Ali Clayton was born and raised in Durham, where she was groomed to be a beauty pageant contestant. She's ditched the sash for the standup comedy stage and is now based in Chicago, where she's a graduate of the Second City Conservatory. She'll be back in her old stomping grounds - well, near them - Thursday night when she does her show, "I'm Different, Not Dumb" at DSI Comedy Theater in Carr Mill Mall. 919-338-8150, dsicomedytheater.com.

The Nightlight Club, 4-5 1/2 W. Rosemary St., will get the new year off to a tuneful start Sunday night with a tribute show for two of the great songwriters in American music, Townes van Zandt and Hank Williams. Performers will include The Magnolia Collective, Josh Moore, Anna Rose Beck and many more. Nightlighclub. com .

The Rembrandt exhibit at the N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh is drawing a lot of attention. You may not realize there's an illuminating exhibition of the master's work here in town, as well. "Rembrandt: The Printmaker," on display at the Ackland Art Museum at UNC until Jan. 22, features the finest Rembrandt prints in the museum's collection. ackland.org.