Get the canoes and sandbags ready: Peter Max is coming back to town. The last time the '60s pop artist came to Pittsburgh for an opening, Hurricane Ivan came with him. This time, let's hope for the sunny skies we so often see in his colorful paintings when he opens "Pop to Patriotism" at The Maser Galleries at One Oxford Centre, Downtown. The retrospective features more than 100 pieces of Max's art, including original paintings, drawings and limited-edition prints ranging from his well-known "Cosmic" images to famous works like the "Statue of Liberty" and "Flag With Heart." Max will be there 6 to 9 p.m. Friday; 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. Call 412-687-0885.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has a star-studded lineup this weekend with artistic adviser Sir Andrew Davis returning to conduct a program that features Emanuel Ax in Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto. Also on the program will be a PSO Subscription premiere of "The Lark Ascending," a romance for violin and orchestra by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Shostakovich's Ninth Symphony, composed for Leningrad Philharmonic's 25th concert season in 1945. Concerts are at Heinz Hall at 1:30 p.m. today and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre joins the PSO in the Cultural District with "Romance & Reverie," complete with the Pittsburgh premiere of August Bournonville's "La Sylphide," a timeless tale of seductive sprites and mysterious fortunes, and "Pas de Deux Perfection," a selection of the world's greatest pas de deux. Times are 7:30 tonight; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Benedum. Tickets are $14. Go to www.pbt.org or call 412-456-6666.

Chatham Baroque's 15th season culminates with "Fanfare for the Uncommon Concerto," with guest cornetto player Bruce Dickey, in a program of Italian and German repertory. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday at United Methodist Church in Sewickley, 8 p.m. Saturday at Synod Hall, Oakland, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Chatham College, Shadyside. Tickets: $20 ($16 seniors; $8 students); 412-394-3353.

Kevin Hart, a former shoe-store clerk and comedian, has been seen in the ABC sitcom "The Big House" and on the big screen in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Scary Movie 3." You can see him at The Improv, Waterfront, at 8 tonight; 8 and 10 p.m. Friday; 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday; and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15. Call 412-462-5233.

Drop by the National Aviary on the North Side this morning and you might end up with free passes to see "Hoot," a new movie based on Carl Hiaasen's Newbery-winning book about three middle-school students who take on land developers to save a population of Burrowing Owls. It comes complete with new music from producer Jimmy Buffett. The "Hoot" sneak preview is at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Loews, where The Aviary's resident Screech Owl, Barkley, will greet guests. For details, call 412-323-7235.

Drakkar Sauna, an indie band from Lawrence, Kan., that sings eerie folk tunes while sometimes playing multiple instruments at the same time, plays Paint and Body, 815 Penn Ave., Wilkinsburg, at 8 p.m. with the Bumps and Holler Sisters. Call 412-951-0622.

As part of the Union Project's American Shorts series, producer/actress Adrienne Wehr will read Flannery O'Connor's "Good Country People" and Imani Christian Academy Headmaster Elder Milton E. Raiford will read John Edgar Wideman's "Solitary" at 7 p.m. at 801 N. Negley Ave., Highland Park. Continuing the evening's focus on the nature of faith, the Pittsburgh Gospel Collective will perform and Pittsburgh Filmmakers will screen short films. Tickets are $4 at the door, which includes light refreshments; 412-622-8866.

The Frick Art Museum in Point Breeze opens "Hudson River School Drawings From Dia Art Foundation," an exhibition of 39 drawings organized to celebrate the opening in the Hudson River Valley of Dia:Beacon, a museum that houses a portion of the permanent collection of Dia Art Foundation, a contemporary art organization based in New York City. The drawings were assembled by Dan Flavin (1933--96), one of Dia's principal artists, who will be the subject of an ancillary exhibition. It runs through July 9. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Call 412-371-0600.

Starting tonight, singer-songwriters do battle in the 2006 Spring Acoustic Challenge at the Rhythm House Cafe in Bridgeville. There will be five weeks of competition with each week's winner moving on to the June 1 finals. Each performer does 15 minutes of original material with acoustic instruments only. The first prize is $1,000. It begins at 9 p.m. Call 412-779-3882.

