A little bad weather never hurt anyone - but it can certainly make for a boring weekend. Kick away the stormy blues by checking out one of these great events down at the State. And if you feel like dancing in the rain, hey - don't miss #3 on our list. 

1) Take a date, a teenager, your parents or just your old movie-loving self to the warm, funny and completely endearing "Son of Rambow." It's the perfect feel-good British flick to see on a stormy summer weekend - and it's playing several times a day, exclusively at the State Theatre.

2) Bring the kids down Saturday morning to see "My Neighbor Totoro," one of the greatest children's films ever made, by legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki. Tickets are just 25 cents, so you can pack up the whole gang and bring 'em down. Afterward, walk over to the Great Lakes Children Museum (located in the historic Con Foster Museum building at Clinch Park), where your "Totoro" ticket stub gets you half-off admission to the museum's new Jump to Japan exhibit.

Scene from "My Neighbor Totoro"

3) Buy tickets to see Madonna - for only $25! Warning: The line to buy tickets for Madonna's appearance at the film festival this summer, where she will introduce and screen her new documentary "I Am Because We Are," began forming early Thursday morning. The box office doesn't open until 11 a.m. Saturday. Fans have braved rain, winds and even a tornado watch to get this year's hottest festival tickets. The good news? Even if you miss out on the first run of tickets, you'll still get to a) bond with some entertaining and friendly fellow fans while waiting in line, and b) have a shot at another 250 tickets by becoming a Friend of the Festival. For more details, click here.

4) Catch a special TCFF segment on WDTK Radio Detroit Saturday afternoon. OK, technically this one's not actually at the State, but it should be a fun show nonetheless. I'll chat with the folks at Inspire Michigan about the latest festival news, as well as discuss local tourism, Michigan filmmakers and the new Michigan Film Tax Incentives. You can listen live from 12-1 p.m. online here. 

5) See #18 on AFI's Top 100 American Films of All Times list. Not only is "The General" the best of Buster Keaton's films - Keaton himself called it his favorite - but it is playing on the big screen of the State Theatre, an experience no film lover should miss. As an added bonus, we've lowered the prices of the Sunday Brunch Series to just $6 - so you can use your extra $2 and head over to Cold Stone afterward for an ice cream cone, or next door to Horizon for a strong cup of joe.

Come on down and enjoy the weekend!