In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, there’s a “Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains” reading, Nick Zaino’s 100 Years of Boston Comedy, Urbanity’s “Of the Ether” dance and a “DM Mayhem” show of horrifying texts from men.

Public meetings this week look at new life-science building designs, a mixed-use development near the Twin Cities mall, relationship status protections, a cannabis store on Broadway and more.

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, author Eleanor Catton visits from “Birnam Wood” and Margaret Atwood tells of “Old Babes in the Wood”; there’s music, comedy, a Maple Syrup Boil Down and queer wrestling, an end to “Bittersweet” art and the “Podcast But Outside” guys set up in Davis Square.

CambridgeSide has a Cheesecake Factory, Food Locker and, starting in late 2024, an entire floor of SmartLabs, a provider of coworking lab space.

Public meetings this week look at electrifying the city and its fleet, a two-block zoning proposal for North Cambridge, tree canopy update, city-line voter challenge, teen health survey results, plans in Porter Square, a Crumbl cookie shop for Central Square and look at Section 8 voucher changes.

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, MIT has a three-session course on deepfakes; we meet “Davos Man”; party at the Time Traveler’s Ball; and enjoy readings and poetry slams; and the start of The Foundry Family Festival with “A Story Beyond.”

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, there’s fairy tale opera, Beethoven and Schubert as well as “Heather, the Musical” and “Waiting for Godot,” plenty of readings, a “Bittersweet” art exhibit, reproductive justice and one-woman dance and Bitch, the musician, performing her “Bitchcraft.”

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, Valentine’s Day comes out swinging with an R&B concert and cypher, The Hasty Pudding Theatricals premieres its 174th show, there’s cabaret and drag, readings of novels and poetry, an Après Cambridge outdoor party and much more.

Two similar efforts to limit where labs can go in the city will be combined for discussion in committees, taking a citizen zoning petition off an expiring timetable.

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, an MLK tradition in East Cambridge adds Coretta Scott King to the mix, an MIT event examines some scary stuff, the Boston Celtic Music Fest returns for its 20th year and much, much more.