It's been 40 years since Elvis made "Paradise, Hawaiian Style," a factoid you may or may not have noted on your calendar. The folks at the We Remember Elvis 25th annual Spring Festival certainly have, and to commemorate that beach-swinging milestone, this year's special guest is Suzanna Leigh, Elvis' co-star in that movie and author of the book "Paradise, Suzanna Style." She will speak at the festival at 4 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday at the Holiday Inn, Green Tree. The festival, which features Elvis music and memorabilia, runs noon to 8 p.m. Friday and 8:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $5; with proceeds going to the Elvis Aaron Presley Visiting Fellowship at the Western Pa. Hospital's Burn/Trauma Unit. Call 412-561-7522.

The Horns of Happiness, led by Aaron Deer of The Impossible Shapes, hits the Quiet Storm in Friendship with a psychedelic pop sound that draws comparisons to Brian Wilson's "Smile." The show is at 9 p.m. Tickets are $5. 412-661-9355.

Down the street and many shades darker is Lair of the Minotaur, a band reminiscent of early Slayer, playing Garfield Artworks. Along for a fun evening of doom will be Unearthly Trance, Mosura and Come to Dust. It's at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7. Call 412-361-2262.

The Bell Orchestre, a Montreal-based chamber-pop band that features two members of the Arcade Fire, plays The Andy Warhol Museum at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 (includes museum admission). Call 412-237-8339 or go to www.warhol.org.

Synod Hall becomes like a West Virginia hillside for the Eighth Annual Bluegrass Benefit for Catholic Charities' St. Joseph House of Hospitality. The Allegheny Drifters, Blue Shades, Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers, Nine Mile Run and Timber Ridge all perform for this charity that serves men 50 or older who are homeless or are in danger of becoming homeless. It begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15, children 12 and under free. Call 412-471-0666, ext. 227.

Johnny Winter, who's becoming a fixture on the local scene, revs up a blues set at the Rex Theatre, South Side, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30. Call 412-323-1919.

Having trouble in the kitchen? You might want to visit Ross Park Mall for Simon Super Chefs Live!, an afternoon of live cooking demonstrations, wine seminars and samplings emceed by WQED-TV's Chris Fennimore. Headlining the event will be husband-and-wife chefs John and Caprial Pence from PBS's "Caprial & John's Kitchen." Joining them will be local restaurant chefs Eric Fisher (Jimmy G's), Omar Mediouni (Casablanca Bistro and La Casa), Chris O'Brien (Hyeholde) and Tom Rebstock (Bruschetta's). It runs from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Paint & Body, the music/art space in Wilkinsburg, gets a jump on the prom season with the Zombie Prom, a night of dancing and art to celebrate the completion of Jessica Jacobs' inflatable "Zombie" sculpture for "Pittsburgh Roars." The prom will feature music by the Hellhound Honkies, comedy by Rocco Supreme and a buffet. It begins at 10 p.m. at 815 Penn Ave. Admission is $5.

The group's bio boasts "Over the years there have been no hard-rock, punky, funky or disco Ray, Goodman & Brown." Instead, the trio sticks to old-school soul and "sophisticated seduction." That's the plan when New Horizon Theater presents RG&B at the Kelly-Strayhorn in East Liberty at 7:30 p.m. Call 412-431-0773.

Prime Stage Theatre presents "The Giver," Diana Basmajian's adaptation of the Newbery Award-winning novel by Lois Lowry, Saturday through May 14 at 937 Liberty Ave., Downtown. Wayne Brinda directs the story of 12-year-old Jonas, who is chosen to receive special training from The Giver, who holds memories of joys and pain. 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $15 ($13 65 and older; $8 and younger); 412-394-3353 or www.primestage.com.

Here's one for the troops. Blues Eyed Blonde -- featuring guitarist Tony Calderelli, who was deployed in Iraq -- hits the Hard Rock Cafe, Station Square, at 8 p.m. on "Back From Iraq" Tour. On hand for the show will be Pittsburgh native and St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger. Proceeds benefit Operation Troop Appreciation (OTA), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that shows support for U.S. troops around the world by providing them with such items as board games, CDs, DVDs and stationery. Tickets are $10.

Snowdrop Elementary School presents an International Children's Day Festival from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater featuring ethnic folk dances, poetry, songs and plays. Admission free, but RSVP is required by calling 412-628-6871.

Major Stars, a Boston psych band with a three-guitar attack, invades Garfield Artworks with Victory at Sea and Centipede E'est at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7. Call 412-361-2262.