaron and Maggie -- the "freakin'" and the "hott" in the Freakin' Hott -- pack a one-two punch of rock and country, deliver an uppercut of nasty '80s hair-band licks (including a cover of Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You"), then smack you in the crotch with a cowbell. There may even be a spontaneous choreographed dance sequence, folks. Check them out at Dada (52 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach) at 10 p.m. Show is free, suckas! Call 561-330-3232.
MON 2/2
Today is the second-to-last day of the Miami Beach Antique Show, and that means it's your second-to-last chance to find something remarkable, unique, or just plain weird. Ever wanted a ceramic dog head for the living room? Now's your chance. How about some vintage luggage from the 1940s? An Austrian vase circa 1864? Impress your friends! In addition to browsing more than 900 exhibitors, you can also sit in on a lecture by Diane Singer on diamonds and estate jewelry. The show runs through Tuesday at the Miami Beach Convention Center (1901 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach). Show starts at noon and costs $10. Call 305-532-3467.)
TUE 2/3
In 1979, the world was disco crazy, punk was exhausting itself, and Rickie Lee Jones hit the airwaves with her eponymous debut album. She is most likely remembered now for the song "Chuck E.'s In Love," written when she lived with gravel-voiced troubadour Tom Waits and friend Chuck E. Weiss at the storied Tropicana Motel on Santa Monica Boulevard. Waits, whom Jones was dating at the time, exclaimed "Chuck E.'s in love!" after hearing his friend had hopped a train to Denver to romance a lady friend. And Jones turned that exclamation into rock 'n' roll folklore. But Jones is also a formidable poet, and she has plenty to sing the blues about. Dark, haunting, and emotional, Jones' songs weave tales of lost loves and last chances into a melodic jazz tapestry. Check her out in support of her latest album, Evening of My Best Day, at the Carefree Theatre (2000 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $36. Call 561-833-7305.
WED 2/4
Even if he gets struck by lightning on the way to the Jupiter Beach Resort (5 N. A1A, Jupiter) this evening, world-renowned shipwreck treasure-hunter Robert Marx will probably still deliver his lecture. The dude has already survived five plane crashes, nine shipwrecks, and two shark attacks. He's also been blown out of the water by explosives five times. Catch him while you can; Marx doesn't spend much time on dry land. He's made more than 3,000 wreck dives and spent three years excavating the sunken city of Port Royal, Jamaica. His adventures have given him enough material to write 50-odd books and scientific reports on maritime history, including Treasures from the Sea and Exploring the World's Greatest Shipwrecks. A cash bar opens at 6 p.m., and the lecture starts at 7 p.m. Cost is $10. If you want to stay and eat dinner at the resort, flash your event ticket and get a 25 percent discount on your meal. Call 561-747-6639.